Viewsonic G-Tab

[red-beard]

I picked up a Viewsonic G-Tab off Amazon for $279 a couple of weeks back. This is a well supported machine via the XDA group.

I still can't compare anything to an iPad, because I don't know anyone who has one...

Anyway, I will do a few comparisons to the Color Nook (I paid $199, but it is normally $249) and the HP Slate.

Basic Specs:
1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 - Dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 CPU
512MB DDR
16GB internal memory (expandable by up to 32GB via SD Card)
Google Android 2.2 (Froyo)
10.1" TFT-LCD with LED driver system and 1024x600 resolution
NVIDIA Tegra 2
OpenGL ES 2.0
32-bit LP-DDR2, DDR2
S1080p H.264/H.263/ VC-1/MPEG-2/4/WMV9/DiVX 4/5 Video Decode
1080p H.264/MPEG-4 Video Encode
Supports multi-standard audio formats, including AAC, AMR, WMA, and MP3
1.3-megapixel camera
Built-in 2 x 1-watt stereo speakers
USB 2.0 (Slave)
Mini USB 2.0 (Host)
3.5mm stereo headphone
Micro SD
Dock for HDMI/Headphone/USB (optional)
DC Input (Power)

[red-beard]

First impressions:

It's big. It's bigger than my HP Slate. It feels heavy, but it is the same weight as my Slate and that of the iPad, 1.5 lbs.

G-Tab: Width: 10.5", Height: 6.8", Depth: 0.54", Weight: 1.55 lbs.

Slate: 9.21 x 0.58 x 5.91 in (23.40 x 1.47 x 15.00 cm) & 1.5 lbs.

Nook: Height 8.1 inches, Width 5.0 inches, Depth 0.48 inches, Weight 15.8 ounces

[red-beard]

The best comparison is between the Nook and the G-Tab, since they are both Android and I've posted a bunch on the Slate.

The Nook comes with crappy dedicated version of Android, for B&N. It is easily "Nooted" to allow regular marketplace apps to be loaded. It also can be loaded with different ROMs, but I have not done this yet, since I've now given it to my wife as a reader/e-mail device.

The G-Tab starts life as Android 2.2 (Froyo). I, after way too much work, was able to load 2.3 (Gingerbread) onto the G-Tab. It works quite well with Gingerbread. I have noticed no problems, but then the ROM is a well established one.

The G-Tab is faster. Much faster. A good way to compare is playing Angry Birds. On more complex levels, the G-tab is noticible smoother. This would obviously be from the dual core, 1.0 Ghz processor. The Slate is about another 70% faster, but then it is running Win 7.

I've been able to load up all of my Android apps and it works well. The screen rotates very well and the g-sensors are responsive.

The screen is very readable and the battery life seems quite good. I ran it most of the weekend on a single charge.

Use: It is a good little game player, video shower, e-mail and web surfing machine. I like it! I can do a lot more with the Slate. But for these functions, it preforms very very well. With the well working bluetooth, I can connect it to audio devices, but the speakers that are built in work fine.

One thing I like better than the Nook, it has dedicated back, home, search and menu buttons. The Nook has one button and this brings up the soft menu. It also has dedicated sound buttons on the side.

So which do I like better? It depends. I really like the form factor and weight of the Nook. The 7" tablet is so easy to carry virtually anywhere. The screen is still very good.

But the Nook is also a bit Spartan. Bluetooth is never going to work correctly. It was never designed to really be a full Android machine, etc. It works fine if your plan is to have a reader, web surfing, e-mail, video machine. But it is noticibly slower. For the price difference, I think the G-Tab is a better value. IF you can find a color Nook for under $200, you might consider that.

I do think that the 7" tablet is the right form factor. I will be looking around for a 7" with good specs that can be rooted/ROMed. But until then, I get the G-Tab and the Slate, and my wife is going to get the Nook.

The final note, the one thing I can compare the iPad on is price. The 16GB Wifi only iPad is $449 and the iPad II is $499, not quite double in price. No other comments possible.

[jyl]

iPad had something like 90% of the tablet market in 2010.

My guess is that in 2 years, Android has equal units share to iOS in tablets, >40% each, leaving <20% for MSFT, RIMM, HPQ/WebOS, etc. That's about how long it took Android to overtake iOS in smartphones.

Various factors that could make Android's rise in tablets faster/slower, so figure they net out. The +/- factors include
- Unfettered distribution, tablets are not tied to carriers
- Android more mature now than when iPhone came out - code, brand, apps
- Apple's A4/5 chips lagging the 2/4 core ARM CPUs from NVDA and others
- Apple has secured supply of NAND and other components
- No huge leap in tablet features on the immediate horizon (as far as my imagination goes, if Jobs has something big up his sleeve, then I'm wrong)

I think Apple will continue to make the lion's share of profit in tablets incl the app store and mobile advertising. I think GOOG will be #2. The hardware companies making the Android tablets and components will, I think, come in a distant third.

[gr8fl4porsche]

Refurbished iPad with Wi-Fi 16GB (first generation) - Apple Store (U.S.)

The 16g iPad 1 is $349.00 from Apple (refurbished).

Apple refurbished stuff is probably better than new as it has been double checked for quality.

[Joeaksa]

I use two Ipads in the airplane for our charts and maps. A year ago there was no choice.

As soon as there are some good alternatives out there these will be flipped on Ebay and we will get something NON-Apple. Sorry but having to go through this crap of using Itunes to get info into the units and so on is just not worth it.

[stomachmonkey]

Have a G-Tab. Rarely use it.

Google need to address the Android fragmentation issue.

It's a major PIA for those of us creating apps for the platform.

Consumers are stupid. You put an app on the Android Marketplace, clearly state what it works on, have it automatically hide from devices that don't support it, they get their hands on it anyway then give you a 1 star rating because a 3d shooter designed for a 3.0 tablet does not work on a first gen cell phone.

Frustrating.

[scottmandue]

Thanks James, I was set on a Nook color... but then life happened (as in bathroom remodel that depleted all my funds) so I am not buying any toys for awhile.

Edit: Didn't read all the specs in your first post... but is it wifi only, no G?

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Thanks James, I was set on a Nook color... but then life happened (as in bathroom remodel that depleted all my funds) so I am not buying any toys for awhile.

Edit: Didn't read all the specs in your first post... but is it wifi only, no G?

Yep, these are both Wifi only. I have tethering devices so 3G doesn't matter. I don't think that the G-Tab has a slot for it. I know the Nook does not offer a 3G Color model.

When I changed my plan to AT&T, they gave me a Mifi unit AND combined with everything else and discounts, it nets only about $5 per month. ($35/mth in Discounts, $40/mth plan).

[Steve Viegas]

I picked up a Gtab from Amazon and received it on Friday. I went to xda and promptly downloaded Gingerbread to it (upgrading from Android 2.2 to Android 2.3). My folks have an Apple iPad 1.

The Apple is better out of the box. The Apple has a much better screen for viewing. Apple is cool.

The GTab, with the upgrade that I did is a FAST machine. Faster than the iPad. It does what I want it to do and while the viewing angle is really poor, I do not need others to see what I am doing. It can be found everywhere for $300.

Refurbed products are not all they are cracked up to be in my opinion. I was in the camp of "This has been given a second glance" when I was younger, but after having worked at a Contract Manufacturer, and been in high tech most of my professional life, I no longer hold this opinion. Often problems that are experienced in hardware are cold solder problems. While these problems will present themselves in one component, once that weak link has been resolved, there are likely others that will surface. Just my opinion, and I did not stay in a Holiday Inn last night.

[scottmandue]

Bummer, for my application I would really like Wifi + 3G

[Steve Viegas]

As Red Beard said, there is tethering (attaching it to your phone), but there will also be a glut of new tablets on the market soon and the pricing will drop.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Steve Viegas

As Red Beard said, there is tethering (attaching it to your phone), but there will also be a glut of new tablets on the market soon and the pricing will drop.

Yeah but that would require trading up to a new phone... not a bad idea because mine is two years old and due for a update... on the other hand my current phone works just fine and trading it in will cost $$$.

But as you say... it will be interesting to see what comes out in the next few months.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by Steve Viegas

I picked up a Gtab from Amazon and received it on Friday. I went to xda and promptly downloaded Gingerbread to it (upgrading from Android 2.2 to Android 2.3).

I'm running Vegan Gingerbread. Which one did you choose?

I think that the Samsung Galaxy Tab looks like it might be the one Scott would like. It is 3G and it is the small form factor.

[Steve Viegas]

I too went with the VEGAn. It appears to be stable. I have noticed the camera is basically unusable at this point, but that is not a concern of mine.

I really picked it up as a toy. I was looking for something to sit on the couch and surf the web while watching TV. It will also prove to be a game platform for my kids (and wife as it turns out).

It will be interesting to see if Honeycomb makes it on to this tablet. While the hardware specs are great, and it should be able to handle it, I am concerned that the developer following may dwindle as newer cooler, also inexpensive tablets hit the market

Samsung Tab was the other tablet that I was looking at. I ended up not going that route because I liked the dual cores of the gtab and I decided portability was not necessary. Samsung makes a nice product (I have a Captivate phone) and the Froyo OS on it is great. I imagine that it would be equally as good or better on the Tab.

Honestly, if I needed cellular connectivity, I would go with the Apple iPad 1. I bought it for my parents specifically for the cellular connection. The nice thing about it is there is NO contract. You can turn it on or off by the month. I

If Scott is looking immediately for something PORTABLE, with cellular connectivity, then I would recommend the Samsung Tab.

[RWebb]

2011 is supposed to be "the year of the tablet" - so I agree it might pay to wait

are you running MS Word, Excel on any of these?

[Steve Viegas]

Android has a program for reading these files. If you need to create, you can use Google Apps. I do not believe the MS products will work on this OS.

I have seen where people upload a full blown Linux variant, but that seems odd to me as using a touchscreen for anything data entry intensive seems like hard work.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by Steve Viegas

If Scott is looking immediately for something PORTABLE, with cellular connectivity, then I would recommend the Samsung Tab.

Or the iPad...

[Steve Viegas]

The iPad is nice, but the samsung is more portable.

Viewsonic makes a 7" product with a cellular connection, the ViewTab 7. I do not know much about it, but I believe the price is also around $300.00...at that point, I would go with the Samsung though.

[red-beard]

The View Tab 7 looks to have about 1/3rd the processor power of the G-Tab