HTC Flyer 3G / WiFi HotSpot / GPS / 5MP / 7 Inch Tablet Device review: More Portable Than iPad, By Robert P. Seaton (Elmhurst, IL)
"_SPECS_
* 7" Screen (1024x600 resolution)
* 1.5GHz Processor
* 1GB RAM
* 32GB Internal Storage
* 5 Megapixel Camera
* 1.3 Megapixel Front-facing Camera
* Available with 3G
* GPS/Bluetooth/WiFi b/g/n
As far as hardware goes, the Flyer is definitely a bit on the heavy side when compared to my cousin's iPad. He complained about it, but it's not like you really notice how heavy it is when you use the device. Plus, the Flyer's screen is a lot smaller so I find it less awkward to hold with one hand. The heftiness actually makes the device feel more sturdy than the iPad. It's not that elegant, but more of a rugged device. Manly, if you will. Since it's only ~7", I can actually fit it in most of my pockets, something that you can't do with an iPad, so I think on that front it is more of a portable device. The Flyer also comes with a really nice case.
Like I said, the screen is smaller than that of the iPad, but larger than that of a phone. I think it strikes a good balance between being too large and too small. Web browsing on it is fantastic and it has flash support, unlike one of its competitors. ;) Unlike the cramped keyboard on my phone, typing on the Flyer is nice and easy with plenty of room. The tablet's autocorrect also seems to be smarter than on my Atrix, but I could be making that up. The Flyer is almost small enough that you can use it like you would a smartphone, but not quite. It's just a little too bulky.
The screen is really nice at 1024x600 resolution and great for watching movies. It's a lot brighter than my MacBook's screen and it's even pretty usable (gasp!) outside! The battery life is definitely a champ. One day my whole family was using it (HEAVY usage) and it easily lasted the whole day. Most days I can go about two or three days of regular use before I need to recharge it. You can even schedule it to sleep at set hours of the day to conserve even more battery life, so I have it set up to turn off the WiFi and stuff while I'm sleeping.
Altogether, I'm pretty happy with my Flyer, but there are a couple downside. The speakers, for example, are not very good, so you should definitely invest in a good pair of speakers. While I think the small(er) screen is an advantage, it might be a deal breaker for some folks. Also, the Android app store is pretty lacking when it comes to apps for tablets, and some apps don't use the entire screen, which is kind of annoying. The camera is also pretty bad, but the UI is definitely better than the other devices that I compared it to at Best Buy. The magic pen thing is also kind of cool, but I don't really use it that much."
"_SPECS_
* 7" Screen (1024x600 resolution)
* 1.5GHz Processor
* 1GB RAM
* 32GB Internal Storage
* 5 Megapixel Camera
* 1.3 Megapixel Front-facing Camera
* Available with 3G
* GPS/Bluetooth/WiFi b/g/n
As far as hardware goes, the Flyer is definitely a bit on the heavy side when compared to my cousin's iPad. He complained about it, but it's not like you really notice how heavy it is when you use the device. Plus, the Flyer's screen is a lot smaller so I find it less awkward to hold with one hand. The heftiness actually makes the device feel more sturdy than the iPad. It's not that elegant, but more of a rugged device. Manly, if you will. Since it's only ~7", I can actually fit it in most of my pockets, something that you can't do with an iPad, so I think on that front it is more of a portable device. The Flyer also comes with a really nice case.
Like I said, the screen is smaller than that of the iPad, but larger than that of a phone. I think it strikes a good balance between being too large and too small. Web browsing on it is fantastic and it has flash support, unlike one of its competitors. ;) Unlike the cramped keyboard on my phone, typing on the Flyer is nice and easy with plenty of room. The tablet's autocorrect also seems to be smarter than on my Atrix, but I could be making that up. The Flyer is almost small enough that you can use it like you would a smartphone, but not quite. It's just a little too bulky.
The screen is really nice at 1024x600 resolution and great for watching movies. It's a lot brighter than my MacBook's screen and it's even pretty usable (gasp!) outside! The battery life is definitely a champ. One day my whole family was using it (HEAVY usage) and it easily lasted the whole day. Most days I can go about two or three days of regular use before I need to recharge it. You can even schedule it to sleep at set hours of the day to conserve even more battery life, so I have it set up to turn off the WiFi and stuff while I'm sleeping.
Altogether, I'm pretty happy with my Flyer, but there are a couple downside. The speakers, for example, are not very good, so you should definitely invest in a good pair of speakers. While I think the small(er) screen is an advantage, it might be a deal breaker for some folks. Also, the Android app store is pretty lacking when it comes to apps for tablets, and some apps don't use the entire screen, which is kind of annoying. The camera is also pretty bad, but the UI is definitely better than the other devices that I compared it to at Best Buy. The magic pen thing is also kind of cool, but I don't really use it that much."
