[Q] HELP: Save me from going to the Apple side

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Hey guys,

So here's the situation:

I've been excited about the Transformer for weeks. I'm getting one as my birthday/graduation present as soon as I can. But, thanks to the delayed US release, my mind has been wandering to other tablets, and, inevitably, the iPad popped into my mind. Right now, I still want to purchase the Transformer, but the thought that the iPad might be more worth it still lingers in my mind...

Here's what convinced me to even THINK about the iPad:

65,000+ apps for iPad vs <100 for Android Tabs
More responsiveness on the iPad's end vs the Transformer (seen only through videos)
Better camera on the iPad: the Transformer looks like it isn't showing the true color
Video playback on the Transformer seems choppy.

At the moment, the only PLUS for the Transformer in my mind is that you can purchase a dedicated dock for it which will make taking notes in college a lot easier + extend the battery.

PLEASE, can you guys convince me that the Transformer is the better choice so I don't feel like I should have purchased the iPad when I eventually do purchase a Transformer? Tell me why *you* would purchase a Transformer over an iPad.

(Perhaps I'm overlooking/misjudging some critical features of the Transformer that outperform the iPad; if so, please address them!)

EDIT: I suppose before recommending a device you guys should know how I plan to use the device:

Mostly as a productivity/entertainment device:
Taking notes in college classes
Standard internet use
Gaming
Movie and music use
Maayyyyybe as a GPS if it is capable of acting as one

Good luck taking notes on an iPad lol. But really, that's a huge reason why I'm going with the transformer, I'm also a college student who needs that keyboard dock.

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The two devices are so different. If price isn't an issue and you're not opposed to a more closed environment with fewer options and tweaking potential, then the iPad may just be the right tablet for you.

Transformer. Because it's not apple. Haha no but seriously I would go with the transformer. IMHO I think apple is to restrictive to do may of the things you can do with android.

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If you like a grid of squares, the iPad got you covered. And it is an AWESOME looking grid of squares.

Sent from my Atrix

Originally Posted by PuerkitoBio

If you like a grid of squares, the iPad got you covered. And it is an AWESOME looking grid of squares.

Sent from my Atrix

Hahaha

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OP "thanks to the delayed US release"... As far as I've heard and read from these posts and other sites the US release is not delayed and on track for Tuesday Apr 26. There is a UK delay, but not US.

Originally Posted by Dan76

OP "thanks to the delayed US release"... As far as I've heard and read from these posts and other sites the US release is not delayed and on track for Tuesday Apr 26. There is a UK delay, but not US.

What he said ^

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Originally Posted by gubiguy

65,000+ apps for iPad vs <100 for Android Tabs

Demonstrably untrue. Apple's iPad is limited to running non-iPad native apps as a tiny window in the center of the screen; Android has no such limitation. Hence iPad apps had to be recoded; most Android apps work just fine on tablets as-is.

This is just spin -- a fictional advantage created by Apple to hide their own disadvantage.

More responsiveness on the iPad's end vs the Transformer (seen only through videos)

Probably is true right now -- nobody except Google and their hardware partners know if they can catch up here.

Better camera on the iPad: the Transformer looks like it isn't showing the true color

Easily fixed if it's just color accuracy / white balance. The Transformer's camera currently has bigger issues in terms of stuttering and huge shutter lag. Hopefully those will be resolved. Ask yourself this though -- are you really going to use a large tablet for photos and videos, rather than a compact camera or cellphone?

Video playback on the Transformer seems choppy.

Video capture from the rear cam is. Video playback isn't. I've seen numerous examples online playing even Full HD (1080i) videos downsampled by the Transformer to fit its own screen, and the reviewers have said they played smoothly. I'm confident that at 720p, the Transformer is more than capable of smooth video.

At the moment, the only PLUS for the Transformer in my mind is that you can purchase a dedicated dock for it which will make taking notes in college a lot easier + extend the battery.

Which even without all of the above is a huge plus. Nobody can type on an on-screen keyboard as fast as a good touch-typer on a reasonable keyboard, and the reviews of this keyboard are pretty much all positive. Plus you get a touchpad, so you don't have to keep reaching over the keyboard to make selections like you do with bluetooth keyboards.

PLEASE, can you guys convince me that the Transformer is the better choice so I don't feel like I should have purchased the iPad when I eventually do purchase a Transformer? Tell me why *you* would purchase a Transformer over an iPad.

Beyond the above, companies that emphasise openness and listen to the end users, not a company that locks everything down, does its best to prevent any competition with its own software, and in the latest scandal, continues to record your entire GPS location history even when specifically told not to do so.

Maayyyyybe as a GPS if it is capable of acting as one

It is. You'll just either need a device to tether to, or an offline mapping solution. Personally I'm waiting eagerly for Route 66 (http://www.66.com) to release; they're based on TomTom data, and I've been using a TomTom for years, so I know their data is great.

Honestly I think both of the tablets do what you want fairly well. Here's what you have to consider and decide if these things matter to you.

Do you care about flash content on the web and viewing it on your tablet?
Are you concerned with price?
Do you like to tinker and mess around with Android/OSs?

The iPad is a great all-around tablet. If you don't mind spending some extra money, or the lack of flash, it might be a better option for you. There are some good keyboard options for it. I dislike trying to get documents off of iOS products. I like being able to connect an Android device like a flash drive and drag and drop stuff off (which is super helpful for using computer labs that may not have itunes at school).

Why am I buying this tablet?

I'm invested in Android (own apps/heavy google app user)
$400 feels like a good entry point to try out tablets
I like the community and dealing with fixing my issues on my own and changing ROMs and kernels, tweaking the looks and performance.