First impressions/comparisons w/ an Android

ramorris · Thread Author #1 10-03-2011, 05:42 PM

So I went ahead and bought an Asus eeePad tablet - really cool - you can add a keyboard that has another battery so the charge will go to 16 hrs or something like that. I have an Asus eee PC netbook that I really like.

Anyhow, I've had no formal training in computers except Fortran in college in 1979 and a week of machine language class I dropped in 1980. I am a scientist and I build all my own lab cpus so my grad students can be shackled to them and have no excuses if something goes down since I can fix it immediately. I've been tinkering with PC hardware since 1986 and have built probably over 50 PCs.

So I feel like I'm a good example of someone who should be able to figure things out without a manual but w/o formal training.

SO the point then ---and after spending a weekend with this Android tablet at first blush I have to say that Honeycomb seems to be built stupidly. I spent about 30 min trying to delete a damn icon! It doesn't multitask at all either.

When I got my PB - I remember thinking how immediately I felt at home with the OS - how easy it is to use and now this Android tablet contrasts markedly. IMHO, these are two completely distinct devices and the PB is a real cpu with the Asus being more of a glorified phone or toy.

My 2 cents - I was just really surprised at the lack of sophistication with Honeycomb.

R

Frosty_Power · #2 10-03-2011, 05:53 PM

I have the 32GB Asus eeePad with optional keyboard dock and I think it's the best tablet on the market for value and price, and I do have an iP2 and a PB. I believe the Android tablet, is still better than the IP2 and the PB(in it's current state) but it is a 10" so it's not as portable.

Infiniti14 · #3 10-03-2011, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramorris

So I went ahead and bought an Asus eeePad tablet - really cool - you can add a keyboard that has another battery so the charge will go to 16 hrs or something like that. I have an Asus eee PC netbook that I really like.

Anyhow, I've had no formal training in computers except Fortran in college in 1979 and a week of machine language class I dropped in 1980. I am a scientist and I build all my own lab cpus so my grad students can be shackled to them and have no excuses if something goes down since I can fix it immediately. I've been tinkering with PC hardware since 1986 and have built probably over 50 PCs.

So I feel like I'm a good example of someone who should be able to figure things out without a manual but w/o formal training.

SO the point then ---and after spending a weekend with this Android tablet at first blush I have to say that Honeycomb seems to be built stupidly. I spent about 30 min trying to delete a damn icon! It doesn't multitask at all either.

When I got my PB - I remember thinking how immediately I felt at home with the OS - how easy it is to use and now this Android tablet contrasts markedly. IMHO, these are two completely distinct devices and the PB is a real cpu with the Asus being more of a glorified phone or toy.

My 2 cents - I was just really surprised at the lack of sophistication with Honeycomb.

R

Sophistication is a great way to explain the Playbook OS. People complain about the lack of features and apps, but in the long run I think its way easier to add apps and functions, as opposed to making the OS as a whole more user friendly and sophisticated feeling.

To me Mac OS always felt sophisticated compared to Windows, and thats how i feel comparing the Playbook OS to Honeycomb.

pkcable · #4 10-03-2011, 06:53 PM

Moved to Android Forum

lssanjose · #5 10-03-2011, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramorris

So I went ahead and bought an Asus eeePad tablet - really cool - you can add a keyboard that has another battery so the charge will go to 16 hrs or something like that. I have an Asus eee PC netbook that I really like.

Anyhow, I've had no formal training in computers except Fortran in college in 1979 and a week of machine language class I dropped in 1980. I am a scientist and I build all my own lab cpus so my grad students can be shackled to them and have no excuses if something goes down since I can fix it immediately. I've been tinkering with PC hardware since 1986 and have built probably over 50 PCs.

So I feel like I'm a good example of someone who should be able to figure things out without a manual but w/o formal training.

SO the point then ---and after spending a weekend with this Android tablet at first blush I have to say that Honeycomb seems to be built stupidly. I spent about 30 min trying to delete a damn icon! It doesn't multitask at all either.

When I got my PB - I remember thinking how immediately I felt at home with the OS - how easy it is to use and now this Android tablet contrasts markedly. IMHO, these are two completely distinct devices and the PB is a real cpu with the Asus being more of a glorified phone or toy.

My 2 cents - I was just really surprised at the lack of sophistication with Honeycomb.

R

What kind of sophistication were you looking for? Expectation is the mother of disappointment. YMMV applies everywhere. You may not see the sophistication, but someone with another background will.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

lssanjose · #6 10-03-2011, 07:40 PM

Asus is anything but something to write about regarding tabs. Great computer manufacturer, but their tablet /wireless pedigree isn't the likes of Motorola, or Samsung

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papped · #7 10-03-2011, 07:42 PM

Most everyone looks at the Asus tablets purely because of price, not because of "sophistication"...

howarmat · #8 10-03-2011, 07:59 PM

im sorry but it certainly can multitask...there is a rocket scientist joke in here somewhere im sure

For some nfo on multitasking click below

Android 3.0 Honeycomb – Official Outing Overview | This Android Life

trelawrence · #9 10-03-2011, 08:09 PM

Isn't deleting an icon drag and drop?

howarmat · #10 10-03-2011, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trelawrence

Isn't deleting an icon drag and drop?

yes it is.

cdf3 · #11 10-03-2011, 08:16 PM

If the default launcher is a bit confusing, you can always download another launcher.
You can try ADW EX. It allows you to press and hold an icon to remove, rename, uninstall, or share.

Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk

lssanjose · #12 10-03-2011, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdf3

If the default launcher is a bit confusing, you can always download another launcher.
You can try ADW EX. It allows you to press and hold an icon to remove, rename, uninstall, or share.

Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk

I'm not sure if I've scratched the surface of Google's stock launcher. It is indeed barebones, when pit against the likes of ADW/EX, Go Launcher, Launcher Pro/Plus. But, I think with enough digging, I think there are jewels of merit to the stock launcher. I use the stock launcher on my phone, and really enjoy its simplicity: it's foolproof because of users not being able to simply drag/hold and drop to uninstall an app (but it can be a convenience for more "advanced" users). You can't accidentally delete a widget you probably didn't want to delete in the first place through the aforementioned you mention. You have to literally drag it to the trash can to do this. Also, the inability to lock the home screen has its ups/downs. On the up side, you know there's a method to removing an icon, or widget; and that method only. By not having that locked home screen state allows users to freely add/remove widgets at their individual discretion, making your home screen truly customizable. Sometimes, one may not need a weather widget, or a pandora widget. Widgets can truly come, and go. Well, enough of my drivel about the stock launcher, and its benefits

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ChuckH0308 · #13 10-04-2011, 03:27 AM

It's so easy to delete icons that I'm always doing it by accident!

K Bear · #14 10-04-2011, 10:29 AM

I believe that this is yet again RIM troll bait. If you can claim to be such a technophile and cannot figure out how to drop and drag icons, that right there screams RIM troll.

pantlesspenguin · #15 10-04-2011, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K Bear

I believe that this is yet again RIM troll bait. If you can claim to be such a technophile and cannot figure out how to drop and drag icons, that right there screams RIM troll.

That's the impression I got, as well. Same with saying that Android doesn't multitask?? OP, what were you trying to do that you couldn't?