Tablets of 2013 Rundown: Nexus vs. Surface vs. iPad

Julio Franco

Julio Franco

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Strange to see the tablets of 2013 in march. Nothing from the Samsung Note series? They have a new 8 inch tablet coming out that will probably be popular in 2013. Or maybe this is just a Surface/iPad/Nexus comparison.

Also, the surface pro is a tablet in looks only. Sure it has a touch screen, but it has a laptop processor. It's so much faster than other tablets it's not really fair to compare them. The battery life is also so much worse, it's not really fair to compare them. http://www.anandtech.com/show/6695/microsoft-surface-pro-review/5 It's a device for a different audience.
 
To me, the market of tablets has stalled innovation-wise. The specs don't improve either.
I hope things will change toward the end of 2013 with better battery life and processor offerings.
 
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What really is the premise for this article.. seems like it based on apps.

Tablet features..?
 
The premise is that generally speaking, if we were to recommend a tablet right now we would narrow things down to those tablets, disregarding most of the other players currently in the market for the reasons exposed in the article: iOS only has two options available, Nexus devices are the best Android tablets right now, and Surface Pro, even though it's not a "pure tablet" it's full Windows 8 in a tablet form factor. Anything larger and you get into ultrabook territory which we love, but those are not tablets.

The Asus Transformer Infinity 700 was included for good measure, it's one of the better Android tablets though the Nexus 10 is superior, the Transformer can convert more easily with its dock.

As for the future, we plan to update the article as the year progresses. One of the tablets I'm personally most looking forward to is the ThinkPad Helix: http://www.lenovo.com/products/us/tablet/thinkpad/thinkpad-helix/
 
How can you compare an iPad with Surface Pro?? Surely a more unbiased comparison would be with a standard surface? I'm getting the feeling this is not supposed to be an unbiased view!
 
If you want a cheap tablet that does the stuff you need there is nothing wrong with the Android tablets. It is pretty amazing how cheap some of them are. Even the larger Samsung tablets can be found very cheap.
 
I think that MS have worked themselves into a corner with tiles. Where do you go after tiles? On a similar theme where do you go with large fonts that don't fit on the screen properly? Are tiles and large fonts really the future of Windows?

The way I see it the only change from tiles and large fonts must be to some new design that is considered the next big thing that comes after tiles and that is not a good user experience. Look at the uproar now with the change to tiles. Do people want even want tiles? MS are doing their best to convince you that you need tiles but I never heard anyone say hey I with this interface had lots of flashy colorful tiles.

Thinking about the Surface... what is it really? Its just another Windows laptop and not necessarily a good one. Is Windows 8 a great tablet OS? Probably not, I mean it is not setting any tablet sales records and under the tablet component is the same old desktop that is not very finger friendly and not really usable on a tablet at all.

Windows RT looks to be dead and Windows RT tablets are not getting anyone excited. Is anyone apart from MS even making one? A bit random, I hope you appreciate.
 
On the phone, I think tiles are a good concept... and they work... I can make my Android phone look exactly like it, with 'Live' tiles and everything... or I can just use widgets, but I do think WP8 is alright... but on a desktop, W8 is just meh. It's faster than W7, but it's obvious most people don't care for the new tiled start screen... and tablets aren't really selling as well as you'd think. Apple clearly holds the crown there, and Android is coming in second.

Is tiles the future of computing? Doubt it. But I guess we can wait and see... They don't bother me like most, but then again I never see the start screen anymore since all I use my desktop PC is for gaming... for everything else I use my Chromebook.

I'd love to see factual numbers about how Apple is dying a rapid death in China, let alone the overall sales of the W8/Android tablets... I mean, I don't want to just trust your word on this, I want evidence.
 
Has anyone @ TechSpot ever used a Microsoft Surface (RT) ...?

It is quite obvious that none have... cuz it's functionality is superb. What tablet has microSD and mouse support ? Detachable keyboard..? So why wasn't it included..?
 
I support Android Tablets about 45 own/tested/rooted, since 2010. But most of my members on my forums still consider COBY KYROS TABLETS better! To me the 7" models are better in price still offer a good features considering COBY is not a well known name for tablets.

Their first tablet was introduced on HSN which was the MID7005, which was quickly replaced by the MID7015 which become very popular. That was soon replaced by the MID7022 and later with ICS 4 the MID7042.

They now have dual core MID7065. In all these tablets are cheaper but you get more bang for the buck. I also own the Toshiba Thrive 16GB Tegra 2 Dual Core with 1GB of RAM Android Tablet now has ICS on it. This 10.1" tablet has a lot of features and the extra dock with charging and HDMI and 2x USB ports makes it good add-on. You can get Blue Tooth wireless keyboard and mouse from Toshiba for it. Gives you some cool extras.

Considering tablets are great for doing certain things like monitoring WiFi Networks, remote control, you can stream media from your network servers if you have the right software, like in the Thrive I've mention offers this feature so you can share Windows 7 or 8 shares to the Android tablet. Also Print Screen and Brother iPrint/iScan for android with the Brother WJ series MFC Printers works like a remote control for your Brother device. In all you can do a lot with these tablets where the laptop and netbook would just get in the way.

Tablet can be in your SUV, CUV, Truck, VAN, CAR either you mount it near the dash or on the rear head rest. These devices can play MP3 and any media. They can be tethered also.

MS RT very good tablet but the cost of them are just way to high and that's why more lean towards Android tablets. Also COBY is on top followed by CRAIG and VISUAL LAND and SKYTEX ALPHA2. Brands you never really see get much of a write up in the press. But cost less than the Nexus 7 and do come with Mini HDMI out either 720p or 1080p @ 60Hz along with MicroSD slot 16GB to 32GB.
 
@Guest above, the Surface RT was included... you just missed clicking on the right arrow to expand the table.

Either way, RT is a nice tablet in terms of hardware, but not worth the money because of the inherent software limitations. Who knows what Apple and Android partners will come up with in the next year, but I'm personally looking forward to a lightweight Haswell based tablet that runs full Windows 8 that is smaller AND cheaper than an ultrabook -- this way it can compete against other tablets directly (unlike Surface Pro) while still having the software upper hand This would make the ideal secondary computer, like a netbook back in the day, just so much better.
 
If I ever got a new tablet, it would have to be running either Windows 8. For me, it's about what the product can do, and with Windows 8 I can get more things done.
 
Right prior to Windows 8 tablet there were Windows 7 tablet those were more like netbook with a touch screen. Heavier than RT and Pro. User Windows make it easier to adjust if you have windows desktop already why not get a Windows tablet. Android Tablets can connect to Windows PC share files and transfer media. Also you can print, share data. RT nice but the price is not.
 
This fight will be great with the next gen surface vs ipad 5 vs Nexus 10 2. The nexus 10 lacks a powerful CPU and it can barely drive the high res screen
 
Microsoft has balls asking that type of money for the Surface. Do they really think just because its 'Microsoft' product with their new shiny Tablet OS, people are going to buy it? Haven't they realized, like Sony, they have lost the ability to sell something at a higher price just because thier logo is on it? How long will they continue to milk the past?
I mean don't get me wrong I actually like Windows 8/RT + the i5 is nice, (I am setting up a 24" 1080p Sony Vaio touch-screen for a doc so I am getting used to Windows 8) but that price still seems a little heavy....just my 02.
 
Err, how about we exclude MS surface pro from the list? since it's a full windows 8 disguised as tablet.. :D
 
amstech said:
Microsoft has balls asking that type of money for the Surface.
Click to expand...

Ok, I had to snicker a bit at that one. While, I might initially agree that the price point seems too high, consider that the top end Surface Pro (a complete PC that runs legacy software) listed is $999 and the top end iPad (a limited tablet stuck within Apple's walled garden ecosystem) is $929. Compare the features/options/power, and then maybe reassess who has the bigger balls?
 
Low Price Starter..
RT $299
PRO $399

Again these are tablet

Both sides can make money
RT $350
PRO $450

Still these are tablets no HDD all SoC PBC prices should be very low to compete with Android tablets. Google Nexus is overpriced when compared to COBY KYROS which lower in price and has more features. Although KYROS doesn't have Quad Core inside still dual core is good enough for most applications and gaming..

Windows Tablet should not be so expensive, and Apple no matter what you pay outrageous pricing on the Commercial name already and the way the company sells itself into the market already not much you can say on the price of their products which are controlled.

Apple Products are more like an Art Show.. Get in there to say well done!
Windows Products are more like NASCAR.. Get in there to win!
 
tipstir said:
Low Price Starter..
RT $299
PRO $399

Again these are tablet

Both sides can make money
RT $350
PRO $450

Still these are tablets no HDD all SoC PBC prices should be very low to compete with Android tablets. Google Nexus is overpriced when compared to COBY KYROS which lower in price and has more features. Although KYROS doesn't have Quad Core inside still dual core is good enough for most applications and gaming..

Windows Tablet should not be so expensive, and Apple no matter what you pay outrageous pricing on the Commercial name already and the way the company sells itself into the market already not much you can say on the price of their products which are controlled.

Apple Products are more like an Art Show.. Get in there to say well done!
Windows Products are more like NASCAR.. Get in there to win!
Click to expand...

I have to agree/disagree with you here. When talking about the Surface RT, you are exactly right. That is just a tablet, awash in a sea of tablets, and it needs to be as price competitive with Android offerings as possible.

The problem comes when you lump the Surface Pro in with the rest of that pack. It is not just an SOC system, it is essentially a full-fledged x86 computing platform. It is not running a limited mobile OS, but rather a full version of Windows capable of running legacy software. It has quite a few features that make it stand out from that pack, like an active pen digitizing system. It is not the same animal as the others in this list. And as someone who has been purchasing Windows tablets since 2000, I can tell you that the Surface Pro's price point is better than most of the lesser-featured tablet PCs we have purchased over the years.

That said, I'd still like to see them come down, and get true tablet PCs more affordable to allow wider adoption.
 
Hummm.... Tablet or Netbook or Ultrabook or Laptop?

Full laptops have always been popular because they can provide enough power to do real work in a somewhat portable form factor. However the lighter and more portable ones were generally more expensive than the heavier ones. 4-5lbs with 2-3hrs of usable battery life. Yuck. (I own 4)

Ultrabooks are in reality 'MacBook AIR' clones which promise to offer full functionality and battery life of a Netbook but fail on all accounts. To expensive, still to heavy and not long enough battery life. At least you can get ones with 1080P displays. (I own 0)

Netbook's hit somewhat of a 'sweet spot' where $300 could get you a XP computer with 6-9hrs of battery life but models with useable features like Bluetooth, 5Ghz WiFi and useable screen resolution almost always pushed the pricing into mid-laptop range. (I own 2)

Tablets seem to hit the sweet spot between smart phone and smaller computer with keyboard. Big enough screens to have large fonts and enough information and 'virtual keyboards' that at least a little less frustrating than a smart phone to use. Battery life outside of the strictly Ebook readers is dismal, more akin to a laptop then even a Netbook, models with useful features again bounce into the low-mid laptop range and unforgivably not a single one sports a transreflective screen so they can be viewed in bright sunlight. (I own 1)

The problem with tablets is that you can't perform any real work on them.

Give me a device that offers 5Ghz Wifi, Bluetooth, SD card slot, transreflective 1080P 7" color screen, GPS and +9hr battery life with a < 300$ price tag.
 
MilwaukeeMike said:
Strange to see the tablets of 2013 in march. Nothing from the Samsung Note series? They have a new 8 inch tablet coming out that will probably be popular in 2013. Or maybe this is just a Surface/iPad/Nexus comparison.

Also, the surface pro is a tablet in looks only. Sure it has a touch screen, but it has a laptop processor. It's so much faster than other tablets it's not really fair to compare them. The battery life is also so much worse, it's not really fair to compare them. http://www.anandtech.com/show/6695/microsoft-surface-pro-review/5 It's a device for a different audience.
Click to expand...

Well, it may be different than other tablets, but it is still a tablet. The iPad was a new form of tablet when it came out. Early tablets ran full Windows platforms, they didn't use ARM processors.
 
I know this will be an unpopular comment, but I would give the edge to the surface pro for one reason...ITS A FULLY FUNCTIONAL PC IN THE FORM OF A TABLET!!! I wish they would add a cell radio in it so I could get rid of my cell phone as well. having a surface pro allowed me to sell my desktop, laptop, and tablet....I love the surface.
 
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