ICS & TPT Observations

[comment]

Fortunately, I have not experienced the edge connector or the GPS problems that have been noted by some on this forum. Prior to getting the ICS update I would have agreed with many that the TPT at a minimum was sluggish or buggy. ICS appears to have addressed those concerns. Android 3.2 had image issues and Lenovo's adaptation of that core OS did not make things better.....actually to some extent worse. Both Google and Lenovo have done a great job with this ICS OS. I can no longer discern a difference between the TPT and other high end Android tablets.

There is one insignificant issue with the OS. It appears that the new ICS uses a different method to clear memory space when web surfing. If you are rapidly moving from web page to web page quickly it is possible to notice a slightly increased time response after a while. The other issue with the TPT is of course the laughable sound volume.

So would I recommend the TPT to others? That depends on their use of the tablet. If all you want to do is web surf, read email, or play games all most any tablet will do. If you want to be able to move files from one place to another in uncontrolled situations then a TPT like machine ( Full USB / HDMI ) is the way to go. The note jotting feature if you really intend to use it is also a pro TPT discriminant. The Panasonic "toughpad" lacks a full USB no doubt as a nod to government IT departments that consider a USB port a "leak and virus " port.

At home I rarely even boot up my Windows Computer any more. The TPT is all I need. For short business trips I now leave my work laptop behind. For actual business & leisure use I would recommend the TPT. For leisure only there are others that might be a better choice.

Speaking of leisure I purchased a "disposable" $90.00 tablet ( disposable given that if a child breaks it it hurts a lot less than breaking my TPT) . The Arnova G7 3G. It has to many shortcomings to list here. BUT for pure short period leisure browsing I reach for it instead of the Apple iPAD or TPT on many occasions................ Hmmmm.

The TPT is at the end of its product life. I wonder what Lenovo will do next. Build a TPT 3? Or just stick with a Windows 8 Tablet..........

[bchau]

I agree that TPT (with ICS) is pretty good so far for me, with the exception of GPS which is still not working. Don't know what else I would like to see in TPT2 if there is one. Maybe more RAM, faster CPU, better cameras and speakers, etc.... But please keep the same form factor. Like it a lot and the Lenovo case is beautiful.

BTW, I found that N-trig has just announced their fourth gen pen technology promising more natural inking experience:

http://blog.laptopmag.com/n-trig-announces-enhanced-duosense-multi-touch-pens-and-interface

[vijil]

It's definitely nicer, though there are still many situations where it lags out a bit.

I'd love JB just purely for project butter which I'm sure would make a huge difference. I suspect we wont be getting it at all short of third party roms.

[iveman89]

will we be able to take advantage of that?

[HughR]

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comment wrote:

Speaking of leisure I purchased a "disposable" $90.00 tablet ( disposable given that if a child breaks it it hurts a lot less than breaking my TPT) . The Arnova G7 3G. It has to many shortcomings to list here. BUT for pure short period leisure browsing I reach for it instead of the Apple iPAD or TPT on many occasions................ Hmmmm.

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I find that observation very interesting.  Can you explain why you reach for the G7?  Is it a mass issue?

Around the house, I find the 10" tablets are great.  For portability outside the house, not always.

(I got a TPAT just to see if the stylus is worthwhile.  So far I haven't invested the effort for a good trial.  Some of the effort is figuring out what applications are useful and usefully stylus-aware.)

[comment]

The 7 inch size is much easier to handle. You don't feel like you are about to drop it or run into anything with it; and it is much lighter. When I walk around with a TPT or IPAD I am very cognizant that I have a $500 bill in my hand. The G7 does not provide the same stress level. For casual reading it is easier to use. Phones are to small really all the time and 10 inch tablets are to big some of the time.........So a 7 inch tablet might be the form factor sweet spot. But dont rush out and buy a G7 it has a lot of issues. But, for the price it is hard to knock.

You have to dedicate yourself to using the stylus and then to developing a rapid filing system. Once you do this for about 2 weeks you should notice an efficiency improvement and a decrease in random paper laying on your workspace........I have not made real use of the handwriting to text capability yet. I have not invested the time to rapidly format notes using that feature.

[wleesee]

I agree the thinkpad is starting to reach the end of it's life... but with
1) ICS - Responsiveness is great
2) (My primary gripe.. now resolved) Web Browsing speed being rectified by new browsers like Puffin (offloads the heaving processing to the cloud - browsing speeds are substantially faster) <br>3) Recent price drops...<br> I see no real business need to purchase anytihng that much more expensive.

Having said that.. when teh 4th Gen NTRIG digitizers and Wacom digitizers (Note 10.1) are relased -> I may just see a business need to purchase a different slate then.

[HughR]

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comment wrote:

The TPT is at the end of its product life. I wonder what Lenovo will do next. Build a TPT 3? Or just stick with a Windows 8 Tablet..........

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I don't know what you mean by "product life".  It is likely at the end of its run for new sales: a new generation of Android tablets is starting to appear and the resolution of the "new iPad" certainly makes all of the old tablets seem inferior.  Furthermore, the TPAT's price point is probably untenable (I only recently bought mine, but it was a heavily discounted "open box" unit).

But, if Lenovo doesn't drop the ball, existing TPATs should be quite reasonable to use for a couple more years.  Of course the track record of vendors updating Android device firmware has been horrible.  Lenovo gets credit for eventually shipping ICS for the TPAT.

Example: I had an original iPad.  It is quite useful to this day (I gave it away recently, but not because I didn't want it).  I didn't find that I pined for the features of the iPad 2 although they would have been slightly useful (lighter, faster, built-in camera).  Up until now, Apple has updated firmware for all iPads and not left the original behind.

My perception (based on an unreliable source: the press) is that no Android tablet built to sell at near the price point of the iPad has been a market success.  Worse: Apple has kept the second generation iPad for sale but at a lower price.  That means that the next generation of Android tablet has to be targeted differently.  For example, maybe a new model TPAT could live in a niche market (eg. those who need a stylus) with the lower sales and serious price.  The Kindle Fire sells well in a different format and price point.  Certainly Lenovo has inexpensive Android tablets, but not branded Thinkpad.

One problem for Android tablet makers: customers have almost zero cost for switching to other Android tablets.  This makes their sales unstable.  Product differentiation is their best hope.  Price is the easiest differentiator but squeezes margins to the danger point.  The TPAT's stylus is a real differentiator and I think Lenovo needed to get more and better apps to make this valuable.  The TPAT's better connectivity (USB and SD) is a bit of a sleeper: good but probably unappreciated at the sales counter.

I don't imagine an inexpensive tablet branded Thinkpad -- that would cheapen the brand.  Eliminating on-going support for the TPAT would also cheapen the brand.

[HughR]

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comment wrote:
The 7 inch size is much easier to handle. You don't feel like you are about to drop it or run into anything with it; and it is much lighter. When I walk around with a TPT or IPAD I am very cognizant that I have a $500 bill in my hand. The G7 does not provide the same stress level. For casual reading it is easier to use. Phones are to small really all the time and 10 inch tablets are to big some of the time.........So a 7 inch tablet might be the form factor sweet spot. But dont rush out and buy a G7 it has a lot of issues. But, for the price it is hard to knock.

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I see.

I don't try to use a tablet while moving about so I haven't perceived this problem.  A 7" tablet is a lot more convenient than a 10" tablet for those times you are not actually using it.  That sounds silly, but there are a lot of times when you want to have a tablet available for use but are not actually using it.  For me, those are mostly out-of-home experiences.

As far as being conscious of the cost of a tablet, after I already paid for it, I try to avoid thinking that way.  It is likely to die of obsolescence rather than physical damage.  In some sense, not using it makes it more expensive: the cost of acquisition is amortized across less use.

I think all this stuff is psychological more than technical.  That makes it less easy for me to predict how things turn out.  That made me quite interested in your answer.  I'm certainly not judging it wrong!

I have several 10" tablets and 7" tablets.  RIght now I'm using the TPAT almost exclusively to give it a chance.  The 10" ones are clearly more useful than the 7" ones when in actual use.

The 7" Kobo VOX is good for the price it was designed for but clearly inferior to the 7" Blackberry Playbook which was designed for a much higher price (and then was heavily discounted down to the VOX's price).  Both easily slip into coat pockets when I leave the house.  That advantage doesn't apply now since it is summer and I don't often wear a coat.

My main tablet use has been web surfing.  All tablets do a reasonable job of this.  I have read a couple of eBooks but I find e-ink to be a better tradeoff for that application.  Tablets are not so good for SSH, something I want.  The TPAT's stylus might give it a big opening in note-taking (for lack of a better term).

I would value hearing other people's experiences.

[comment]

Any differences I have with your comments are trivial.....So I agree with your post.  By end of life I doubt if this tablet will get jelly bean.  I also doubt if this exact model will be sold next to a TPT  2.  If a new model is introduced I suspect it will be different enough that the only item shared will be the thinkpad name.

a.) The physical keyes will be eliminated

b.) Of course a new processor. ( not sure if the firmware and OS is upwardly compatible or reuseable)

c.) An actual "LOUD SPEAKER" will be added

d.) Hopefully keep all of the ports especially the USB      

e.) Upgraded screen

f.) Maybe  add a replaceable battery.  Dont capitulate like Toshiba did and just go thin. But the right thin does sell.