Can anyone suggest a decent performing Android tablet that has space for a SIM but doesn't require a contract? I have an iPad 1 and an android AT&T phone (actually 3 in the family) and find myself leaning more towards the openness of Android. I am quite prepared to pay iPad type money for an Android tablet that I can use on a month to month data plan like the iPad. So far all I see are subsidized tablets from Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile but no contract free ones.

Thanks

- Tim

All three of the carriers you listed will sale you a 'no contract' tablet. Online you just chose the no contract option or however its worded. I think some (AT&T) make you add it to the cart then chose no contract to see the full price. If you visit the store tell them you wish to purchase the tablet outright and do NOT wish to establish service at this time.
If you wish to only deal on line as mentioned above or try wirefly.

The openness of Android gets you inferior hardware (build quality, screen, SOC) and a fraction of apps. optimized for the larger tablet screen.

Just on AT&T's website, it seems relatively easy to pick a tablet on a month-to-month plan (it's an option immediately after selecting a device), but I can't get a very good feel from their inventory from a phone. The Galaxy Tab's seem to show up for AT&T and TMobile, but I don't know a lot about them as far as quality.


Why, specifically, did you think this dishonest little screed was vaguely relevant to OP's question?

The closedness of Apple gets you bug- and security-hole-filled software that leaves you at the mercy of the world's largest company for updates and functionality, all the while being forced to source all your apps from that one company with its arbitrary and opaque process for listing apps in its store.

So there. :-p

What's dishonest about it?

What factually is wrong in the statement?

If you pick up a 3G Verizon Xoom, you can send it in to Motorola for a free 4G upgrade. Stores like Best Buy are selling the 3G Xoom for between $350 and $399. The update takes about a week, and shipping both ways is free of charge. You do not need a contract, and AFAIK, you can go month to month without a contract with Verizon.

Other than everything? Really, you are either trying to troll and set off an argument, or you are just poorly educated on the Android marketplace.

Yes, Android offers some inferior hardware options if you just want a $75 tablet with lousy specs. But it also offers hardware with better features than most tablets on the market at the moment. Android currently has as many or more apps than the iOS market, and most are tablet optimized nowadays.

Amazon is selling their refurbished Kindle Fire today for $139 - is that "inferior hardware"? Is the Transformer Prime or Galaxy Tab 7.7 inferior?

You're really going to have to make a better case than your initial statement if you plan to be taken seriously. I'm definitely interested in the "inferior SOC" part as the majority of Android SOC's are the same for almost every major Tablet maker on the market and SOC's like the Tegra 3 and Snapdragon are considered some of the most innovative on the market today.

Here is one source which indicates that there are more iPad apps. than there are Android apps. for tablets:

http://thenextweb.com/apple/2011/06/...-applications/

Where's your source for the claim that there are more Android tablet apps. than there are iPad apps?

There are all kinds of complaints about the build quality of the Transformer. Do you really think Asus is known for build quality?

Neither of those tablets have the high-resolution screen of the iPad. Yeah I would say they have inferior screens.

Go look at benchmarks from Anandtech and other sites. The GPU cores in the iPad are faster than that of any other tablet out on the market. May not be surpassed until the rest of the year.

BTW, the A5 SOC in the iPhone 4S tops graphics benchmarks of every other phone as well.

More on iPad vs. Android apps, both quantity and quality:


http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2401676,00.asp

Did you actually think you were providing a valuable contribution to OP's search for a month-to-month contract on an Android device, or were you just out to shill from the get-go?

Is it a problem to help people? If someone posted that they were going to invest in a new transmission for their 30 year old Yugo, and someone else suggested that they save their money and buy a five year old Chevy instead, is that "a dishonest little screed"? Or helpful advice?

Touchy much?

Nothing, but FanDroids have a reputation for being uber-defensive about their purchases.

LOL

Do you really think Asus is known for build quality?

Laptop 3 year Failure Rate By Brand:
Asus- Best, Toshiba - second, Sony - third, Apple - fourth

http://eyebald.blogspot.ca/2009/11/l...-by-brand.html

The Fanbois have set quite a high bar. But give it a few years, and the Fandroids might catch up.

What an utterly worthless analogy that has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with anything in this thread. Seriously, a 30 year old yugo = OP wanting to purchase a new tablet?

If someone tells you point-blank "I'm buying a Toyota Corolla tomorrow, anyone have an opinion on which trim I should get?" and all you can respond with is "Like, Ford is way better", why are you responding in the first place? You've offered no information of value whatsoever based on the question that was asked. OP, in this case, didn't suggest any remote desire to purchase an Apple product, yet you, and the previous poster, both felt compelled to make sure that he knew why you think his decision is stupid, and then further, to continue to move the thread off-topic so you can continue to both bash Android supporters and fluff Apple.

Ah, so we're just stuck in 2nd grade. Cute. I think there's an OMNI thread, that you're well aware of, where this sophomoric crap belongs. Grow up.