Choosing A Tablet

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

It will be interesting to see just what's released when the Windows 8 Pro touch tablets are released in a couple months. Those being the real full-use Windows OS touch tablets compatible with Intel-based legacy apps... as opposed to the already released limited-use Windows 8 RT tablets that are ARM-based.

Unfortunately, at least for the time being, it doesn't sound like there's going to be any Windows 8 Pro tablet offerings in the $200 to $300 range.

[Pib]

Maybe we all should just Keep It Simple and switch to a very basic tablet shown below. Yea, the screen resolution is kinda low but you don't have to worry about whether certain Apps will work or not...battery capacity...etc....just keep the knobs in good working order. I hear Apple is suing this company also for iPad patent infringements.

Etch-A-Sketch Tablet

[Turkleton]

It will be interesting to see just what's released when the Windows 8 Pro touch tablets are released in a couple months. Those being the real full-use Windows OS touch tablets compatible with Intel-based legacy apps... as opposed to the already released limited-use Windows 8 RT tablets that are ARM-based.

......

Most of the Win8 "Metro-Apps" are still crap unusable. (Have you ever tried the "music" app?)

And I seriously doubt, you want to use the "real" Windows-Desktop and the all the existing "non-Metro" x86 programs with a touch screen.

[Pib]

Regarding Windows 8, I think this is the first time I've had close to zero interest regarding their new OS release...and I've been a Windows man all my life. I've always upgraded to their latest OS usually within 6 months of its release (wish I hadn't done that when Vista came out), but I'm not even considering it this time unless I happen to buy a new computer and Win 8 comes installed already. Yeap, Win 7 suits me just fine.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

It will be interesting to see just what's released when the Windows 8 Pro touch tablets are released in a couple months. Those being the real full-use Windows OS touch tablets compatible with Intel-based legacy apps... as opposed to the already released limited-use Windows 8 RT tablets that are ARM-based.

......

Most of the Win8 "Metro-Apps" are still crap unusable. (Have you ever tried the "music" app?)

And I seriously doubt, you want to use the "real" Windows-Desktop and the all the existing "non-Metro" x86 programs with a touch screen.

I agree at least in part. From all the comment I've read, most users seem to think the Windows 8 RT hardware thus far is pretty good, but the quality of the Metro apps for it has been widely panned in a variety of ways, both that there aren't enough useful Metro apps, and that those available haven't been particularly well done. I too have seen a lot of bad comment about the built-in Music app on Windows RT.

The general consensus seems to be that the forthcoming Windows 8 Pro (Intel) tablets will be a better overall product and user experience. Time will tell when the units actually hit the marketplace.

For me, I still do all of my work and writing and other content creation/editing on my Windows desktops and laptops. And I don't see that changing anytime in the foreseeable future.

But for solely content consumption and computing away from home -- listening to music, watching videos, reading the news, etc etc -- I love the Android OS and all that it offers on the smartphone and tablet platforms...

I almost kind of am beginning to wish that someone would produce a good Android OS desktop PC with or without a touchscreen monitor. That might give a serious run at my piles of Windows OS PCs.

[2008bangkok]

but the quality of the Metro apps for it has been widely panned in a variety of ways, both that there aren't enough useful Metro apps, and that those available haven't been particularly well done. I too have seen a lot of bad comment

They deserve to be panned, on my Win 8 PC they are so badly made its a joke, you have to run them all in full screen and cannot do anything else, cannot comment on the Tablets as im sure there will be a home button similar to Iphone but the PC versions are bad.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Like Pib, I've been a Windows guy all my life... But lately, MS does indeed seem to be lost in the woods and trying to find its way.

Since the subject of this thread is tablets (and not the broader range of computing), let me say that Windows 8 I think has the potential to be a good OS for touch devices like tablets. People who deal in this area generally seem to expect Windows 8 Pro tablets to be a good platform that will draw buyers, probably more so than the RT tablets have/will.

On the desktop, I believe MS is offering current Windows users a single-user $40 online upgrade to Windows 8 through the end of January. I may buy a license (I think that's what it is) before that promotion runs out, just so I have a licensed copy inhouse. But unless/until I switch to a touch-based desktop monitor, I can't see myself installing W8 on any of my current Windows 7 PCs.

Edited November 20, 2012 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[Turkleton]

Windows RT tablets => no comment. Unfortunately a useless piece of Hardware because of missing "quality Metro-apps"

Windows Pro tablets => an ordinary Intel powered "Notebook" with touchscreen/keyboard and Windows 8 installed. Nothing else. Sad.

And no, I am not an Apple/Android fanboy. I like Win7 on my PC's....

[Chicog]

I almost kind of am beginning to wish that someone would produce a good Android OS desktop PC with or without a touchscreen monitor. That might give a serious run at my piles of Windows OS PCs.

Go ahead and try it.

http://www.techradar.com/news/software/operating-systems/run-android-on-a-pc-yes-you-can-1080397

[Chicog]

Windows RT tablets => no comment. Unfortunately a useless piece of Hardware because of missing "quality Metro-apps"

Windows Pro tablets => an ordinary Intel powered "Notebook" with touchscreen/keyboard and Windows 8 installed. Nothing else. Sad.

And no, I am not an Apple/Android fanboy. I like Win7 on my PC's....

Ii think it's best suited to devices like the Asus Vivo or the Samsung Ativ

Edited November 20, 2012 by Chicog

[Pib]

That said, your new purchase raises one of the interesting questions I've been mulling: For a new or potential upgrade opportunity, is is worthwhile to upgrade to the newest Jelly Bean OS or might it be wiser to stick with the existing ICS OS?

Normally, the tendency is to go for the newest OS. But I must admit, my fondness for using my tablet for video streaming combined with the absence of official support for Flash in Jelly Bean has me seriously considering whether, for example, I'd really want to buy a new Google Nexus 7 tablet, and then have to mess around with backdoor fixes aimed at getting Flash on a brand tablet that isn't supposed to support it.

I read a tech article earlier today comparing the two OS, and it basically said Jelly Bean was better in terms of speed, fluidity and user experience. But that comparison didn't deal with the Flash issue at all, nor did it address an issue I've read elsewhere about JB potentially being a bigger battery drainer than ICS by comparison.

TallGuy,

I hear you. Although my earlier post implied I would probably do the Jelly Bean upgrade in a week or two, I may not....may wait significantly longer. I see on Onda' Chinese language web site they have a Jelly Bean update which is a later version (a week or so later) than the version on their English language web site....probably a case that we experience everyday with many Thai web sites where more current/extensive info is on the Thai lanaguage page versus the English language page. So far, the ICS 4.0.3 on the tablet is running just fine....fast and responsive.

TallGuy,

I lied...I flashed Jelly Bean 4.1.1 to my Onda V971 this afternoon which was previously running ICS 4.0.3. I guess the urge overcame me. More to come after I get a few days of using Jelly Bean on my tablet. I've already noticed a few things, but I'll wait to comment until I use it more.

Cheers,

Pib

[thaicbr]

can you confirm exactly which thai tv app your using..thanks

[Pib]

can you confirm exactly which thai tv app your using..thanks

Here's the link to the App on Google Play. Link

[thaicbr]

can you confirm exactly which thai tv app your using..thanks

Here's the link to the App on Google Play. Link

Thanks

sent from my Q6

[Pib]

This link appears to provide some descent English instructions on how to apply the Jelly Bean update for the Onda V971. Link

Update: the above link gives good instructions on how to upgrade/flash a V971 to Jelly Bean (JB) 4.1.1. However, the Jelly Bean download link in the instructions is the first release in early Nov 12, maybe call it the beta release, of the Onda V971 JB release. The release does work as I flashed it to my V971 several days ago....this update does not come pre-rooted. However, on the Onda Chinese language web site which has more extensive info than their English language web site, they they have a mid Nov 12 V971 JB release which appears to be the final release and does come pre-rooted.

Here's the Link to the V971 area of of the Chinese language Onda web site (which can be hard to reach sometimes...it is for me early in the morning). Have your Google Translate turned on. Just below the V971 picture you'll see some menu selection tabs in Chinese that Google Translate can't translate...the middle tab is the file/firmware (FW) download area for the V971. The other tabs provide additional V971 info like its specs. FW version 1.5 is Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) 4.0.3 that the V971 originally came with, I think version 1.5.5 is still a version of ICS 4.X, but Version 2.0 is the JB release and it comes pre-rooted....nice to get a JB release that comes pre-rooted versus trying to figure out how to get your tablet rooted later on...for those who want a rooted tablet in order to install those Apps requiring rooted access. I installed/flashed Ver 2.0 to my tablet this morning no problem.

So the written instructions in the first link above work fine...and actually on the flashing/burning program the written instructions cover there is a menu to change the program's menu between Chinese and English which greatly helps to clear-up in a person's mind what the instructions are having you do instead of just pressing Chinese symbols XYZ. So, when using the flashing/burning program, just change the flashing/burning menus to the English language from the second pull-down menu in the top left. And of course be sure to download/use the JB release downloaded from the Onda Chinese language web site (second link above) versus the English language web site imbedded in the how-to instructions.

I still plan to give more feedback on the V971 after I've had a chance to use it for a while...but for the last few days I've been on the go and when at the house the wife has been using the tablet to watch YouTube videos of Thai TV/Soap stars....gosh, she must have watched 4 hours worth yesterday of various Thai celebrities videos. She even suggested last night that I might want to buy another V971 so I would have one to use....maybe that's a hint she has taken ownership of the current V971, however, I'm still responsible for the tablet maintenance....oh the life of a husband to get three cooked meals (and other things) each day.

[giddyup]

A friend of mine just bought his niece a 10 inch Galaxy tablet from Pattaya TukCom for 3,000 baht. It is clearly labeled front and back as a Samsung. He was surprised when I told him that it was a knock off. I too was surprised that they openly sell this junk without any repercussions. I did play with it for a while and it clearly was a piece of crap. Be careful what you buy at Pattaya TukCom.

I almost bought an Android from there today, it wasn't until I had my money out (3000 baht) that I thought to ask about a warranty. Reply, "no warranty, bring back if broken". I then asked if it was a copy, well of course it was.

[Turkleton]

I then asked if it was a copy, well of course it was.

Copy of what? Samsung Galaxy Tab or Ipad3?

I am always surprised, why people complaining about "copies" and "crap" etc.

What do you think, you will get for 3K Baht?

A genuine Samsung or Ipad?

Nobody can't be so stupid....or can he?

Edited November 24, 2012 by Turkleton

[Gary A]

I then asked if it was a copy, well of course it was.

Copy of what? Samsung Galaxy Tab or Ipad3?

I am always surprised, why people complaining about "copies" and "crap" etc.

What do you think, you will get for 3K Baht?

A genuine Samsung or Ipad?

Nobody can't be so stupid....or can he?

What if the knock off is priced about the same as the genuine article? My friend is not at all familiar with high tech gadgets. He wouldn't know if that Samsung was supposed to be 2,000 or 20,000 baht. All he knew was that his little niece wanted a Samsung tablet and that's what he bought.

[Turkleton]

He wouldn't know if that Samsung was supposed to be 2,000 or 20,000 baht. All he knew was that his little niece wanted a Samsung tablet and that's what he bought.

you made my day

[Phil Conners]

Or for 7" you can't go wrong with a Google Nexus 7, it's a really nice device for $200. Best Android tablet out there. Not sure how easy these are to get in Thailand I think they're officially only sold in the USA. Can't be beat for the price.

The Nexus 7 is indeed a really cool tablet, but unfortunately it is only sold in US. I even tried a large number of online shops but i was unble to find one who would ship outside USA. As it happened a friend of mine was in USA at the time and just brought a 16GB Wifi model back for me.

I was actually getting it to replace the Kindle book reader my daughter took with her when she left for boarding school, but after trying it out I have to say that if you're after a book reader you really can't beat the Kindle. The Nexus 7 is a really cool tablet for tablet-stuff but between my PC and my Nexus Galaxy phone I'm actually covered, so if anyone is interested in a Nexus 7 here in Thailand send me a PM.

[Tywais]

Or for 7" you can't go wrong with a Google Nexus 7, it's a really nice device for $200. Best Android tablet out there. Not sure how easy these are to get in Thailand I think they're officially only sold in the USA. Can't be beat for the price.

The Nexus 7 is indeed a really cool tablet, but unfortunately it is only sold in US. I even tried a large number of online shops but i was unble to find one who would ship outside USA. As it happened a friend of mine was in USA at the time and just brought a 16GB Wifi model back for me.

Did you try bhphoto? I've ordered items from them and shipped to Thailand. Or are there restrictions on certain items?

//edit - Ah, see you have one already.

[Phil Conners]

Did you try bhphoto? I've ordered items from them and shipped to Thailand. Or are there restrictions on certain items?

//edit - Ah, see you have one already.

Actually it was not only a shipping address issue, but also a payment issue. The companies I tried (quite a few) did not want to accept a VISA gold with a non-US billing address.

I didn't try the company you listed, but checking now they seem to only offer Google Wallet (US only) or Paypal (US, Canada, UK only).

[Tywais]

I didn't try the company you listed, but checking now they seem to only offer Google Wallet (US only) or Paypal (US, Canada, UK only).

I did pay my orders with VISA but it is a US card but billing address is Thailand. Their payment information does show non US addresses for CC.

Right now I'm waiting for more information and reviews on the Nexus 10. Still haven't decided on the size of the display I want but when I went to BigC and looked at the 7" offering it just seemed too small for my needs. Looking for a size compromise between 7" and 10".

[thaicbr]

Or for 7" you can't go wrong with a Google Nexus 7, it's a really nice device for $200. Best Android tablet out there. Not sure how easy these are to get in Thailand I think they're officially only sold in the USA. Can't be beat for the price.

The Nexus 7 is indeed a really cool tablet, but unfortunately it is only sold in US. I even tried a large number of online shops but i was unble to find one who would ship outside USA. As it happened a friend of mine was in USA at the time and just brought a 16GB Wifi model back for me.

I was actually getting it to replace the Kindle book reader my daughter took with her when she left for boarding school, but after trying it out I have to say that if you're after a book reader you really can't beat the Kindle. The Nexus 7 is a really cool tablet for tablet-stuff but between my PC and my Nexus Galaxy phone I'm actually covered, so if anyone is interested in a Nexus 7 here in Thailand send me a PM.

you are wrong Nexus 7 is now available here in Thailand.

http://www.shopat7.com/%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%A7%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%8C%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B0-IT/%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%AA%E0%B9%8C-%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%A7%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%8C/tablet/nexus-7-32.html

[Phil Conners]

^ Seems you're right, you can get it here - at a price - and I think you can safely assume it's a gray import.

[thaicbr]

^ Seems you're right, you can get it here - at a price - and I think you can safely assume it's a gray import.

Nope... it's direct from Asus Thailand . No grey import. It's more expensive than the USA. But then most things are

sent from my Q6

[Phil Conners]

Hm, AFAIK the Nexus 7 is not officially for sale outside USA. It is made by Asus, yes, but it's a Google tablet, they call the shots. I would check with Asus Thailand if i was buying (I'm not, so ... shrug )

[thaicbr]

Hm, AFAIK the Nexus 7 is not officially for sale outside USA. It is made by Asus, yes, but it's a Google tablet, they call the shots. I would check with Asus Thailand if i was buying (I'm not, so ... shrug )

Sorry Phil..wrong again..

http://www.facebook.com/ASUSTHAILAND

also the Nexus 7/4/10 are available from the Google play stores in the UK, Australia and Europe

Edited November 25, 2012 by thaicbr

[Phil Conners]

Last I checked it was only available in the US, but they may have started to expand. I still don't think it's officially available in Thailand. Yes I see Asus offers an ASUS Nexus 7 - It may well be exactly the same (at a different price) but I think they're using a technicality by not calling it a Google Nexus 7. Anyway, whatever.

[Pib]

I didn't try the company you listed, but checking now they seem to only offer Google Wallet (US only) or Paypal (US, Canada, UK only).

I did pay my orders with VISA but it is a US card but billing address is Thailand. Their payment information does show non US addresses for CC.

Right now I'm waiting for more information and reviews on the Nexus 10. Still haven't decided on the size of the display I want but when I went to BigC and looked at the 7" offering it just seemed too small for my needs. Looking for a size compromise between 7" and 10".

One thing about smartphone/tablets, while some sizes may feel a little too big in the store, after you buy one it seems to shrink as you get use to the size and many times wish you had bought a larger one. Of course it all depends on how you are going to use it, carry it around, etc...but a even a 7" ain't going to easily fit in your pocket if being the type of wanting to carry your tablet around with you everywhere. For me, the Onda 9.7" tablet I recently bought is the right size for me...it gets used 90% of the time within the confines of my home and the other 10% while killing time away from home. By the way, I think my 9.7" tablet has shrunk since getting it...it sure don't seem as big as the day I bought it. Any idea when the 12" tablets will be coming out?