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Tablets

I had an iPhone, but switched to Android. Android OS is more open. I can use Bluetooth SPP to connect to devices. Apple won't let you unless you pay them money to develop for their platform. On Android I have a USB port that I can plug in USB flash drives, USB mouse and keyboard, etc. Apple doesn't do USB port (it does support Bluetooth keyboard and mouse). Android has microSD card slot for expansion. Apple does not. Android I can just plug the USB into my PC and drag/drop music and video files however I want to. Apple requires iTunes. And the final straw for me was the battery on my Apple device was needing replacement. Apple requires I take it in and pay $75 to change it. Android, I pop open the back and replace the battery myself for less $$. (may not be true of all Android devices).

If you read reviews and get a good Android device, it works very well.
 
I would say it depends on what you want to use it for.

My wife bought me a brand new iPad for Christmas. I played with it for five minutes and realized it's a great big I-phone, which I already have. I took it back and bought a Kindle Fire, which is the main purpose I wanted a tab, to read books. The fact I can check my email, cruise talkbass or facebook is a bonus.
 
I would say it depends on what you want to use it for.

My wife bought me a brand new iPad for Christmas. I played with it for five minutes and realized it's a great big I-phone, which I already have. I took it back and bought a Kindle Fire, which is the main purpose I wanted a tab, to read books. The fact I can check my email, cruise talkbass or facebook is a bonus.
Absolutely a great point. Kindles are great at doing what they do and nothing can compare to it. Seriously. I have 5 in this house. 3 Fires, a Fire HD and a 2nd Gen Kindle from way back.

The point is to determine what you want to do with your tablet. If you don't know, go to a big box store and look at what they have.

After figuring this out, then start asking which one does what you want.
 
I've had an Asus Transformer T101 for about two years now. I'm a WinTel/PC guy so it took me a while to get used to the Android interface, but now using it is easy. This model as a mini-HDMI that allows you to connect it to any flat pannel TV, a Micro SD card that will add up to 32gb of additional storage (64 tp 128 if you format the card right), and I get the simplicity of not having to use "i" anything. I had no trouble finding scratch protectors, a case, replacement power/usb cables, or anything.
I find the Google App store to have anything I've been looking for. I can't say I look for a really wild range of things, but I've never seen something on my wife's iPhone and not been able to find it for the Android tablet or my Android phone. Plus I can use Chrome or Firefox internet browsers, which include the "Request Desktop site" if I don't like the way the mobile version of a page is laid out.

I don't like Apple for a lot of reasons. I could get into how "think different" is a hypocritical joke, or disparage their art nerd/hipster image, but what it really comes down to is utility. The ASUS (which is nearly identical to the Samsung tablet) has expansion features the iPad doesn't. It inter-operates with my PC without having to mess around some other interface like iTunes. It has been flexible enough to play any file format of music or video I've thrown at it. In short, it works.
 
Ok, after reading here and other places, I think this is what I'd like. An e-reader. Has to be wi-fi capable. Store lots of music and be able to playback good. Is it a lot to ask for 32gb storage and be expandable with a micro sd card?

Here's what I have now. I have an Ipod Touch that will hold 32gb of info. Lots of music and I like that. I don't want to give that up. The screen is too small to work off of for me. I have a laptop. This is old and bulky to drag around. This is why I'm looking at a tablet. I'm not hung up on Apple or Android. Is there something out there that fits what I'm looking for and at a decent price?
 
I believe you can get a pretty good sized memory on the iPad (too lazy to search right now). I have one that I use all the time. Playing music, movies, games, streaming stuff, surfing forums, internet stuff, reading sheet music with a Bluetooth page turning pedal. This thing does it all.

And if apple doesn't quite do it for ya, just spend 10 minutes jailbreaking it and you can change pretty much everything about it.

No USB jack, though:/ I really wish that would be a feature... They would get so many more buyers and open up so much more potential for apps and stuff.
 
I'm still trying to narrow this down. I think I've ruled out the Ipad mini. I'm on the fence about the Nexus 7 or the Samsung. I realize the N7 doesn't have SD but it's rated high and I believe I can get a cord to enable it to read a card. The Samsung has the SD slot but I can't seem to find out what model is the newest and if it's available in 32GB. What a pain!
 
Absolutely a great point. Kindles are great at doing what they do and nothing can compare to it. Seriously. I have 5 in this house. 3 Fires, a Fire HD and a 2nd Gen Kindle from way back.

The point is to determine what you want to do with your tablet. If you don't know, go to a big box store and look at what they have.

After figuring this out, then start asking which one does what you want.

I have no idea why you would buy a closed system tablet like the Fire when you can buy the Nexus 7 for the same price and it has all the newest Android stuff right when it comes out.

lowsound
 
I have no idea why you would buy a closed system tablet like the Fire when you can buy the Nexus 7 for the same price and it has all the newest Android stuff right when it comes out.

lowsound

When the Fire came out, there was no Nexus 7. At the time, the Fire was an awesome little device.

For reading primarily with a dash of android thrown in, it still is better than a Nexus. If, however, you do more tablet-y things than reading books, anything else seems to be better.
 
Can anyone tell me pros and cons of 7 inch v 9? Is 7 too small? Seems like it would be fine, and more convenient...will I miss the 9? Anything I might not know unless I have used it myself? Such as, fitting it in a pocket? I know I can't do that with a 9.

It depends on how you use it.

If you want carry functionality, the 7 is better. Most of the 7" devices I have are able to fit in my pants pocket. A 9 or larger won't.

If you want more for games and such, then a larger screen is better. If you will use an external keyboard because of typing a lot, bigger is better IMO because you will either need a case with a builtin keyboard or you will have a bag for it like a laptop.

We are migrating our service techs off of iPads and laptops and giving them Windows 8 tablets...but that's an other ball of wax.
 
Ipad is the best if you are on a budget go the Samsung Galaxy route nothing else I have come across meets their quality. And there are many affordable tabs on the market. Check the reviews with Consumer report mag or online with pcworld, pcmag, cnet,zdnet, they have the info you need more so then you will get here. What works for me may not be user friendly enough for your needs. I have and android phone but becareful with android platform hackers are attacking them for your info even using the app store as their in. Apple store is lock down tight and hasn't had to deal with this situation.

Targeted Android devices under attack Affected by 99.9% of new ... - The Press

Android Devices targeted under attack
Affected by 99.9% of new mobile viruses

Into Mobile phones and mobile devices are increasingly infected by malicious programs that target, however, especially devices with Android operating system. According to a new report from Kaspersky Lab, which describes the evolution of threats to the tablet or smartphone, almost all (99.9%) of new malware affecting devices with this platform.

Into Android, the software being adopted globally, as evidenced by a recent market survey conducted by the firm IDC (International Data Coprporation), necessarily becomes the target of the crime. However, the data obtained indicate a situation of progressive deterioration, also destined to deteriorate further.

ABI Research by the end of 2013 will be in use 1 billion and 400 million of which approximately 800 million smartphones equipped with Android platform, being also on the rise in the tablet segment, a market booming thanks to sales at the end of year estimated at 150 million units globally, representing a turnover of 64 billion dollars. Faced with these figures, the commitment to the proper enforcement of information security becomes a crucial factor for those who use mobile operating system from Google.
Into According to what reported by Kaspersky Lab, showing for the second consecutive year an explosive growth of malware attacks on Android, harmful codes are the most common trojan, a type of virus that is used in many different cases (for example, against Tibetan activists).

Into Trojans that steal your money by sending sms not allowed to premium rate numbers without the user are the most common constituting 63% of the total infections. In the top 20 programs tha t attack more frequently the Android device the first place goes to a family of trojans FakeInst with a percentage of about 30%. This malware affects mainly Russian users who get infected when they try to download from the internet software for Android devices from unsafe sites, cybercriminals use them for fraudulent purposes.

Into the second place was a trojan adware, due to family Plangton, which threatens mainly European Internet creeping, often through free applications to surreptitiously modify the browser page so as to display advertisements. Other popular ones are those belonging to the virus family that infect the user with Opfake Opera or other apps like Angry Birds and Skype.

Into Overall, researchers from Kaspersky report a boom in the development of the phenomenon of mobile malware. The number of threats detected only in the first three months of 2013, 22,750 to be exact, is already half of the malicious programs detected during the previous year.
 
Almost 100% of new devices are affected? Not saying it's not true but sounds very suspect, especially considering that this "report" comes from a company who sells software to combat the perpetrators of the very problem they describe.

need another source I get this emailed to me because I am an IT guy
Microsoft certified MCITP


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I'm sorry but that is actually the same source just from a different publication.

I've deployed several hundred android devices and don't recall one having "virus" issues.

MCITP doesn't meant you can discern marketroid junk from reality.

Must be a slow news week or something.