[Q] Should I get the GT 10.1 or wait?

---

So I really want a Android 3.x Tab. and I really don't want an iPad 1 or 2. So since the Galaxy Tab 10.1 16GB is $499 and got a good review and thought it would be great!

So....

Should I go pick one up or should i wait?

Way I see it it's a good buy if you want something now...
There are things that I know are coming but are probably not until early to mid next year and these are...
300+ DPI screen (much brighter and more battery efficient too!)
and
Quad Cores with a decent GPU included (Tegra 2 GPU is meh)

I love the slim and lightness of the 10.1
I wont get another tablet until it has those features and is equally as light and thin and I know there wont be anything coming out this year that ticks all those boxes.

Also Galaxy Tab is unlocked and was the official Google dev tablet so you know you're going to get good support here on XDA

It's a great tab but Samsung can be pretty sluggish with bringing out updates and imho they've messed up with the 10.1/10.1v/GoogleIO 10.1 model confusion and appear to be more interested in generating promotional materials than supporting their user base.

The Samsung app suite has little or no publicly listed support for the 10.1 range - even though they have the apps on the devices (take a look at samsung apps, samsung drive, etc for an example of what devices they support).

I love my Samsung 10.1v - but if was buying again for the first time - I'd consider the Asus Transformer a little more. They've been a bit more proactive with pushing out updates.

Originally Posted by LevitateJay

Also Galaxy Tab is unlocked and was the official Google dev tablet so you know you're going to get good support here on XDA

I thought the Xoom was the only Google Experience Tablet? If Samsung pushes out Touchwiz doesn't that change the GT10.1 from the standard software?

Originally Posted by Ansextra

I thought the Xoom was the only Google Experience Tablet? If Samsung pushes out Touchwiz doesn't that change the GT10.1 from the standard software?

I'm hoping the Touchwiz skin really is only skin deep and that we can switch back to stock Honeycomb without issues. I wouldn't be surprised if Google is twisting the manufacturer's arm to make this be the case.

TouchWiz isn't just a launcher - it's pretty pervasive.
It looks like at least some TouchWiz components will be needed just to get updates. Currently you need a Samsung account (part of the suite of apk's installed with TouchWiz) to update the firmware.

Not that TouchWiz is all bad. Once you remove many of the widgets from the Homescreens - it's fairly pleasant to use.
The most important aspect needed is restyling the theme & some perf enhancements then I think most people will be happy.

Originally Posted by Ansextra

I thought the Xoom was the only Google Experience Tablet? If Samsung pushes out Touchwiz doesn't that change the GT10.1 from the standard software?

I suppose so... That still doesn't change that 2000 devopers got 10.1 tabs though haha

Originally Posted by LevitateJay

There are things that I know are coming but are probably not until early to mid next year and these are...
300+ DPI screen (much brighter and more battery efficient too!)
and
Quad Cores with a decent GPU included (Tegra 2 GPU is meh)

FWIW, Tegra 3 is due out later this year, though I expect you are right that they probably won't be as thin/light as the Galaxy. Motorola and Asus are among the first ones due out with Tegra 3 tablets, and at least in the case of the Asus, I expect the form factor will be similar to the current device, since compatibility with the existing dock is expected.

Also Galaxy Tab is unlocked and was the official Google dev tablet so you know you're going to get good support here on XDA

The initial ones were unlocked, but it appears that newer ones are starting to show up locked. Personally, I wouldn't expect better "XDA support" on the Galaxy vs. others.

Originally Posted by LevitateJay

I suppose so... That still doesn't change that 2000 devopers got 10.1 tabs though haha

True but keep in mind they were given out by Samsung not by Google.

The only thing I don't like about the 10.1 (and pretty much every other honeycomb tablet) is that they're all Tegra 2 and frankly... it stinks. It can't do 720p playback very well and the GPU "acceleration" is still quite choppy. I'm not sure why Samsung didn't just stick their Exynos into the tab but I suppose the drivers just aren't available in Honeycomb. It's a bit strange having a phone that's WAY more powerful even underclocked at 500mhz my Galaxy S2 still records and plays back 1080p fine. I can dump 1080p MKV files from my computer with no formatting onto the phone and it plays them back flawlessly while the tablet can't even play back 720p MKV's without problems.

The main thing that I want to use the tablet for is browsing on a bigger screen... which is alright but the browser is just not as smooth as "other" fruit flavored tablets. Also when not in landscape mode the thing just gets even more choppier. It feels like I'm beta testing Honeycomb for them...