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Flyer Coming Excusively To Best Buy

zackman2091

Well-Known Member
Mar 21, 2010
112
4
Engadget just posted that the flyer will be coming to the us as a wifi only tablet exclusively to best buy in the spring

I am going to buy this tablet if they price it out right and if I do not like the wifi only xoom I just pre ordered

I love sence and all htc products I know that htc will be putting some sort of sence over honeycomb and that is what is going to sell me
 
HTC Flyer parades its many unique qualities in latest video from the company -- Engadget

After watching this video I am now sold on the Flyer.

I have been an HTC fan since my Alltel HTC Touch Windows 6 phone. I love my Dinc and am looking forward to the Dinc2 in less than a month.

I am a little torn about a 7" screen, I think I wold like a 10". However I like Scribe (Scribe is nearly exactly like an app I was in early development with for all tablets).

I might wait until June to see how this pans out...
HTC Planning Two Additional Flyer Tablets for Summer, Will Sport Android 3.0
 
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So where do we stand on the Flyer? I did some Google searches for price and release date, looks like it will be out very soon, but the prices I saw were crazy. My assumption is that they are placeholder prices since no one is going to pay $900-$1000 for a 7" tablet.

Has anyone gotten a good read on what the price might be? $400 and I'll be first in line. $450 and I'll have to be certain that it will be supported and updated to 3.0. Above that and I think it's out of my range and I'll wait for the next group of mid-sized tablets to come out in late-May and June.
 
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I stopped at Best Buy yesterday to play some more with the xoom an tab some more, and have devoid that 7" is just not good enough. I hope the rumors for a10" Flyer are true for this summer.

I keep going back and forth on this. 10" is great for sitting on the couch and surfing the web. But for me it's to big to take with me and use as a business tool. So I keep looking at 7" machines and although they are sometimes cramped I can get my work done. If I was still an on the road consultant I'd have no problem deciding since I'd want a laptop replacement, now I just want something a bit bigger to hold my calendar and do some time wasting.

Right now there are only a handful of machines and you can't line them all up and try them anywhere. Hopefully in a month of so that will change. I am concerned with the pricing I'm seeing online for the Flyer. Something tells me that its going to be priced high like the Xoom. Perhaps I'm just not realistic about what the tech should cost, but my upper limit really is under $500 for something top of the line.
 
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So what does everyone think now that the Flyer is priced at $499 in the US? I really like the functionality and size for the Flyer, the price is a bit high I think. The pen adds a lot to the device and is a unique differentiator for those that need it. However the question is will the technology be left behind if only HTC is supporting it? The reasons for waiting for 3.0 is that hopefully a ton of tablet apps will be available soon. But those may not run on the Flyer. They say 3.0 will come, but without a date it's just marketing, I think I'd really need a firm commitment to accept it as truth. Processor wise it's low end, but for 99% of what I do it wouldn't matter, at the same time paying a premium price for older tech doesn't make sense.

With so much change about to happen with Android tablets getting in too early is an issue since whatever you choose may have no upgrade path. If HTC continues on with Scribe, I hope they create an option for future tablets to not buy the pen again and use your old one, that might same some money as an upgrade path.
 
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I preordered mine today!! $50 down, and I got a $50 gift card just for preordering. Plus $100 rewardzone gift certificate.. so $499 won't be too bad on my end. although, I went into the Best Buy Mobile stand alone store at the mall.

That's not so bad then. I actually just signed up with the Reward Zone so we'll see. I don't buy a lot there anymore because you can usually find it cheaper elsewhere, but I do like them for their options and browse factor.

I did notice that 250 Points only = $5. Which is better than nothing, so with your 100 points, and what ever points you get when you actually pay for the Flyer you'll end up with another $15-$20 worth of credit.

I'm going to make the assumption that Reward Zone members get the occasional card or incentive down the road.

Addition:
Did they say when it was supposed to ship?
 
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That's not so bad then. I actually just signed up with the Reward Zone so we'll see. I don't buy a lot there anymore because you can usually find it cheaper elsewhere, but I do like them for their options and browse factor.

I did notice that 250 Points only = $5. Which is better than nothing, so with your 100 points, and what ever points you get when you actually pay for the Flyer you'll end up with another $15-$20 worth of credit.

I'm going to make the assumption that Reward Zone members get the occasional card or incentive down the road.

Addition:
Did they say when it was supposed to ship?

wish they did say, but they didn't.

I have 5,690 points right now. some are still pending. $110 worth for certificates. I have the rewards zone premier silver card so I was able to 'bank' my points until I really wanted to use them. like on April 9th, I spent 42.99 and I got 42 points for that. and I think I get 25% bonus so those points will increase. it just takes 30 days to come out of pending. like once you hit $2500 in a year, it automatically upgrades you to premier status so instead of getting points per dollar, it also has an increase... think its 1.25 you end up getting instead.
 
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looks like the flyer will be shipping on(or around) the 22nd. This thing looks pretty slick, love htc products and i don't think this will disappoint! I'd really like a hands on before i buy it, but if there are some incentives out there to pre order i probably will.

Good to hear. My target date is mid-June purchase of whatever tablet happens to be my "best" at that time.

I've got a Nexus One, I'm happy with the construction and feel of HTC and I'm hoping that the Flyer has the same build quality. N1 doesn't have Sense on it, but most people say that it's the better of all the skins out there.

My only hesitation right now with the Flyer is the OS, I think the size is going to be great for me, and the pen is an extra bonus that I think I'll use quite a bit. They say it's going to Honeycomb, but you never know. I'd hate to spend that kind of cash on a tablet only to find that all the new tablet apps won't run on it. I'm only slightly hesitant about the single core processor, which might limit the life and future app compatibility.
 
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I don't think they would advertise Scribe and not give you the pen. Besides, the pen is in the pictures.

I'm completely with you, seems crazy that it wouldn't have the pen, it is shown in only one picture (alternate view #3), but directly from the Best Buy Page:

What's Included:
HTC Flyer Tablet
Lithium-ion battery
Micro USB cable, power adapter, power cable
3.5mm stereo headset
Owner's manual

Product Features
Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system
With HTC Sense allows you to stay connected and productive.
Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n network
For Internet capability on the go (additional fees may apply). HTC Watch allows you to rent or buy movies and watch them instantly.
Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP capability
For wireless communication with a Bluetooth-enabled stereo headset.
7" color touch-screen display
With 1024 x 600 resolution for easy navigation of features.
16GB internal memory
Along with a microSDHC card slot allows you to store or transfer media (card not included).
Front-facing 1.3MP autofocus camera
Along with a 5.0MP high-definition autofocus camera for capturing video.
Media player
For viewing photos, listening to your favorite tunes or watching videos. Supported formats include AAC, AMR, OGG, M4A, MP3, WMA, WAV, 3GP, 3G2, MP4, WMV, AVI and XVID.
Snapbooth-Allows you to capture, stylize and share photos.
Polyphonic ringtones-Allow you to personalize the sound of your phone.
Vibrate mode-Notifies you discreetly of incoming phone calls and messages.
Voice activation-For hands-free dialing.
Phone book-Keeps your contact numbers easily accessible.
Hands-free speakerphone-Lets you talk while driving without using a separate hands-free device.
HTC Notes-With Time Mark and synching audio, photo and notes capability adds more useful functionality to your mobile phone.
Kid Mode by Zoodles-Provides a safe and secure experience for kids.

Note it also says that it notifies you of incoming calls and messages. Implying that it's a phone. I know that the Galaxy Tab 7" has phone capabilities in markets outside the US, the Flyer probably does too, so this is hopefully just a case of cut and paste from the generic information that HTC sent out.
 
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Here's a link to the HTC Flyer Manual Download: HTC Flyer User Guide - Droid Life: A Droid Community Blog

Page 8 (Getting Started section) clearly states that a pen is included.

Looks like this debate is everywhere. Currently it's being said by HTC that in the US, at Best Buy the Pen is not included. Since Best Buy has an exclusive in the US, that means no pen included for us it looks like. Hope this gets figured out, I suspect that most potential buyers will not be happy with this. I won't pay $500 for a tablet with lower specs + $80 for the pen. The pen is the differentiator for this product, which made it worth overlooking the single core and Android 2.4.

Engadget and AndroidCentral have stories and comment threads about it.
 
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don't hold out too long -
from my chat with an HTC rep online:

Hi, I"m thinking of purchasing the htc flyer
15:44:02 [Laurie ] :
from best buy; will the scribe pen be included or is that a separate purchase?

15:44:33 [Rosalina] :
[FONT=&#32048]The scribe pen will be optional, meaning you need to buy it separately.[/FONT]


15:45:42 [Laurie ] :
what about for the sprint evo view, will the pen be included then?

15:46:18 [Rosalina] :
[FONT=&#32048]Let me check that for you. Please give me a moment.[/FONT]
[FONT=&#32048]Thank you for waiting. I believe it's the same.[/FONT]


[Laurie ] :

Can you bear with me, I need to understand why the pen was included for the European purchases, but not for the states?

15:53:11 [Rosalina] :
[FONT=&#32048]It actually depends on the distributor that will release the product in the Market.[/FONT]




[Laurie ] :
So you're saying Best Buy and Sprint both chose to sell the pen separately?

15:54:44 [Rosalina] :
[FONT=&#32048]This issue is escalated and we are working on it. Please bear with us. Please do visit our website regularly for updates.[/FONT]




15:55:04 [Laurie ] :
what?



15:56:15 [Rosalina] :
[FONT=&#32048]Again, we are working with both Best Buy and Sprint regarding the pen that is needed for Flyer and Evo View. Please bear with us.[/FONT]

[FONT=&#32048]I'am sorry I meant coordinating with them.[/FONT]




Very sad :(






 
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