kristalsoldier
Android Enthusiast
Hi...
Just wanted to post my observations on using only the A500 for its first work-related trip.
Note that I have not rooted the tab in any way. But it has been updated to 3.1 via the normal and official channels. I have also transferred some of my critical work files to the tab - I had done this a few days back. I have also not added the MicroSD card - I intend to do so later this week. My A500 is the 16GB version.
So, my day began at around 7:30 am and it ended by around 11:00 pm when I came back home. In the intervening hours, I have spent about 5-6 hours flying (around 2.5 hrs flying time each way plus some delays); around 2 hours sitting at airports, and I spent about 5 hours in meetings and a couple of hours driving from meeting to meeting - being stuck in traffic etc.
Usually, I take my ThinkPad X201 with me, but this time I took only the A500 (plus one 2GB pen drive FAT32 formatted). I already knew that I would not be engaging in any heavy document creation. I would only have to take notes. Plus, aside from the airports, there was no wifi. I did use the A500 with my phone to access the internet though - but that was to only check and reply to mails (I find it frustrating trying to type anything out on my phone - Samsung Galaxy (Fit).).
I spent the hours in flight doing the following:
(1) Reading documents (Word and PDF)
(2) Playing games - actually, only Angry Bird
(3) Watched some work-related documentaries - short clips (each about 5 mins or so)
At the airports, I did some of the above (except for playing Angry Birds), plus I checked and replied to my mails and read up some online news.
In my meetings, I used the A500 to share presentations and short documents. So, all in all it was not like the tablet was sitting idle. I also checked on stuff on the web via my phone - so some minor element of web surfing.
I would have liked to type out the notes from these meetings, but I have not yet bought the full version of Docs2Go. So, I used a pencil and a notepad.
As of now (it is now 1:30 am the next day...yes, I am still at my desk, albeit at home!), the battery charge reads around 50%, which is not too bad. Perhaps if I had done a bit more of web surfing on the tab via my phone's data connection, the charge would have dropped to around 30-40%, which is still not bad.
When I was not actively using the tab, it went off to sleep - I did not power it off.
EDIT: Btw, I did not disable wifi on the tab even when it was in my bag and not being used in any way - I guess when it goes off to sleep it suspends the wifi - I am not sure about this though.
I also noticed one other thing. Unwittingly, I had to handle the A500 a bit more roughly - especially during the flights and while going throuhg airport security - that I would be predisposed to. It seems to have held up very well. As for a cover or slip-case, I don't have one - have not been able to find one.
I did notice though that there a very slight creaking sound near the USB. I am quite certain it was not there when I originally took the tab out of its packing. But it is nothing major and mor eoften than not, I did not notice it - but I thought it better to mention it.
I am now certain that as soon as I have the full version of Docs2Go (or something similar), I can be productive with the A500 and compared even to the essentially light-in-weight X201, it was a joy to carry. Did not feel a thing.
Yes, I am beginning to get this "tablet thing"...perhaps a little late - but hey! Better late than never!
Thanks.
Edit I:
I recently read that I could use Google Docs offline. This was on ZDNet and you can check out the article here and my brief exchange with the author in the comments (see for posts by "crystalsoldier"). Unless, I am missing something, I can't seem to use Docs offline. It would ahve been good to be able to do so.
Which also leads me ask:
What would be a good note-taking app in the market? I have downloaded EverNote, but it seems that I have to always be online for it to work. I have not uninstalled it, but I am looking for something that I can use offline too. Thanks
Just wanted to post my observations on using only the A500 for its first work-related trip.
Note that I have not rooted the tab in any way. But it has been updated to 3.1 via the normal and official channels. I have also transferred some of my critical work files to the tab - I had done this a few days back. I have also not added the MicroSD card - I intend to do so later this week. My A500 is the 16GB version.
So, my day began at around 7:30 am and it ended by around 11:00 pm when I came back home. In the intervening hours, I have spent about 5-6 hours flying (around 2.5 hrs flying time each way plus some delays); around 2 hours sitting at airports, and I spent about 5 hours in meetings and a couple of hours driving from meeting to meeting - being stuck in traffic etc.
Usually, I take my ThinkPad X201 with me, but this time I took only the A500 (plus one 2GB pen drive FAT32 formatted). I already knew that I would not be engaging in any heavy document creation. I would only have to take notes. Plus, aside from the airports, there was no wifi. I did use the A500 with my phone to access the internet though - but that was to only check and reply to mails (I find it frustrating trying to type anything out on my phone - Samsung Galaxy (Fit).).
I spent the hours in flight doing the following:
(1) Reading documents (Word and PDF)
(2) Playing games - actually, only Angry Bird
(3) Watched some work-related documentaries - short clips (each about 5 mins or so)
At the airports, I did some of the above (except for playing Angry Birds), plus I checked and replied to my mails and read up some online news.
In my meetings, I used the A500 to share presentations and short documents. So, all in all it was not like the tablet was sitting idle. I also checked on stuff on the web via my phone - so some minor element of web surfing.
I would have liked to type out the notes from these meetings, but I have not yet bought the full version of Docs2Go. So, I used a pencil and a notepad.
As of now (it is now 1:30 am the next day...yes, I am still at my desk, albeit at home!), the battery charge reads around 50%, which is not too bad. Perhaps if I had done a bit more of web surfing on the tab via my phone's data connection, the charge would have dropped to around 30-40%, which is still not bad.
When I was not actively using the tab, it went off to sleep - I did not power it off.
EDIT: Btw, I did not disable wifi on the tab even when it was in my bag and not being used in any way - I guess when it goes off to sleep it suspends the wifi - I am not sure about this though.
I also noticed one other thing. Unwittingly, I had to handle the A500 a bit more roughly - especially during the flights and while going throuhg airport security - that I would be predisposed to. It seems to have held up very well. As for a cover or slip-case, I don't have one - have not been able to find one.
I did notice though that there a very slight creaking sound near the USB. I am quite certain it was not there when I originally took the tab out of its packing. But it is nothing major and mor eoften than not, I did not notice it - but I thought it better to mention it.
I am now certain that as soon as I have the full version of Docs2Go (or something similar), I can be productive with the A500 and compared even to the essentially light-in-weight X201, it was a joy to carry. Did not feel a thing.
Yes, I am beginning to get this "tablet thing"...perhaps a little late - but hey! Better late than never!
Thanks.
Edit I:
I recently read that I could use Google Docs offline. This was on ZDNet and you can check out the article here and my brief exchange with the author in the comments (see for posts by "crystalsoldier"). Unless, I am missing something, I can't seem to use Docs offline. It would ahve been good to be able to do so.
Which also leads me ask:
What would be a good note-taking app in the market? I have downloaded EverNote, but it seems that I have to always be online for it to work. I have not uninstalled it, but I am looking for something that I can use offline too. Thanks
).