249 replies to this topic

[jayhoz]

If you want a cheap 10" tablet and are willing to do the work to put Android on it then the Touchpad is a no brainer. If you are unwilling to tinker with it or if 7" is sufficient then go Kindle Fire.

[Jnai]

The work to get Android on it:

1) Install Novacom Software
2) Download CM Installer.
3) Download 3 Zip Files.
4) Plug Touchpad into Computer.
5) Place 3 Zip Files in a new directory on the Touchpad.
6) Run a single Novacom Command.

To Enable Android Market
7) Download one more zip file.
8) Place zip file in same directory you already created.
9) Run the Zip File from a program on the Touchpad.

That's it. Entire process takes about 15 minutes. It's been pretty stable so far as well, only some minor crashes.

Edited by Jnai, 26 October 2011 - 10:51 AM.

[bsj]

Ok...so...if I get the Touchpad, you are going to walk me through that process when I F it up, right?

She is going to web browse, use email, read books, and potentially watch films. She may do some light word processing. Thats pretty much it.

[jayhoz]

Ok...so...if I get the Touchpad, you are going to walk me through that process when I F it up, right?

She is going to web browse, use email, read books, and potentially watch films. She may do some light word processing. Thats pretty much it.

If she will actually be doing word processing, I wouldn't suggest it, then you'll want to get her a bluetooth keyboard and a stand as well. That holds for any tablet.

[bsj]

If she will actually be doing word processing, I wouldn't suggest it, then you'll want to get her a bluetooth keyboard and a stand as well. That holds for any tablet.

Well, she wants a tab. I mean VERY lite word processing, like a few sentences here and there. She is not a writer.

[Jnai]

Ok...so...if I get the Touchpad, you are going to walk me through that process when I F it up, right?

You probably don't need to put Android on it if all your wife wants is to do those four things. By the time you want to do more, the install process will probably be significantly easier (my guess is one-click).

To be clear, WebOS is actually very nice. I actually like the interface significantly more than Android for a Tablet. The cards are a pretty clean multitasking system that you can learn in an hour.

The difference is in the App Store. There is virtually no App Store for WebOS and a big one for Android.

Edited by Jnai, 26 October 2011 - 01:31 PM.

[zenter]

You probably don't need to put Android on it if all your wife wants is to do those four things. By the time you want to do more, the install process will probably be significantly easier (my guess is one-click).

To be clear, WebOS is actually very nice. I actually like the interface significantly more than Android for a Tablet. The cards are a pretty clean multitasking system that you can learn in an hour.

The difference is in the App Store. There is virtually no App Store for WebOS and a big one for Android.

I agree with everything stated here. An eventual dual-boot or virtualization of Android might solve most of this app store issue, as would HP somehow resurrecting vendor/developer interest in webOS, but in the meantime what currently exist on webOS is very good out of the box.

[Jnai]

I agree with everything stated here. An eventual dual-boot or virtualization of Android might solve most of this app store issue, as would HP somehow resurrecting vendor/developer interest in webOS, but in the meantime what currently exist on webOS is very good out of the box.

Android is dual boot right now.

[Nick Kaufman]

I ll try it when ICS becomes available. But since I mostly use it for books and the web, I find no real urgency for installing Android.

[Fisks Of Fury]

I ll try it when ICS becomes available. But since I mostly use it for books and the web, I find no real urgency for installing Android.

As an aside. What app are you using to read books on the TouchPad?

[Nick Kaufman]

Kindle and Adobe Acrobat.

[Nick Kaufman]

Does an HP Touchpad also own an Ipad 2? I like the screen size, but after a couple of months, it seems to me that I would prefer if it was lighter and I know the Ipad 2 has got 250 grams less mass than the Touchpad.

Also, after I installed the 3.0.4 version, I get weird subtle changes of the screen's luminosity. Go figure.

[saintnick912]

Does an HP Touchpad also own an Ipad 2? I like the screen size, but after a couple of months, it seems to me that I would prefer if it was lighter and I know the Ipad 2 has got 250 grams less mass than the Touchpad.

It's noticeable, I've had both in my hands in a short timeframe.

[Nick Kaufman]

ok, it's noticeable. Is the ipad bearable on its own terms though?

[derekson]

Does an HP Touchpad also own an Ipad 2? I like the screen size, but after a couple of months, it seems to me that I would prefer if it was lighter and I know the Ipad 2 has got 250 grams less mass than the Touchpad.

Also, after I installed the 3.0.4 version, I get weird subtle changes of the screen's luminosity. Go figure.

Is the TouchPad really 250 g heavier? Considering an iPad 2 only weighs ~600 g, that's nearly 50% heavier. Holy crap.

[Nick Kaufman]

Hold on. Make it 150, I think the touchpad is 750 grams.

[weeba]

If anyone is interested, Tiger Direct has some going on sale at 230

[Fisks Of Fury]

Hold on. Make it 150, I think the touchpad is 750 grams.

.74 kg according to their spec sheet, which is right on par with the first generation iPad (at .73 kg). I own one of each and they feel identical.

The iPad 2 is definitely noticeably lighter at .6 kg.

[Fisks Of Fury]

If anyone is interested, Tiger Direct has some going on sale at 230

For what it's worth, you can get one at around that price on eBay as well. There have been a ton of them available lately, as the folks who were able to pick up extras try to profit on the sell out.

[weeba]

I meant 2:30 pm.

The bundle available:

Here is what you'll get
- HP 32GB TouchPad
- Belkin 10.1" Tablet Case
- Belkin FlipBlade Tablet Stand
- Creative Labs D80 Bluetooth Speakers
- (Bonus: HP 16GB USB Flash Drive)

All for just $279.99

[zenter]

Sooo... I have a Netgear WNR3500L router and the Touchpad. Recently, the TP simply doesn't connect and often doesn't even see my network (it only had intermittent issues at first). I saw scattered reports of the two not playing nice for some reason. Several of them say swapping in dd-wrt on the router will solve my problem, but I'd prefer to see a Touchpad-side fix since I hate configuring routers after update. Thoughts? Comments? Advice?

[PBDWake]

For those interested, the bluetooth keyboard is only $20 with coupon code SVN7795 at HP.com

(credit to slickdeals for that one)

[saintnick912]

That coupon seems to have expired or run out of uses. Either way, no worky.

FYI, the shipping was quoted as $11, so for Amazon Prime customers like me it would actually be $1 less to order for $29 through Amazon and get the free 2-day shipping. Which I did, I think it was $50 the last time I looked on there.

[bsj]

I managed to grab one for my wife. As I mentioned upthread, she badly wanted a tablet. I badly wanted to not be broke getting one.

Paid about $229 but paid a lot for shipping as I needed it FAST.

Am I correct that the fact HP is reentering the world of tablets with new webOS tablets is a good sign that that they will not be abandoning their market and more apps will continue to be developed?

Note...I probably could have done quite a bit better, but I has about a 15 minute window to order this at 6:30am on a random morning from DC before heading into an all-day conference with no net access, and I needed it by EOD friday. The first place I found that was reputable and where I could afford it I jumped on.

Edited by bsj, 07 November 2011 - 12:01 PM.

[PBDWake]

Am I correct that the fact HP is reentering the world of tablets with new webOS tablets is a good sign that that they will not be abandoning their market and more apps will continue to be developed?

Are you referring to the new Slate tablets? If so, sadly, those are running Windows 7, not webOS.

[Nick Kaufman]

Yeah, the Webos division is rumored to be closing in the near future.

But that doesn't mean it's not going to be serviceable for a year or two until Windows 8 tablets start competing with Android 5.0 and IOS 6.0 ones. Those are going to be good times.

[jayhoz]

32GB for $149 after rebate.

http://www.tigerdire...5092&CatId=7048

Edit - Oops…looks like you have buy a HP laptop at the same time to qualify for the $149 price.

Edited by jayhoz, 14 November 2011 - 03:28 PM.

[ddeveau]

HP just announced they are contributing WebOS to the open source community.

And if anyone is still looking, a limited number of refurbished touchpads are supposed to be made available at the HP's eBay store Sunday night or Monday morning.

[Jnai]

Long necro. ICS was released. Works fantastic if you haven't tried it yet.

[zenter]

Long necro. ICS was released. Works fantastic if you haven't tried it yet.

Do you have installation links, etc?

[Jnai]

Do you have installation links, etc?

Rootz:
http://rootzwiki.com...972#entry395972

Also, I had 0 trouble with the clean wipe route:
Nandroid Backup
Format in Clockwork
Install from Zip in Clockwork
Install new GApps
Reboot

Lost apps, but it wasn't hard to make a short list of ones I really wanted to keep. Most of my data is on Dropbox anyway.

Edited by Jnai, 27 January 2012 - 05:42 PM.

[Nick Kaufman]

I read it's still alpha and it's still lacking various stuff.

[Jnai]

I read it's still alpha and it's still lacking various stuff.

It's lacking:
Hardware Video Accel (essentially, no HD Youtube Vids)
No Camera (which no one ever uses on the TP anyway, since it's front facing)

It's totally worth the upgrade. Very smooth.

[Nick Kaufman]

Well, I also read that the resolution is bad in order for the android market to work?

But I do have to say, I am titilated. What are the steps if you want to do a dual boot and you just have a vanilla version of webos?

[Nick Kaufman]

Well, I also read that the resolution is bad in order for the android market to work?

But I do have to say, I am titilated. What are the steps if you want to do a dual boot and you just have a vanilla version of webos?

Never mind, I think this link provides enough of a detailed guide:

http://liliputing.co...od-9-alpha.html

[Nick Kaufman]

OK, I installed it and just toying around with it. FWIW, I hit a snug because I wasn't able to install it on either XP x64 or Win 7 x64. I had to use XP x32 to do the job.

[jayhoz]

It's lacking:
Hardware Video Accel (essentially, no HD Youtube Vids)
No Camera (which no one ever uses on the TP anyway, since it's front facing)

It's totally worth the upgrade. Very smooth.

I Skype with the front facing camera all the time.

[Jnai]

OK, I installed it and just toying around with it. FWIW, I hit a snug because I wasn't able to install it on either XP x64 or Win 7 x64. I had to use XP x32 to do the job.

Some problem with Novacom?

For whatever reason the 64bit app does not seem to find its way onto the path properly.

Edited by Jnai, 28 January 2012 - 11:33 AM.

[Nick Kaufman]

Yeah, when I was trying to install, it was telling me that the device was not found.

[Nick Kaufman]

So I toyed with ICS for a couple of days and... what's the big deal?

I was really eager to use ICS, since I haven't used android ever and I am very unimpressed. And I don't think it's the bugginess of the port. Android just strikes me as an OS which tries to do stuff in an unecessarily complicated way. Both Webos and iOs seemed to me to be far more polished and intuitive to use.

My understanding is that there are far more options in the market, but at the end of the day they amount to what? Perhaps I would appreciate it more if I wanted to play games or use it in the car or a multimedia device, but other than that, I have yet to find something that would make me say "oh yeah, I should get on the android bandwagon".

Having said that, the touchpad is part of the problem. There are two things that bug me:

The first it's that it's a fingerprint magnet. Not only does it show the tinies print you leave on it but it seems to draw every small dust particle it comes into contact and you feel. I am tired of cleaning that thing.

The other is the weight, perhaps the size too. I feel constricted when I use it.

[jayhoz]

Nick - Have you played with other tablets? If fingerprints and weight are the big issues for you then it sounds like you are not a tablet person.

Have you added any widgets / customizations to your TP? I've got scrolling news feeds, weather, Pandora, Spotify, IMDB, etc. etc. right on the home screens. Here are some screenshots of others people's setups that really make Android a thing of beauty on a tablet.

[Fisks Of Fury]

In all fairness, I will say the TP DOES seem to show fingerprints more than my iPad... I'm not sure if it's just a different coating or what. But it doesn't matter to me, I'm used to having to clean the iPad regularly.

Being new to the Android world, does anyone have a list of apps/widgets they use/love on their Android Tablet?

[Nick Kaufman]

Nick - Have you played with other tablets? If fingerprints and weight are the big issues for you then it sounds like you are not a tablet person.

Have you added any widgets / customizations to your TP? I've got scrolling news feeds, weather, Pandora, Spotify, IMDB, etc. etc. right on the home screens. Here are some screenshots of others people's setups that really make Android a thing of beauty on a tablet.

I have played with other tablets and I have an iphone. The iphone does seem to have an anti-oil coating and it helps though it still needs a wipedown every once in a while. Also IIRC, some of the reviews I read also pointed fingerprints as an issue with Touchpad.

As far as widgets are concerned, I just don't find much usefulness in them. Is it that important to have weather or IMDB or facebook on your desktop? I never felt the need for it. Btw, I can see how some people would think that the WebOs was a better OS. The cards system is better for multitasking for example and perhaps it allows you to fulfil the same function as widgets too.

[Fisks Of Fury]

The latest release seems to have fixed issues with the hardware video acceleration, allowing for HD playback, and for the Netflix streaming app to work.

You can find update instructions here.

My update was very smooth, and didn't screw up any of the customization I'd done on the tablet to date.

At this point, theoretically, the only major feature not working is the camera, as it seems that one of the libraries used hasn't ben open sourced... or some such excuse that I didn't take the time to fully understand.

There is still some occasional flakiness with the touchscreen responsiveness, but not so much as to be a big problem.

[jayhoz]

All I want is for Skype to work. Is that too much to ask for?

I'm still on CM7, but will likely upgrade soon. When you say your customizations stuck, was this from CM7 to CM9 or from one CM9 version to another?

[saintnick912]

Probably from one CM9 to another, the CM7 to 9 transition to me was basically a format of the drive and a reinstall. Though I have so little installed on the tablet it was fast to get things back up and running.

[Fisks Of Fury]

Yeah, it was from a previous CM9 version (Alpha 0.6). I'm late to the party so I haven't been tripping through all the dump and reinstall fun.

And yes, it's a pain that the camera lens just sits there and mocks me, unusable for Skype. With luck, they'll crack that nut soon.

[zenter]

Yeah, it was from a previous CM9 version (Alpha 0.6). I'm late to the party so I haven't been tripping through all the dump and reinstall fun.

And yes, it's a pain that the camera lens just sits there and mocks me, unusable for Skype. With luck, they'll crack that nut soon.

How about Skype voice? Is that working?

[Fisks Of Fury]

How about Skype voice? Is that working?

You know, I hadn't tried until you asked. No, it looks like it's not working at all. Bah.

[saintnick912]

Installed the latest nightly of cm9 today, seems somewhat smoother vs the last alpha.

- dock auto-launches the clock and charges
- chrome beta is decent browser
- Netflix works
- Hulu+ works with side loaded apk
- camera and mic still don't work, so no Skype

I've pretty much decided to switch over to Android full-time over WebOS for app support at this point. The dock clock thing was the final thing.