Google Nexus 7 Tablet

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 12:55 pm

I got to play with one at Sams Club today, and I'm pretty blown away. I think this finally is THE $200 tablet.

The desktop GUI is very smooth and simple. My main concern was the browser since - if I get one - all I really will use it for is browsing. I was very impressed by how smooth the native Chrome browser worked. Complex and notoriously slow loading pages popped right up. Scrolling felt very smooth.

They implemented a similar feature that I've only otherwise seen in the mobile version of Opera: if you click on two links at the same time (because they're too close together) then the browser automatically zooms in to allow you to click on the link you really intended.

There was a Kindle Fire sitting next to it and by comparison the Fire was clunky looking and clunky feeling. The fire looks like a thick brick compared to the Nexus 7. The Nexus 7 has that nice light beveled feel that the iPad has.

The screen, in landscape mode, is just the perfect size for browsing. On most websites you can leave the page width the same as the screen width and it's very readable.

Chrome on the Nexus 7 is as pleasant a browsing experience as Opera is on my wife's iPad.

Strangely, different websites disagreed on whether I was using a tablet or a mobile device. CNN and most other sites defaulted to the regular page but Yahoo defaulted to the mobile page.

My only grumble is that (like android phones) there didn't appear to be any way to have the home desktop (where your icons are) orient in landscape.

Sams was only selling the 16Gb for $250, and they were out of stock anyway (tech sites are reporting that they underestimated the demand for the 16Gb version, so supplies are limited everywhere) . However since I only intend to use this as a browser at home, I think I'm going to get the cheaper $200 8Gb version. I really don't need the storage. I don't watch videos on my tablet, nor do I need to store music on it. I have a couple of thin 13" laptops around the house for serious work, I listen to podcasts and music on my iPod touch, and I read Kindle books on my phone or Kindle.

If you've been waiting for a tablet that actually has as good a feel and browsing experience as an iPad, for less than half the money, then this is it - finally.

Good detailed review here: http://www.techradar.com/us/reviews/pc- ... 040/review

b-man1 · Post by **b-man1** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 2:00 pm

They implemented a similar feature that I've only otherwise seen in the mobile version of Opera: if you click on two links at the same time (because they're too close together) then the browser automatically zooms in to allow you to click on the link you really intended.

that alone makes it awesome.

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 2:05 pm

Nice little review.. My wife and I both have iPad 2s.. She got one for Christmas and then got me one for V-day.. We also both have iPhones. My Mother-in-law bought our daughter a Kindle Fire and that thing is a joke in so many ways. I'm not a droid basher, I used an original Droid for a long time and have a Droid 4 (my choice) as a work phone. But as you said, the Kindle Fire is just clunky and feels cumbersome in your hands. Not to mention it's interface is for the birds. You have to click through so many different screens to accomplish one thing. I have been debating on rooting it to see if that enhances it at all, but not sure it's worth it. Our daughter spends more time on my wife's iPad in one day that she has since she got the Kindle Fire.

DaMaN · Post by **DaMaN** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 2:53 pm

Yeah, I feel the same. This tablet is sweet. I will probably sell my TF101 Asus transformer to fund it. Most likely via Ebay unless somebody here has some interest.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Fri Aug 03, 2012 6:54 pm

Nexus 7 teardown:
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/cracki ... e-fire/770

b-man1 · Post by **b-man1** » Fri Aug 03, 2012 9:07 pm

i tried to look at one today at Sam's Club, but an 8 yr old was busy playing some game on it for longer than i wanted to wait. next time...

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Mon Aug 13, 2012 9:53 pm

Bit the bullet and ordered the 16Gb version. They shipped it 2 day air.

Loving it so far. Got Swiftkey (tablet version) installed, Opera, AK Notepad, Kindle app and have it synced for my google calendar and contacts.

Trying to decide if I will use the Chrome browser (which us pretty good and I like having tabs) or stick with Opera.

Feels good in my hand and I'm finding I'm using it more in portrait mode than I thought I would.

I didn't like their cover so I ordered one on Amazon (lots of Nexus 7 covers on Amazon). Ordered this one which has outstanding reviews and it comes with a stylus (I like using a stylus):

http://www.amazon.com/i-BLASON-Google-G ... ef=lh_ni_t

RubberDuckie · Post by **RubberDuckie** » Mon Aug 13, 2012 11:20 pm

I got the 16 gig at Wal-Mart last week ... great tablet.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 8:35 am

They just pushed out a new update that fixed my only complaint: you can now view the desktop in landscape.

DaMaN · Post by **DaMaN** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 1:51 pm

New Ipad Mini is out today:

7.9-inch iPad mini has a 1024 x 768 resolution
Dual-core Apple A5 processor
optional LTE
5-megapixel iSight camera
802.11n Wi-F
New Lightning connector
and a claimed 10-hour battery life

"...The price: $329 for the Wi-Fi 16GB model. Prices then go up by $100 for the 32GB ($429) and 64GB ($529) variants, and if you want LTE, it'll cost you at least $459, with the same $100 price bumps as you increase the storage."

http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/23/3539828/ipad-mini-apple-announcement

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 3:57 pm

Too overpriced considering you can still get an iPad 2 for $399.

I never watched live coverage of an Apple press conference before, but I watched it on TWIT.tv and there were a LOT of surprises.

There's a new iMac that's just GORGEOUS with a razor thin 5mm edge. It doesn't look thick enough to actually have the whole computer inside of it - it looks like it's just a monitor. I must say that's the first time I've actually craved a Mac just looking at it, and I'd love to see one in person.

I'm stunned they announced an iPad 4 (Gen4) so soon after the "New iPad" (Gen3).

And considering that during the press conference they made a HUGE spectacle of comparing the IPad Mini side-by-side with a Nexus 7 tablet, I was surprised they didn't have a price closer to the Nexus 7. I mean, if they could price the iPad mini at $250 or even $299 it would effectively negate the competition. But at $200 for the 8Gb Nexus 7, that's $129 you can spend on something else and still have a damn fine tablet.

Also I was amazed they did the visual comparison with the Nexus 7. I can't EVER recall Apple showing an image of a competitor's product at a press conference, even for comparison - Jobs must be rolling in his grave.

iBooks 3 was no surprise but doesn't interest me. I much prefer buying from the Kindle store since it has an app for EVERY device out there, not just Apple.

13" MacBook Retina was no surprise, and there will certainly be some people willing to pay the price for one.

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 7:45 pm

Seems odd to me that Apple keeps creating newer generations of Ipads and Ipod Touches that aren't really THAT much different than earlier versions.
I have a 4G Touch and 2nd G Ipad but see no good reason to remotely consider buying a newer version of either. The newer Ipad's display doesn't look that much better to me. The newer Touch (like newer Ipad) has a faster CPU but so what? I've never used either device and thought CPU speed was a problem. Better camera but who really needs either device for their cameras compared to real digital cameras?
The Touch (and Ipad) is STILL at 64GB max for storage and to me, that would be the biggest factor to upgrade but apparently it's not yet possible in things that size.
I'd have no interest in a mini Ipad as I like the current Ipads size. Neither is as portable as a phone (or Touch).

Then...the new connector, why? To those who've already bought devices that directly plug into their older Apple device, the new plug will just piss them off. I have to think that'll be a negative thing for many for a while.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 8:33 pm

Seems odd to me that Apple keeps creating newer generations of Ipads and Ipod Touches that aren't really THAT much different than earlier versions.

I have to agree. I just bought a 4G iPod Touch so I could give someone my old 2G iPod Touch. Other than it being a bit thinner and the camera, I really don't see much of a difference. And I don't need a camera on the Touch - the 2G didn't have one and I never missed it. I have a phone with a camera and I have a high quality Sony pocket camera that's better than any of them.

I've never used either device and thought CPU speed was a problem.

However while CPU speed may not be important to you and me it is to people who use these things for gaming. My brother plays Call of Duty 5 Zombies on his iPod Touch. I had no idea those things had enough 3D processing to run a first person shooter.

Then...the new connector, why?

Yeah, the new connector is why I wanted an iPod Touch 4G. I have a pile of the old cables and I have a Griffin remote control dock in the car with the old interface.

EvilHorace · Post by **EvilHorace** » Wed Oct 24, 2012 6:41 am

The only photo program I really like with the 4G Touch is one that takes 360 degree panoramic scenes (Dermandar https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dmd-pan ... 83050?mt=8) as the Touch is more portable than my camera for times when I'm Kayaking. The Touch does a good job of that.
As for games on phones or Touch's, way too small of a device for me to even consider that. The Ipad is far better for that if I need a portable device away from my PCs.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Thu Nov 15, 2012 1:10 am

FYI: You may want to hold off on the Nexus 7 4.2 firmware update. Not everyone is happy with it.

The new lock screen clock is butt-ugly. I thought at first that it was a corrupt upgrade until I Googled it and found out it's supposed to look like that.

There are benefits - people are saying scrolling is smoother (haven't really noticed yet) and you can now have custom widgets on the lock screen.

Thread on this here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthr ... stcount=81