iPad 4 and Asus Transformer TF101.

[Chako]

This is not a review, but more of my first impression. I will start by stating I am not an Apple fan. I had an Apple Powerbook 100 back in the early 90s, and never could get along with it, or the OS 7 that was on it. Cosequently, I have stayed shy of any Apple product until yesterday, when I saw myself buying an Apple ipad 4 at a local computer box store.

I have owned an Android running Asus EEE Transformer TF101 since it came out in 2011. It took me ages to figure it out as there was little instructions that came with it. I got it because I was curious of all the Android talk. I figured I should get onto the technological bus or be left behind in the dust. My time with the Transformer has been great. I did find the use of Android difficult at first, as it is complicated as all get out and not initially user friendly for the beginner. Like all things, you do get used to it and become quite proficient with use.

I then bought a Samsung Galaxy III phone, and wasn't expecting any instructions...and wasn't disappointed in that at all. However, they do have different Android shells, so there was once again a learning curve. I would think having an honest to goodness manual to read would improve this stupidity. It would appear that cost reduction on the manufacturers part is more important than the easy of use for the end user.

With that said, I was getting very curious about the Apple iPad lineup. I didn't bite until a few of my friends bought them and kept talking about how great the tablet is. I couldn't say the same about my Android tablet. Once curiosity got the best of me, I had to buy myself one to see what all the fuss is. Well, I will have to say, the iPad is a bit awkward to use, as I keep trying to use it as an Android device. I know I will get used to the simplicity of the device...and I am cool with that. One thing I do like, the Apps are far far better than those on the Android. The programs are where its at for tablets, and although Andoid apps are getting popular, there is still a complexity in that many apps are not designed for tablets, but for cell phones, and vice versa. Google Earth is jaw dropping on the iPad. I think this is in part to the better screen, but also the programming seems to be better, which improves the overall experience.

So, I am loving the iPad 4. Never thought I would like an Apple product...but times change.

[comis]

I have a ipad 3 a while ago, and then went on and bought a cheap Asus win8 AsusMe400c 'pad'--and I've never regarded a buying decision that much in my life.  It is virtually like a lose-lose situation.  The Win8, personally, until now is still a poor attempt at trying to make a computer looks like a cell phone.  There are no apps to support this platform and what used to be 'pc' is no longer there.  And the hardware, I saw a colleague using it and decided to give a low-cost flatscreen computer a try, and boy was I wrong--everything runs so slow that I feel like I was asking a 80386 to run a window 7...

So after all the drama, I go back to my ipad3 and make peace with it.

[Chako]

Still no instructions with the iPad either. Looks like this is a common thing these days. I still keep trying things that I could with my Asus EEE Transformer...so I am having Androidmissingitus. I know this ailment will go away with time.   

[Grant Lamontagne]

Reading manuals is kind of a lost art, and if you believe most comedians, is usually a detriment to your manliness.

Besides, these devices do so much these days that a manual would be almost the size of an Encyclopedia Britannica set.

Def

Sent from a digital multitool

[derekmac]

I think they figure if you're buying something like that, chances are you have the Internet and can look it up.

My mother just bought an android tablet and it didn't come with anything, and it was her first Android device so she was kind of lost.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4

[Whoey]

I can't speak for other devices but full (free) manuals are available from the Play books store for both my nexus 4 and nexus 7...

[jzmtl]

Generally you can find PDF of the detailed manual online from either manufacturer or service provider (i.e. bell), even though they only include those dinky "getting started" pamphlet in the box.

At least with android, not sure about apple.

[comis]

Still no instructions with the iPad either. Looks like this is a common thing these days. I still keep trying things that I could with my Asus EEE Transformer...so I am having Androidmissingitus. I know this ailment will go away with time.   

That got me kinda curious, does anyone know if the ipad4 differ much from an ipad3?  From my ipad3, at least it is 'user' friendly, and I would assume ipad4 is no different. 

The win8 is so different that could be frustrating to use at times.  Certainly, there is always video I would watch on youtube and I can always google it, but how silly is it to have two computers side-by-side just to use a tablet normally?  It is almost like an anti-thesis to 'if it ain't broken, don't fix it'. 

[Whoey]

The win8 is so different that could be frustrating to use at times.  Certainly, there is always video I would watch on youtube and I can always google it, but how silly is it to have two computers side-by-side just to use a tablet normally?  It is almost like an anti-thesis to 'if it ain't broken, don't fix it'. 

Actually this is sort of something that has bothered me quite a bit recently. Not because I'm a windows user anymore (I jumped ship to Ubuntu rather than bang my head against the POS that is Windows Vista...) but rather in the way that people I know use Windows, and aren't very knowledgeable about general windows features to begin with. I kind of feel like MS looked at Google and Apple (and Nintendo and Sony) and said I want me some of that! And then tried to build their own products (consoles, phones, tablets etc) without really thinking about the implementation of those devices and integration with "normal" windows devices (WTF Windows RT?) I get the feeling that they have totally lost sight of the one thing they had in their pockets due to mobile devices and game consoles (which are essentially just PCs with a more basic OS) and are now dipping their fingers in all the pots and not really getting much out of any of them. The Windows Surface (Windows RT) platform has shown us how they innovate and fail at the same time. A lot of people want an actual keyboard on their tablet, but if it's going to run a halfassed version of windows that they can't run all their other windows compatible software (you have to admit, that catalog is HUGE!) that they are used to what's the point?

My wife is very keen on getting herself a Lenovo Ideapad Yoga 13. It's far more portable than our 15.6 inch "normal" laptop, and works as a windows8 PC and tablet... it has a physical keyboard, and also touch screen, and probably in my eyes the best actual implementation of Win8 I've seen. Actually, one of the promo videos on the Lenovo website actually clued me in to some of the gestures that win8 uses... things that after my first attempt at using it on a non touch device said no thanks, I'll stick to win7 for the foreseeable future. I still keep a windows partition around for one of the few things it still seems to be great at, a games platform. Even that is changing with Steam building up a Linux version and compatible games.

[Freudian Frog]

Still no instructions with the iPad either. Looks like this is a common thing these days. I still keep trying things that I could with my Asus EEE Transformer...so I am having Androidmissingitus. I know this ailment will go away with time.   

Sorry buddy, it'll only intensify.

[comis]

I kind of feel like MS looked at Google and Apple (and Nintendo and Sony) and said I want me some of that! And then tried to build their own products (consoles, phones, tablets etc) without really thinking about the implementation of those devices and integration with "normal" windows devices (WTF Windows RT?) I get the feeling that they have totally lost sight of the one thing they had in their pockets due to mobile devices and game consoles (which are essentially just PCs with a more basic OS) and are now dipping their fingers in all the pots and not really getting much out of any of them. The Windows Surface (Windows RT) platform has shown us how they innovate and fail at the same time. A lot of people want an actual keyboard on their tablet, but if it's going to run a halfassed version of windows that they can't run all their other windows compatible software (you have to admit, that catalog is HUGE!) that they are used to what's the point?

Whoey,

You definitely speaking my mind here.  I was lucky my Asus pad didn't run the Win RT, and nowadays, I have to do so much 'wiping' on the tablet, just to get to what I want for the Win8--and I just can't even imagine if they implement this thing onto desktop PC...that'd be a real workout for everyone to keep sliding their mouse or swiping their monitor.
What are they thinking?  It is almost as silly as someone burning the bridge even before crossing it...

So anyone who is considering getting a Window8-based tablet, do think twice!

[Chako]

Yes. I did consider getting one of those...but read the bad press online and decided to stay well clear...hence the Apple.

I am becoming more at ease with the iPad. My initial problem...it was a little too simplistic...if that makes any sense.

[AlephZero]

Being a serious gadget freak, my choice was Asus Padfone (the first gen one)... Basicly, I have a smartphone, a tablet and a netbook all in one

Now, the phone itself does have battery capacity issues, but combined with the tablet and keyboard decks (both have individual 6600mah batteries), the battery life is pretty impressive.

It is not as powerful as top of the line androids or the iphone/ipad, but its definitely sufficient for my use. Came with Android ICS 4.0, and i haven't even seen any need to update.

Some tablet apps do not work with it as they see it as a phone, not tablet. So far this has not been an issue.

just my shameless plug 

[Freudian Frog]

I am becoming more at ease with the iPad. My initial problem...it was a little too simplistic...if that makes any sense.

Yes, that tends to be the problem. Apple's operating systems (OS) tend to be less powerful/functional in order to be simplistic. On another OS you might be able to do something or work around something else but when you switch to Apple it's so... constricting.

I haven't heard of anyone switching back to Apple, after all.

I also don't agree that some of the things they do are in fact simpler in terms of user interface. For example, the one button mouse? I have five fingers.

[derekmac]

I hate the mighty mouse! When we bought our iMac years ago, I bought a normal mouse at the same time and never did use that stupid thing.

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