alternatives to the prime?

jmt9779 · March 27th, 2012, 11:27 AM

So, i ordered a transformer prime and it should be delivered tomorrow, but the more i read online, the more concerned i am with the possible weak wifi issue. (i don't care about the gps.) hopefully it works well enough for me but, i'm just trying to get my ducks in a row in case i need to return it, and i'm wondering what a good alternative would be...? any thoughts? samsung galaxy tab 10.1 looks like the next best thing in the $500 range, right?

(i need a tablet in the next couple of weeks, so i really can't be playing the waiting for something new coming out this summer.)

thanks!

ylexot · March 27th, 2012, 11:58 AM

The Acer A510 should be out soon. It's up for pre-order on some sites and the price is $450.
Acer's 10.1-Inch Iconia Tab A510 Available for Pre-Order | PCWorld

jmt9779 · March 27th, 2012, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ylexot

The Acer A510 should be out soon. It's up for pre-order on some sites and the price is $450.
Acer's 10.1-Inch Iconia Tab A510 Available for Pre-Order | PCWorld

excellent! if the prime doesn't out for me (hopefully it does), this looks like my next choice.

mucho gracias!

siggy1964 · March 27th, 2012, 05:56 PM

If your wifi source isn't too far away you'll be just fine. My router is about 10 feet from me and my signal is good.

MNDaveC · March 28th, 2012, 08:47 AM

Still looks bulky like that A500...
Acer Iconia Tab A510 with Quad-Core Tegra 3, Android 4.0 at CES 2012 - YouTube

Zebulon · March 28th, 2012, 09:05 AM

The reports of weak wifi are really exaggerated. The actual percentage of users with wifi (or any other kind of problem) is really, really low. They are just very vocal.

jmt9779 · March 28th, 2012, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siggy1964

If your wifi source isn't too far away you'll be just fine. My router is about 10 feet from me and my signal is good.

during the day i'll tether to my cell phone, which will be within a few feet. but at home my router is in my bedroom and i need to be able to use the table in the next room over (my living room).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zebulon

The reports of weak wifi are really exaggerated. The actual percentage of users with wifi (or any other kind of problem) is really, really low. They are just very vocal.

that's what i'm thinking/hoping for. and i understand how it works - when it rains, it pours. i'm just trying to be prepared for a worst case scenario so i'm not without a tablet for too long. my prime is due for delivery today, so i should know tonight.

i appreciate the posts guys!

Bnice · March 28th, 2012, 11:47 AM

Toshiba has a tablet coming also call the Excite.

Toshiba AT200 tablet coming to the US as the Excite X10, starting at $530 for 16GB -- Engadget

blaxican25 · March 28th, 2012, 02:01 PM

my wifi on my prime is fine up to 50 feet away from my dsl modem

jmt9779 · March 28th, 2012, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaxican25

my wifi on my prime is fine up to 50 feet away from my dsl modem

is it a straight line-of-sight or is that through walls too?

i just got this thing a half hour ago. tethered to my phone right away. i'm in love with it. now i just need to test it on the home wifi tonight.

thanks again, all

jondroot · March 28th, 2012, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmt9779

is it a straight line-of-sight or is that through walls too?

i just got this thing a half hour ago. tethered to my phone right away. i'm in love with it. now i just need to test it on the home wifi tonight.

thanks again, all

My wifi is great at 100 feet and that's from my router downstairs and at the other end of a room through 2 walls

Durf · March 29th, 2012, 12:19 AM

I agree that the issues are overrated. Mine has been fine except i have trouble with bt and wifi at the same time, but that isnt something i normally need anyway.

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk

jmt9779 · March 29th, 2012, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jondroot

My wifi is great at 100 feet and that's from my router downstairs and at the other end of a room through 2 walls

agreed (about the wifi issues being exaggerated. i'm sure people are having real issues, but they seem to be a minority.) i've had this thing for about 24 hours now and i'm getting quite strong wifi connections/signals: at home i picked up my wifi signal all throughout my apartment (through numerous walls) and i was picking up most of my neighbors signals; at work, i'm picking up tons of random signals (i work in nyc, so there's lots of wifi signals on top of each other).

i appreciate all the input guys. this thing is pretty badass so far. definitely a keeper!

rushmore · March 29th, 2012, 09:33 PM

I tried two Primes spread out from a launch unit and a recent unit with same weak wifi results. Not as bad as the A500, but close. If the ASUS rep for Best Buy is correct, there is a revised Prime shipping next month with a plastic strip to afford better wifi signal.

If this is true, the Prime IMO is the best option, since the Acer 510 does not have the sweet IPS panel like the Prime and Acer are notorious for weak wifi signal in their Android and Windows tablets.

Durf · April 2nd, 2012, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rushmore

I tried two Primes spread out from a launch unit and a recent unit with same weak wifi results. Not as bad as the A500, but close. If the ASUS rep for Best Buy is correct, there is a revised Prime shipping next month with a plastic strip to afford better wifi signal.

If this is true, the Prime IMO is the best option, since the Acer 510 does not have the sweet IPS panel like the Prime and Acer are notorious for weak wifi signal in their Android and Windows tablets.

I dont think a rep at best buy would be giving away landmark news like that. Engadget etc... would kill for an inside scoop like that.