My wife owns an iPad. I own an ASUS Transformer ( Ice Cream Sandwich OS ) and a BlackBerry Playbook (OS2).
The iPad is a fine machine as far as it goes. It does everything that it was designed to do very well but that is it's limitation. Apple has not been a technological innovator for quite some time and it is beginning to show in their new releases that are just re-packaging of existing technology.
The Android OS is evolving quickly and every new version brings changes and improvements. That is both a strength and a weakness as many of the apps that were designed for earlier versions of Android do not work with later versions. Android is, at this time, a great promise of things to come.
The BlackBerry PlayBook, originally hobbled by it's limited first generation OS has been launched into the 21's century with the update to the new OS-2. The ability to access the net where ever there is cell coverage without the added expense of a second data package, the ability to access Android apps, easy file generation and transfer, small 7" form factor, superb screen quality, flash etc etc has made the PlayBook more than a contender. It clearly blows the others right out of the water.
I would add that I am submitting this from my wife's iPad because she has stolen my PlayBook and won't give it back!!!
Here is something from a Mac hater (I am not $MS fan boy either):
I love free stuff, reading (news). After living with the iPod (given to me from someone else) for a while, I say Apple is the way to go - though, unless I can't carry around my Ubuntu netbook anymore.
With the iPod I can Skype for free, if I can find a hotspot. I can download BBC or other news that I can read later (without Wifi...).
Nothing is worse than reading something, then finding out the App doesn't let you zoom in, have a pity on my poor eyes . Nothing is worse than you need wifi to read your favorite news. All these little things add up in favor of Apple, in my case.
I use a Samsung Galaxy Tab 7" now. If I'm using a tablet I want it to be as portable as possible and be able to hold it in one hand. The 7" is perfect for that. I've had an Ipod touch for a couple of years but it is a pain to transfer files and I am not fond of the Itunes system for transferring and updating files. My daughter has a Ipad which is fine for her (photos and facebook mostly) but I wanted something a little smaller, USB capable, and with a SD card slot. My netbook is good if I want to work with a real keyboard and mouse but the android tablet is much more portable and boots almost instantly. No problems with music, office files, pdf, web browsing, or email. I actually use the Samsung tablet as a file backup also. The card slot allows me to add a 32 Mb cards on the fly (huge plus for me). It also plugs into any USB port and shows up as another hard drive (2 if your using an SD card) making file transfers easy. If your only doing photos, facebook and email then it really does not matter which you choose. Myself, I wanted something a little more computer oriented and after using both I felt an Android tablet was the way for me to go.
OldRadios wrote: I use a Samsung Galaxy Tab 7" now. If I'm using a tablet I want it to be as portable as possible and be able to hold it in one hand. The 7" is perfect for that. I've had an Ipod touch for a couple of years but it is a pain to transfer files and I am not fond of the Itunes system for transferring and updating files. My daughter has a Ipad which is fine for her (photos and facebook mostly) but I wanted something a little smaller, USB capable, and with a SD card slot. My netbook is good if I want to work with a real keyboard and mouse but the android tablet is much more portable and boots almost instantly. No problems with music, office files, pdf, web browsing, or email. I actually use the Samsung tablet as a file backup also. The card slot allows me to add a 32 Mb cards on the fly (huge plus for me). It also plugs into any USB port and shows up as another hard drive (2 if your using an SD card) making file transfers easy. If your only doing photos, facebook and email then it really does not matter which you choose. Myself, I wanted something a little more computer oriented and after using both I felt an Android tablet was the way for me to go.
I'm pretty much in the same boat only I use a 7" HTC View Android tab.
Kids and DW use the I-Stuff.
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That makes three of us!! That Samsung Tab is a sweet little device. My wife has an Iphone, IPod and IPad. Way too much stuff for me. And my "old tech" flip phone works everywhere but her iphone thats so "SMART" can't get a signal when we get out in the boonies. Thats when I feel really smart! haha
Order is illusion. Chaos is reality. But right or wrong I'm still the captain.
truenorth50 wrote: Apple has not been a technological innovator for quite some time and it is beginning to show in their new releases that are just re-packaging of existing technology.
It's astounding to realize how short our memories are. We have become a society that is quick to forget and even quicker to bash the winners in the world. APPLE has become the world's largest and most successful company in the past year, yet we have a large number of vocal people who think just like truenorth does.
APPLE NOT a technological innovator? Where was the music world before the iPOD? Where was the smart-phone world before the iPHONE? Where was the tablet world before the iPAD? In all 3 cases the correct answer is "there was no comparable product". APPLE invented these industries.
When you look back, it is clear that APPLE NEVER took the lead in adopting new technology in it's products. 3G had just come out when the original iPhone was released as a 2G model only.
Many complain that APPLE tightly controls their iOS platform. They do! As a result, when a software update is released, EVERYONE can take advantage of it, in all but the very oldest of equipment. iOS 5.1.1 was released yesterday, for virtually everyone to download and update their equipment. When a Droid update is released, it is typically for a single phone manufacturer & model, and even then, only when pushed by the carrier. Droid APPS are not universal across OS versions or equipment.
Then there's the dreaded iTunes.... Again, those who hate it, generally are those who haven't tried it. Apple has made using their various products totally seamless for those of us who feel that to be important. My iPAD and iPHONE automatically back themselves up. I download a song on my iPhone and woosh.... There it is on my iPAD and DW's iPhone, as well as my MACBOOK. Same thing with photos! And any other documents I choose to share. BTW, that MACBOOK is 5 years old and is still getting the latest upgrades, support and outruns my 4 month old PC in my office.
There are many tinkerers who would rather mix and match software programs and platforms to achieve what APPLE has done on it's own, which is fine and dandy for them. I'll take the simple, single solution way, thank you.
Paul & Sandra
New Bedford, MA
2003 Monaco Executive M43 DS2
I have an Android. I am wondering if I should have gone with the Ipad. Here is why. As to free RV specific related apps Iphone/Ipad/Itouch has more. When I hear about an app that would be great to have for the RV, it is for Apple (including the Good Sam app). Apple also has a history of supporting their devices and every update of the Iphone/pad/touch OS has been applied to all of the versions as long as the hardare supports it. This is not the case with Android and I have a Samsung that is less than 6 months old that will not be updated to the newest OS - because Samsung does not want to - nor are they actively supporting the device with firmware updates. With Android you are at the mercy of whatever each individual manufacturer decides. With Ipad, it is all Apple - good or bad. I have been told that I should just update with ROMS developed by hobbyists - and then I read about the bricked devices that will never work again and have invalidated warranties because of of these ROMS.
1775 wrote: I have an Android. I am wondering if I should have gone with the Ipad. Here is why. As to free RV specific related apps Iphone/Ipad/Itouch has more. When I hear about an app that would be great to have for the RV, it is for Apple (including the Good Sam app). Apple also has a history of supporting their devices and every update of the Iphone/pad/touch OS has been applied to all of the versions as long as the hardare supports it. This is not the case with Android and I have a Samsung that is less than 6 months old that will not be updated to the newest OS - because Samsung does not want to - nor are they actively supporting the device with firmware updates. With Android you are at the mercy of whatever each individual manufacturer decides. With Ipad, it is all Apple - good or bad. I have been told that I should just update with ROMS developed by hobbyists - and then I read about the bricked devices that will never work again and have invalidated warranties because of of these ROMS.
There are pros and cons to both. RE updates to Android, if you want updates first and always, get a Nexus, the Google phone that always gets updates first and promptly. A new Nexus comes out every year. It's not just the manufacturer that sometimes drags their feet on updates, it is your carrier.
Android is vastly outselling iphone now
http://www.droid-life.com/2012/05/07/androids-market-share-balloons-to-61-in-the-u-s-during-q1-ios-drops-to-29/
I think that is because Android is now innovating faster than Apple. Apple finally copied and added folders, though they still don't have widgets, which are so very useful. And Apple is sometime soon going to have to lose the tiny screen and copy Android and go with a larger screen. That seems to be the preference of the market. After all, these are computers that happen to make phone calls. And iphone is still on laggy 3G, whereas all Verizon Android phones and are on Verizon's blazing fast 4G/LTE. The other carriers have 4G service also for their Android offerings. Personally I never find a lack of good apps to download for Android.
You Apple folks, if you like your systems, good on you. I don't care what system anyone purchases, and I'm not trying to start a war. To each his own. Competition is good for all of us. As far as tablets, I personally wouldn't pay the high cost of an iPad, but if it is worth that cost to you, then by all means ...
Rooting Android phones is not a requirement for a good experience. But it is nice to have the option to root and apply Roms if one chooses. The online community is nothing but helpful. I have rooted phones in the past, but choose not to the last couple of years. The incidence of bricked phones as a result of rooting is extremely rare, BTW.
Good luck to all with their choices. Both are great platforms and getting better!
I also was not sure how we would use a tablet as we already had a laptop and a desktop computer.
So, I decided to limit my cost and bought an 8" Vizio Vtab1008 from Costco for $189.
The VTAB came out with the GingerBread OS which a few months later was upgraded by Vizio to the HoneyComb OS. That upgrade alone was a great improvement to the VTAB as it facilitated better storage on the optional 32G SD card.
We use it as a GPS, email, browsing, and simple game playing. I also read some Kindle books, and use the leveling app.
Frankly, our use of the tablet does not justify owning one so I am glad I have its functionality for a small cost.
There is an active forum for VTAB on the Android Tablets.net that might be worth a visit to get some info.
Frankly, our daughter's 7 person family is highly Apple Ipad and Iphone populated. It works well for them given the active lifestyle and text messaging. We old folks just do not have the need.
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. Nothing is worse than you need wifi to read your favorite news. All these little things add up in favor of Apple, in my case.
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