iPad and Nexus 7

by Volker Weber

I love the iPad. And I love the Nexus 7. But when I read articles comparing them, I sometimes have to cringe. It's a bit like comparing a VW Golf with a Dacia Logan. The Dacia is smaller and a lot less expensive than the VW. They both carry people and luggage, have four wheels, one in each corner. You can make an argument, where the smaller car is a better fit than the larger one. But you would be stretching the truth if you would say that the Logan is the better car.

I will give you two examples: build quality and reading experience. Since I have had the Nexus 7, I have removed the back cover twice and tightened the screws around the display. Why did I have to do that? Because they come apart.

It's an easy fix, but it's also an annoying issue. Now let's take a look at legibility. On your left is the iPad, on your right is the Nexus 7.

   

Looks pretty similar when scaled down. Now let's look at the same thing at actual size.

   

While I can read the paper on the iPad at full size, I need to zoom and pan on the Nexus. Possible, but very inconvenient. They are both tablets, they are both nice. But they are worlds apart.

Comments

That's why I was hoping that Google would announce a Nexus 10 tablet. But for the moment, I'm saving up for a Nexus 7. Hopefully I can buy one next month. :)
I've read books and comics on a small Palm Tungsten E display for years, having to zoom and pan is a bit unpleasant, but still tolerable.

Daniel Haferkorn, 2012-08-08 11:34

Is it an option to apply some threadlock next time you tighten those screws?

Tom Weeghmans, 2012-08-08 14:43

I am not sure they are turning. I believe the foam around the screen settles.

Volker Weber, 2012-08-08 14:47

The make & feel of the Nexus is somewhat disappointing from what I read. Since I have "inherited" a 7" HTC Flyer with Pen & 3G running on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean now, the buy decision can be postponed for several months for me.

Axel Koerv, 2012-08-08 16:00

Der Vergleich eines 7" Gerätes mit einen 10" Gerät ist ein wenig sinnlos, oder!? Auch auf einem iPad 7" müsste man zoomen und verschieben. Das hat wenig mit der Qualität zu tun.

Das iPad ist besser verarbeitet, ok. Auf den ersten Blick würde ich sagen. Es heißt zwar immer Apple Geräte seien qualitativ hochwertiger, wenn sie dann doch kaputt gehen, dann wird es richtig teuer.
Wobei, der Home-Button an meinem iPod Touch gibt regelmäßig seinen Geist auf. So weit ist es dann mit der Qualität also auch nicht her.

Ist eine reine Frage der Wirtschaftlichkeit welches Gerät ich mir anschaffe. Muss ich damit rechnen das mein Gerät recht viel leiden muss (z.B. intensiver Outdooreinsatz), kaufe ich eher ein günstiges Gerät und mache Abstriche bei der Qualität. Dann tut es finanziell aber auch nicht so weh wenn etwas kaputt geht.
"Schreibtischtäter" die nur selten mit Wasser&Staub in Berührung kommen, können gerne auf ein teures Gerät zurückgreifen und sich daran erfreuen das es jahrelang hält.

Ich habe mir z.B. für den LKW ein ganz billiges Tablet gekauft. Da juckt es mich wenig wenn es klappert und wackelt, Hauptsache es läuft. Ich hätte auch ein iPad oder vergleichbares kaufen können. Dann würde ich mich aber über jeden noch so kleinen Kratzer ärgern. Es würde seinen Zweck nicht erfüllen, da ich bei jeder Benutzung Angst haben müsste das es kaputt geht.

Ralf Albert, 2012-08-08 16:01

I cannot justify spending 2.5 times for an iPad vs a Nexus 7.

My negative on the Nexus 7 is poor wifi reception vs all my other devices including iPhone, iPod Touch, and Windows laptops. I need to move my wifi router to a more central spot in my home.

Rami Jundi, 2012-08-08 20:26

Perfectly good reason to buy a Nexus 7 instead of an iPad. I have a nagging feeling that Apple is going to to something about that. ;-)

Volker Weber, 2012-08-08 20:30

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vowe.net is a personal website published by Volker Weber a.k.a. vowe. I am an author, consultant and systems architect based in Darmstadt, Germany.

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