After selling some some old games and hardware, I was finally able to acquire a Nexus 7. Sporting a 7” display and quad core Tegra processor, the Nexus 7 is known as a mini tablet. The smaller size tablet makes it more portable and easier to hold. Its direct competitors are the Kindle Fire HD, Nook HD, and Apple’s new iPad mini. Since it is essentially the size of a book, it makes reading easier on the go. And with the Amazon Kindle app, you instantly have access to Amazon’s gazillion books.
After just a few weeks of using the Nexus 7, I realized my new iPad (Gen 3 w/ Retina) was no longer a device I wanted to own. It’s superiority over the iPad is clear, and I sold my iPad to get a Nexus 10 at launch.
The Nexus 10 is a 10” tablet that has a dazzling 2560x1600 display with 300ppi. In comparison, the new iPad has a 2048x1536 resolution with 264ppi. It’s also slightly wider than the iPad and the speakers line each side facing toward you. The iPad speaker, while exceptional, has questionable placement on the corner, a design that has seriously annoyed me.
Since the Nexus line is made by Google, you are getting the purest Android experience. The Nexus 7 uses the latest OS, Jelly Bean 4.2. The OS is an amazing leap forward and finally allows multiple users. That's right, you can have your own login. For the iPad user, you know it was truly designed for a single person. This becomes apparent once you configure your apps and social networks. This was the vision of Steve Jobs, and so far, the Apple iOS has remained that way.
Allowing multiple users on a single tablet is an amazing feature. It no longer matters which tablet I take, it's just a matter of personal preference.
To clear some initial confusion, the Nexus 7 is made by Asus and the Nexus 10 is made by Samsung. Both are very powerful and anyone who has used Androids in the past may remember strange hiccuping and slowdown. Thanks to the new hardware and Jelly Bean 4.2, those pains are a thing of the past.
Why even bother having 2 sizes of tablets?
At first, I thought a 7” tablet would be a waste of space. We’re always taught bigger is better right? Clearly this is not always the case. When it comes to gaming, especially if you’re into shooter games like Modern Combat 3 and Nova 3, the 7” tab is much better. The smaller size makes it easier to hold and utilize the virtual joysticks and buttons. Gaming on the Nexus 10 is pretty, but quickly leads to hand cramps.
Portability. As funny as it sounds, the Nexus 7 can be put in your pocket. In fact, when I purchased mine from Gamestop, the sales guy had it in his pocket. It shocked me for a moment, but I suppose there are people who will carry it this way.
If you really need the real estate, the Nexus 10 is the way to go. I’m a huge fan of Feedly for viewing my RSS feeds in a magazine display, and the Nexus 10 is perfect. If you are used to the Retina display of the iPad, you will not be disappointed. This thing is gorgeous. It’s also slightly wider than the iPad and has nice rubber back which gives you good grip.
In terms of apps, the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 use the Google Play store.
Making purchases are a breeze and you can even link accounts so you don’t have to buy multiple apps for the different users that log in.
For example, if I buy the BeyondPod app, each user can share the app. No need to re-purchase.
Are the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 are iPad killers?
I already sold my iPad and I can’t imagine going back. The masses may stick with iPad since most people want to retain their purchased apps and prefer a more simpler and singular experience. Not me.
Google has shown that it has not only taken over the phone market, but has prizefighters worthy of taking over the tablet market as well.
Review is a segment about my opinion on things. I like things, and you like things too. Before you run off and buy something, you should check out my review. Chances are if I like it, it’s probably awesome.
