Cruz Reader (Android Tablet)

[Ddrak]

So I picked up one of these. It's a decent device for the price, but don't expect an iPad out of it.

The Good:

Great for reading - the 7" form factor is pretty nice for holding in one hand.
Android is cool. Can jailbreak it in about 30s with no fancy hacks that could brick it after an update and having a root shell you can tinker with is geek heaven.
Lots of apps available.
Free development kit running on all major OS's.
Resistive touch screen works great with a stylus/pen/whatever.
Google is less evil than Apple.
SD Card
Mounts as a raw disk so you can copy stuff to the device from your PC and have it available to any app on the box (unlike Apple's restrictive crap which makes you jump through hoops).
Only $200.


The Bad:

Resistive touch screen is way "heavier" to use than the iPad's capacitive screen.
Noticeably slower CPU (533MHz ARM11)
Lower battery life than iPad/iPod (about 4-5hrs depending on what you do).
Only Wifi for networking - not even USB tethered networking.
Can't charge over USB.
No Android Marketplace so you have to scrounge apps from other download sites (I haven't yet figured how to get the marketplace on it, but I will!)
Just not as polished a product as the iPad.


Personally, I think it was well worth the $200 when compared to a $500 iPad. YMMV.

Dd

[Falundir X`Viento]

As a personal device I'd probably go the same route that you did if I was looking for a tablet. However for my business I'm actually close to buying an iPad the more I see major companies supporting it.

For instance, Citrix has managed to create an application for the iPad that gives you full functionality and access to anything you have setup on Citrix. I've seen other programs like LogMeIn, but they are more interactive screenshots, while the Citrix approach is fluid, even over 3g.

Do you have any knowledge of similar apps in Android?

[Ddrak]

Don't know, to be honest. You can check out what's available on the Android Marketplace here: http://www.androidzoom.com/

For serious work use, I'd say wait for Android 3.0 before getting a tablet. Google's not officially supporting the tablet form factor yet, so it's bleeding edge right now.

I'm pretty keen to see what Apple does with the rev2 iPads come Jan/Feb. Hoping for a 7" form factor. Wife wants a tablet now she's seen mine.

Dd

[Falundir X`Viento]

Well if you believe the rumor mill, there will be a 7" come the next refresh.

http://www.macrumors.com/2010/09/24/7-i ... d-product/