First Impression on Nexus 7

[midwestfisherman]

So judging from the previous comments, Apple iPad is still killing the competition!

 

[lopri]

So judging from the previous comments, Apple iPad is still killing the competition!

Hope you didn't count my comments. I have no desire to be stuck with iTunes forever.

 

[Momar99]

I can't wait to get one of these

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Yea..I'm talking about my own impressions owning both. Kindle Fire HD has a much better display, better build quality, and much, much better speakers, But if you want to read about the displays..

http://gizmodo.com/5944679/kindle-fire-hd-vs-nexus-7-whats-the-best-7+inch-tablet-display

Nexus 7 has advantages too, but in terms of hardware the only one is the cpu, but its debatable if that makes much real world difference.

Reading the actual conclsuions the main difference is the stock Nexus 7 color calibration which should be trivial to resolve with a third party app.

Even if the Kindle Fire HD did have a better display compared to the Nexus 7 it's still a much worse device overall. The software on the Nexus 7 alone makes it a clear winner, Amazon's butchered version of Android is bad enough compared to skinned versions of ICS, it isn't competitive at all against stock Jelly Bean with guaranteed updates directly from Google. Not to mention the Nexus 7 has access to the superior Play Store that has more apps and gets app updates long before the Amazon App store. I've never used the speakers on either of my tablets at all so I don't see that making a difference either.

 

[Eug]

I do use the Nexus 7's speaker frequently, and I find it a big annoyance.

 

[zCypher]

I got the N7 as my first tablet and was excited about it. It was really cool. However, I have to agree about the display. It looked washed out. Using my Note and then switching to the N7 it was impossible to ignore the difference. I didn't have any issues with wifi or streaming HD video though. The performance and battery life were phenomenal. I just got annoyed with the screen lift issue. I sent it back and the replacement was worse, so I sent it back too for a refund instead. I might try it again later on, or just wait for a different better tablet.

 

[Tom]

Reading the actual conclsuions the main difference is the stock Nexus 7 color calibration which should be trivial to resolve with a third party app.

Even if the Kindle Fire HD did have a better display compared to the Nexus 7 it's still a much worse device overall. The software on the Nexus 7 alone makes it a clear winner, Amazon's butchered version of Android is bad enough compared to skinned versions of ICS, it isn't competitive at all against stock Jelly Bean with guaranteed updates directly from Google. Not to mention the Nexus 7 has access to the superior Play Store that has more apps and gets app updates long before the Amazon App store. I've never used the speakers on either of my tablets at all so I don't see that making a difference either.

I like some things about the Kindle HD and some things about the Nexus 7. As of right now its easier to get the Play Store on the Kindle than it is to fix the screen, speakers, and build quality of the 7.

There's also not a good way to get Amazon Instant video on the Nexus 7.

I understand the virtues of the Nexus 7, that's why I have one. But there's no reason it shouldn't have as good a screen, speakers, and build quality as the Kindle Fire HD, and it shouldn't cost more either.

So there's room for improvement.

 

[lopri]

I've requested a replacement router from verizon. They do have an upgraded version (but the rep says he couldn't guarantee that I'd receive it, ugh).

While trouble-shooting WiFi with suggested apps by folks here, I set its channel at 11 instead of auto. Seems like there is only one or two other signals around there. I am going to see if it'll make any difference, but in any case the Nexus 7 seems very sensitive. Simply facing different angles or holding it differently seem to affect the signal strength it receives.

P.S. While trouble-shooting WiFi, I noticed one of my neighbors is using channel (8+4). How is that possible? I would love to go higher channel because according to WiFi analyzer app, I'd have the strongest signal at channel 14. But my router doesn't allow channels higher than 11 and later I learned that that's a legal thing. I'm curious how he could get around it with 8+4 (which makes it, I suppose, 12).

 

[Ravynmagi]

Reading the actual conclsuions the main difference is the stock Nexus 7 color calibration which should be trivial to resolve with a third party app.

Sadly fixing the color calibration is no trivial issue. No solution has come up on XDA. There is one app that offers a small amount of help, but it creates lag with the user interface and has other side effects (the side effects are worse than the cure basically). Haven't seen any custom ROMs fix this either. And it's been over 2 months and no fix from Google.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I like some things about the Kindle HD and some things about the Nexus 7. As of right now its easier to get the Play Store on the Kindle than it is to fix the screen, speakers, and build quality of the 7.

There's also not a good way to get Amazon Instant video on the Nexus 7.

I understand the virtues of the Nexus 7, that's why I have one. But there's no reason it shouldn't have as good a screen, speakers, and build quality as the Kindle Fire HD, and it shouldn't cost more either.

So there's room for improvement.

I'm feeling the same. I have both tablets. I like both a lot for pretty much opposite reasons. I mostly enjoy the hardware more of the Kindle Fire HD (wish it had a better processor). And am very disappointed with the Nexus 7 hardware (had to go through five tablets before getting one without loose glass).

The Nexus 7 shines with it's software though and I find that to be a pretty important feature in a tablet. However after playing with a Kindle Fire HD for a few days, the OS isn't that bad and as an Amazon user there are some things I'm actually liking a lot about the OS.

I'm going to end up returning the Fire HD. Having two 7 inch tablets seems silly, even if they are cheap. And having a stock Nexus tablet is just too important. But I've been so impressed with the Fire HD that I plan to buy the 8.9 inch model coming in November. The better screen DPI and processor seem to make that worth having.

If ASUS and Google didn't screw up the hardware and build quality so much though, I would have never even tried the Kindle Fire HD. I realize Google had to cut some corners for the $200 price point. Amazon cut corners too. I can understand the cheaper speakers and wifi in favor for the better processor.

What frustrates me is the screen, the linked report posted earlier mentions the hardware is probably as good as the Kindle Fire HD, it's purely a bug or screw up with the calibration, an issue not involved in cutting cost, but just a preventable screw up that ASUS or Google still haven't resolved after 2 months. ARGH!

And the build quality. If you got a tablet that doesn't have loose glass, then your build quality seems fine. But so many of us had to exchange tablets more than a few times to find one. This quality issue is clearly far too common to be just normal failure rate of any gadget.

 

[mosco]

P.S. While trouble-shooting WiFi, I noticed one of my neighbors is using channel (8+4). How is that possible? I would love to go higher channel because according to WiFi analyzer app, I'd have the strongest signal at channel 14. But my router doesn't allow channels higher than 11 and later I learned that that's a legal thing. I'm curious how he could get around it with 8+4 (which makes it, I suppose, 12).

It doesn't work work quite like that. 8+4 mean it is using both channels 8 and 4, not channel 8+4.

The best channels to use in the US are generally 1,6,11 and usually the second channel is selected automatically (if you use dual channel)

 

[ericlp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lopri

P.S. While trouble-shooting WiFi, I noticed one of my neighbors is using channel (8+4). How is that possible?

It doesn't work work quite like that. 8+4 mean it is using both channels 8 and 4, not channel 8+4.

The best channels to use in the US are generally 1,6,11 and usually the second channel is selected automatically (if you use dual channel)

Actually the best channel to use as a channel that no one else is using.



Posted from Anandtech.com App for Android

 

[lopri]

Verizon sent me a new version of router. It's same model with upgraded features. My current one has a half-assed 802.11n support, but the new one is built with the finished N standard.

http://www.actiontec.com/products/product.php?pid=214

I am in the middle of switching every device at home to N. Haven't gotten a chance to install the new router yet - but within a day or two I will have it installed. Kind of excited that I won the router lottery. (FIOS rep told me he didn't know which router I'd receive as a replacement)

Testing with WiFi analyzer apps and Speedtest apps, it's clear to me that Nexus 7 is quite a bit more unstable/sensitive to WiFi signal from my router, than iPad 1. After fixating the channel to 11, things improved somewhat but I still am aggravated. It is doubly so because I do not know whether I've got a faulty hardware or not.

P.S. The incorrect/garish colors still bother me but I am trying to get used to it. It doesn't help that I carry iPhone 4, but I think I can get over it in the end.

 

[Spoooon]

Have you considered getting it exchanged? I have no complaints with the colors (other displays in the home: Galaxy Nexus, iPhone 4S, HP Touchpad, assorted laptops and other monitors).

Edit: my bad if this had already been discussed. I

 

[zerocool84]

Keep in mind that mixing devices that uses G and N on the same router can affect performance.

 

[bigrash]

Love my Nexus 7. No issues here at all.

 

[VashHT]

After letting mine collect dust for a little while I broke mine out during the sales they had last weekend and I've been using it a lot more since then. I can't say I've had any wifi problems with mine, at work it keeps a better connections than my phones do and at home it's very solid.

 

[lopri]

Have you considered getting it exchanged?

If the new router doesn't solve the signal issue, then yes I will probably get a replacement.

Keep in mind that mixing devices that uses G and N on the same router can affect performance.

Aware of it. Thanks, though.

 

[lopri]

Just wanted to given an update if anyone cares:

I have returned my nexus 7. I meant to replace it with a new one but the Staples had none in stock. Evidently it's selling very well there. So I've got whatever I paid (store credit + cash) back for now. The person told me 32 GB version is coming later this month and it's worth waiting. Is this true?

 

[Eug]

There are rumours of a 32 GB model coming, but they're just rumours. However, one guy in Japan ordered a 16 GB and received a 32 GB one (in a 16 GB box), even though the 32 GB one doesn't officially exist.

Personally I don't really care as much now though, now that I can use my 64 GB USB drive.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

There are rumours of a 32 GB model coming, but they're just rumours. However, one guy in Japan ordered a 16 GB and received a 32 GB one (in a 16 GB box), even though the 32 GB one doesn't officially exist..

This is true. Saw on Phandroid.

 

[Bateluer]

The person told me 32 GB version is coming later this month and it's worth waiting. Is this true?

Well, did you find 16GB constraining? If yes, then the 32GB would be a nice upgrade.

 

[lopri]

Well, did you find 16GB constraining? If yes, then the 32GB would be a nice upgrade.

Oh of course 32 GB would be a nice upgrade. Especially if the price remains the same at $250. 64 GB would be even better!

My question was whether it's really coming out this month. In which case I will definitely wait for it.

 

[lopri]

BTW, the WiFi trouble was clearly the Nexus'. On top of the brand-new router from FIOS that gave stronger signal around the house, I even purchased another $20 router and turned it into a access point to bridge out a secondary network for WiFi devices only, in upper part of my house.

All other wireless devices showed exceptional signal strength. But the Nexus 7 was still finicky. It's got to be a defective adapter in the device. Hopefully my next one will not have this problem.

 

[kpkp]

Well, did you find 16GB constraining? If yes, then the 32GB would be a nice upgrade.

32GB version available for preorder in spain for 279€, 30€ more then the 16GB version was originally.