A few days ago, for whatever reason, I took the notion to look at a Nexus 7 (2013). I love my iPad, but it’s big and I find it not very comfortable to hold for long periods of time. It’s a great netbook replacement, especially with an add-on Bluetooth keyboard. But I find it a bit much to use as a handheld device.
I thought about the iPad mini as an alternative, but it doesn’t yet have the Retina display and I’m not going back. So, when I read the announcement for the new Nexus 7, I thought “Why not? I haven’t tried an Android device and I might as well learn something about the iOS alternative.”
I didn’t think Best Buy (my favorite big-box store) would ever get a 32GB unit in. I’m not that enthralled with an Asus unit either (Asus has a bit of a bad reputation). But, BB finally took delivery of a 32GB unit and I have a 45-day return period. So, I took a new Nexus 7 home to play with.
My initial impression is pretty good. The build quality (at least external build quality) seems fine. The device has a nice heft without feeling bulky. It’s a bit wide, but definitely holdable in one hand. It’s wide screen is eminently viewable and the resolution is wonderful.
I don’t see any color issues with the screen, but then I haven’t really compared it to anything else. It’s plenty good enough for a tablet.
The device is very quick. Applications load quickly. I’m not a gamer, so that’s irrelevant to me. But I suspect it will be be a fine gaming platform if that is your, um, game.
I did find one issue to date. The GPSr was not working in my device. A quick search of the interwebs revealed this is a common problem. On a whim, I elected to power down the device and retart it from cold.
After I did that, the GPSr worked right away and I got a satellite lock with any issue.
Android is an interesting operating system. It’s far more configurable than iOS (which is one reason my iOS devices are all jailbroken). The application store had all the tools I’m used to using (WordPress interface, Dropbox, Evernote, and a few others).
This is interesting and I’m enjoying working with the new device. I’ll know more after a week or so. I might have to do a more complete review then.
I have an earlier revision, and love it. No issues with the GPS here. No love for Apple or iOS here, so I will be sticking with Android 😉
Bob, I wrote a long response to this early this morning, only to have my Nexus 7 drop connection from my bedroom and lose the text. Grr…
I wish I could remember the content, because I thought about it pretty hard. I hate it when that happens.
I found that it was easy to move my contacts and calendar over to Google. Everything synchronizes just fine. This means if I decide I want an Android-based mobile phone I can do that.
I’m not giving up my Macs. They give me tools I cannot get on Winder$ (unixy-things). If I decide to leave Apple, it will be for linux because that’s the other environment I can live with. I worked in linux for about ten years before I started using Apple products. When I learned that OS X is Berkley Standard Distribution unix (at its core), that’s where I went.
Anyway, I’m liking my Nexus 7 a lot. I think it’s a very good small tablet and is much easier to handle than the iPad. The iPad makes a great netbook computer, but it’s a bit large and heavy to handhold for long periods. The iPad-mini might make a great tablet, but it does not have the Retina display (yet).
I also find I like the relatively easy customization of the Android-based system. I jailbreak my Apple devices so I can make them behave the way I want them to.
My killer app for a mobile phone is the camera. The call quality has to be there too, but I use my phone as a camera a good part of the time. It’s got to do that well.
So, well, I think that’s most of what I was thinking early this morning.
I’ve not ever really messed with an iOS device, but I despise being tied to iTunes. I know the play store is similar but I can go outside that and have.
I was thinking of an upgrade to the newer Nexus but I really don’t think I need the front facing camera, my Infuse has a decent camera. I just wish it had better battery life. I have a smart phone and a dumb battery 😉
I just like to hassle ya on the Mac thing. I game, so Windows is for me 🙂
No worries. My iPhone is jailbroken so I’m not tied to iTMS as well. There are certain things I want to do with my mobile device and none of the Apple-approved software allowed me to do those things. So, I released my iPhone from it’s tether to the iTMS.
I’m not particularly sensitive about my Mac use. I sometimes tease Winder$ users and compare Winder$ and Mac as Harleys and BMWs… I like to ride ’em, not work on ’em. 🙂
I met Bullethead once in Waco on a long motorcycle ride. He looked my BMW over pretty carefully and then asked, seriously, “Does stuff fall off it?” 😉
LMAO. I know. I just like to play with the Mac/Windows t hing. But I like Android.
Have a fun little trip, I saw you were off to the coast.
I miss BH Sometimes, but once he burned the squad room down I realized I don’t 😉
I like Android too. And I like playing the Mac/Winder$ thing. I used to give my colleagues a hard time, particularly after several of them left Macs for Winder$ and I started using Macs. I moved for the unix underpinning. They moved because it was easier to get support. 🙂