The Apple Ipad is a wondrous device. But I have carried the Acer Iconia A500 tablet for more than four weeks now. The first few days convinced me to give my Ipad to my wife. I have been Apple Free since. I thought it was time for a follow-up report.
Why do I love it? Let me count the ways:
- While away from home this week I took 475 photographs with two different cameras utilizing a standard SD card and a very large Compact Flash film card. Within moments I was able to copy the photos off of both types of cards onto my Acer A500 using it’s standard USb slot and place them in the specific directory that I wanted them to go into. Piece of cake.
- I was able to edit some photos and post them online from my Acer Tablet. I was also able to show many of the photos to friends, associates and poor strangers stuck on the elevator with me.
- Now that I am home, I copied all of the 475 photos onto a usb drive and copied them onto my desktop for permanent storage.
Those items above are reasons enough for me. To be able to utilize a standard USB slot to read card readers and usb drives to copy files about with ease is a huge thing for me.
To accomplish the same on the Ipad I would need to use two different connectors hooked up to the Ipad. One for SD cards, the famous “Camera Connection” and then hook up the wiggly other adapter that allows certain approved devices to connect to the Ipad. Not every card reader can connect. Only certain ones. Ones I do not own apparently. And then the wiggly connection would cut off the transfer. Not that it was a real transfer, as the Ipad loaded the program Apple wants to load and transfers them over to the directory Apple wants them to go into. No choice.
Or, I could hook the Ipad up to Itunes and lose all of my data and my peace of mind. I’ve never figured out how to use Itunes. I detest Itunes.
But that alone is not the only thing I like better about the Acer Tablet.
- It surfs the web faster than the original ipad.
- It displays web pages with flash! Thus, it surfs more of the web than the ipad.
- The 10.1 inch wide screen is better for me when surfing the web, reading excel spreadsheets or writing.
- It pulls in wi-fi signals better than the original Ipad. There were places at work that I could not achieve a signal at all with the Ipad, that I have no trouble acquiring with the Acer Tablet.
- More options for apps. I can download free and inexpensive apps from the Android Market, or Amazon App Market. Or several other places. I am not tied to Itunes. Granted, there are fewer Android apps than Apple Ipad apps, but I have found all of my favorite 24 apps but one. And for that I found a different app that performs that function. So, in the app department, I personally am not lacking anything.
So, after about a month of constant daily use, I have absolutely no regrets at giving up my Ipad. In fact, I am loving my Acer A500 more each day.
Some Blogging Guy.
Can you use an external modem plugged into the USB port if you have no wifi available? I don’t have a lot of places available to me that have wifi. But on the other hand dishing out $700 plus dollars for 3G is a little hard to take.
Not yet. I heard that when Android 3.1 comes out it will allow more USB functions, and that may be one. I am counting on that too, although in South Florida I hardly ever would need it
Just bought an Iconia A500. Are there instructions on using the android program (like windows xp) to create folders etc? Am using the ezpdf reader.Are there instruction guides on using the ezpdf reader.
Thanks….
Using the Ipad2, still no flash, still no open OS, Apple still controls all, or course. No micro SD, no USB, the tv cables cost $40 and still have issues. Also I think it has poorer display quality, its resolution isn’t as good. Also noticed there is still problems with the internet connectivity with the Ipad2, my notebook has no problems connecting to wi-fi connections that the Ipad2 just refuses to connect. So do you think it would be a good idea to return this Ipad2 or sell it and go out and get the Accer Iconia A500 which from personal research, and testing in the stores seems way better, looks better. Oh yea, forgot to mention the camera, the camera sucks, I don’t even try to take any photos as its a complete waste of time. Also you still require special devices to be able to transfer files.
James,
Actually, there are a slew of Android Honeycomb tablets coming out this month and next. I would look at the Toshiba Thrive that has a full size SD card slot, a USB and a removable battery. Keep in mind to that with Apple, as long as yo agree to do everything their way, it is a simple smooth process. But with anything that has an open OS and freedom, it does require more effort on the user.
Maybe wander over to Best Buy and play around with a display model for a bit?
Good luck!
Trying to get photos from USB to my Acer tablet. Don’t know tablets or android. I can view photos fine but can’t figure out how to save them. So frustrating!!
I can view mine also, but have not yet figured out how to save them to the tablet. Can anyone shed some light on which app is needed to do so?
I did figure that one out; you have to download a file manager. I chose Astro from the android market. It’s good. I have to scroll down(although I use up to do so?) and look for usb storage. You then long hold the photo from the usb you want to copy, it will give you a menu. Copy, and a paste tab will come up. Go to Pictures in Astro and paste. It’s not the easiest thing to do, but it can be accomplished. I can’t figure out an easy way to to copy multiple photos, in spite of the multi tab.
How do you get photos from the Acer to the USB. I have astro but can’t figure it out. Can someone help. psec1970@gmail.com
I have had my tablet for about 6 weeks and have been trying to update the system since. Every time it starts downloading the update, it will get about half way through and then give me an error message that says I am not connected but I am (to wifi). Anyone else having that problem? Anyone know why?
In response to Margaret, I did figure out the multiple photo download thing with the Astro file manager. You have to hit multiple and then the file folder you want, hit copy, where you want to put it, then edit and paste.
Have fun though when you get infested with malware are the open app stores.
DB, yes, I will have fun being an adult and making my own decision are what I download, from what source Sorry you can’t do that and have to stick with Apple Crib.
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tonight I connected my external hard Drive USD to my Acer500 thinking I was going to transfer the pics from My tablet to my extrnal hard drive. Instead all of th pics on my hard drive copied to my tablet leaving me very little hard dirve space left on my tablet. for two hours now, I’ve tried to get the pics back off of my tablet and onto my external hard drive with no luck. is there a simple process?
Thanks
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