1820 replies to this topic

[Quint]

This sounds fecking awesome, especially where you keyboard whining bitches are concerned:

www.eurogamer.net/articles/df-hardware-asus-transformer-prime-review

Sorry for the lazy link, but the last update for this shitty stone age forum borked some functionality for my Android phone.

Anyway, I'd love to own one, and I just might have to.

[Stefancos]

Looks OK. Sure it will be overly expensive.

[Quint]

£500. Pricey, but not ridiculous. Bearing in mind that you tend to get what you pay for when it comes to this sort of tech.

[Marian Schedenig]

I have that and love it. Just a couple of minor reservations.

The main problem is the faulty design, antenna wise. Like Apple with the iPad, Asus put their tablet in an aluminum case. Only, unlike Apple, they didn't put a plastic Apple logo on it. So where Apple put their wifi and GPS antennas behind the plastic logo, Asus have theirs behind aluminum. The result is poorly reviewed wifi reception (haven't had a problem with that myself so far) and poor GPS reception - in a car, I have to actually put the tablet below the windshield to get a GPS fix.

Another annoyance for me is the lack of a USB port on the tablet itself. The keyboard dock does have one, and it was enough to not stop me from buying the device, but I'd like to be able to connect USB devices to the tablet itself, too. This also means that while the charger is a standard USB power plug, the tablet end of the charger cable is some Asus specific plug. In other words, I have exactly one cable which I can use to charge the tablet, whereas I have cables to charge my phone pretty much everywhere I might need them. It also won't charge via the USB port.

But neither issue would stop me from buying it again, I'm perfectly happy with it 99% of the time, and Android 4.0 runs smoothly. The keyboard is nice to have, but I only connect it if I have to type a lot (or need the USB port...). Still, unless you're really eager to get a tablet, I'd recommend waiting for the next model, which will have a full HD screen (announced in early January, just one day after I got the Prime ) and surely will have a fix for the antenna issue. Should be out by summer, as far as I recall.

As far as typing on smaller Android devices (i.e. phones) goes, I can warmly recommend WiFi Keyboard when you're on the PC.

Oh, and don't forget, it doesn't have 3G, only WiFi connectivity. No huge issue for me, since I just tether via my phone, but others might object more.

[Stefancos]

Doesnt it even have a mini usb port? You see them a lot on tablets

[Marian Schedenig]

Nope. Apparently there should be some USB adapter that plugs into the socket where you usually connect the dock, but I haven't found out where to get that yet.

In my opinion, the dock should simply be connected via a USB port, allowing other USB devices to be plugged in when the dock is not in use. I've always been criticising Apple for leaving out USB ports in their devices, I don't understand why so many other manufacturers do that as well (especially considering that it would be a distinguishing mark... after all, Android's Linux kernel should already have support for plenty of USB devices).

[Quint]

If I were to own it, the lack of usb would bother me this much <->

Same as it 'bothers' me on iPad; ie not at all.

When, dear lord, are we going to live in a world where cretinous ignoramous' cease to breath useful air?

A TABLET ISN'T A PC/LAPTOP

[Marian Schedenig]

So that means I'm not allowed to view somone else's photos they have on a USB drive? Listen to the music they have on their USB drive? Connect a harddisk with my TV series to watch on the tablet? Hook the tablet up to a digicam to remote-control it? Connect a game pad for the few games that might support it?

My phone isn't a PC. But it has a USB port, and I use that all the time. To charge it next to my bed. To charge it from my PC at work. To charge it in my mother's car. To mount its internal memory and copy files between the phone and my computer. To run and debug apps during development.

The U in USB stands for universal. All kinds of devices can support it, and plenty of those make sense in combination with a phone or tablet. A tablet it not primarily a PC. But there's no reason to limit its functionality more than necessary.

[Quint]

Tell that to the millions upon millions of iPad owners who couldn't give a shit.

You may find that harsh, Marion. But it's an undeniable fact. If you do deny it, you're a lunatic!

[Stefancos]

Because millions upon millions of Apple owners will just buy whatever that comapny churns out, no questions asked.

The Apple crowd used to be the smart, independand ones, but that has not been the case for a long time now.

You may find that harsh, Lee. But it's an undeniable fact. If you do deny it, you're a cunt.

I agree 100% with Marian. Most external devices use USB these days. To not include something as simple as a USB port is just...stupid.

[Quint]

Because millions upon millions of Apple owners will just buy whatever that comapny churns out, no questions asked.

Jesus, do people out there still really believe that? That quality of hardware, software, interface and support has nothing to do with Apple's success? That those things are somehow irrelevant? People hand over serious money just to own an Apple logo? You truly believe that do you?

Wow, I'm staggered by your brazen stupidity. You sound like a fucking idiot. Get back in your hole, usb boy.

[Alexcremers]

It's a typical case of style over content.

[Quint]

Actually, it's a rare case of both being matched. That's the genius of it. That's the secret. As someone who uses a laptop, an Android phone and an iPad - I know. What's your experience Alex?

[Alexcremers]

To me USB means being able to take my content everywhere I go. I love to put my stick into other people's devices.

[Quint]

Hmm, I just use my laptop for that.

[Alexcremers]

For what? For taking your content everywhere? I would love to have the same basic functionality with a tablet. Why is it not provided? Suppose that I want to show my content to you but all you have is an iPad? We would have a serious problem. I would've have to walk around with a computer instead of a stick.

[Quint]

Because millions upon millions of Apple owners will just buy whatever that comapny churns out, no questions asked.

You may find that harsh, Lee. But it's an undeniable fact. If you do deny it, you're a cunt.

See, here's the difference: I posted a fact based on powerful evidence. You posted a 'fact' based on some zealous conjecture to serve your own fictitious 'argument'. Now come back with something based on evidence or don't come back at all.

For what?

I have films and music on the laptop which I insert the usb into, eject it and stick into my media player housed under the tv, along with my sound system. I have no other use for usb. I'm not one of these people who must have a usb on their person at all times; a mobile phone is enough.

Again,

What's your experience Alex?

You weren't just inventing experience on the spot, we're you? Because people do that, as you know.

[Marian Schedenig]

Because millions upon millions of Apple owners will just buy whatever that comapny churns out, no questions asked.

Jesus, do people out there still really believe that?

It's not a matter of "still" believing it. It's something I've *started* to believe only a few years ago, and each year I'm more convinced of it. Apple do make quality products, and they still have good ideas now and then. But what they excel at is crowd control, in my opinion (and I'm serious here) to a near-religious extent. Look at Apple forums where they cry havoc over every little design idea/feature/concept that Apple put on their devices and another manufacturer put on their own afterwards. Most of them were not invented by Apple, have been around for a while, but Apple is the innovative company, so everything Apple does is their great idea, and everyone who also does it is a thief. And they even manage to get through with that in court.

And the fact that you use "nobody wants that" as reasoning for why not to put an USB port in a tablet shows how meanstream Apple has become. They do ONLY what the mainstream wants, and they succeed time and again in convincing their customers that that's exactly what they want. Fuck the power users or people with special requirements. It's like website developers putting pure Flash content on their website and not caring about being barrier-free. Never mind blind people, they're a minority and not mainstream. The only difference is, Apple could probably convince the blind that they don't actually want barrier-free content.

Put it differently, if Apple were a soundtrack specialist label, we would only get mainstream releases, and they'd never come with such non-streamlined goodies as alternates or bonus tracks.

[Stefancos]

Apple = Sony Classical.

[Pasi Tiitinen]

Because millions upon millions of Apple owners will just buy whatever that comapny churns out, no questions asked.

Jesus, do people out there still really believe that?

It's not a matter of "still" believing it. It's something I've *started* to believe only a few years ago, and each year I'm more convinced of it. Apple do make quality products, and they still have good ideas now and then. But what they excel at is crowd control, in my opinion (and I'm serious here) to a near-religious extent. Look at Apple forums where they cry havoc over every little design idea/feature/concept that Apple put on their devices and another manufacturer put on their own afterwards. Most of them were not invented by Apple, have been around for a while, but Apple is the innovative company, so everything Apple does is their great idea, and everyone who also does it is a thief. And they even manage to get through with that in court.

And the fact that you use "nobody wants that" as reasoning for why not to put an USB port in a tablet shows how meanstream Apple has become. They do ONLY what the mainstream wants, and they succeed time and again in convincing their customers that that's exactly what they want. Fuck the power users or people with special requirements. It's like website developers putting pure Flash content on their website and not caring about being barrier-free. Never mind blind people, they're a minority and not mainstream. The only difference is, Apple could probably convince the blind that they don't actually want barrier-free content.

Put it differently, if Apple were a soundtrack specialist label, we would only get mainstream releases, and they'd never come with such non-streamlined goodies as alternates or bonus tracks.

Indeed.

That is why there won't be any iGadget in my household. Never.

[Wojo]

But mainstream soundtracks do get bonus tracks. They're Tiesto remixes or duets featuring Justin Bieber and Jay-Z.

[Quint]

Yuck, this filthy little thread has become rife with vagabonds and paupers. Brainless unwashed heathens all around me, conspiracy theorists - the most sweaty breed of scum and parasitic pond life.

The profound feeling of superiority I have over these rats might well be pleasurable, but it's not enough to justify my presence here. It's not worth catching the scurvy over.

Tnxbye

Yes Alex, it means you got away with your weasel words deployment. Your specialty

[Wojo]

If it's any consolation, I agree with you. If Apple wants to cater to a specific clientele -- those who value simplicity and elegance over universal compatibility -- by keeping their iPads free of the cluttered number of ports like laptops or non-Apple tablets, that's their prerogative. Anything with wireless connectivity really doesn't need physical connective ports.

I believe that a tablet would be extremely useful, especially since using a hot and heavy laptop's landscape screen for reading documents in a portrait format while curled up in a comfy chair, is uncomfortable and unwieldy. It doesn't mean I'm going to go out and buy an iPad, or any tablet, but I can't be totally anti-Apple since I adore my iPod Classic.

[Stefancos]

Oh I love my trusty Gen 5.5 iPod. Still works brilliantly.

But i always did wonder why it only played one very particular video format, which means I always have to convert a video before i can watch it on my iPod.

There is simply no reason why it should not be able to play other types of video files...

[Alexcremers]

For what? For taking your content everywhere? I would love to have the same basic functionality with a tablet. Why is it not provided? Suppose that I want to show my content to you but all you have is an iPad? We would have a serious problem. I would've have to walk around with a computer instead of a stick.

[Trent Bennett]

The only thing I will practically buy from Apple is an iPod. The gapless playback is what drew me to it. I had a Creative Zen Vision M before my first iPod. It was okay for what it was and lasted me two years. However, I hated the fact it didn't have gapless playback as cues would have the annoying 2 second gap in between tracks.

As I've said before, for how much Apple charges for a laptop, I could get two name brands (IE: Dell, Toshiba) for virtually the same price and customize it and have more options than compared to an Apple laptop. Same goes for their desktop computers, which you're pretty much limited as to what you can upgrade. Where with a custom build computer (by me), I can upgrade anything inside the computer, if I chose to. For what it costs for an Apple desktop computer, I could build me a bigger (terms of hard drive space and such), and faster (cpu and such) that would out-due the Apple desktop computer. I can also customize my custom built PC any way I want to.

The only thing reason I can see for having a tablet, whether it be an iPad, or whatever is so if I go places that I don't want to haul a laptop with me I can take that instead. Otherwise for the most part I can't justify spending the $500 for a piece of equipment that I will hardly use. I would rather spend $500 to get me a name brand laptop that I'd have much more use for.

[Wojo]

And I'm not going to spend $500 on an iPad just so I can use a computer while I sit and poop.

[Stefancos]

If you want something that you can use to browse the web, or watch video's with while sitting on your couch, lie in bed or do a poo on the toilet, then a 200 buck Tablet will be just as usefull as one that cost 500.

[Marian Schedenig]

Anything with wireless connectivity really doesn't need physical connective ports.

A time will come when that's true. Soon enough, too, I guess. But for now, there's no way to wirelessly get the data from a friend's USB stick on my tablet without... a USB port.

[Trent Bennett]

If you want something that you can use to browse the web, or watch video's with while sitting on your couch, lie in bed or do a poo on the toilet, then a 200 buck Tablet will be just as usefull as one that cost 500.

Very true.

[Chaac]

Because millions upon millions of Apple owners will just buy whatever that comapny churns out, no questions asked.

Jesus, do people out there still really believe that? That quality of hardware, software, interface and support has nothing to do with Apple's success? That those things are somehow irrelevant? People hand over serious money just to own an Apple logo? You truly believe that do you?

Quality of interface? Tell me that when you can modify it to make it look exactly as you please and need.

People hand over serious money just to own an Apple logo? I don't know for sure, but I've seen it parodied enough times...

Of course, we aren't supposed to talk about religion here.

[Wojo]

Why do you "need" to modify an Apple product's interface? If you had to buy an Apple product, you pretty much accept that it will only be able to do what Apple wants it to, unless you're a super hacker with inside knowledge of it and can make it do what you wish. Otherwise, there are enough copycat products on the market that are customizable.

I own an iPod Classic, and while I use a third-party plugin with Winamp to load it with music, once I disconnect the iPod from my computer, my music is at the mercy of Apple's internal iPod OS. Their interface, their hardware, their rules.

[Stefancos]

If you want something that you can use to browse the web, or watch video's with while sitting on your couch, lie in bed or do a poo on the toilet, then a 200 buck Tablet will be just as usefull as one that cost 500.

Very true.

Even some generic low budget Tablets are appearing now with Android 4.0.

[Stefancos]

This one is for Quint!

[Pasi Tiitinen]

It's too bad Quint won't visit this threat anymore.



Finally some useful application for this eye candy.

[Quint]

Samsung Galaxy S2 updated to Icecream Sandwich > iPhone.

[Jason LeBlanc]

It was already better than an iPhone before ICS

But yea, I'm glad you got the upgrade!

[Quint]

It was already better than an iPhone before ICS

I disagree wholeheartedly. It's actually a relief to be rid of the previous firmware.

[Jason LeBlanc]

Ah. I never had a gingerbread phone, only ICS

[Quint]

It's crazy how much of a difference it makes. Suddenly my phone feels like a slick and insanely rapid mini-iPad.

Gingerbread always felt... unfinished.

This is how the S2 should have shipped in the first place.