anyone jumped this ship to Android or Windows?

[dljor]

I am seriously considering switching to Android or Windows...

The screen on the iPad really bothers me. Some of the high-end android tablets seem to offer better screens. After all, the display is the most important part of one's tablet experience.

Price is another issue. I have no problem dropping 500-600 for a tablet if it is better than others. But I found it hard to choose the iPad over other cheaper options when it has worse screens.

I also found myself not using many exclusive apps. The feature that I would miss the most is iCloud for syncing pictures with my iPhone. But I suppose I can use dropbox for that...

Anyone jumped ship recently?

 

[The Doctor11]

No I would not just ship to save my life! And I think OS is the most important thing in a tablet and iOS is the best.

 

[osx11]

OS, App selection and quality, build quality, weight and battery life are the most important features of a tablet. Even if the competitors' screens are better, you probably wouldn't notice unless they were side by side.

 

[samiznaetekto]

Android and Windows are so cheap now (2014 is gonna be a year of [non-Apple] $99 tablets) that you don't have to jump the ship, you can have them all, each one for the specific things they excel at. There's no need to be a religious zealot about any one platform.

For example, when I need to do some .NET development on the go, I use Dell Venue 8 Pro (got it for $99 on sale). Lumia 520 off-contract Windows phone ($59) serves as a offline GPS navigator and test bed for effing around with Windows Phone app development. Nexus 7.2 ($199) is my first Android and I'm using it for hiking topo maps, just getting familiar with Android world, and in future, as a test bed for my Android apps. rMini ($199 after $200 trade-in from Target) serves me well for a lot of consumption tasks, as well as a test bed for my iOS apps.

I love them all, and together they cost me the same as 16GB WiFi iPad Air with a smart cover.

2014 is gonna be even better for cheap Android and Windows stuff.

 

[dljor]

It just annoys me when I see the yellowish tint on the left side of the iPad Air that I spent $600 for.

I am thinking about return it and get a cheap Android tablet for reading pdfs and browsing internet, something like a Nook HD+

 

[T-Mac]

I guess I qualify as a recent ship jumper. Got a great deal on a new Nexus 7 before the holidays ($180, Best Buy price-matched an Office Max sale).

I've been blown away by how good the Android experience is. I was considering a retina mini, bought the N7 because of the low price. Now I'm probably going to use my Verizon upgrade to buy a Moto X.

The swype-style keyboard is an example of a small feature that makes a BIG impact on usability. It is insane how good that works. For me, I just can't justify spending double on a device that isn't double the experience.

The apps I've tried are great, the Google Play store is great, widgets are great, Google Now is great, and the hardware is great (but not quite Apple's "work of art").

I say try it, and if it's not for you, return it.

 

[Jibbajabba]

The swype-style keyboard is an example of a small feature that makes a BIG impact on usability. It is insane how good that works.

It is good, although the strange thing is, it is a hit and miss on my 2012 Nexus 7 but the app you can download for other Android phones (Google Keyboard it is simply called) works "like a bomb" ... I am so quick in typing on my Note 3 it is almost scary

 

[b166er]

In my experience, iOS is still the best tablet experience. Phones are another story, but the iPad is still number 1 for me.

 

[ozaz]

After all, the display is the most important part of one's tablet experience.

Not for me. The app store is most important for me. Hence, can't see myself looking beyond iPad for a while.

 

[MRU]

I am seriously considering switching to Android or Windows...

The screen on the iPad really bothers me. Some of the high-end android tablets seem to offer better screens. After all, the display is the most important part of one's tablet experience.

Price is another issue. I have no problem dropping 500-600 for a tablet if it is better than others. But I found it hard to choose the iPad over other cheaper options when it has worse screens.

I also found myself not using many exclusive apps. The feature that I would miss the most is iCloud for syncing pictures with my iPhone. But I suppose I can use dropbox for that...

Anyone jumped ship recently?

I have a Retina Mini, an iPad Air and a Surface Pro 2

I have also in the past year had a Nexus 7 2013 and a LG Gpad 8.3


I do not agree with your assessment of the iPad's screens.

----------

Not for me. The app store is most important for me. Hence, can't see myself looking beyond iPad for a while.

+1 For a tablet - the tablet experience in applications is the biggest decision maker. Personally as much as I like my shiny Surface Pro 2 for drawing / digital painting and illustrations. I still prefer iPad as a pure tablet experience. My surface pro 2 for me is much like my MacBook Air in that I think of it more as a laptop than a tablet.

 

[spoonie1972]

i wouldn't say i've "jumped ship" - for me its a case of what the iPhone attempted to do when it was introduced - take power away from the carriers.

While they've done an admirable job of doing a lot of that, in Canada the triopoly of rogers/bell/telus has locked everything down by overcharging/gouging on data plans and taking all the power away from the consumer.

Since buying the iPhone outright, currently, costs more than I want to spend (i'm not saying it is not worth the money) - i went with Canada's smallest carrier, with the most reasonable world-like pricing ($30CDN/m, unlimited everything) on the Nexus 5 (purchased), which, after 4 days, I'm still getting used to after using iPhones for a few years. So far I don't have a problem with the phone playing nice with OSX.

Will I go back to iPhone? Who knows. The ONLY allure the 5S had for me was the 120FPS camera. Everything else is fluff. It's worth noting, that over the years while I was using my existing devices, I never did buy much from the app store; If I had, I'd probably have a 5S now with a murderous monthly bill - whether purchased outright or subsidized.

Also, while I'm still toying with it, Google Play Photos appears to be syncing photos for me. No idea on how well it works compared to iCloud. Still learning.

YMMV.

 

[pdqgp]

Just got my Lenovo Tablet PC's at work and love them. Trying two different ones out. One has the Intel Atom processor the other a full i5. The uptick in speed is great but the downside to the i5 is battery life. It does however have a 120gb drive vs 64gb on the Atom unit. Neither a huge deal as we don't keep too many things local as cloud services dominate our life.

Benefit for both is they run full Windows 8, and integrate with my 24" display and mouse/keyboard as a true desktop replacement at the office, yet both are true tablets when traveling.

We use iPads too but with my Note 3 Phone and now a full tablet PC, I won't likely use mine any longer.

http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/tablets/thinkpad/thinkpad-tablet-2/

 

[DiCaprioAngel]

After being a Windows user for most of my life, once I started using a Mac computer, I never EVER want to go back to Windows. Had too much trouble with their computers, and overall, I wasn't happy with their OS. Mac, on the other hand, is by far the best computer I've used. This is what made me purchase my current 15-inch retina MacBook Pro. Expensive, yes, but the BEST laptop I've ever had in my life. I wouldn't dream of going back to Windows. I had a Sony Vaio before this and the casing of it looks cheap and I just hated how it operated. Got too many viruses from doing nothing and the battery life was horrible - would only last about 15 minutes unplugged from 100% before I would have to plug it back in to charge. It would also get ridiculously hot from only five minutes of use while my Mac - upon hours of use - is barely heating up. I've gained enough experience to know that Windows isn't right for me. As for the iPad, I think IOS is the perfect operating system. My mom has a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 and she loves it. I've used it for a bit while I was waiting for my retina iPad mini to come in the mail, and to be honest, I'm not too keen on Android. Just too complicated looking for me and I don't like the look of the OS on the tablet. That's just me, though. I've been converted to Apple after I purchased my iPhone 5 back in September of 2012. I don't think I ever would get back to using Windows or a non-Apple tablet/phone. If you came to me years ago saying that I would be an Apple fanatic, I probably would've laughed in your face, but now, I truly feel that, even though Apple products are expensive, you get what you pay for. It all boils down to personal preference. My dad, even though he has an iMac, an iPod, and an iPhone 5, he still loves Windows and is going to possibly buy an Android phone when our contract ends. Every person is different. Some love Apple products, while others don't or grew tired of it.

 

[oldhifi]

I use OSX, Linux, Windows..

 

[pdqgp]

Got too many viruses from doing nothing

The only phrase of your post I don't agree with. Viruses don't just hop on OS's. Porn can do that to anyone....surf safe

 

[dljor]

both iPads have nice screens?

I exchange 4-5 times and didn't get one that doesn't have yellow tint on the left side of the screen...

I have a Retina Mini, an iPad Air and a Surface Pro 2

I have also in the past year had a Nexus 7 2013 and a LG Gpad 8.3


I do not agree with your assessment of the iPad's screens.

----------




+1 For a tablet - the tablet experience in applications is the biggest decision maker. Personally as much as I like my shiny Surface Pro 2 for drawing / digital painting and illustrations. I still prefer iPad as a pure tablet experience. My surface pro 2 for me is much like my MacBook Air in that I think of it more as a laptop than a tablet.

 

[MRU]

The only phrase of your post I don't agree with. Viruses don't just hop on OS's. Porn can do that to anyone....surf safe

I fix PCs for folks in the area. Haven't seen a virus in years. It's all malware and repercussions of malware these days.

----------

both iPads have nice screens?

I exchange 4-5 times and didn't get one that doesn't have yellow tint on the left side of the screen...

Yep. No yellow tint here.

 

[tech4all]

After being a Windows user for most of my life, once I started using a Mac computer, I never EVER want to go back to Windows. Had too much trouble with their computers, and overall, I wasn't happy with their OS. Mac, on the other hand, is by far the best computer I've used. This is what made me purchase my current 15-inch retina MacBook Pro. Expensive, yes, but the BEST laptop I've ever had in my life. I wouldn't dream of going back to Windows. I had a Sony Vaio before this and the casing of it looks cheap and I just hated how it operated. Got too many viruses from doing nothing and the battery life was horrible - would only last about 15 minutes unplugged from 100% before I would have to plug it back in to charge. It would also get ridiculously hot from only five minutes of use while my Mac - upon hours of use - is barely heating up. I've gained enough experience to know that Windows isn't right for me. As for the iPad, I think IOS is the perfect operating system. My mom has a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 and she loves it. I've used it for a bit while I was waiting for my retina iPad mini to come in the mail, and to be honest, I'm not too keen on Android. Just too complicated looking for me and I don't like the look of the OS on the tablet. That's just me, though. I've been converted to Apple after I purchased my iPhone 5 back in September of 2012. I don't think I ever would get back to using Windows or a non-Apple tablet/phone. If you came to me years ago saying that I would be an Apple fanatic, I probably would've laughed in your face, but now, I truly feel that, even though Apple products are expensive, you get what you pay for. It all boils down to personal preference. My dad, even though he has an iMac, an iPod, and an iPhone 5, he still loves Windows and is going to possibly buy an Android phone when our contract ends. Every person is different. Some love Apple products, while others don't or grew tired of it.

Sorry, but that's a load of bull. Unless by "nothing" you mean porn sites or something. I've had my Windows 7 PC (prefer OS X) for almost two years and have never had one virus. Yea they're out there, but they don't just "arrive."

And the battery life...that's just more bull. Comon man, get a touch on reality!

 

[DiCaprioAngel]

Don't know why you have to be rude about it, I'm just basing it off experience. I don't go on porn sites. Stop assuming that every single person that gets viruses watches porn. The battery life on my Sony Vaio wasn't great, it didn't last as long as it should have - I had to keep it plugged in all the time. The hinges broke off, too, so the monitor doesn't work. The casing of the laptop was cheaply made and it barely lasted me two years. Maybe I got viruses because at the time I was downloading a lot of music through lime wire when it was out, so that could've been it. Anyway, based on my 10+ years of being on Windows and having used Mac for over a year and a half, I have to say that Mac is the better choice for me - it's user friendly, nicer looking, and more reliable. Maybe the Sony laptop I got was defective from the start. My dad bought it for me back in 2007/2008 for college so yeah. I couldn't really complain at the time because it was my first laptop and I was happy to have one. Just that problems started popping up months after I first got it. Already had the "blue screen of death" come on the laptop and all I've done at the time was basic user things - writing on Microsoft Word, Facebook, listening to music. Nothing to really justify that. Anyway, I'm glad I no longer have Windows. I've used it long enough to know that it just wasn't for me. They weren't really reliable - at least the computers that were given to me. This MacBook Pro was the first computer I bought myself. All the others were hand-me-down desktops my dad gave me - the Sony laptop was the first computer he bought me new. Just maybe the one he got me didn't have enough specs for my use because it would always run slow if I have more than one application running and get really hot too fast. I don't even know where that laptop is at the moment. It's broken (the monitor doesn't work), but it still runs - just can't see what's going on the screen. No need to fix it because I have all my files saved, thank God (I've learned to back up religiously through Windows because I would always need to reboot it every year or so). I guess in my experience, I was just unlucky with Windows. My dad swears by it, he has an iMac and an HP laptop and he loves his HP laptop. Sorry if you think my experience is all "bull", but at least I don't have to worry about it anymore.

 

[ozaz]

After being a Windows user for most of my life, once I started using a Mac computer, I never EVER want to go back to Windows.

I think this thread, as conceived by the OP, is supposed to be about Windows 8 or Android tablets in contrast to iPad, rather than a Windows vs Mac discussion.

Maybe the Sony laptop I got was defective from the start. My dad bought it for me back in 2007/2008 for college so yeah.

Ah lovely Vista!