Tablets & eReaders

[Entropy]

---

Hoogie wrote:

What oddball hardware are you referring to?

Not interested in a Tablet without removable folding Laptop-Style keyboard, but a smaller "Phablet" like the Note will meet my needs; actually meet my needs better than a Phone and Tablet.  IMHO the Note with Ice Cream Sandwich is a SWEET SPOT device.  Functioning "USA"  LTE is a must, so I believe importing is out for me (and of course those pesky BB Gift Cards I'm saddled with...).

---

To fit an LTE radio, Samsung threw together random stuff from their parts bin to create the Skyrocket.  It uses a Qualcomm CPU and not Samsung's own Exynos, among other changes.  End result is that despite being clocked 300 MHz higher than the Exynos in the Galaxy S II (GT-I9100 or SGH-I777), it is actually slower.  Also, the two Samsungs that use Snapdragons also are having all sorts of other weird issues like screen discoloration and line banding on the screen.

If the AT&T Note variant has LTE and a Snapdragon, get the international version.  LTE is NOT ready for prime time, it's going to need at least a year to mature.  Right now LTE phones have horrible battery life and are significantly thicker/heavier than non-LTE units, and so far most of AT&T's devices have had weird data reliability issues.  It's why the Skyrocket has been nicknamed the "S**trocket".  Also, as stated above, despite the higher clock speed on paper, the Snapdragon is a weak CPU.  The Skyrocket is notorious for poor battery life despite having a battery 10-15% larger than the I777 - the CPU and LTE radio are both massive power hogs.

It's kind of like the early days of 3G - while I dislike Apple, they were smart to not put a 3G radio into the original iPhone - UMTS hadn't matured enough yet at that point, LTE is at the same point now.

[Hoogie]

Thanks for yur input.  I was hoping to get a "real" US LTE that would have some kind of longevity out of the product.   Unfortunately, I'm stuck with whatever Best Buy ends up getting because of these darn gift cards...

What do you think of the Samsung Series 7 Slate?

YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE THIS:

If you've been following my posts I originally pre-ordered a Champagne Asus Transformer Prime on 11/23/2011 that they were unable to deliver (as we all know too well).  On 12/24/2011 I had all I could take, so i cancelled my order and got an email that said if I had used any gift cards for the cancelled order and no longer had them I have to call BB Customer Service to have NEW gift cards issued and mailed to me.  I did this immediately.

Now 2 weeks have passed and nothing has arrived, so I call BB Customer Service to follow up.  After being transferred to 4 different reps and explaining my entire situation 4 times, A women named Shelly was able to tell me that the $550 in gift crads credits WAS ISSUED BACK TO THE ORIGINAL GIFT CARDS! (that I had thrown in the trash after using them).  Remember, i made the call to have NEW gift cards issued and that CS rep "said" she issued NEW gift crads that are on the way to my house in the mail.

Luckily last week when I was emptying the trash I came across the original gift cards and pulled them out just in case; setting them aside until my NEW gift cards arrived.  Well, as I stated above they never did!

Shelly "said" she confirmed my $550 was put back on those original gift cards despite my confirmed call to BB to have NEW gift cards issued.  So I told her to leave it be and i will physical drive down to my local BB store and have those original gift cards scanned to make sure all the money is actually there.

Talk about complete incompetence!  I keep saying this and I will say it agai; NEVER EVER AGAIN WILL I USE BEST BUY TO PURCHASE ANYTHING I CAN PURCHASE ELSEWHERE!

I'm a month and a half into this failed order and the nightmare still isn't over...

[Namuh]

WOW 2 things at$t did cripple the note with a crapdragon processor just to put LTE on it. Im glad I got the international version with the Exynos chip!!! AND Asus just anounced a new transformer tablet at CES. So much for the prime! Glad I canceled. Now lets see if I can get a hold of one of theses new tablets!

 From Engadget: It's a 10.1-incher with NVIDIA's Tegra 3 within (1.3GHz quad-core Cortex A9), a Super IPS+ / Gorilla Glass 10.1-inch display with a downright silly 1,920 x 1,200 resolution (watch out, Lenovo!) and 32GB or 64GB of internal storage space. There's also an 8 megapixel rear camera / 2 megapixel front-facing cam, support for 1080p playback, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, a micro-HDMI port, microSD card reader, a 25WHr Lithium-Polymer battery and a chassis that weighs just over a pound. It'll ship with Android 4.0.1 onboard (yeah, that's Ice Cream Sandwich), and will be compatible with the exact same keyboard dock as the existing Prime. Needless to say, ASUS is aiming for the stars with a build sheet like this, and the $599 to $699 retail price points enable you to know it. It'll land next quarter here in North America, and no, there's no GPS functionality listed on the spec sheet after the break; though we've been informed that this new Prime will come with a new back panel design (pictured after the break) that should enhance WiFi, BT and GPS performance.

[Hoogie]

Thanks Namuh, I'll start all over researching the New-New-New Transformer... (lol)

= = = = =

ON MY CONTINUING NIGHTMARE:

Went to my local Best Buy and confirmed that all my original $550 Gift Cards do in fact have their original money back on them.  Good!

Since I was there I asked the computer CS jockey if they had a Samsung Series 7 Slate in the store so I can see it.  He fumbles around on the computer and says, I think it is the one over there in the corner (pointing to a group of laptops).  I walk over and don't see it.  He then walks over and say that is it right in front of you, poointing to a TOSHIBA LAPTOP!  I politely point at the label and tell him, no that's a Toshiba Laptop, I'm looking for a Samsung Series 7 Slate, it's has 11.6" tablet screen with a docking station and bluetooth keyboard.

NOW GET THIS!!!

HE TELLS ME THAT THE SAMGUNG SERIES 7 SLATE IS THE CODE NAME FOR THE TOSHIBA LAPTOP HE IS POINTING AT!

W.T.F?  Is this Best Buy CS jockey on crack?  My God!  How could any Best Buy employee make a comment like that???

I'm at a complete loss as to how this company stays in business.  This guy does not deserve a paycheck, PERIOD.

UNBELIEVEABLE!  THE SAGA CONTINUES... (LOL...)

[floridaDonna]

I ordered the Champagne DEC 4 and was backordered of course, i called this evening and was told that the color had been d/c. I had to cancel the order but was unable to preorder the gray because there were none in stock. I just wonder when they were going to tell me that. They had already charged the amount on my charge card back in Dec.

[Blwnsmoke]

It isnt discontinued... love the lies BB is telling to cover their screw up.

[floridaDonna]

I realize that so, I will not be purchasing an Asus tablet of any kind. I have read that there is going to be a new model Prime to correct the bugs of the current (unable to find) one in the near future, whenever that is. I am looking at the Toshiba Thrive at Office Depot. I will not be shopping at Best Buy now or in the future. They have lost a valuable customer. (Asus AND Best Buy)

[floridaDonna]

I'm going to restart researching today. I have owned Toshiba products and have never had a problem. I like the idea of not needing a keyboard and that the USB is in the tablet itself. I will look at the available INSTOCK tablets today.

[Entropy]

The Thrive's included ports seem really nice at first - but the device is an overweight fatty.

I'd suggest looking at the Samsung Galaxy Tab series.  I have a 10.1 and love it - although I'll sell it in a heartbeat if they release a 10.1 with their Exynos CPU instead of Tegra 2.  (Their Tab 7.0 Plus has the most powerful CPU of any of their Tabs - but only has a 7" screen.)

[Hoogie]

Prime spotted on display in a Best Buy store!  WHAT?  Yes, it's true...

I've been to about 6 Best Buys this year to see what they have on display and view what other products I might have an interest in to spend my gift cards (nothing interest me yet except the hopefully coming soon  Samsung Galaxy Note...).  Today I happened to be driving by The Market Place in either Irvine or Tustin (not sure which city it is; off the 5FWY near Culver in Orange County, CA).  They actually have a Prime on display and the tag reads "Coming Soon".

Thank goodness at least one Best Buy store is bright enough to retain one for store display so interested customers can touch and feel it.  Kodo's to this store for having enough insight to do this.  I will say it is basically just like all the rest of the 10"er's in general.  I think I kind of like the original transformer back better.  Maybe the new higher resolution Prime with 2.0 front camera and plastic back (to improve the WiFi and GPS reception) will look more like the original (who knows?).  The two are side-by-side in the store.

In case you are wondering it is a Gray model and THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY FOR SALE (so don't overwhelm them with needless phone calls!), but those in Orange County, CA can make a decision as what to do with their failed pre-order, if they want to switch to the Gray or if they even want to buy it at all.

Good luck folks!  This will be my last post regarding "this" Prime.  My desire has faded...