My sis is wanting to get my dad an iPad/Android tablet for his xmas/birthday present or something. She's now looking at the Nexus 7 due to it's cost.

All the talk though has done the inevitable, and made me start to wonder if I could use one. I'm particularly interested in mapping applications, using the tablet almost like a graphics tablet to trace habitats on a map with my finger and create GIS files that could be imported into our proper mapping programs at work (a lot quicker and easier than using a mouse I imagine).

I'm just curious what people think. I used to have an HTC Desire, now have an iPhone. I liked both Android and iOS equally for different reasons. Android was great but I found quality of apps was very poor a few years ago. Whereas iOS the apps are great but there's just slightly less freedom to do what I want with the phone than would be ideal. I'm wondering if the tablets are the same...

smaller ipad coming,.,,,, and cheaper!

You highlighted the main pros and cons yourself but Android apps have gotten much better over the last 12 months, more standardized in the iOS and Android releases.

Throwing the apple/android argument out of the window at the moment you need to look at 1st what functions you want and what size you want?

The new Nexus 7 is a steal for the price (quadcore tegra 3 on IPS panel for sub £200) however is 7inch too small? I know it would be for me. It also doesn't have a MicroSD card but does have a USB dongle so you can plug memory cards/usb sticks/etc into that.

The iPAD2 is a solid device, you can get the USB camera dongle to do your photo downloads, there is no full non-restricted USB port adapters though and once again no MicroSD slot.

10inch Tabs android wise there are so many out now I don't even know where to start. The Transformer Prime is still getting a lot of love but most major manufactures have released an ICS tegra3, 10inch IPS panel tab at around the same price so just do some googling to see whats most loved in the community at the time.

My Transformer 1 (tegra 2) is still going strong but is slightly bulky compared to the newer ones. Mini HDMI, MicroSD, Full USB port on tab if using dongle (or female to female USB connector ) and with Dock you get another +9 hours battery life, keyboard, 2x full USB and SD card

smaller ipad coming,.,,,, and cheaper!

And just as restrictive.  I can't see it being that much cheaper tbh, certainly more than the N7.

Quote from: Eggtastico on July 16, 2012, 14:27:45 PM

smaller ipad coming,.,,,, and cheaper!

And just as restrictive.  I can't see it being that much cheaper tbh, certainly more than the N7.

how are they restrictive?

I would have to agree with those points, the small amount of time I've spent trying out iProducts to give them a chance has been a painful, unintuitive experience compared to the pick up and play customisable nature of the android phones, you can feel that you can do more with it right off the bat. It always feels like you need a manual to learn how to do things the quirky Apple way that goes against the grain, or to understand why you can't do something you should be able to.

I do think some stuff is different for the sake of being different.  Shortcut keys for example.
I know it's a unix based OS, but if you're trying to tempt people away from PC's you should make it as seamless for them as possible.
The three balls at the top of any application that seem to do sweet fa.
Embrace more than one mouse button!!!!

The OS feels very swish, but it seems all mouth and no trousers.

Ainol? Anal?