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Question

Keep or exchange Sam. Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 Xmas present?

Dec 28, 2012 2:31AM PST

My big gift this year for Xmas from my spouse was a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 tablet, which she bought me so I could use my already purchased apps from the Google Play and Amazon App Store I got for my HTC Inspire 4g she gave me a year and a half ago.

The problem is that when I was first given the phone I found it great compared to my old Symbian Nokia phone, but over the time I've used it I become disenchanted with it slow, single-core speed, not only with games and multimedia, but the way it bogs down when just trying to switch between apps. I also hate how HTC decided not to upgrade it any further that Android 2.3.5, leaving me out of newer OS enhancements unless I want to root the phone, which I don't.

I've done some research on the Galaxy Tab 2 and am a little concerned that Samsung's choice to go dual-core on the processor, rather than using the Quad-core Tegra 3 proc that some competitors were using, plus the lower resolution display that was common when the Tab 2 was released earlier in the year, will leave me disappointed.

I have not yet opened the tablet to try it, thinking that if I really wanted to I could exchange it toward another tablet with slightly better specs. I am planning on web browsing, e-book reading and some games on the tablet primarily.

What I am looking for is opinions and input on whether I should stick with this very generous gift or scrape together a few bucks to upgrade to another tablet? Money is tight, but I might be able to pull together or charge at least $50, to maybe $150. The Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 looks to go for about $350, but I do not know if it was bought for that much.

Before it is suggested, I would probably stick with Android, rather than switch to an iPad. I admit I find the whole iOS experience very smooth to use, but I hate iTunes and would not want to get locked into it. Maybe if I won an iPad Gen 3 or higher I would consider it, but right now Apple is just priced outside of what I want to spend.

Thanks for the help!

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Let me share.
Dec 28, 2012 2:57AM PST

The office is porting apps so I get to play with a lot of tablets now. I have at my disposal the Nexus 7, Transformer tf300 with the keyboard and while these are all nice they do not rival my laptop as to app switch speed and more.

I also have this prior gen gTab and it's performance is fine on the dual core it has.

For a grab and go tablet, the transformer gets my nod.
Bob

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Reasonable.
Dec 28, 2012 6:01AM PST

I'd actually been looking at the Transformer TF300, sans keyboard dock, as I am not looking for a laptop. What I would like is something that can do most of the entertainment function of my Android Phone, but better, as well as replace and older first Gen Kindle with the added benefit of now being able to read magazines and comics on occasion.

My wife has an iPad 2, which she bought relatively cheap as the gen 3 with Retina display just came out and I really find the higher resolution display really helps if you want to use it to read books. I find it is just easier for me to looking at due to the crispness of the display.

Also in the reviews of the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, including the one here on Cnet, they say the display was actually worse than the original Galaxy Tab. Apparently it has a noticeable greenish tinge to it. That also concerns me.

The Quad Core proc concern is more one of future-proofing a little bit. Having seen my HTC phone go from a showcase, entry level Android phone with AT&T to almost totally abandoned in less than a year, I hate to have the same thing happen with a tablet that I can't afford to replace anytime soon.

Thanks for the input.

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For entertainment the Kindle Fire HD is nice.
Dec 28, 2012 6:11AM PST

Again, the office supplies such but only in the 7 inch HD. It's a great display.

The tf300 is a great display, the nexus is a great display (yes, I'm repeating myself.)

The tf300 can be found occasionally refurb for 340 bucks with the keyboard dock. It looks like it gets 14 hours on the dock so that's really out there. It has the quad core CPU and 12 core GPU.
http://www.woot.com/offers/asus-10-1-tablet-keyboard-dock

Bob