And… there are so many of them out there it’s not like you can buy them up and they will be collectors items for your grandchildren! Sort of like the worst of every possible world!
Its a bit more than $21, after tax and shipping from Google it is more like $225, so about $50 more, but still well worth it. It also comes with $25 play store credit, so that helps a bit.
I’ve had my Asus / Google Nexus 7 for a couple of weeks and it is the best tablet I have owned or used. The Nexus 7 is very fast, smooth gui, doesn’t get hot, light & easy to hold (no more wrist stain with my TouchPad), etc. Google and Asus really did a great job on it, it will be cool to see how much Woot will offer these for refurbished down the road… 
*Engadget review of the Nexus 7
*Engadget review of the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0
*Head-to-head comparison
This could be a good choice if you’re mostly interested in playing video with it.
But for me, I’d spend $20 and get Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) on the Nexus 7. I’ve been using Jelly Bean for a few months and LOVE it.
Check out Google Now (which is baked into Jelly Bean). It is context- and location-aware assistant. Sure, you can speak to it and it can speak an answer (which is not a rip off of Siri by the way - I’ve been able to talk to my Android for years). Last week it popped up to let me know that, based on my location and the current traffic, I needed to leave in 20 minutes to make it to a doctor’s appointment.
If you ignore the washed-out screen (greens are the worst, blues aren’t very good either) and the lack of expansion. And the awful build quality. Other than that, you’re right!
Ugh. My problem is that I filled up my iPod touch 8GB with apps and music.
Whatever tablet I buy would not be getting music on it, but might have movies and WILL have apps. I think I’ll be needing the extra storage, but then again, I might not. And the Nexus looks harder to damage
Other than the multiple RMAs due to defective touchscreens, of course.
I believe the Galaxy Tab Plus has a faster processor. That’s the one I’ve been looking at. The Tab 2 supposedly has a “better” processor albeit a bit slower.
Here’s a comparison between the two and other major tablets: http://www.theverge.com/products/compare/5147/2630/1606/2506/3767/5225
And one specifically comparing the Tab 2 to the Tab Plus: Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) vs Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus: spot the difference
I recently bought the Student Edition for $249. I own an ipad2 as well as a variety of other tablets and I’m extremely impressed with the GTab.
Performance is excellent and the micrSD slot is very convenient. Support for USB thumbdrives, USB, USB/wireless, and Bluetooth mice are just icing on the cake.
$179 for a refurb sounds like a good deal, but I think that if I didn’t already have one I’d still be tempted by the Student Edition bundle.
I understand they’re trying to push their cloud service, but I need expandable memory…
Samsung’s 1024x600 TFT vs Asus Nexus 7” 1280x800?
How is that a better screen?
They are both great Tablets, and the Galaxy Tab 2 would be my first choice until The Nexus 7, I like the fact of knowing that the Nexus will always be one of the first to get new Android OS updates, etc. No flashing, rooting, etc. Needed (been there done that with all my other tablets, tired of it).
I’ve been on a quest for a tablet for a while now, and I’ll summarize the long journey as much as possible.
Ipad, didn’t like it, too big for what I wanted. Sold it.
Asus Transformer. Neat concept, functioned as a laptop, except Android doesnt really support laptop functions. Tablet as a stand alone was neat, but I was not wowed. Sold it.
Kindle Fire. Minamalist. Wanted the smaller form factor, but didn’t think the original galaxy tab or other 7 inchers had what i wanted. Found that the Kindle Fire is Amazon’s proprietary baby and can not access the Google app store (aka, Google Play) or other app stores without rooting and headache. Sold it.
Galaxy Tab 2 7" version. Pretty impressed. Definitely closer to where I wanted to be, but not quite there. Definitely beats the Fire, but cost $100 more than the Fire, so YMMV on what you want vs what you buy. Going to sell it. (Will do breakdown at bottom, since this is a Galaxy Tab 2 post)
Google Nexus 7. Same price point, better hardware inside, but doesn’t exactly compete with the Galaxy Tab 2 because they are both apples (no pun intended), but one is red and one is green. I like the smoothness of the Nexus 7 better. I like the Vanilla Android experience. I don’t care that there isn’t a camera on the back, I never used it on my Transformer anyhow, and I always have my cell phone with a camera on me. Keeping it.
So compared to the next best thing, the Nexus 7:
PROS (the Nexus 7 doesnt have):
Rear Facing Camera
**Samsung Apps **(media store, app store, email, calendar, etc…)
**IR Blaster/PEEL **(see schedules and control your TV directly via IR port!)
MicroSD slot for memory expansion (can also swap cards if they contain movies/media)
TouchWhiz U/I - Certain elements like having access to screen brightness, wifi, and other little things by just tapping the corner were helpful, where-as on the Nexus you have to go into settings, and dig down another menu or two. On the Galaxy Tab, you never leave the page/application you’re on.
CONS
Have to wait for updates - Not a major thing, but something I prefer. Some people run Android 2.0 on tablets and phones just fine with no complaints. I like to be on the bleeding edge and getting my updates immediately.
Samsung Apps - While also listed as a PRO, if you don’t want/like it, it’s just a PITA.
Project Butter - I’m picky, but the Nexus feels more responsive. It could be because of Project Butter with Jelly Bean (most recent version of Android), and could be that the Galaxy Tab 2 will get it too. It’s not slow by any means, but having both tablets side by side for comparision, it’s easy to see.
Half the processor - While debateable, it’s possible that the smoothness is attributed to Project Butter, but maybe also the processor cores. Don’t know, but thought it was worth listing.
Tegra - Again, this isn’t really “fair”, but trying to test the tablet with some Nvidia Tegra apps that I use on my transformer, I found I couldn’t download or run because the Tegra system includes video code/processing that the Galaxy Tab 2 does not and will not. I game as much on my tab as I do surf the web… So that was important to me.
While I am very critical of the Galaxy Tab 2, but it is still a very solid Tablet, and a solid choice for those who need or want memory expansion or a rear camera.
EDIT: Oh, and for regular usage, side by side, the Galaxy Tab 2 has a better performing speaker, but it’s located on the bottom. The Nexus has decent quality but is not as loud. But the orientation of the speaker on the BACK of the Nexus allows sound even if covered or laying flat.
Another note, the screens performed equally well, not counting gaming. Pixel density is not really a factor between these two tablets as they are about the same size, same brightness, and unless you’re REALLY close (or gaming), you’re not going to notice a major difference.
Buy it at a brick and mortar. I got mine at MicroCenter. No issues with it at all, if I had one its an easy exchange. Compusa, MicroCenter, etc. all have them in stock now.
Very much so. Swype has a beta version for Jelly Bean that works in some apps and not in others. The ICS version of Swype that comes with this is flawless and wonderful. I don’t understand how anyone can use the stock Android keyboard after trying Swype, and I hope they get their act together on the Jelly Bean version very quickly.
you are my hero man. apple sucks for what they are doing. why go after samsung? they really want to go after google but they don’t have the balls. as if samsung has the only pinch to zoom functionality in android phones. every single android phone i’ve had was pinch to zoom. not just that, but even windows phones have pinch to zoom. apple is being a sore loser because they only have a third of androids market share, and they have less market share than even one android device maker: samsung. this is an attempt to get rid of the market to create an apple monopoly. so much for 1984. apple is the guy in the big screen now!
Here’s some video reviews:
[youtube=FU0JJNzMg88][/youtube]
[youtube=7kt-En6V02k][/youtube]
[youtube=dXfCb_Y6yzU][/youtube]
Nice post and comparison, deserving of A QP for sure.
To further summarize, if you need expandable memory or a rear facing camera this is the tab to get. If not, highly consider the Asus / Google Nexus 7.
As far as your point of not having the IR to control TV available on the Nexus 7, many if not most mainstream services like Uverse, DirecTV, etc. all have apps to control the TV / PVR via network.
There’s more to life than pixel count. The Nexus 7 screen is widely considered to be the area where Asus did a lot of cost-cutting because colors are so washed out. You’re right that it’s OK… but it’s still noticeably worse than most other tablets I’ve seen.
I’d consider this if Amazon wasn’t announcing their new devices on 9/6. Wouldn’t be smart to buy with that only a week away, IMHO.
We’ve got one, since soon after they came out. It’s alright, but my son managed to crack the screen somehow. They don’t seem to have much choice for repair.
Not sure it’s worth it, anyway. It’s not as responsive as I’m used to. Going back to Apple for the kids when the smaller iPad comes out.
Plus then you don’t have to spend the money on shipping.