On Sunday I purchased an Acer Iconia A500 10.1" Android tablet after 3 days research by my husband. This is my review.
Why? The reasons: 1. My laptop is a HP 17" & though overall I am pleased with it, at present it won't let me change locations quickly. It needs constant restarts when going from room to room or place to place. At work I am in meeting after meeting and it makes more sense to be able to be able to type up my notes as I go. Also going to a few conferences in June and one of these has dedicated tablet sessions.
2. I want to trial and research the use of tablets in an educational setting whether that be school or University. BUT why I hear YOU ask:-) My reasoning is that school & University budgets are being cut & therefore we need to be able to recommend options to institutions. I believe that mobile technologies are a viable option. The statistics are overwhelming for the number of students with a mobile phone, (around 90% of school students) and the majority of these are smartphones. We need to work with the technology that students a. Have available to them as well as b. They are willing to use. Tablets are an extension of this mobile technology.
Operating System? Android v I pad V Windows Mobile:
My main reasons for going Android? 1. Price, price, price
2. Ability to use other devices eg USB, HDMI,
3. Android v 3 operating system is Honeycomb & supports flash
4. My Project Coordinator (Boss) has an Ipad 2 and gives me an excellent comparison in real time trial. We both need to use the tablets for similar reasons.
5. I also have an HTC Wildfire Android Smartphone and it was low cost ($280) and has been able to do everything that I want it to do. Looked at upgrading to a bigger HTC such as a Desire but for the price couldn't see the benefit.
6. The one thing holding me back was that the Iconia wasn't 3G. Off we went to see the local man at Bing Lee Armidale to ask if a Telstra USB wireless internet device would work. I would therefore be able to share with my laptop (my reasoning). He was very helpful & knowlegeable as he showed me how to make my HTC Wildfire into a Wireless Hotspot. Problem solved. I now only need to pay for one data plan & it is easy to up or down the plan as needed. It is working like a dream. Thank you
Impressions so far?
1. Couldn't wait to get it home, plug it in and try it out! Came in a sealed box and the adaptor was non Australian. 2 more trips to town sorted this out & I was on my way.
2. The supplied power cord is so short that it is ridiculous. Need to carry an extension cord with me & frankly that is plainly stupid. Acer need to do something about that.
3. WiFi not quite as good as laptop & phone but Hotspot is working so will review this after a month to see just how much data that it is using. But have WiFi where the I pad doesn't.
4. Can't get the Acer Sync to work with laptop Outlook and tablet. Have downloaded another AP that is working but does not appear to do incremental updates.
5. Joined a Whirlpool forum dedicated to the Acer A500 and this has answered nearly all questions.
6. No accessories available in Australia & Amazon won't sell the protective cover outside US or Canada. Some available on eBay but question the quality at this stage.
7. Google Docs can be edited and viewed where as ipad can only view or create a new one.
8. All other functions that I have used have worked perfectly.
I will update the aps that I am using in further posts. Especially in an educational setting.
