HTC EVO View 4G versus the competition
This guest article was written by Sam Sarsten.
So, you're thinking about buying a tablet but don't feel like scouring the inter-webs to find out which one is the best. Lucky for you, I put together some handy charts to show you how the HTC EVO View 4G—the only tablet we really care about here at G&E—stacks up against the competition.
First, you'll see the View among its fellow 7-inch peers. Then, you'll see it go up against heavyweights like the Motorola Xoom and of course the iPad 2.
You've decided that you like the portable size and lightweight design of a 7-inch tablet. But which one is right for you?
Click chart to enlarge
As you can see, the EVO View 4G is looking pretty good. Granted, most of the existing 7-inch tablets are a little dated. Rumors of new 7 inchers running Android 3.2 are heating up too, which may give you pause about buying something now.
Even though the View is obviously our pick in the 7-inch category, as a rooting fan, I can't ignore the Nook Color, Dell Streak, or OG Samsung Galaxy Tab (especially for the buyer on a budget). Most of these devices have strong rooting communities and some even have excellent websites devoted to the devices them (check out StreakSmart, one of our sister sites, if you're leaning in the Streak direction).
If you're just beginning your search for a tablet, and not sure if you want a 7- or 10-inch, then you'll probably want to look at more options. So here you go.
Click chart to enlarge
When we compare the EVO View 4G to all the latest and greatest tablets out there, we start to see that it isn't as much of a heavyweight as when it's in the ring with other 7 inchers.
The first thing most will notice about the 10-inch Android tablets is that they're all running Honeycomb – the Android version built specifically for tablets. Even though most people who have checked out the EVO View 4G would admit that Sense 3.0 almost makes up for the lack of Honeycomb, the fact that it doesn't have it is still a weak spot on the specs sheet.
Another statistic that weighs against the View is that its processor is a mere single core, while most of the others are dual core. As developers get better at taking advantage of both cores, the difference may become more noticeable over time. However, the 1.5GHz clock speed does look handsome and is a high clockspeed.
On the plus side of things, the EVO View 4G is the only tablet that runs on WiMAX right now. There are a few T-Mobile 4G options, the Xoom is upgradable to 4G LTE, and the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will have 4G LTE built in. These options are nice for the tablet user on-the-go.
Cameras across the tablets are all pretty similar. Some can do 720p, some can do 1080p, and the G-Slate can do 3D. But, honestly, I would feel weird shooting too many videos with my tablet. Video recording is an important feature for some, though, so it's worth noting that the View isn't too far behind its 1080p-touting competition.
In terms of price, EVO fans will be happy to see that the View is only $399.99 with a 2-year contract with Sprint. This is $200 cheaper than the iPad 2, Playbook, TouchPad, and Xoom (all with 32 GB as well). Other pluses are that Sense is a slick and easy-to-use user interface. The handwriting feature is cool too, and students (like me) could really put this to use.
However, what’s the last "feature" you check one last time before you point and say, "That one" to the kid at Best Buy? Bang for your buck. And the EVO View provides plenty of that. For just under $400, you get a lighter and easier to carry tablet than the heavyweights that's running a reliable version of Android that has been used for months. You also get the same internal storage as other devices that are much more expensive without sacrificing that much.
If you are shopping for a 7-inch tablet and aren’t on a super tight budget, then you won't be surprised to hear that G&E recommends going for the EVO View 4G. Even if you're ooking for a tablet of any size, the View is still a fine choice.
At least we think so. What do you guys think?
This guest article was written by Sam Sarsten.
