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Well...I've had it for a couple months, and Dell has still not delivered on their promise of official Honeycomb.
I just got hired for a job, and should have a few hundred by the end of the month.
The Asus transformer meets all my needs - an official Honeycomb tablet, it can be used as a notebook (it has a docking keyboard and can be flashed to dual-boot linux) and there are already plans for a Transformer 2, which depending on price, I may wait for (running a Tegra 3 quad-core.)
So, I'm highly considering switching to Asus.
bluesy_92 said:
Well...I've had it for a couple months, and Dell has still not delivered on their promise of official Honeycomb.
I just got hired for a job, and should have a few hundred by the end of the month.
The Asus transformer meets all my needs - an official Honeycomb tablet, it can be used as a notebook (it has a docking keyboard and can be flashed to dual-boot linux) and there are already plans for a Transformer 2, which depending on price, I may wait for (running a Tegra 3 quad-core.)
So, I'm highly considering switching to Asus.
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Click to collapse
Ditto... Dell is suckin it up when it comes to support.
Do it. I hate this thing. Steve has done so much and it's still only bearable. I used it for like the first month I had it and went back to using my much smaller phone. Mainly due to the terrible display. Unfortunately there is no rom that can improve a display. I can't even sell it. People use it and there like oh no thanks. I may have to pay someone to take it away lol. But for realz tho. I would sell it if I were you. Just hope you have an easier time of it than I am.
Edited because I'm tired and shiz didn't make sense.
Sent from my Inspire 4g using XDA Premium App
I have both the transformer and the streak . I like them both. To each there own.
Sent from my streak7 using Tapatalk
You people crack me up and I'm not saying this to be mean, but why would you buy a device on hopes that it may or may not be upgraded. Think about it, staples ad's and website say OTA Honeycomb Upgradable, and Dell's website just says something like OTA Upgradable. To me that doesn't say it will be it says it can be. If and when this gets upgraded it would be 3.2, but you can't just snap your fingers and say here it is. That's not to say that Dell is working on an upgrade because I don't know. I'm not sure what angles you are using this at, but the angles I use it at to view e-mails, read a book are fine for me. I mean I wouldn't have paid $300 for the WiFi only (which is what I have) nor would I have locked myself into a contract with it, but I gladly bought it with the $100 off coupon and I did have to return my first one because the capacitive buttons weren't working. You can't buy technology on hopes and promises, you have to research and decide if the device as is will fulfill your needs. If not don't buy it. This for me is doing everything I need it to as is. I want Honeycomb as much as the next person, but what this device has been out what at total of 6 months or something and honeycomb has been available for less than that. I've had my droid 2 for a year and Verizon still has yet to roll out Gingerbread for it (I did however get tired of waiting and flashed CM7 on it).
If you are leaving and you say you cant sell it easy, ill buy it from you if you make me a good enough deal. I love my ds7. Ill get one for my wife
Let me know!
Thanks
dpoindexter said:
You people crack me up and I'm not saying this to be mean, but why would you buy a device on hopes that it may or may not be upgraded. Think about it, staples ad's and website say OTA Honeycomb Upgradable, and Dell's website just says something like OTA Upgradable. To me that doesn't say it will be it says it can be. If and when this gets upgraded it would be 3.2, but you can't just snap your fingers and say here it is. That's not to say that Dell is working on an upgrade because I don't know. I'm not sure what angles you are using this at, but the angles I use it at to view e-mails, read a book are fine for me. I mean I wouldn't have paid $300 for the WiFi only (which is what I have) nor would I have locked myself into a contract with it, but I gladly bought it with the $100 off coupon and I did have to return my first one because the capacitive buttons weren't working. You can't buy technology on hopes and promises, you have to research and decide if the device as is will fulfill your needs. If not don't buy it. This for me is doing everything I need it to as is. I want Honeycomb as much as the next person, but what this device has been out what at total of 6 months or something and honeycomb has been available for less than that. I've had my droid 2 for a year and Verizon still has yet to roll out Gingerbread for it (I did however get tired of waiting and flashed CM7 on it).
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Go to Dell automated support and search Honeycomb. It says there WILL be Honeycomb. They didn't say that it's upgradeable, they said there would be an upgrade. In fact, I think if there is not a Honeycomb upgrade, it may be enough that someone can take a class-action against them. And you make a good point that the tablet has been out longer than the OS, but that can cut both ways. This means Dell had the hardware plenty long to create a Honeycomb build for it...if they were going to, I don't see why it wouldn't have been done by now.
pyraxiate said:
If you are leaving and you say you cant sell it easy, ill buy it from you if you make me a good enough deal. I love my ds7. Ill get one for my wife
Let me know!
Thanks
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Click to collapse
I am considering keeping it as a backup or to carry around, even if I get the transformer (7 inch is easier for me.) But if I do decide to sell it, I'll tell you
bluesy_92 said:
I am considering keeping it as a backup or to carry around, even if I get the transformer (7 inch is easier for me.) But if I do decide to sell it, I'll tell you
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I bought mine with the staples deal because it was a 7 inch tablet with nice speakers and a tegra 2 processor and the two cameras. It is a good deal for 200.00. If HC gets on here that is a bonus for me.
Sent from my Dell Streak 7 using Tapatalk
sdelliott31 said:
I bought mine with the staples deal because it was a 7 inch tablet with nice speakers and a tegra 2 processor and the two cameras. It is a good deal for 200.00. If HC gets on here that is a bonus for me.
Sent from my Dell Streak 7 using Tapatalk
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I picked mine up for 200 brand new in box unopened and a new unopened otterbox commuter case. I love craigslist lol. So far overall im pleased with it. Screen resolution with rdp is acceptable. I use mine tethered to my 50 / Month cricket kyocera zio phone. Their internet speed is so much better than at&t 3g service. With a 7 inch screen I wouldn't want a higher resolution. A higher resolution means everything would be tiny in rdp (I need to use it while driving like a touchscreen mobile workstation) and so far with a bluetooth keyboard it does nicely. The viewing angle isn't the best but acceptable. Im not even pressed for hc because it does EVERYTHING it should without a hitch ( rdp, netflix, movies, game console emulators, 3-4 hrs battery w/ heavy usage, ect). You get the storage graphics and processor of the large tablets ....but also something even better. IT FITS IN YOUR BACK POCKET!!!!!!!!! (Im a smaller guy w/ a 30 inch waist and it fits easily in any pair of Levi or old navy rear pants pocket I have
Just my opinion though.
bluesy_92, you're talking about this link: www5 dot nohold dot net/Dell/Loginr.aspx?pid=7&Streak=Streak%205&login=1&userrole=USen which is not even on the dell website, and holds no merit in my opinion. I would look at this: www dot dell dot com/us/p/mobile-streak-7/pd click on tech specs and it clearly states "Android™ 2.2 (Froyo) with Over the Air Upgrade Capability". Class action suit? So if my laptop is not compatible with the next version of Windows or Linux, I should go after the manufacturer of the laptop, or I can't run OSX (not that I would want to) on my laptop should I go after Apple or HP? The fact is, that Honeycomb 3 and 3.1 had well documented problems with the 7" screen size so since 3.2 which is said to fix this has only been available for what a few weeks, if that? So while I agree we need Honeycomb, I'm patient enough for Dell and Google to get it right. Google hasn't even released the source yet because it's just not done. Would you rather have a device that is at least IMO stable on 2.2.2 or a device that may or may not be stable on Honeycomb as it stands? Why are there no Honeycomb 7" tablets on the market currently? I mean even searching for the Chinese brands there are none. When we get it, if we get it, it will be awesome, but as it stands I'm happy having a device that actually works for me, this is not my first tablet, in fact it's my 4th.
dpoindexter said:
bluesy_92, you're talking about this link: www5 dot nohold dot net/Dell/Loginr.aspx?pid=7&Streak=Streak%205&login=1&userrole=USen which is not even on the dell website, and holds no merit in my opinion. I would look at this: www dot dell dot com/us/p/mobile-streak-7/pd click on tech specs and it clearly states "Android™ 2.2 (Froyo) with Over the Air Upgrade Capability". Class action suit? So if my laptop is not compatible with the next version of Windows or Linux, I should go after the manufacturer of the laptop, or I can't run OSX (not that I would want to) on my laptop should I go after Apple or HP? The fact is, that Honeycomb 3 and 3.1 had well documented problems with the 7" screen size so since 3.2 which is said to fix this has only been available for what a few weeks, if that? So while I agree we need Honeycomb, I'm patient enough for Dell and Google to get it right. Google hasn't even released the source yet because it's just not done. Would you rather have a device that is at least IMO stable on 2.2.2 or a device that may or may not be stable on Honeycomb as it stands? Why are there no Honeycomb 7" tablets on the market currently? I mean even searching for the Chinese brands there are none. When we get it, if we get it, it will be awesome, but as it stands I'm happy having a device that actually works for me, this is not my first tablet, in fact it's my 4th.
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A computer being compatible with the next version of Windows is a different matter - unless it is specifically stated that it will be compatible.
As it stands now, it says 2.2 on the Dell website, because that is the current OS. The fact that is says that there WILL, not MIGHT, be an upgrade, means they need to deliver. And as far as I'm concerned, there are already 7 inch tablets planned for release on Honeycomb 3.2, and we've had the hardware MUCH longer than they have, Dell had time. At the very least, if Honeycomb isn't coming out anytime soon, they can at least acknowledge it, rather than pretending it doesn't exist, and say straight-up that there is going to be a wait.
Oh, and if you haven't been here last week, Dell Mobility was telling people that Honeycomb was already being pushed to devices, despite the fact the update was never pushed. Also, this was around the time of the Staples deal. Any company that lies to their user-base to get sales, does not deserve them.
Yes, 2.2 is very stable, but Dells customer support - not so much.
I understand what you're saying but believe you are missing my point. Yes there are 7" versions planned to be released, like the Acer Iconia A100, which was supposed to come out earlier this year, but has yet to come out due to the issues with Honeycomb and screen size, not that there may not have been hardware issues or something but what I read was mainly honeycomb. Even the much hyped Vizio tablet is shipping with Android 2.3, because as they state "Honeycomb is just not stable, once we feel it's stable we will consider an upgrade". Now don't misunderstand me, yes the tablet we have is Honeycomb compatible, I have yet to find anything on the Dell website that states it WILL get it, though I have read that it was announced at CES that it WILL get it. I believe it will get it. And yes I did read the posts on here regarding Dell telling people it was being pushed when it wasn't. The biggest problem with companies is over promising and under delivering, personally I am not a Dell person (and actually hate the company) and had a hard time actually purchasing a Dell product. But purchased this device based on the hardware and my needs, that and the $100 off, but did not read forums before making my purchase so as not to be swayed. My business partner has the 7" Galaxy tab, and made her ask Verizon before getting locked in if it would ever see Honeycomb, they flat out told her no. Now the staples website does state "Android™ 2.2-based tablet with over-the-air upgrade capability to Android™ 3.0 (Honeycomb). Upgrade date TBA." But I still say, make your purchases based on if the device fills your need as is, not what the device could be. I have had my share of crappy support from Dell in the past with business computers, so much as to tell them to go f$$# themselves I'm voiding the warranty and fixing it myself.
I flip flop like a politician on this tablet. Some days I hate it some days I love it.
Sent from my streak7 using XDA Premium App
best $199 tablet in the market
This is best tablet for $199...even with honeystreak thanks djsteve...7 inch tablet perfect size,I use this more than my ipad 2....
Yeah dell will probably not update the streak 7 since 10 inch dell streak pro coming out in Sept..if they do it will be updated with froyo 2.2.3 not honeycomb but who knows for sure...if you go website it doesnt look promising...we will see hopefully we do get update honeycomb-----
Maybe they're holding out in order to release IceCreamSandwich. Why release HC when everyone will be screaming for ice cream? You scream, I scream...we all scream for ice cream.
sdelliott31 said:
I bought mine with the staples deal because it was a 7 inch tablet with nice speakers and a tegra 2 processor and the two cameras. It is a good deal for 200.00. If HC gets on here that is a bonus for me.
Sent from my Dell Streak 7 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Ditto here. I really like my Archos 70S tablet which pretty much has the same general specs, screen resolution, limited viewing angle, Android 2.2.x, etc. Since its from Archos it plays tons of media even formats the Streak can't. Much lighter than the Streak with better battery life too.
Yet with all that, I think the $200 I paid for my Streak at the Staples sale is a bargain. This is an official Google approved device so no need for a hack just to get market. Has a built-in GPS and enough system memory and storage to run a ton of apps at the same time and have a plethora of downloaded programs to run. The Archos 256 M of memory and 300 M of app storage is quite limiting, but then it was designed with a price point way cheaper than the Streak. So no Gorilla glass either. No dock although it does have a USB port on the device which is handy and a mini HDMI port that I much prefer on a dock like the Streak.
Add to that the Tegra2 chipset on the streak, the capacity to vibrate (I assume that's part of being a Google approved device), a compass (ditto) and there's nothing like it on the market.
Getting HC is just gravy as far as I'm concerned.
pyraxiate said:
I picked mine up for 200 brand new in box unopened and a new unopened otterbox commuter case. I love craigslist lol. So far overall im pleased with it. Screen resolution with rdp is acceptable. I use mine tethered to my 50 / Month cricket kyocera zio phone. Their internet speed is so much better than at&t 3g service. With a 7 inch screen I wouldn't want a higher resolution. A higher resolution means everything would be tiny in rdp (I need to use it while driving like a touchscreen mobile workstation) and so far with a bluetooth keyboard it does nicely. The viewing angle isn't the best but acceptable. Im not even pressed for hc because it does EVERYTHING it should without a hitch ( rdp, netflix, movies, game console emulators, 3-4 hrs battery w/ heavy usage, ect). You get the storage graphics and processor of the large tablets ....but also something even better. IT FITS IN YOUR BACK POCKET!!!!!!!!! (Im a smaller guy w/ a 30 inch waist and it fits easily in any pair of Levi or old navy rear pants pocket I have
Just my opinion though.
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Click to collapse
I agree, its really the only tablet that you CAN fit in your pocket, and as far as the viewing goes its not like your displaying it for a whole room to view it at once, by a big screen tv at that...
I just saw that Bestbuy will be selling the Dell Streak 7" with Honeycomb installed for $160. I saw this right after I finally decided to go ahead and buy a Kindle Fire. Now it seems almost like a no brainer to get a near full featured tablet with the same size screen as a Kindle Fire but for $40 less, but it also seems too good to be true.
So I wanted to know, are you all happy with your Streak? Would you say that $160 is worth it.
I really appreciate any input.
Thanks.
I felt in love with Dell Streak 7 already, too bad that I bought this for my gf, and giving it to her tomorrow. Dell Streak 7 is a good tablet, of coz the resolution is not high so it doesn't let you play all the HD games and you don't have much RAM to play heavy games, but if you use it for entertainment, relax with no "tough" game then it is better Kindle Fire. And of coz this is just my opinion. To be frank, I don't play much with my Iconia A500 since I got this
Very much so! I love this little bad boy underdog.
I am happy with mine. I wish the screen had a little better resolution. Bluetooth tethering to my phone is a snap. I basically wanted something that was like my phone but larger and it works just perfect as that. Its much easier and faster to use than having to drag out my laptop.
I initially liked my DS7 but over time it began to annoy me. The screen began to make my eyes hurt when reading and the battery would run down quickly. I ended up getting several Nook Tablets for the family and for my purposes, I'm more satisfied. The NT screen is much sharper and the battery lasts hours longer than the DS. I only used the camera once and never used the GPS so the trade is worth it since I mainly use my tabs for reading, surfing and light game play. I did initially miss the variety of apps but someone came up witha workaround and now I can sideload with apps free sites and Amazon app store.
I like my Dell Streak 7, the 7 inch size and weight is much more handy then my 10.1 inch tablet in its portfolio case. Basicly the compact handling of a phone with a readable (as opposed to squintable) screen size. Screen resolution has not been a problem infact it is a nice match to Netflix.
The short 4-5 hour battery life is the only aspect I wish was better.
rockhunter said:
The short 4-5 hour battery life is the only aspect I wish was better.
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Is that for a mix of usage or for straight video watching?
With my rooted DS7, using SetCPU and setting up custom profiles, I tend to see about 4-5 for watching vidoes, but get about 6-10 hours for playing games, and a 4 day standby time.
The battery isn't a major issue for me. Not a fan of the stock launcher though. Really want to use LauncherPro, but it keeps fc'ing. Anyone have any suggestions on other LauncherPro like launchers?
Also for some reason, I can't listen to voicemails with Google Voice. Still got to figure that one out.
Device does not support WiFi channels 12-14, makes a noise when speakers are enabled, batery life is not so good, WiFi signal is worse than other tabletst, display is very bad (angle/resolution), also the device is clumby (fat and heavy)
BUT
it is very cheap and very fast. im fine with it so far, but i might switch to another device.
got one form BEST BUY. still on the way.!!!! but I'm Sure the screen not the BEST!
so far so good only one problem it is not reading from SD Card.
JohnnyDanger said:
I just saw that Bestbuy will be selling the Dell Streak 7" with Honeycomb installed for $160. I saw this right after I finally decided to go ahead and buy a Kindle Fire. Now it seems almost like a no brainer to get a near full featured tablet with the same size screen as a Kindle Fire but for $40 less, but it also seems too good to be true.
So I wanted to know, are you all happy with your Streak? Would you say that $160 is worth it.
I really appreciate any input.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I am not. And Don't buy a streak 7 given so many much better choices out there in the market.
My DS7 was a total disaster now I see it. It was my first tablet and I was inexperience to make an informed buy. I bought from TMO store on the release date and then found that no Dev is supporting it.
Eventually I participated a donation led by someone else and we send a device to DJ Steve who became the one and only dedicated dev on DS7, who are also working on many other devices at the same time.
Screen horrible, battery horrible, TMobile 4 G signal always break down for no reason and requite a reboot to get it back. GPS NEVER works well for a trip without a hiccup. This is my third DS7 already because I exchanged the previous 2 with Dell because all sorts of reasons.
Since you are asking advise I assume you won't want to listen to holiday choirs and holy praises. I am the bad guy who is critical.
Bottom line, DONT BUY A DISCONTINUED PRODUCT WITHOUT DEV SUPPORT.
I'm thinking about what 7-inch tablet i'll going to buy: Dell Streak 7 or Lenovo A1.
Sent from my MB520 using XDA App
jiwengang said:
No I am not. And Don't buy a streak 7 given so many much better choices out there in the market.
My DS7 was a total disaster now I see it. It was my first tablet and I was inexperience to make an informed buy. I bought from TMO store on the release date and then found that no Dev is supporting it.
Eventually I participated a donation led by someone else and we send a device to DJ Steve who became the one and only dedicated dev on DS7, who are also working on many other devices at the same time.
Screen horrible, battery horrible, TMobile 4 G signal always break down for no reason and requite a reboot to get it back. GPS NEVER works well for a trip without a hiccup. This is my third DS7 already because I exchanged the previous 2 with Dell because all sorts of reasons.
Since you are asking advise I assume you won't want to listen to holiday choirs and holy praises. I am the bad guy who is critical.
Bottom line, DONT BUY A DISCONTINUED PRODUCT WITHOUT DEV SUPPORT.
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Click to collapse
What other products are there? Currently it's the cheapest (mid/high end) 7" tablet available, it's main competetors are the gtab7/+ which is either lower specced or more expensive. It was just sold for $160 on black friday new and can be found pretty easily for
~$250 on ebay in good condition.
Sub $200 tabs cant compete with it as they have very low end internals.
The S7 with Froyo and the s7 with Honeycomb are completely different devices (not literally, but the way it works)
I didnt buy mine until black friday as I so no point with froyo on it, but it's pretty great with HC.
As for the 4g, I honestly dont see the point of a 4g tablet, I have the wifi one and simply tether to my S5 (and also avoid paying a 2nd line just for data)
The GPS is rather weak on it, but in my case the wifi one is likely worse at wifi then the 4g one. It works with some hiccups.
So what if it'd discontinued, even if dell did support it for another 6 more months, the most we'd get is like 3.2 -> 3.2.2/3.2.4, there's no chance it'd get updated to ICS.
You have your warrentee, they're not gonna magically/instantly null it, they're still gonna support active warrentee owners until they all expire. (it might become them only offering refurbs but this is still support)
Bottom line: for $190-240 there's really little competition, it's either the S7 or the gtabs.
The Gtab 7 is slower but about the same price
The Gtab 7+ is faster but more expensive
The Lenovo A1 is slower but about the same price
How about nook tablet or kindle fire? Since people here enjoy custom rom anyway, os on these two won't be a problem I guess
Sent from my DROID RAZR using XDA App
Hmm that is a good point, I had forgotten about those.
Depending on how you look at it, they only run GB and not HC/ICS.
If you wanna use it as a normal android tablet, they're not currently ready for that purpose as they dont have any stable roms yet.
I do believe the kindle is slower, but it'd definitely got more devs, and when CM9 hits stable it might be a pretty good choice. It's tegra 2 vs CM9 for the same price point.
I cant say much about the nooks, the old nook is much slower but cheaper and will likely get CM9 (it already has CM7), I dont read much at all about the new nook except I expect it to also get CM9 eventually.
I assume the S7 will still be the fastest of all 7" tabs except vs the gtab7+.
The nooks and kindles are advertised as ereaders, with the kindle as kina ereader+multimedia. They're not advertised as full on tablets so they can be underpowered for their age.
jiwengang said:
No I am not. And Don't buy a streak 7 given so many much better choices out there in the market.
same here. i get more and more unhappy every day. multitouch works only to up to two fingers. you are right about gps, i tested it and got only 2 satelites in 2 minutes while standing in the garden.
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alex2308 said:
same here. i get more and more unhappy every day. multitouch works only to up to two fingers. you are right about gps, i tested it and got only 2 satelites in 2 minutes while standing in the garden.
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Click to collapse
There is a fix for that
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1085354
I lock on in 30 seconds.
I guess I look at it as being the best $160 tablet I've ever owned. The only issue is the battery life, but I can charge it twice a day for the hundreds I'm saving over comparable devices.
The screen sure does take a lot of flack on the Streak 7, but if you look for the silver lining, just about every app works at that resolution. You don't have some of the scaling issues that higher resolution tabs have.
I also hear a lot of comparisons to the Fire and the Nook...and, if they get root and a good custom ROM, then they might be better for "basic" tablet functions, but if you want full tablet functions out of the box, with all the cameras, mics, GPS, etc...then the Streak is still a better option.
Ah well, this forum is pretty much dead, so I'm sure this will fall on deaf ears (or blind eyes?).
I'm happy though!
ExploreMN said:
I guess I look at it as being the best $160 tablet I've ever owned. The only issue is the battery life, but I can charge it twice a day for the hundreds I'm saving over comparable devices.
Ah well, this forum is pretty much dead, so I'm sure this will fall on deaf ears (or blind eyes?).
I'm happy though!
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Click to collapse
I bought a Dell Streak 7" last week that was a couple of months old for $150. It came with Froyo but I upgraded to Honeycomb and it's like having a different tablet, really nice for what it is.
It's not an iPad2, Asus Transformer, Xoom, Acer etc. I looked at all of those tablets two days ago and the screens on them are very much nicer, but...they cost $300-$400-900+, not $150. The Streak is a real tablet not one of those $100 unknown brand Android tablet gadgets that last a week. The wifi and GPS work great along with having Honeycomb now I really like it.
I owned an iPad2 for 4 months and it is a fantastic device, it also cost me $1000 for wifi/3G and a Smart Cover. I've had the Evo4G since Aug. of '10 and love Android so in the future I'm thinking about the Asus Transformer that's coming out later this month. It will cost 2 to 3 times as much as the Streak, it will have a beautiful screen, and be worth the extra money no doubt.
I use the Streak for Flying and it is outstanding for various Aviation moving map programs. For $150 instead of $1400-2500 for a Garmin GPS aviation unit it is a bargain.
So you're not alone, the Dell Streak 7 does what it's supposed to for a reasonable price, and I like it too.
DC
Hi,
I have been thinking about buying a Android tablet for some time. I don't really need a tablet, but would like to give it a try anyhow. I would probably use it mostly for surfing the web, reading new sites and watching movies when on the train. I might play some games from time to time. I would also like to use it for Skype voice and video chat. I'm also prepared to root the device and flash custom roms for better performance.
At the moment the Galaxy Tab 8.9 (Wifi) is on sale for about $ 220 here in Switzerland. It seems like a good deal for this tablet and within the amound of money I am prepared to spend for something "unnessecary", but would you still buy it given that the hardware is somewhat dated? How well does Skype work?
Any advice is greately appreciated!
Cheers
TiredHornet
To my opinion, the Galaxy Tab 8.9 has a unique form factor and weight (approx 420g), that make it still very desirable to my eyes. The screen is very good. ICS with an alternative launcher like 'Nova' or 'Apex' makes it lovely to use on a daily basis (I don't appreciate the Touchwiz one much).
I learned to live without any sd card expansion slot. I bought a 32gb model to compensate for the lack of memory extension, but finally I don't use the internal storage at all, except of course for apps. If I had to buy it again, I would simply stick with the 16Gb version...
The only complain I have is the outdated Tegra 2 processor, that's why I use to overclock a little bit (1.2Ghz). Works like a charm.
PS: I tested Skype a little bit and seemed good enough to me and to the people at the other end.
Yes, definitely. sgauge points out some great benefits of the 8.9, the form factor is just right. I'm still using 3.2 Overcome Rom also OC'd to 1.2 and really it runs super smooth. I also have the 16gb and that's plenty of space. I bought the usb dongle which can read off a usb stick so no need to carry movies on the tablet itself. It's really replaced my laptop for internet browsing, following live sports streams online and casual emailing. Just an extra aside, but I also invested in the official external keyboard and dock (amazon uk had them at rock bottom prices a few weeks back) and they are classy add-ons making the tablet a real smart package. And with ICS seemingly here, perhaps I'll think of upgrading my rom too!
Update: Skype works great, impressed with video/sound quality and stability!
Hmm, $220 for a 8.9 is practically a steal
It helps to know what you want it for, but I use it on train commute, and a lot of casual browsing on the couch. Basically, I could use my phone for that, but the tablet has more comfort and battery.
I find the 16gb not enough, if you take it on holiday and want some movies. I got the usb reader for $3 dollars shipped from China (ebay), much better value than €30 local shop.
I dislike the weight and size of a 10.1, to the point that I think 8.0 to 8.5 should be ideal size.
Good luck
Thx for all the advice! I think I'm going to go the shop right now and have a look at the tablet. I had it in my hands some month ago and found the size really good. And with the official ICS release starting to roll out, it is probably a even better deal at $220.
I bought it in Ch (living in Constance) and absolutely love it.
Had an Acer Iconia A500 before, the difference in weight and quality is huuuge.
After Installing JB it works like a charm!
If your local M.Electronics is out of stock, you can just place a reservation. I waited for 1 day
In fact, I did just buy a Tab 8.9 -- Cowboom had a bunch of preowned ones for sale. I snagged a Condition 7 (looks brand new, came with all accessories other than headphones) for $170 shipped. I love the size. Every 10" tablet I looked at was too big for comfortable reading, but the 7" tablets just felt...cramped.
Go for it
$220 is a real steal! And with ICS now it will be just awesome!
Idlekilla said:
$220 is a real steal! And with ICS now it will be just awesome!
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Click to collapse
Agreed. Having seen the difference in how my 8.9 ran on Honeycomb and now on ICS, it's like a different tablet! If you can pick up one of these tablets for less than $200 then jump on it.
Next phone or tablet is a nexus for sure
im done with samsung
- Form factor is just perfect.
- the ics runs great so no tensions for some time to come.
- 10.1 is too big, 7 is too small.
- 7.7 is close but too pricey.
Sent from my GT-P7300 using xda premium
My tf101 just broke now using as a Google TV and my tab is galaxy 8.9 and I bought it for $150
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda app-developers app
TiredHornet said:
Thx for all the advice! I think I'm going to go the shop right now and have a look at the tablet. I had it in my hands some month ago and found the size really good. And with the official ICS release starting to roll out, it is probably a even better deal at $220.
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Click to collapse
Have fun with it. I doubt you will regret.
I bought the 8.9 so that when my partner and I went camping we could watch movies that we had, ahem, aquired.
It was perfect for just that reason with the desktop dock and the SD / USB adapters.
Now that we are back from holidays, it's perfect for general surfing and stuff like solving arguments where powering up the PC would take too long to Google something and the phone screen would bee too small / fiddly.
8.9 was the best form facto for my needs and I do not see any need to change to a bigger screen, if I wanted a bigger screen - Netbook / Laptop yet I would have to wait for it to boot up, so, long story short, I love the 8.9 and would definately buy it.
Hope this helps!
I like the form factor, the screen and the build quality seems solid. I hate the proprietary plug in on the bottom. Afraid I'm going to lose the cord and be unable to charge the thing till I get another one from Samsung. It should be the mini USB everyone,minus Apple and Sammy, uses. Charge times are completely ridiculous, taking hours upon hours to get to full but the drain times are pretty good. Hopefull the ICS update fixes charge times, or at least makes it bearable. And no SD card slot sucks, plain and simple. Other than that it's pretty good....
Personally, I love it. I bought mine for about 400 dollars and didn't regret it ever since. For 220$, this is an absolute must. The size is optimal and the overall feel of the tablet is just...perfect. Go for it, champ!
Well I have to say out of all the tablets I have (most samsung ones, asus, nexus7, ipads etc) the galaxy tab 8.9 is probably the best feel for a semi-mobile tablet... However after looking at the samsung support and release cycle across the devices I have, I doubt I will ever buy samsung again tbh. Just an opinion...
I love the hardware, don't like the Samsung software. Waiting for the rom hackers to put the official ICS to use and build a full featured JB rom and then it'll probably beat the Nexus 7 as my favorite device.
Sent from my SPH-D700 (CM9) using xda premium
Looking to buy an 8.9. Anybody know where I can find one in the US?? Thanks
I just bought an 8.9 3G 32Gb for £250, which I think is a real bargain. Vodafone 3G SIM is very fast in my area, and I soon as I can work out how to get an official version of ICS or JB onto it, I will be laughing! 8.9" form factor is ideal for me, and Skype works great... and I find i'm using Skype alot more than I do on my laptop.... it's pretty sweet all around. Go for it! Touchwiz and all the Bloatware suck, so if you work out how to remove them, let me know!
I'm looking for an on-the-cheap 9.7 - 10.1 tablet. I was looking at a variety of options, like the Le Pan II, but I've seen a couple Touchpad's floating around $100-$150, so this is certainly a viable option.
But do you guys think this is still a good buy?
Yes! I've updated to jellybean and it's running great, as snappy as my girlfriends nexus 7
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tjw345 said:
I'm looking for an on-the-cheap 9.7 - 10.1 tablet. I was looking at a variety of options, like the Le Pan II, but I've seen a couple Touchpad's floating around $100-$150, so this is certainly a viable option.
But do you guys think this is still a good buy?
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Click to collapse
I use phonearena.com to compare specs when I'm shopping for stuff like this... it isn't the end all be all, but it gives you a general idea.
I personally think a Touchpad for 100ish is still a great bargain.
It really depends on your use case. The TP is great, and for someone who is used to Android it's wonderful. A week ago I would have recommended it without hesitation. But I helped a friend who is MUCH more tech-savvy than myself install Android on a TP yesterday. I realized that just maintaining the thing is significantly more complicated than I, someone who has gotten used to TP Android's little quirks like it's second nature, realize.
TLDR; if you like tweaking and such, the TP is great; if you want it to just work, get something meant for Android.
Orphaned TP's a good deal?
bananagranola said:
It really depends on your use case. The TP is great, and for someone who is used to Android it's wonderful. A week ago I would have recommended it without hesitation. But I helped a friend who is MUCH more tech-savvy than myself install Android on a TP yesterday. I realized that just maintaining the thing is significantly more complicated than I, someone who has gotten used to TP Android's little quirks like it's second nature, realize.
TLDR; if you like tweaking and such, the TP is great; if you want it to just work, get something meant for Android.
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Click to collapse
What other year and a half old 10 inch tablet is still selling for its original, (discounted), price? What other ... is still being updated to the latest and greatest Android? There must be something to these orphaned tablets besides a perverse sense of humour in the geek community. PS - my family has three. I would recomend the 32GB models and check for no cracks in the plastic around the speakers. Craigs List is your friend.
At $100 even at $150 its a great buy. Given the ugly 100 tablets that off brand companies are releasing. I think hardware wise the touch pad is better than the Kindle fire. Some one correct me on that if I'm wrong.
Posted from my Verizon Employee Edition DROID DNA #01749.
Bought mine for $150 with 2 cases, charger, fancy wireless charger and sweet Pelican case for $150 and I am happy. Would I be more happy with a rear 5-8 megapixel camera, SIM card slot and GPS? Sure. But my phone works just as well for that.
I spent $75 for mine(because of a bad charger), picked up the charger, case and TouchStone for a extra $50, and have JB running. It runs fantastic! Only issues I don't care for, No ext SD, GPS and the DPI for the TP is a bit low, so the display is not as good as some of the newer devices. But for the money, you cant get better(IMO)
I have one with the latest CM9 release directly from CM. It runs perfectly. Video is blazing fast and looks great (e.g. Youtube app). The low priced tablets out there are garbage. This is fast, runs CM perfectly, and is a bargain. I think the screen looks better than my Nexus 7.
I've got two, a 16GB with Jellybean I've been using for over a year and a new 32GB still with plastic one, good little tablets.
Yes! I'm so tempted to purchase another from Craigslist. Its so cheap!
[Nik's $3, Odexed Blue 2.0, XDA Premium]
I miss my tp. Got it new for 150 enjoyed it till this summer and sold it for 200$ had ics on it at the time.. Ran supper smoothly.. Found it very easy to upgrade..
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I think the touchpad is still a very good option. Big screen, cheap, and the hardware isn't so out of date yet. I'll probably be using mine for many years to come. Did I mention cheap?
sent from a secret underground bunker
I was lucky to buy mine during the original $99 firesale. And I was pretty happy with it when it was webOS only (only gripe was the lack of apps) especially back when they offered free apps in their monthly newsletter emailed out. And I have been even happier with it having gone through the transition through different Android ROMs (initially the CM9 nightlies, then RandonROM Falcon 1.2, then SGA's Fat 'n Creamy CM9 and now OaT's Light 'n Tasty Jelly Bean) that have been stable, fast, and added the extensive Android app market. Dual-booting between webOS and Android added unique capabilities that even iPad users didn't ave, and finally with the latest CM9 and new CM10 ROMs the working cameras completed the Android experience on TouchPads.
That all said... I don't know if I would always recommend going the TouchPad route to others. I'd only recommend it with a caveat... that you are somewhat comfortable working on computers and able to follow directions, at the risk of bricking your investment. I am not the most technically savvy person, but I am somewhat comfortable with computers and I do have the ability to follow directions and stay calm when something out of the ordinary happens. And... I am very comfortable asking questions and asking for help. I have rooted my cellphone as well (invoking a bit more risk... since if I brick the tablet I am out $100, the phone costs more to replace plus I lose cellphone access for a while). In fact, some times I actually enjoy the process (uh oh... am I becoming a "flashaholic?" :laugh: ).
If you aren't (comfortable with computers, able to follow directions, willing to ask questions and get help)... I'd suggest spending a bit more (eg $200) and getting the Nexus7, or a sale on a current name brand Android tablet, or a IPad Mini. That way you get a currently supported product and still have all the positives without risk. My wife has an old Apple tablet and it simply works (and works simply). My daughters can help her if she needs to download an app, or figure out how to reset something. She doesn't have to search through different web sites, bulletin boards, and exchanges postings to get info, answers, or help. She doesn't have to reboot, reflash ROMs or Nandroids, or download app tools to resolve issues. Sure, there are things she can't do... but most of the time, she gives me a look and asks "Why would I want to do that anyway?".
Sorry if this was a babble... but I sometimes take the different view... hopefully it helps.
Just pickup a second one 32G Mint condition for my Mom $125 4 hours ago. It's still a great buy for a cheap tablet. I picked up from a daddy selling for his lil girl to exchange the Ipad Mini, there is no Android on it and like brand new, no cracked around speakers. Just put in CM9 Nightlife and running so smooth.
in my opinion, if you know how to update and maintain your Hp touchpad, it's a great bargain. Otherwise, you will be stuck at some points. I'm a read and follow person, I read and do carefully what the instructions tell me to do so all of my android devices are great , thanks to XDA
For $100-150,touchpad is the best choice for tablet.
But you really need to spend time on it. Search, post, download , flash...you have to send quite some time on it and may also encounter issues. But it is smooth , elegant, and full of support from best developers in the world!
Thanks to all developers , you make life with touchpad different!
Sent from my cm_tenderloin using xda app-developers app
Still a great buy no doubt about it! I just picked up a 32gb one about a week ago for $150 and I'm extremely happy with it, running really smooth on CM10 JB 4.1.2 plus having a blast with the tablet remote app!
As long as you know how to flash go for it.... :good:
Thanks to all the developers hard work we can all enjoy what they do (greatly appreciated).
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I was thinking of geting my wife a nexus 7. i know she would love a bigger screen. but with that said do the cm9 cm10 roms have any big issues. she uses it to play alot of games check facebook surf the web. she definately needs something that runs fast and smooth. We have had dual core phones and have used single core 1ghz tablets. The single core is fine for our kids but they just seem slow loading to us. Would i have this problem with touchpad
affiatic said:
I was thinking of geting my wife a nexus 7. i know she would love a bigger screen. but with that said do the cm9 cm10 roms have any big issues. she uses it to play alot of games check facebook surf the web. she definately needs something that runs fast and smooth. We have had dual core phones and have used single core 1ghz tablets. The single core is fine for our kids but they just seem slow loading to us. Would i have this problem with touchpad
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I never tried CM9 but running CM10 and have no complaints streaming movies, music, games and web experience it's all smooth as butter!
Looking at replacing my TF201. I don't see any marshmallow roms even though my TF201, and the 300 both have them. I know this device is a couple years old, but I don't require a lot from the hardware for what I'm using it for. Has development stopped here, or is there still some life to be had?
Any helpful comments welcomed.
Thanks,
Matt
Compared to the TF201 this is so much better..consider to the TF300 with Tim's tweaks..it's so so..
But with that in mind..if you pick one up for $100-$150 then I would say go for it..
Pershoot is keeping a server going so that we get CM 12.1 lollipop 5.1.1 and we may even go to 13 as it matures..
As a general driver, it's ok.. games are fine and Kodi while travelling for HDMI input is good..makes it a light weight entertainment system..I usually carry a Bluetooth speaker so between music and movies/tv shows, I have a good travel system..
I still use mine daily, but as a media consumption device -- reading articles saved via Pocket, or watching videos. You can get better tablets for gaming (e.g. the Nvidia Shield), but I remember a year ago considering a replacement while getting my TF701 repaired, and there was nothing on the market that suited my needs.
All the 10" tablets were either: loaded with bloatware (Samsung), lacked an SD card slot (Nexus), or didn't have a Retina-level display. It was hard to find one that met my three criteria other than the TF701.
At the present time, I suppose the latest Sony or Dell might fit the bill, but it also depends on what price you can get and what sort of warranty. I find I almost never use the keyboard dock because I end up doing all my work on one of my laptops, but that could change if/when we get Marshmallow via Cyanogenmod.
Thanks for the replies. Got mine on Monday, and you were correct none of the problems with the 201 are there.
Yes, I am happy with it..
I bounce between a Nexus 7 and the TF701..
One thing I did do as its a known issue with these because of the low grade ram they used..
I use a program that I picked up from the Nexus 7 thread..it's called .. trimmer (fstrim) and set it to run once a day.. it might be placebo but I feel.it just helps to keep these and the Nexus 7 run a little smoother ..
I think this is what the cromi and zombi where achieving with running the Rom off a good sdcard. But I never felt I needed to go that route..
matthall9815 said:
Looking at replacing my TF201. I don't see any marshmallow roms even though my TF201, and the 300 both have them. I know this device is a couple years old, but I don't require a lot from the hardware for what I'm using it for. Has development stopped here, or is there still some life to be had?
Any helpful comments welcomed.
Thanks,
Matt
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's more support on the tf300 for some unknown reason
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