I've been using the Nexus 7 heavily for the past two days instead of my ipad 3. It's been mainly a positive experience so far. Here are my impressions of the device and android experience:
Pros:
- Very light weight holding it in one hand.
- Screen is very nice - not retina quality but pretty good nonetheless.
- Overall build quality is great. Does not feel like a $200 device.
- Being able to install apps that Apple would never allow.
- Multiple App stores and being able to sideload apps.
- Many apps and games are free (ad supported) in the Google Play Store.
- Adobe Flash - Yeah I know that flash sucks on mobile but it is a nice option to have. Not officially supported in Jelly Bean but was able to sideload it.
- Great as an e-reader using the B&N Nook app. (this is my primary use for the nexus 7).
- Jelly Bean - Scrolling and pinch to zoom are very smooth. Have not experienced lag in the UI.
- Google Now - is not as personal and whimsical as Siri but is incredibly accurate in it's responses.
Cons:
- Screen size is not optimal for a tablet - I found certain tap targets to be too small. Apple really nailed it with the 9.7 in screen size on the ipad.
- Although it is easy to hold - I wish there was a bit more of a bezel to hold on to in the vertical orientation.
- The home screen does not rotate to horizontal mode without hacking it.
You can load alternate launchers to add this functionality.
- App quality - Although there is no shortage of apps in the Google Play and Amazon stores, the apps that do exist lack the general polish exhibited by their IOS counterparts. Most of the apps in the Play store are phone apps and are not tablet optimized. What's even worse it that there is no way of knowing with any certainty which apps in the play store are tablet optimized and which ones aren't. At least in the IOS app store there is a clear separation between iphone and ipad apps.
The tablet optimized apps that do exist in the Play Store are generally good. There just aren't enough of them. I am hopeful with the increasing popularity of the Nexus 7, developers will create more tablet optimized apps.
- Paid apps in the Play store are typically more expensive that their respective IOS versions.
Conclusion:
All in all the Nexus 7 is a great device. For a person who does not already own a tablet and wants to spend less $$$, I can wholeheartedly recommend it.That being said, the ipad 3 is still an all-around better device. The ipad 3 has a better screen, higher quality apps, and a more cohesive OS in my opinion. Whether the ipad 3 is $300 better I am not so sure. For me having both devices is very redundant and I am still on the fence on whether I am going to keep the Nexus 7 or return it. I have 12 more days to decide.
Pros:
- Very light weight holding it in one hand.
- Screen is very nice - not retina quality but pretty good nonetheless.
- Overall build quality is great. Does not feel like a $200 device.
- Being able to install apps that Apple would never allow.
- Multiple App stores and being able to sideload apps.
- Many apps and games are free (ad supported) in the Google Play Store.
- Adobe Flash - Yeah I know that flash sucks on mobile but it is a nice option to have. Not officially supported in Jelly Bean but was able to sideload it.
- Great as an e-reader using the B&N Nook app. (this is my primary use for the nexus 7).
- Jelly Bean - Scrolling and pinch to zoom are very smooth. Have not experienced lag in the UI.
- Google Now - is not as personal and whimsical as Siri but is incredibly accurate in it's responses.
Cons:
- Screen size is not optimal for a tablet - I found certain tap targets to be too small. Apple really nailed it with the 9.7 in screen size on the ipad.
- Although it is easy to hold - I wish there was a bit more of a bezel to hold on to in the vertical orientation.
- The home screen does not rotate to horizontal mode without hacking it.
You can load alternate launchers to add this functionality.
- App quality - Although there is no shortage of apps in the Google Play and Amazon stores, the apps that do exist lack the general polish exhibited by their IOS counterparts. Most of the apps in the Play store are phone apps and are not tablet optimized. What's even worse it that there is no way of knowing with any certainty which apps in the play store are tablet optimized and which ones aren't. At least in the IOS app store there is a clear separation between iphone and ipad apps.
The tablet optimized apps that do exist in the Play Store are generally good. There just aren't enough of them. I am hopeful with the increasing popularity of the Nexus 7, developers will create more tablet optimized apps.
- Paid apps in the Play store are typically more expensive that their respective IOS versions.
Conclusion:
All in all the Nexus 7 is a great device. For a person who does not already own a tablet and wants to spend less $$$, I can wholeheartedly recommend it.That being said, the ipad 3 is still an all-around better device. The ipad 3 has a better screen, higher quality apps, and a more cohesive OS in my opinion. Whether the ipad 3 is $300 better I am not so sure. For me having both devices is very redundant and I am still on the fence on whether I am going to keep the Nexus 7 or return it. I have 12 more days to decide.
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so thanks for the feed back on that.
