Help Should I get a Nexus 9 now or wait?

[mystvearn]

Hi,

I am looking to buy my first tablet. I have a note 3, a 13 inch laptop and I want to get something 8-9". However, most newnew high end tablets have a unibody design. I plan to use the it for a very long time. When the battery goes, I will mod it to become a clock or some picture frame without the battery.

Aside from nexus 9, I am not sure if other new tablets which get frequent updates are worth it. Maybe the Samsung galaxy tab s is another candidate. I don't have and don't plan to buy a heat gun to open the internals. I don't want to go 10" or more since it is too big. Handled my wife's note 10.1 and with the cover, it is quite bulky.

Main usage is media consumption, games, emails, annotate pdf and onenote. I use the s pen quite a lot for notes.

Since it is already near to June, I am not sure if it is worth it or should I wait for new announcements?

 

[mikedt]

I think very much all tablets are sealed design now. If you do plan to mod it eventually, and have it as a fancy desk-clock or something, could have a look at ifixit.com Might give you an idea of what is the easiest to disassemble and do what you require. And in fact they sell inexpensive pads specifically for undoing glued devices, without requiring a heat gun.

 

[KOLIO]

@mystvearn
The Nexus 9 is currently 40% off,might strike a good balance with all things considered (price/timely updates/aftermarket development):
http://store.htc.com/store?Action=C...104_G - US - NAM - HTC - PS - Tablet - B&Ps=1

 

[mystvearn]

I think very much all tablets are sealed design now. If you do plan to mod it eventually, and have it as a fancy desk-clock or something, could have a look at ifixit.com Might give you an idea of what is the easiest to disassemble and do what you require. And in fact they sell inexpensive pads specifically for undoing glued devices, without requiring a heat gun.

Thanks. I did go to ifixit first before noticing this trend. If I open it with a heat gun, or the pad, will it be easier to reassemble it back? Will the glue still work?

@mystvearn
The Nexus 9 is currently 40% off,might strike a good balance with all things considered (price/timely updates/aftermarket development):
http://store.htc.com/store?Action=Content&SiteID=htcus&pbPage=htcSpecial120215&cid=sem_us_20151104_G - US - NAM - HTC - PS - Tablet - B&Ps=1

That is a very nice price there. Not sure if it ships to Malaysia

 

[Jfalls63]

From looking at instructions to replace battery, the only adhesive seems to be holding the battery in place . Probably double sided tape.
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Nexus+9+Battery+Replacement/36560

I really enjoy my N9. Use it everyday and hopefully I'll get long life out of it. Parts seem to be available and reasonable.

 

[mikedt]

Thanks. I did go to ifixit first before noticing this trend. If I open it with a heat gun, or the pad, will it be easier to reassemble it back? Will the glue still work?

Might depend on the sort of glue they used in the first place. As I understand manufacture, it's very probably an epoxy of some sort, either hot-melt or UV cured. You'll likely have to clean the old glue off and apply new glue. In production I know they used to use 1,1,1-Trich for cleaning and preparing surfaces for bonding, but not now, as it's known to cause ozone depletion as well as being quite toxic.

I haven't looked, but I'm sure there's plenty of YouTube videos about how to do it.

 

[mystvearn]

From looking at instructions to replace battery, the only adhesive seems to be holding the battery in place . Probably double sided tape.
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Nexus+9+Battery+Replacement/36560

I really enjoy my N9. Use it everyday and hopefully I'll get long life out of it. Parts seem to be available and reasonable.

I've made a permanent desk clock with the original Nexus 7 (2012) and the glue is not that hard. I just soldered the usb charging cable to the charging ports. Cut the back so the wires can go out. About 30 mins at most.

From my experience with the nexus 7, even if the glue is not working, a simple double sided tape will work.

Might depend on the sort of glue they used in the first place. As I understand manufacture, it's very probably an epoxy of some sort, either hot-melt or UV cured. You'll likely have to clean the old glue off and apply new glue. In production I know they used to use 1,1,1-Trich for cleaning and preparing surfaces for bonding, but not now, as it's known to cause ozone depletion as well as being quite toxic.

I haven't looked, but I'm sure there's plenty of YouTube videos about how to do it.

There are very few teardown videos of Pixel C online. With a heat gun or the heat pad from ifixit, the chances of me screwing up the screen while opening it is higher. I just don't want to take that chance on my own device.