Tablet wish list: How about you?

[alex182]

So I'm getting into the market for a tablet, and I don't really want to wait until next March to see what the big boys have. I have a wish list, and if anyone knows of a product that fulfills it, please chime in, and do likewise for others.

What I want in a tablet:

10" screen
Android 2.2 capability (even if I have to upgrade it later)
3G built in (so I just have to slip a SIM card into the slot to get online)
Capacitive touch screen
MicroSD card support for 32G+
Ability/Access to the Google apps and market
Ability to connect to a Win7 64-bit system to share files/contacts/etc.


Is there such a beast around? Coming soon?

What's on your list?

 

[MdX MaxX]

The best Android "tablet" out right now is the Streak, and it's not so much a tablet as it is an oversized Android smartphone. And the Archos and Augen offerings pretty much suck.
The good news is that we should be seeing some excellent Android tablets soon.

Here's my wishlist:
Some form of 4G speed (HSPA+, WiMax, LTE, whatever)
POWER (not the same 1GHz procs we already have)
Focus on productivity (Needs a nearly perfect keyboard, maybe bundle an office suite with it)

That's really all I want. A tablet has to be more like an actual computer than a smartphone.

 

[Martimus]

So I'm getting into the market for a tablet, and I don't really want to wait until next March to see what the big boys have. I have a wish list, and if anyone knows of a product that fulfills it, please chime in, and do likewise for others.

What I want in a tablet:

10" screen
Android 2.2 capability (even if I have to upgrade it later)
3G built in (so I just have to slip a SIM card into the slot to get online)
Capacitive touch screen
MicroSD card support for 32G+
Ability/Access to the Google apps and market
Ability to connect to a Win7 64-bit system to share files/contacts/etc.


Is there such a beast around? Coming soon?

What's on your list?

Please forgive my sarcasm but "Good luck with this list!!!!!!".

No currently available Android tablet fulfills 100% of this particular wish list... and I suspect it'll be some time before we something that even comes close.

My guess is that most of the mainstream tablets that will hit the market late this year will be 7-inch tablets. The 10-inch tablets will likely not surface before 2011 due to a need for Gingerbread (Android 3.0) and higher screen resolutions. The currently available versions of Android were really intended to run on Smartphones... and not tablets. Part of the Gingerbread development cycle, I believe, will be to split off smartphones and tablets into two products based on the same core.

Most, if not all, of the mainstream tablets will likely have a capacitive screen. For casual home use it just makes more sense! In a corporate environment, however, I suspect Resistive screens will be as, if not more, popular.

MicroSDHC support is likely but that'll require new and improved drivers. Most current Chinese tablets support older TF cards which tends to limit card densities.

I'd be surprised if any of the upcoming mainstream tablets, from Samsung, Motorola, LG, Asus, Toshiba, Cisco, etc., will have any long term issues connecting to the Android market. Now when the existing app's will be updated to support these new tablets is another matter entirely.

What you are looking for will, most likely, be available, but I have my doubts that we'll see anything that fulfills each and every one of your requirements before summer of 2011. Simply put this is a new direction for many of these manufacturers and new product development takes time!

 

[alex182]

Hey, that's why it's called a "Wish" list. Just curious what other people look for as well. Even if I could get most of the things on that list I'd be pretty happy, especially the 3G/HSPDA+ support and Android 2.2 in a 10".

 

[jroc]

I want a cross between the Notion Ink and the ICD Vega/Gemini Tablets with an OMAP, Hummingbird, Snapdragon or Intel dual core chip. If the battery life on Tegra 2 is decent, I'll take that then.

4G/LTE too.

 

[mrspeedmaster]

Easy.

1) Capacitive screen
2) At least 720p resolution. 1280x768
3) 12 hour battery life on single charge. 8 hours continuous HD playback. iPad is 10 hours/7 hours video.
4) Stereo speakers. I hate teeeny mono speakers
5) Full HD playback h.264 mp4, divx codecs


The battery life and weight is a big deal for me.

Lastly, I would love someone to make an Android "FlipBoard" app that is on the iPad. If FlipBoard ever makes one for Android, I'd get rid of my iPad. That is the best app for a tablet.

 

[xclr82xtc]

5 pounds or under
12-13 inch screen prefer wide screen
720p minimum 8 hour bat life
stand alone OPEN GL Processor
and all the other bells and whistles


i need something for CAD design

 

[Robertt]

(Reply to OP...)
Sorry, looks like you're gonna have to wait a while.

On the plus side, IFA is coming soon and many new prototype tablets, and perhaps some that will be released before this year's end will be showcased and reviewed. Specs are nice but they don't give you the full story.

The one that most closely fits the bill, in my mind at least, is the soon to be released WeTab tablet PC (previously known as the WePad).


Robert from Tablet Reviews

 

[nb_mitch]

In order for a device to run Android legally doesn't it have to be a phone too?

I think the Samsung Galaxy Tab is pretty close, but maybe a bit too large depending on the width of the edge. A 7" screen is only 3.5 X 6 and if the device was all screen and nothing else that would be great, but I fear the actual device must add at least another inch in both directions.

I think maybe a 6" screen would be more pocketable, but I might try it anyway.

 

[gamul1]

As long as its a wish list....

10 inch capacitive touch screen
at least 780p but full hd would be awesome
1Ghz processor or better
3G capable
wi-fi
GPS (not assisted)
hdmi and usb ports
ability to have 64 gig of memory (combined internal/external)
Webcam (a plus but could be nice)
Great battery life (ok - decent would be good too)
Android 2.2

 

[Catfish]

My wish list would include:

10 inch screen
good battery life under load (watching multimedia)
responsive screen for typing notes
profiles to set to completely silent, lower screen brightness etc. for discrete use.
some way of synchronizing with other PCs, preferably via WLAN to transfer files
playback 720p videos

updateable to Android 3.0 or beyond
option for dual booting different OS

anything beyond this would be a bonus. i'd even drop updateable to android 3.0 and dual boot if the software on 2.x does what i need.

 

[xclr82xtc]

can we get a solor panel installed ?

 

[irishpride]

The Archos 101 is so close, I can live without 3G built in, it's why I rooted my phone and downloaded Wireless Tether. The one thing that is kind of disappointing is no access to the official Android Market or Android Apps. I'm still planning on getting it, you can't beat what your getting for that price. Hopefully other companies don't follow Samsung's way of pricing their tablet, charging $699 for a 7" tablet is insane, at those prices, it has no chance of being a huge commercial success.

 

[Catfish]

i've read that market is working on the zt-180 now, so how does that work? does that mean we could get market on the new archos tablets too?

ps: i dont even really know how market works but from what i've looked at online it seems you need an android _phone_ to access it to pay for stuff. is that right?

 

[Martimus]

i've read that market is working on the zt-180 now, so how does that work? does that mean we could get market on the new archos tablets too?

ps: i dont even really know how market works but from what i've looked at online it seems you need an android _phone_ to access it to pay for stuff. is that right?

Technically speaking the Android Market is working because some individuals have figured out how to fake the app into thinking the tablet is a supported device.

A similar hack might be available for Archos but I'm doubtful that Archos has the Android Market working legally on the new tablets. I seem to recall reading somewhere that the current requirements for certification to access the Android Market included a Cellular radio (which the tablets don't have).

 

[Catfish]

I figure the Market requires that cellular connection for a way to bill the user for paid apps. Would this be correct? Because I can look at the Android Market and its apps on the internet on my PC, but I can't download anything from it. Even if it is a free app. (Plus Google probably wants to track who downloads what so they can continue with their scheme to launch Skynet in 2018 and wipe out humanity through the rise of the machines.)

Since finding its hards to get apps going in LiveAndroid I am seeing the importance of having a working Market on a tablet device.

 

[Martimus]

I figure the Market requires that cellular connection for a way to bill the user for paid apps. Would this be correct? Because I can look at the Android Market and its apps on the internet on my PC, but I can't download anything from it. Even if it is a free app. (Plus Google probably wants to track who downloads what so they can continue with their scheme to launch Skynet in 2018 and wipe out humanity through the rise of the machines.)

Since finding its hards to get apps going in LiveAndroid I am seeing the importance of having a working Market on a tablet device.

I'm pretty sure the Android market uses the Google market app to collect payment for apps purchased (I, for one, don't typically purchase anything through the Google market app). Sometime in the, hopefully, not too distant future this should change for the better as the Android market will start accepting payment through PayPal.

In my opinion (take it for what it's worth), the Android market requires a cellulat radio because that was how its spec's were initially written. Android devices with cellular radios were more mainstream and this limited access to the market to those devices that Google was likely aware of.

 

[hero_hont]

I need:
1. 10 inch screen
2. good battery life under load (watching multimedia)
3. responsive screen for typing notes
4. profiles to set to completely silent, lower screen brightness etc. for
5. playback 720p videos

Vietnam travel agency-Halong bay tours-Sapa tours

 

[AndroidForMe]

10" screen
720p resolution
Dual Core Processor
Long Battery Life
Android 2.2 and upgradeable to 3.0
HDMI-out
Expandable memory
Front Facing Camera (3 M.P. or above)

 

[oulzac]

Since this is a wish list:

1. 8'' to 12'' screen with a decent gpu
2. A dual core processor at least 2ghz
3. 2gb of RAM - could possibly get away with 1gb but would really love 4GB
4. Android 3 - or a version that is made specifically for tablets
5. at least a 250GB SSD
6. Battery that lasts at least 12 hours, and is removable/replaceable
7. Dual cameras and HD camcorder ability
8. All for under $600

I would love to be able to buy a tablet like that to replace my netbook.

 

[The Wagster]

My wish list:

Capacitive screen
7" or bigger screen
marketplace or easy fix to install marketplace
priced below

 

[kmq]

10" screen
Android 2.2 capability (even if I have to upgrade it later)
3G built in (so I just have to slip a SIM card into the slot to get online)
Capacitive touch screen
MicroSD card support for 32G+
Ability/Access to the Google apps and market
Ability to connect to a Win7 64-bit system to share files/contacts/etc.

You nailed it

But add 1280x800 resolution
Less than 400g
12h battery life

 

[rushmore]

Real simple for me: Do NOT link the purchase of the tablet to a carrier data fee or contract. iPad is huge and Archos semi-selling ok due to not being screwed with the additional costs. When the Samsung Tab falls on it's sales face, I hope other OEM's get the hint.