Gap between iPad vs. Android tablets

[Argentum123]

Apple is still better than Android tablets due to Android's lack of Marketplace for larger screen devices. Without Google clarifying its roadmap for the market place for larger screen device, Android devices need to rely on a thrid party app stores. If an Android 10" tablet has equal or better hardware specs - such as additonal USB slot, built-in camera, etc - What would be the right amount of gap in terms of price due to the lack of "universal" app store/market place?

Is lack of marketplace a turn off for Android users on a larger screen tablet?

 

[Catfish]

Lack of Market place, at the moment, I think is not of much concern tothe users that are currently interested in Android tablets. The reason I think this is that because Android tablets are not even really out yet the type of person looking to buy one would have the know how (or ability to Google a guide) to hack the Market onto the device.

Personally, I aim to buy when Google will actually support Market on a tablet device as one of my major peeves wit hcomputers is when programs don't work properly or run at all.

I don't think the lack of official market on the current devices would warrant a price reduction since we're lucky vendors are even bothering to release devices with Android 2.x on them (since its not really designedfor tablets).

 

[Martimus]

In this circumstance Apple is better because they recognized the potential market and exploited it. The tablet marketplace is still in it's infancy and there's a lot that can and possibly will happen in the next few years. I'm confident that we'll see a lot of innovation as time goes on. Apple opened the door... and in time we'll see what vendors march through that doorway to help expand the state of the art!

 

[zillah]

I think that even if you can get Android market on these tablets (you can) and the applications scale appropriately, (especially games) all you really have are phone OS apps taking advantage of bigger screen real estate. This is great for the web browser, as a browser usually remains quite simple, but as for more involved apps, such as gmail, it would be nice to have apps that have more functionality and better utilizes the screen real estate. Apple's iPad has this.

The question is: Does one get an iPad if one cannot wait, since it already is polished, or get a cheaper android tablet that is not optimized, but still functional. The question is, as an early adopter do you settle for less now in order to get your tablet fix, or do you take a dive and just get the iPad?

The fact that THE Google operating system for a tablet will be coming out, it is only a matter of time, do you take the risk and spring for the hardware first, hoping that developer community/manufacturer will have the optimized software easily be able to be installed on it later, or do you wait? Or do you endure the excruciating feeling of having to wait!?

 

[Catfish]

Personally I am waiting.

I recognize the value of my money and also recognize what uses I (initially) can see myself using one of these devices for. So to fork out $500+ for an iPad is not something I am willing to do. I could pay out up to about $400 tops probably but I won't buy something if I can't be sure it will do what I want it to do initially. By this I mean, I am wanting a tablet for certain specific reasons so if I buy one it has to fill at least those needs.

It would be nice to get some hardware that can be upgraded later but the question is - how can you be sure what you buy can be upgraded? Too big a risk for me at the moment.

Of course all of these reasons will vary depending on person and usually how much money you can throw away on this stuff.

 

[mindwave]

someone in another forum said that "if you buy these 'planning' on the benefits of an upgrade to 2.2 3.0 etc youre wasting youre time/ money. Buy them for what they do now"

Personally I think that for a series of devices that are 'effectively' less than a year old there have been HUGE progress made, I also believ that the rapid advances made in HW and OS in that year contributes to a great deal of WHY the Market place isnt ready for tablets.

Think about it, many many of these apps are written but folks like you and me, we saw a need in OUR world and we filled it. I for onr am not a professional programmer. But when my Toastmasters group needed a new set of timing devices I KNEW that the tablets/phones would be PERFECT.

Its not a pretty app, but it does EVERYTHNG I need it to do.

I spend my work day in a company with over 10000 employees and a pretty large IS dept, but we dont have the time, $ or staff to watch and make every change on our OWN internal website that everyone would like to see. To expect Google in the span of a few months to certify the marklet for EVERY single type of devce on the planet, well thats asking a bit.

Why? Because IMAGINE what it would take to sort through (lets start simple) 10k programs. Sort them by the version f the OS they were designed to support, test them, post them and organize thm such that you and I can find a copy of Tux Racer that works on my 7" ARM2808 OS1.9 device w/ NO accelerometer as well as it does my Droid X 4" OS2.2 device?

That ALONE would be a MONUMENTAL task.

So for me, I am one day away from buying what I feel will meet my needs.

Assuming it arrives in one piece I will post a video of the un boxing and a series on the process.

But I am buying it for what I believe it can do TODAY

just my 2 cts

 

[rushmore]

All I know is I can get the 10" Archos 16gb with key things iPad will never ever have:

1. Full USB host. I can plug a thumbdrive or use a portable hard drive with it.
2. Any standard game controller, keyboard or mouse will work with it.
3. Full Flash 10.1
4. Micro sd slot
5. Plays all video codecs
6. No need for iTunes- drag and drop files and system updates media.
7. A lot of fun game emulators
8. HDMI out and displays what ever is on the tablet- not just movie output.
9. Less than half price of a similar featured iPad
10. Pop Cap, Gameloft and others are now developing for Android
11. Data storage device function

Seriously, you would have to be a blind Apple fanboy not to see the Archos 101 is a far better deal.

 

[zillah]

The archos 101 is tempting, and it definitely looks scrumptious on paper, but it could be too good to be true. Will have to wait a bit after it is released to see how it does.

 

[jroc]

All I know is I can get the 10" Archos 16gb with key things iPad will never ever have:

1. Full USB host. I can plug a thumbdrive or use a portable hard drive with it.
2. Any standard game controller, keyboard or mouse will work with it.
3. Full Flash 10.1
4. Micro sd slot
5. Plays all video codecs
6. No need for iTunes- drag and drop files and system updates media.
7. A lot of fun game emulators
8. HDMI out and displays what ever is on the tablet- not just movie output.
9. Less than half price of a similar featured iPad
10. Pop Cap, Gameloft and others are now developing for Android
11. Data storage device function

Seriously, you would have to be a blind Apple fanboy not to see the Archos 101 is a far better deal.

In my future phones and Tablet(s) this is one feature I want. The Archos sound tempting....gotta hold out for some other Tablets to come out.....

The list u posted woulda had me sold if I was on the fence...

 

[Argentum123]

Does anyone know what kind of screen that Archos 101 has? Is it resistive or capacitive?

Thank you,

 

[Catfish]

it is capacitive, and also is lited as being multi touch.

1. Full USB host. I can plug a thumbdrive or use a portable hard drive with it.
2. Any standard game controller, keyboard or mouse will work with it.

Those two reasons there are enough for me to never want an iPad. Can't plug a keyboard or flash drive into it if I want/need to? what the hell?

 

[Argentum123]

Hi. Have anyone used independant Android app stores designed for larger screen tablets? If so, please share your experience. I wonder which store works best..... Thank you,

 

[zillah]

Hi. Have anyone used independant Android app stores designed for larger screen tablets? If so, please share your experience. I wonder which store works best..... Thank you,

Archos and many other tablets offer appslib, which is an apps library dedicated to apps that are optimized for tablets. However, the market is extremely small. (I think there is only a 1000 give or take) I am sure that appslib will grow as more android tablets w/out the official android market come out.

Archos tablets specifically have the ability to side load official google applications plus the android market which means you have access to the entire android market but there is a catch: most android market apps are not optimized. I am sure most would work, as they would just be rescaled, but it isn't definite for all of them.

 

[KUDOS 555]

subject to no sudden UK prices increases from the

 

[rushmore]

subject to no sudden UK prices increases from the

 

[KUDOS 555]

yep, last i heard late oct, but can't find a release date and no where in the uk showing preorder, keep checking amazon, ebuyer, play etc but not showing up yet, would be foolish to miss the xmas market

 

[zillah]

yep, last i heard late oct, but can't find a release date and no where in the uk showing preorder, keep checking amazon, ebuyer, play etc but not showing up yet, would be foolish to miss the xmas market

Rumors have been flying around that those who have pre-ordered from J&R were told that they would have it by the first week of November.

 

[AndroidTabletFan]

Right now there is a gap between the functionality of the iPad and android tablets. But I fully expect that gap to close.

A few years ago the G1 came out and the Market was pretty scanty as far as apps that I could use. After a frustrating week with the G1 I boxed it up and bought an iPhone 3g. The 3Gs came out, and I used that phone as well. But then I looked back into Android phones, and discovered the marvelous N1 which I now own.

However, I am not going to purchase an iPad to fill in my time until a good android tab comes out. I have an Archos 5 now, and while a tad exasperating at times (and I just got it this morning!) I know that this tab will do what I want it to do until something sweet like the Archos 101 or the Galaxy Tab comes out.

I believe that a good tab is worth waiting for.

 

[jtbnet]

Rumors have been flying around that those who have pre-ordered from J&R were told that they would have it by the first week of November.

I pre-ordered 9/20 (first day) and haven't been told any date... though I didn't ask as it will be ready when it is ready...

 

[rushmore]

I pre-ordered 9/20 (first day) and haven't been told any date... though I didn't ask as it will be ready when it is ready...

Product shipments for mid October were not confirmed to J&R buyers, so pulled their products pages. Strong order demand for products with no firm week for shipment and no lock for price made them very concerned. J&R estimates first week of November now. Not sure if their own buyers are telling sales that based on their own guess, or Archos told their buyers this.

None the less, the two main etailer channel partners for Archos both pulled their product pages. Not a good sign for October shipments.

 

[Cobravision]

There are no real Android tablets in that Google has decreed Gingerbread to be the Android tablet OS and will not give Market access to froyo or eclair tablets. The way Samsung got around this is to include 3G voice in the Galaxy Tab, which technically makes it a phone. This is why no wifi only model has been announced -- Samsung will have to wait for Gingerbread or no Market.

So it is premature right now to talk about the iPad vs Android tablets with regard to apps. I'm sure when Gingerbread comes out, official tablet apps will follow.

 

[Martimus]

There are no real Android tablets in that Google has decreed Gingerbread to be the Android tablet OS and will not give Market access to froyo or eclair tablets. The way Samsung got around this is to include 3G voice in the Galaxy Tab, which technically makes it a phone. This is why no wifi only model has been announced -- Samsung will have to wait for Gingerbread or no Market.

So it is premature right now to talk about the iPad vs Android tablets with regard to apps. I'm sure when Gingerbread comes out, official tablet apps will follow.

Unfortunately even Google hasn't officially decided how to handle tablets yet...

Google ponders Android vs. Chrome for future tablets - Computerworld

Google's CEO has stated, in the past, that future tablets and netbooks could end up running Chrome OS.

For all we know this could be the start of a long horse race to see which OS gets accepted on these different form factors. Only thing we know for certain is that most horses eat applies...

 

[zillah]

Yeah, I think Gingerbread is supposed to be 2.5, not 3.0, and is just an upgrade for the phone OS. Gingerbread will only include WebM, Google's new video standard and a few other unnoticeable tweaks, not a full-fledged revamp of the OS to fit the specifications of tablets. I am sure that will be reserved for Honeycomb.

 

[Cobravision]

Gingerbread is officially 3.0, but it looks like most of the changes are in native UI.

The question about Chrome is whether or not it will offer a satisfying touch UI. If it was designed as a keyboard/mouse OS, touch support will just be a workaround. This is where Android has the leg up -- it was built to be a touch OS from the ground up. Well, except for that trackball that never took off. The existing Market support also makes Android a more attractive option.

Either way, it looks like I'm skipping the 2.2 tabs, no matter how attractive the price points are.

 

[slayda]

At B&H they have a "Notify me when in stock" for the Archos 101. At least with this, I will know they have units for sell before ordering.