How do the Android tablets compare to each other?
Specifically, the Toshiba Thrive vs. the Asus Transformer.
I am not terribly wise in the ways of tablet computatoes. These look about the same to me.
Hmm....depends on what you're looking for.
Most polished
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
-this one has the cleanest lines, and is the most "Apple-like" in terms of polish. It's accused of being an Apple knockoff, but it's a completely different aspect ratio and runs Android instead of iOS so they're very obviously different.
-this is for users who don't care about expandable memory, keyboards or anything like that.
-this one probably has the best screen overall.
ASUS Transformer
-this one is a pretty good take on a tablet+netbook. It has an accessory that is a keyboard that clips right onto it, and literally turns it into a netbook. It replaces the software keyboard, and being able to type 100 wpm on your tablet, then take the screen off to use it as a tablet is pretty cool
-this one has had *some* build quality issues. Really depends...some users have no problems, others have had creakiness, or issues with speakers not being loud enough, etc.
-this one has an excellent IPS display....bright, great viewing angles. I like the screen better than the one on the Galaxy Tab 10.1, but as measured "scientifically" supposedly the one on the 10.1 is better. My issue is that I find Samsung tends to set their screens to be oversaturated colour wise...it makes them display great in the store, but they're not true to colour. I've had the same issues with Samsung LCD monitors and TVs.
-this one's good from a connectivity standpoint...microSD, microHDMI on the tablet, and SD and USB (2x) on the keyboard.
-it also has unlimited web storage, comes with Splashtop so you can do a virtual desktop with your PC etc.
-very fast updates. Probably.
-very long battery life. I've got 20 hours of actual use out of mine, when docked to the keyboard. That's a combination of writing e-mails, surfing the web, watching videos, downloading apps, etc.
Motorola Xoom
-good, solid build.
-screen not so great.
-first Honeycomb tablet
-microHDMI and micro SD card slot and micro USB
-there were issues with features not working, as a result of the tablet being the first to market. However, most of the issues have been resolved after 9 months of software updates, I think.....as long as you live in the U.S. If you're outside the U.S. Motorola support leaves a lot to be desired.
Acer A500
-seems like a solid build.
-screen is bright, but there have been criticisms of quality.
-full size USB and SD card slots, I think.
Sony has some interesting ones with very different form factors. I've seen one of them in the store, and it seems neat, but the form factor is....odd.....it's not flat....it's more like a magazine folded back over itself, so it has one really thing edge, and one fatter edge.
-it plays some Playstation games, I believe.
LG has an Optimus pad that, if it's anything like their phones, actually does 3D right on the screen, without glasses. It can also shoot 3D video. Aside from those characteristics, I don't know much about it.
Toshiba Thrive. I was very interested in this one originally. Replaceable battery, full size SD and USB ports, full size HDMI. Nice grippy back so it doesn't slip. Battery life is supposedly not great. Don't know about the screen.
There are ALOT of Android tabs....so it's difficult to name them all, and the respective advantages of each.
The new ASUS Transformer Prime is looking really good........all the features of the original, including a keyboard, but the whole thing made of aluminium instead of plastic, a quad core processor (purported to be as powerful as an XBox 360), longer battery life, a flash on the camera, better speakers, a built in subwoofer, and running the newest version of Android.
Banshee
P.S. To be clear, I am *not* an unbiased reviewer, as I own an ASUS Transformer and the dock that you can buy for it. I have got a lot of use out of them, so I'm partial. I just want to make that clear. That having been said, I still think the iPad 2 is neat, as are several Android tablets.
