Has anyone made a DECENT Android iPad rival yet?

[d000hg]

In those use-cases, I have a laptop. Faffing around to find a HDMI cable or messing about copying files onto a memory-stick are not really what pads are about IMO, a netbook fits the bill better.

If the pad was running a 'proper' PC OS rather than a phone OS, then the things you mention might be more relevant. But on these pads, you're going to probably be doing document editing in g-docs. When your pad can run OpenOffice or Word, it stops being a pad and starts being a touch-screen PC.

[DaveB]

Sure but a big screen is a big deal IMO. I don't imagine things like USB/HDMI are really a big deal for the target demographic considering these are aimed at mainly web-based activity. I'll just email you the file, if I want to watch HD TV I'm not really going to plug my iPad into the TV because the whole point is I use the iPad for browsing WHILE watching TV.

That's fine when your at home, but what about when you want to plug it into a TV somewhere else to show a load of other people the HD movie you've got on there. Or you want to do a quick file transfer to someone else's machine without the hassle of getting authenticated to a secure wireless network.

[d000hg]

Sure but a big screen is a big deal IMO. I don't imagine things like USB/HDMI are really a big deal for the target demographic considering these are aimed at mainly web-based activity. I'll just email you the file, if I want to watch HD TV I'm not really going to plug my iPad into the TV because the whole point is I use the iPad for browsing WHILE watching TV.

[DaveB]

First review I read isn't too inspiring, and at £550 you could get an iPad, which doesn't have phone capabilities but is a bigger screen. This seems really expensive, given Apple's brand strength I imagine competitors would have to offer comparable products a bit cheaper to get interest.

Or USB, or SD slots, or a camera, or HDMI, or GPS. And it's cheaper than a 3G iPad.

Not saying buy one, but it has a few more bits than a standard iPad than just phone.

[d000hg]

Samsung Galaxy Tab is the closest you are going to get for now.

Has everything you asked for, albeit in a smaller form factor than the Fondle Pad.

First review I read isn't too inspiring, and at £550 you could get an iPad, which doesn't have phone capabilities but is a bigger screen. This seems really expensive, given Apple's brand strength I imagine competitors would have to offer comparable products a bit cheaper to get interest.

[yorkshireman]

My iPad was expensive but it is nice kit. Slightly heavy after playing Pocket Frogs for a few hours - but you can't have everything!

Like the OP I keep checking out the Android competition as I would prefer an open system - but seen nothing yet.

[DaveB]

Samsung Galaxy Tab is the closest you are going to get for now.

Has everything you asked for, albeit in a smaller form factor than the Fondle Pad.

[xchaotic]

Simply put, NO.
IPad is the best for now.

If the situation changes, sell or chuck your iPad and get what's best.

Until then, use iPad, simple, eh?

[kandr]

I wouldn't hold you breath, I changed my Iphone 3g for an HTC Desire and my Wife got Iphone 4. I recently used her phone and it just felt more responsive and more solid and just better in general. I think the same will be true for tablets for a while, Apple are just too ahead of the game and they are constantly innovating,

[d000hg]

None yet, they are waiting for Android 3. All the ones so far seem to be £100 crap using Android 2.

Soon though, not sure if this year though.

And there unlikely to anytime soon. How is any newbie going to compete with a manufacturer who designs hardware and software under the same roof for the last 25 years?

Which newbies are you talking about? HTC, whose phones are certainly competing against Apple? It's not newbies making the upcoming devices, but established companies.

[Durbs]

A big iPhone without the phone bit

To be fair to them though, at least they released an SDK for their big phone and also a load of resources to help developers take advantage of the form factor.

iPad apps, when done correctly i.e not just the phone app rejigged for a bigger screen, are VERY different from their phone equivalent.

[Cliphead]

They are constantly being inventive...

A big iPhone without the phone bit

[scooterscot]

No.

And there unlikely to anytime soon. How is any newbie going to compete with a manufacturer who designs hardware and software under the same roof for the last 25 years?

They are constantly being inventive and I like that, nothing ventured nothing gained and all that, everyone else prefers to copy their ideas..

[Durbs]

Not that i've seen but the world and his dog are currently announcing Android tablets so guess there'll be a load on the market before too long.

Saw the Galaxy tab the other day, looked pretty good but simply too small. The thing i like about my iPad is its use as a remote desktop client for my other machines so i can lie in front of the telly and work on my Mac, PC's and servers. Anything smaller than the iPad would be no good for that and would just be a bigger phone really rather than a more portable netbook.

[DimPrawn]

Must have capacitive multitouch screen (not tulipty resistive), latest Android OS and all the usual Wifi, Bluetooth, Flash SD card, USB, 3D graphics accelerator stuff you'd expect on a decent tablet?

Everything seems to be utter carp in terms of Android hardware out there?

Needs to be 10 inch screen.

Here's a good one:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/31/h...-inch-multito/


But they all seem to be vapourware, where can you actually buy on in the UK?