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Why the iPad Beats the Nexus 7 as My Primary Tablet

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I’m back to using my iPad as my primary tablet after a few weeks of doing most of my mobile tablet computing on the Google Nexus 7 Tablet. Google and Asus produced a great 7-inch tablet and I love it. It’s close to being the tablet I’ve wanted since I began using tablets with the similarly sized Samsung Q1 Ultra.

However, they left off one important feature that sent me back to my iPad when I’m out and around away from home or the office.

Like chocolate chip cookies without the chips, a tablet without persistent wireless network access doesn’t fit my usage anymore.

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When Google and Asus introduced the Google Nexus 7 Tablet I loved the smaller, more portable form-factor. It’s comfortable. I check my email, Twitter, read a few web sites, find a movie time or a good restaurant and then put it away. It even fits in my pocket and feels more like I’m carrying a paperback book or a small DayTimer, something I used for about 15 years before going to a PDA and later a smart phone.

The Google Nexus 7 Tablet fits my lifestyle nearly perfectly and I love the tablet. I get the same long battery life and ease of use that the iPad offers. Tablet apps work great on the device and blown up phone apps look pretty good most of the time since the jumpt from 4 or 5 inches to 7 inches isn’t that big. It’s almost the perfect solution.

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For everything it does right, one thing is missing. I miss constant connectivity via 3G or LTE. I got so used to using the 3G of my iPad 2 and now the 4G LTE of my New iPad, that carrying the Nexus 7 feels limiting. Most places I roam offer Wi-Fi so it only bothers me about a third of the time. However, those times were enough to send me back to my Verizon 4G LTE iPad that sat at home.

Readers might ask why I don’t tether with my Samsung Galaxy S III? I do. However, that’s not as quick or complete as built in 4G LTE on the new iPad. I need to turn on the personal hotspot feature each time I want to connect so I don’t end up with a dead battery on my phone.

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What does this mean for people who want or need Internet access 100 percent of the time? It means, Google needs to go back to the drawing board and release a similar device with 4G LTE built into the device.

I could even see a new phone that offers a huge screen even larger than the Samsung Galaxy Note that the user can connect to a nice Bluetooth headset like my Motorola Elite Sliver so I can carry one device and use it as a phablet and make the occasional phone call when needed?

This also means that Apple can jump into this space and produce the rumored new mini iPad with 4G connectivity and sell millions to people like me who now want a smaller talbet with always-on Internet access.

7 Comments

7 Comments

  1. Jaime Lefebvre

    08/28/2012 at 12:14 pm

    So, Kevin, how much extra are you willing to pay for a LTE N7? Obviously, it wouldn’t hit the same price points that it currently enjoys.

  2. Kevin Purcell

    08/28/2012 at 4:53 pm

    Apple adds $130 to offer that. I’d go that high meaning I’d buy the Nexus 7 with higher storage for $389 or $339 for the lower capacity version although I think it would feel more like a value at $300 and $350.

  3. Lawrence

    08/30/2012 at 3:50 am

    Do a fair comparison please – In the UK the iPad costs £500 plus a monthly G3 connection at £15. The Nexus 7 costs £200 plus nothing, ever.

  4. Todd Allcock

    08/30/2012 at 10:49 am

    This is why old tech often beats new. Back in the dark ages, about ten years ago, when I carried a separate PDA and phone, the PDA could automatically fire up an internet connection through the phone via Bluetooth. Once the initial connection was created, and the two devices were told to “trust” each other, the two only needed BT turned on and the PDA connected at will, without me ever touching the phone in my pocket.

    Today, I have to turn on WiFi Internet sharing on my phone first (it doesn’t support BT dial up) for my tablet to see it as a router.

    Two steps forward, one step back…

  5. Frill Artist

    09/13/2012 at 9:56 am

    Unlock phone. 1 step. Go to settings. 2 steps. Turn on tethering and hotspot. 3 steps. 3 steps in total to turn on a nifty feature versus paying anywhere between $30 to $50 per month on top of your cellphone bill. Yeah, I think I’ll stick with 3 miserly steps. Talk about first world problems…

  6. Erasmo

    09/26/2012 at 8:32 pm

    I find your comment interesting, but just can’t imagine someone need so desperately 3G or 4G. If you like so much the Nexus, I’d think you should stick to the device. Now, how about a smaller screen like Note’s?

  7. Mahmoud

    10/16/2012 at 5:30 pm

    Have both and I enjoy the nexeus More than the I pad why would you worry bout 3g or 4g? GO WITH TTHE NEXUS PEOPLE

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