Can,

Students are desperate:

If you're okay with a used tab of any type, look at Craigslist in your area. I picked up an 8 month old iPad(1)64g with wifi for $200. Like you, I just canot pay apple's price for their product. It's been perfect for me and the price was right.

There are bargains out there if you're okay with the secondary market.

good idea, I live in a college town...thx

If anyone who has a Xoom wants both Asus's awesome weather app and ice cube live wallpaper, the apks are available. You do not need to be rooted, despite what it says. Just download to your downloads folder, navigate to the files using your favorite explorer, and install the apks. I have done this and confirms that it works on a non-rooted Wifi-only U.S. Xoom. Probably a repost (the guy posted it in April), but Asus's weather widget is really really good.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1048959

Not sure why, but I've kind of gotten in the habit of minimalist on my tablet screen. Got sick of all the clutter. I use to love playing with all the different widgets out there, now the only ones I keep on my screen are mail and calendar. I only use the main screen too.

Now my phone has 5 screens filled and I often debated going to 7. Once I got my tablet my phone dropped down to 3 screens. A few more months though, and my phone may be used more like a phone again.

Viewsonic g Tablet only $210 with free shipping

I'm going to sleep on it, but I am very close to pulling the trigger. It does seem like prices for the last gen of android tablets are dropping steadily. I'm contemplating if I should just wait for the next tablets to debut.

Now why would you want to have that old antiquated crap when you can have this cool ipad?

Android 3.2.1 is now rolling out for WiFi Xooms.

Wife is "hinting" at wanting a tablet which means I don't have to waste time coming up with a Xmas present for her.

I'd like to avoid iPad/Apple if at all possible, so what are the good ones that I should be watching for? I'd like to try to catch one on sale at some point, then use it....errr....I mean hide it until Xmas.

It depends on what features you are willing to trade off. The Xoom has excellent build quality, mini HDMI, SD Card slot (read only at the moment), and mini USB. It also gets software updates first because it is running stock android. However, its screen is inferior to both the Transformer and Galaxy Tab 10.1. With the recent price drop, I think the Xoom is now the cheapest of the bunch.

The Transformer has an excellent IPS screen, mini USB, mini HDMI, SD Card slot (read and write), and Asus seems to be on the ball with its software updates. The Transformer also connects to the optional keyboard that turns it into a mini-netbook.

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is the most "ipad-like" of the bunch. Its screen blows all of the other tablets out of the water. However, there is no mini USB, mini HDMI, or SD card slot. You would have to buy Samsung's proprietary adapter to hook it up to your computer. Also, you have to deal Samsung's TouchWiz interface.

The Toshiba Thrive has a Xoom-like screen, full USB, full HDMI, full-size SD Card slot, removable battery, but reviews have noted that it lags more than the other tablets.

HTC just came out with its 10.1 inch Jetstream through AT&T, but it is the most expensive of the bunch. There is also no WiFi only model at this point.

I did a ton of research on these things the last month and I would highly recommend the Asus Transformer. Its got an amazing screen, microsd slot, hdmi, and for about $100 more you can pick up a keyboard dock to connect it to that basically turns it into a laptop and extends the battery life significantly. I don't regret my purchase at all.

Archos G9

I have a Archos G8 101 tablet that I love!!!! I'm going to be getting the G9 and giving the G8 to my girlfriend. I'm excited to get one, but it's going to be next month.

Oh! one GREAT benefit of the Archos compared to the rest is the plugs. it has an HDMI that i've plugged into my tv and can play movies. They look and sound really good too.

Can't WAIT to get my G9

do some googling, make a spreadsheet with all the features of the ones you are interested in.....you will most likely keep going back to the archos like I did. GREAT price and great features. You won't be dissapointed.

Thanks guys! Keep 'em coming.

A coworker of mine loves his ASUS Transformer. I think they've got a new one coming out in October (?) that is supposed to have a dual-core processor, but honestly, I couldn't say how much of a difference that will really make.

Another software is rolling out for WiFi Xooms.

Also, Woot currently has the Xoom for $349.99 + $5 shipping.

samsung galaxy tab 8.9 and 7.7....


everything i've read about them has me stoked