Tablets - iPad, Galaxy Tab, Playbook, XOOM & More

[Thor]

Got a kindle fire, loving it so far, been hankering for a good tablet to read books.

I've been reading methods around the Kindle Prime US only for streaming video, and its a pretty simple solution, VPN for on your PC and creating a 2nd amazon account with US address and funding it with GC's instead of a US based CC.

Have to read up more about it, have also considered the idea of going to CM7 mod, but we'll see.

[saskflames69]

I bought a playbook today for 199 at future shop. Quite frankly, I am not that all impressed with the app selection. It's really pathetic when most of them are the kind you try to avoid. I like the screen resolution and it's size, but you can't really do much with it in terms of apps. Should I return it for a full refund or wait until the next big update in February assuming no more stupid delays?

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by saskflames96

I bought a playbook today for 199 at future shop. Quite frankly, I am not that all impressed with the app selection. It's really pathetic when most of them are the kind you try to avoid. I like the screen resolution and it's size, but you can't really do much with it in terms of apps. Should I return it for a full refund or wait until the next big update in February assuming no more stupid delays?

You can install many android apps by either sideloading the android app player, or upgrading to the dev version of the new OS. I know it was enough for me - I was also concerned about the number of apps.

[AFireInside]

Originally Posted by saskflames96

I bought a playbook today for 199 at future shop. Quite frankly, I am not that all impressed with the app selection. It's really pathetic when most of them are the kind you try to avoid. I like the screen resolution and it's size, but you can't really do much with it in terms of apps. Should I return it for a full refund or wait until the next big update in February assuming no more stupid delays?

I've always wondered what apps most people need for their devices? I have an android, but I don't really use apps very often. I have some games, but the others I barely use. For myself, 99% of the apps I get I use for a day or two, and then never use again.

Then again I could be the minority! lol.

Same for my playbook, I use it to surf the net, and a few other things and it's been great for that. It is missing a few apps that would be nice, like skype and netflix, and it sounds like those may be coming soon, but other than a few I still think it's a great tablet for that $200 price tag.

Honestly the bigger problem with the playbook is that it needs things like USB on the go etc. Hopefully that's coming on the update!

[J Diddy]

Can I smash my Playbook with a hammer and then return it? What a pathetic and frustrating device. I may send it back to RIM in pieces.

[Slava]

whats frustrating about it?

[seattleflamer]

Originally Posted by Thor

Got a kindle fire, loving it so far, been hankering for a good tablet to read books.

I've been reading methods around the Kindle Prime US only for streaming video, and its a pretty simple solution, VPN for on your PC and creating a 2nd amazon account with US address and funding it with GC's instead of a US based CC.

Have to read up more about it, have also considered the idea of going to CM7 mod, but we'll see.

I've been underwhelmed by the selection of Kindle Prime's streaming video collection at least for the free stuff. I understand they've reached a content agreement with Fox and obviously it will get better.

For me, the value of Prime is the free two day shipping which really made my Christmas shopping very stress free as well as "borrowing" kindle books without having to buy it.

Netflix is much better for now and they recently signed a deal to get dreamworks content though there losing Starz content.

[stampsx2]

Any Ipad 2/facebook guru's out there? I can't see who's online when I go on my facebook. It would be very helpful if you could tell me if it works on yours? It works with my laptop. Did a search but it doesn't seem to be a common problem.

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by AFireInside

I've always wondered what apps most people need for their devices? I have an android, but I don't really use apps very often. I have some games, but the others I barely use. For myself, 99% of the apps I get I use for a day or two, and then never use again.

Then again I could be the minority! lol.

Same for my playbook, I use it to surf the net, and a few other things and it's been great for that. It is missing a few apps that would be nice, like skype and netflix, and it sounds like those may be coming soon, but other than a few I still think it's a great tablet for that $200 price tag.

Honestly the bigger problem with the playbook is that it needs things like USB on the go etc. Hopefully that's coming on the update!

I'm much the same way - the main thing I use on my tablet is the web browser, as well as a weather app. I also have Angry Birds and a few games for the kids, but that's about all I use regularly so far.

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by saskflames96

I bought a playbook today for 199 at future shop. Quite frankly, I am not that all impressed with the app selection.

Shoulda read this thread! The big story with the Playbook has always been its total lack of app selection.

Read up on sideloading Android apps and things get much better.

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by J Diddy

Can I smash my Playbook with a hammer and then return it? What a pathetic and frustrating device. I may send it back to RIM in pieces.

Maybe one of the Playbook owners here can help? What's the issue?

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Ashartus

I'm much the same way - the main thing I use on my tablet is the web browser, as well as a weather app. I also have Angry Birds and a few games for the kids, but that's about all I use regularly so far.

I get specifc apps for the websites I visit often as it often makes using them much easier on a smaller phone or tablet device as many of them don't have a great mobile version of the website or the browser can be slow.

IE: apps for ebay, wikipedia, etc. is what I mean. One of the most important for us CPers would be Tapatalk which is a great way to browse this forum on a tablet.

[FlamesPuck12]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I get specifc apps for the websites I visit often as it often makes using them much easier on a smaller phone or tablet device as many of them don't have a great mobile version of the website or the browser can be slow.

IE: apps for ebay, wikipedia, etc. is what I mean. One of the most important for us CPers would be Tapatalk which is a great way to browse this forum on a tablet.

I find that some apps are worse than loading a full (or mobile) site. Wikipedia on the iPhone being one. It really depends on who developed the app. Some apps are just garbage (Flames app on the iPhone). On the phone, apps are more useful than the full site due to the screen size but on the tablet, I prefer the full site.

[Anduril]

Looking at my Asus Transformer tablet, I've got something like 140+ apps.
Obviously, I don't use them all. If anything I'm more of a hoarder when it comes to apps. About half of those are games.
Despite the fact that I'm overloading on apps (with 32GB of memory, I guess I can afford to), I don't use all of them. However, there's a fair amount that I use. Widgets from apps, different word processing apps to bring the best of each depending on my needs, as well as having various games for the situation or my mood, is something I really enjoy.

Not saying that unless you download every app, you're missing out but there are users who use lots of apps just like those who don't use many.

If I had to guess though, I'd be using at least 20% of the apps I download. Sounds a little bad, but these are the ones I use regularly. Everything else that I feel that I won't use gets purged each week.

------

With that in mind, even though there were some good points about the playbook mentioned, lack of apps again are a serious deficit. Lack of a proper email/calender client, video-chat with non-PB users, are some serious holes.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

I just got a 64GB Playbook for Christmas. I really like it so far. I'm curious what apps you guys have for it & would suggest. I'm not big into games, so I'm using the browser for CP, and then the Facebook app. What else do you guys tend to use?

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

I just got a 64GB Playbook for Christmas. I really like it so far. I'm curious what apps you guys have for it & would suggest. I'm not big into games, so I'm using the browser for CP, and then the Facebook app. What else do you guys tend to use?

Poynt & Bluebox are good. The rest of the apps I have loaded are Android apps.

[SinceDay1]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

I just got a 64GB Playbook for Christmas. I really like it so far. I'm curious what apps you guys have for it & would suggest. I'm not big into games, so I'm using the browser for CP, and then the Facebook app. What else do you guys tend to use?

Besides the pre-installed apps, I'm using Kobo, Twitter, Score Mobile, Poynt, Unit Converter, Cineplex, OANDA Currency Converter, WeatherEye, Hockeycentral, What's Up, Free Solitaire, EasyCrop, TouchUp Pro, Comics, Book Reader for EPUB & Kindle, File Browser, BlueBox, Mahjong for Playbook, Nobex Radio, Slacker Radio, Tweedless, Calgary Herald, Evernote, Blackberry News, QRcoder, SketchBook, SnagFilms, ShortenThis! and Cooklet. These are all native Playbook apps available from Blackberry App World. Some are better than others. YMMV.

[FlamesPuck12]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

I just got a 64GB Playbook for Christmas. I really like it so far. I'm curious what apps you guys have for it & would suggest. I'm not big into games, so I'm using the browser for CP, and then the Facebook app. What else do you guys tend to use?

I prefer the Facebook website instead of the app. Just add the bookmark to the home screen so you can launch the website just like you would launch an app.

But for other apps: Bluebox, AIR Browser (File Browser).

[ericschand]

Originally Posted by Anduril

Looking at my Asus Transformer tablet, I've got something like 140+ apps.

BTW, if you want a deal, Visions is selling the Asus Transformer 32GB for $348. The keyboard is on for $98.

Good deal for a great tablet. I bought the 16GB version a month ago with full intent on rooting and hacking a new ROM onto it, but I like it just the way it is, so I haven't done anything but use stock ROM and no root.

ers

[Caged Great]

i got my playbook today. the only thing that is a bit annoying is the keyboard is slightly too wide to use comfortably but thats about it. like it so far.