Nexus 7?

danomac · Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 11:12 pm Post subject: Nexus 7?

So is anyone thinking about getting the Nexus 7?

I am considering it mostly for the price. I refuse to pay $500-$600 for an iPad/Android 10" model when it's a very restrictive device and the price should reflect it. $200 is about right.

If I get one I'd be using mostly for browsing and mail. Who knows, maybe I'll put movies or get a couple books on it or something.

pjp · Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 11:31 pm Post subject:

For me, a 7" tablet seems useless. Not ideal for lengthy reading, not as convenient as a phone, and not as useful as a full sized device.

Specifically for Google products, they seem to fear any external storage, lest the user stray too far from the garden. So it doesn't look like I'll be buying any Google products.
_________________
lolgov. 'cause where we're going, you don't have civil liberties.

In Loving Memory
1787 - 2008

danomac · Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 11:53 pm Post subject:

I've actually had to use an iPad at work and that sucker is heavy. This one is about half the weight.

For what I'm getting it for, not having external storage is a non-issue. I'm looking mostly for a web browsing and email tool so I don't have to turn my computer on all the time.

A couple people at work have the Kindle Fire and I asked them if the 7" screen on it was too small, and they said it's perfectly sized and light.

pjp · Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 12:00 am Post subject:

Sounds like it should work well for your needs. I can't imagine using a tablet effectively for work email. Needing to edit documents, copy/paste, etc., etc. I do enough of that which would lead to having to switch devices for ~1/2 of the mail to which I need to respond.

Tablets are surprisingly heavy. I had a nook for a few days before returning it. That was how I learned they were too small, and wouldn't want to read on them for very long. And the WEIGHT. Wow. I wouldn't want to hold it for very long while trying to read a book.

Haven't held a Fire, so no idea how it compares with weight. I did hold a Galaxy Tab and the original Xoom, and they're fairly heavy.
_________________
lolgov. 'cause where we're going, you don't have civil liberties.

In Loving Memory
1787 - 2008

danomac · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 6:15 pm Post subject:

So I bought one today. I went in to Staples to preorder, but they actually had them and sold me one.

First impressions: It's a pretty slick little device. It's a lot faster than I thought it'd be. Loads websites a lot faster than I thought it would, even heavier scripted sites like slashdot. The screen is very accurate (both for typing and clicking links and such.) Haven't tapped on something I hadn't intended to yet.

pjp · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 6:38 pm Post subject:

Cool. How is the weight?
_________________
lolgov. 'cause where we're going, you don't have civil liberties.

In Loving Memory
1787 - 2008

danomac · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 6:45 pm Post subject:

If I had to guess, it's between half a pound and 0.75 of a pound. I have an iPad from work and it feels about half the weight (iPad 2.) I have a kitchen scale at home, I'll set it up later today and weigh it.

For book reading, this will probably not make your arm sore, compared to the 10" tablets.

All I have to do now is wait until an invisibleShield comes out, and maybe some sort of travel case.

The back of it is kind of like a rubberized grip, I quite like it - it doesn't feel like it'll slip out of your hands like an iPad. I don't think I'll need a case for it for everyday use.

pjp · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 7:09 pm Post subject:

I meant more feel than literal weight. Supposedly it is 340 grams (12 ounces), so your guess is likely accurate.

I'll have to stop by a Staples and see how it feels, just for reference. I still want external storage for any devices I buy.

The Nook Color was 15.8oz, so I can see that making enough of a difference.

Although, I held a Galaxy Tab, and that is 13oz, which seemed heavier than I'd prefer.

The Nook Touch is 7.48oz, and I liked that (not comparable, just a reference point).
_________________
lolgov. 'cause where we're going, you don't have civil liberties.

In Loving Memory
1787 - 2008

Fran · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 7:26 pm Post subject: Re: Nexus 7?

danomac · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 7:49 pm Post subject:

My kitchen scale reports 300 g even. Typing on it right now. It's possible that my scale is out though. I did zero it first.

Edit: I zeroed it a few times and took measurements. Between 320-330 grams is what it averages.

Naib · Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 12:06 am Post subject:

Well mine should be arriving in the nx day or two.
My wife has a galaxy 10.1 and it is nice, just on the large size.. a 7" looked a good size and I have been toying with one for on the plane movies/films/casual stuff. At £160+VAT+P&P its a decent price so hopefully its here say.. wed
_________________
A free press is the unsleeping guardian of every other right that free men prize; it is the most dangerous foe of tyranny. Where men have the habit of liberty, the Press will continue to be the vigilant guardian of the rights of the ordinary citizen.

danomac · Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 12:34 am Post subject:

I just discovered you can download movies and books to the tablet to use offline.

I wonder if I can plug it in and load content of my own... I will try that later. Right now I'm downloading the free book and movie to the device.

By the way, typing on this is a dream compared to my Galaxy S... you can hold the device and two-thumb type - it's just the right size for it. I can't do that kind of typing on an iPad, it's hold it with one hand and single finger type with the other.

I can't believe I am typing this whole message using two thumbs and having no mistakes. Bizarre!!

pjp · Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 3:03 am Post subject:

My main interest in a full size tablet is for tech books, etc. which may not scale down well, and for the included diagrams, figures, etc.
_________________
lolgov. 'cause where we're going, you don't have civil liberties.

In Loving Memory
1787 - 2008

danomac · Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 4:50 am Post subject:

Well, this is about the size of a paperback. I don't know if that will translate well to tech books. I'm kind of curious now, so I'll go wander around in the store. Maybe there'll be a preview on one of them.

Edit: I looked at a free preview for Programming with QT, and the text is easy to read. Small screenshots are OK, but the 800x600 (or maybe 1024x768?) screenshot is a bit small. It is readable on mine, or at least to me, without eye strain. I couldn't figure out how to zoom the image, but I did manage to increase the text size... not terribly useful. That's probably just an issue with the stock reader though.

pjp · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2012 12:18 am Post subject:

Thanks. That alleviates some of my concern. I'll have to start looking around at ~7" options with external memory.
_________________
lolgov. 'cause where we're going, you don't have civil liberties.

In Loving Memory
1787 - 2008

Koala Kid · Guru Joined: 09 May 2003 Posts: 376

Quick question - a friend of mine currently visiting in the US and I want him to buy one piece of this Nexus 7 thing.
Where can he buy it (physical store) at San Jose, CA ?
_________________
Digital Gunfire

notageek · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 7:54 am Post subject:

I see it on Walmart (but says "online" and "preorder" ).

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Asus-Nexus-7-ASUS-1B16-with-WiFi-7-Touchscreen-Tablet-PC-Featuring-Android-4.1-Jelly-Bean-Operating-System/21150249

Order online.
Ship to an US address.
Pick up from that address.
Board a plane, leave US, with the thingy.
_________________
What looks like a cat, flies like a bat, brays like a donkey, and plays like a monkey?

Koala Kid · Guru Joined: 09 May 2003 Posts: 376

He's got only 2 days there, so I wouldn't trust shipments.
_________________
Digital Gunfire

notageek · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 8:07 am Post subject:

Bummer.

Wait for locals to reply.
_________________
What looks like a cat, flies like a bat, brays like a donkey, and plays like a monkey?

Naib · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 10:49 am Post subject:

wife just txt me that my nexus7 has just arrived

I know what I am doing when I leave work early today
_________________
A free press is the unsleeping guardian of every other right that free men prize; it is the most dangerous foe of tyranny. Where men have the habit of liberty, the Press will continue to be the vigilant guardian of the rights of the ordinary citizen.

danomac · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 3:26 pm Post subject:

I'm quite enjoying mine. I think I've only turned on the main computer three times since last Friday.

By the way, you have to get the hacker's keyboard. Trust me. That plus ConnectBot ftw.

Naib · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 3:28 pm Post subject:

I got VX connectbot and anysoftkeyboard on my htc onex
_________________
A free press is the unsleeping guardian of every other right that free men prize; it is the most dangerous foe of tyranny. Where men have the habit of liberty, the Press will continue to be the vigilant guardian of the rights of the ordinary citizen.

Naib · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 5:23 pm Post subject:

Yup I'm impressed. Very nice size and yup good for typing with your thumbs
Very smooth interface as well.
Time to find a case for this
_________________
A free press is the unsleeping guardian of every other right that free men prize; it is the most dangerous foe of tyranny. Where men have the habit of liberty, the Press will continue to be the vigilant guardian of the rights of the ordinary citizen.

danomac · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 5:56 pm Post subject:

Apparently there's going to be a dock with external speakers too.

I did find this, thinking about ordering it. Google has one on the play store as well, not sure which I like better. The one in the Play Store is not available yet.

There's also an invisibleshield out for it now, when I looked last Friday/Saturday there was nothing.

pjp · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 5:57 pm Post subject: