Google Pixel Slate review: Just an ok Android tablet
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Date: 2022-03-15
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Comments and reviews: 10
thelastmike
I'm considering this. The lag sucks in the tablet UI but I don't see that actually impacting usage.
I think the choice of full-screening the app you had in front when you transition from desktop to tablet mode is pretty reasonable. I mean, the user already selected that app as the app they want to be using. Why send them to choose again? I guess you could make it a choice in settings.
Docking them for the right-angle lcd corners. LOL. Come on. That's silly.
The core value of Chrome OS is in both the update model and the security model. Due to that this is the best choice for an Android app running device in my mind. Even if it is currently not mature. Going forward as regular Android tablets sit and wait for updates which are probably never coming the Slate is going to continue to get updates on a six week schedule normally. That means it's going to end up being the most up-to-date Android system on the market. Well, this and any other Chrome OS device. I'm happy to take that and the jaggy UI than the alternative.
Also this isn't just an Android tablet in tablet mode. You are still running a full Chrome browser. And soon Linux apps.
And while 'a' keyboard and mouse or trackpad is needed to get the most out of the Slate the $200 Google unit isn't really necessary. You could hook this to any number of devices. And sure bluetooth is known wonky now but they are already testing a new stack and I'm confiden that will be short lived.
I guess that is the thing. My old Chromebook not only didn't crud up and slow down over time it gained features and got better. It runs faster and does more now than when I bought it 4 or 5 years ago. That is an atypical computing experience and carries a lot of weight over to my thoughts on purchasing a Slate despite some current flaws with the software.
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I'm considering this. The lag sucks in the tablet UI but I don't see that actually impacting usage.
I think the choice of full-screening the app you had in front when you transition from desktop to tablet mode is pretty reasonable. I mean, the user already selected that app as the app they want to be using. Why send them to choose again? I guess you could make it a choice in settings.
Docking them for the right-angle lcd corners. LOL. Come on. That's silly.
The core value of Chrome OS is in both the update model and the security model. Due to that this is the best choice for an Android app running device in my mind. Even if it is currently not mature. Going forward as regular Android tablets sit and wait for updates which are probably never coming the Slate is going to continue to get updates on a six week schedule normally. That means it's going to end up being the most up-to-date Android system on the market. Well, this and any other Chrome OS device. I'm happy to take that and the jaggy UI than the alternative.
Also this isn't just an Android tablet in tablet mode. You are still running a full Chrome browser. And soon Linux apps.
And while 'a' keyboard and mouse or trackpad is needed to get the most out of the Slate the $200 Google unit isn't really necessary. You could hook this to any number of devices. And sure bluetooth is known wonky now but they are already testing a new stack and I'm confiden that will be short lived.
I guess that is the thing. My old Chromebook not only didn't crud up and slow down over time it gained features and got better. It runs faster and does more now than when I bought it 4 or 5 years ago. That is an atypical computing experience and carries a lot of weight over to my thoughts on purchasing a Slate despite some current flaws with the software.
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Regis
I've actually recently purchased a Pixelbook and it's an amazing laptop! As a tablet, it's a little bit lacking, as some less popular apps aren't fully functional, and the swipe from the top to access Overview isn't the best idea, as you're quite likely to drag a tab down while you're at it.
That said, the Pixelbook is my favorite tablet as a tablet. I like it more than the iPad and Transformer Book I own as well and not just because the others are older and therefore a touch slower. But Windows 10 is bad at tablets (unlike Windows 8. 1) and I genuinely dislike iOS.
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I've actually recently purchased a Pixelbook and it's an amazing laptop! As a tablet, it's a little bit lacking, as some less popular apps aren't fully functional, and the swipe from the top to access Overview isn't the best idea, as you're quite likely to drag a tab down while you're at it.
That said, the Pixelbook is my favorite tablet as a tablet. I like it more than the iPad and Transformer Book I own as well and not just because the others are older and therefore a touch slower. But Windows 10 is bad at tablets (unlike Windows 8. 1) and I genuinely dislike iOS.
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Ken
I just got the i5 on sale for 500, keyboard and pen included! I'm loving it so far. Got update 83 running on it. He correct though, there are still things to be ironed out as far as the Android apps running on he SLate but, that's also up to the app publishers. The Verizon Fios Tv app point blank told me it doesn't run correctly on Intel processors and was so buggy I had to delete the app. It's a partnership with the app store developers that taking so long fix all the apps on the Google Play Store to run on Chrome. It'll work itself out in time I'm sure though.
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I just got the i5 on sale for 500, keyboard and pen included! I'm loving it so far. Got update 83 running on it. He correct though, there are still things to be ironed out as far as the Android apps running on he SLate but, that's also up to the app publishers. The Verizon Fios Tv app point blank told me it doesn't run correctly on Intel processors and was so buggy I had to delete the app. It's a partnership with the app store developers that taking so long fix all the apps on the Google Play Store to run on Chrome. It'll work itself out in time I'm sure though.
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William
Good review, thanks. Yes, it is a bit too big, but it gets better with a few days of use, once you learn how to handle it. Ten inches would have been better. My M3 doesn't have any lag that I notice. (Nothing like I've seen in review videos) The on screen keyboard has some weird quirks -- very un-Android-like in some ways. Other bugs that need to be fixed, for sure.
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Good review, thanks. Yes, it is a bit too big, but it gets better with a few days of use, once you learn how to handle it. Ten inches would have been better. My M3 doesn't have any lag that I notice. (Nothing like I've seen in review videos) The on screen keyboard has some weird quirks -- very un-Android-like in some ways. Other bugs that need to be fixed, for sure.
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Billbob
This isnt a competitor to the ipad pro. Having the ability to have a mouse pointer and chrome os puts it in competition with actually useful products like a surface. And then you might as well just get a surface and have the best tablet on earth as well as an actually useful os. Does the slate fold as easily as an ipad pro?
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This isnt a competitor to the ipad pro. Having the ability to have a mouse pointer and chrome os puts it in competition with actually useful products like a surface. And then you might as well just get a surface and have the best tablet on earth as well as an actually useful os. Does the slate fold as easily as an ipad pro?
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Tom--
Rounded corners or screen? GET '70s TV and don't bother me with -rounded corners-. I think right angle corners are the best, there's no dead space with arbitrary pixels made dead, so devs can't tell how far from corner they have to put actual contents for it to be visible. DAMN ROUND CORNERS! I HATE THEM on my Galaxy S9+
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Rounded corners or screen? GET '70s TV and don't bother me with -rounded corners-. I think right angle corners are the best, there's no dead space with arbitrary pixels made dead, so devs can't tell how far from corner they have to put actual contents for it to be visible. DAMN ROUND CORNERS! I HATE THEM on my Galaxy S9+
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Kenta
Those Celeron models shouldn't even exist, especially at that price. It's absolutely disgusting. Even Microsoft stuck a Pentium Gold in the Surface Go. Forget about that, though, they should've just started with the Core M processors, kind of like how the new MacBook Airs do.
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Those Celeron models shouldn't even exist, especially at that price. It's absolutely disgusting. Even Microsoft stuck a Pentium Gold in the Surface Go. Forget about that, though, they should've just started with the Core M processors, kind of like how the new MacBook Airs do.
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Nic_CCC
Think the future of mobile computing is more on the Apple side of things with the iPad. This looks so laggy and slow, with Android apps poorly optimised for Chrome OS (something Google doesn't seem to be able to fix quickly) and tablets in general.
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Think the future of mobile computing is more on the Apple side of things with the iPad. This looks so laggy and slow, with Android apps poorly optimised for Chrome OS (something Google doesn't seem to be able to fix quickly) and tablets in general.
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Watsit
All of the reviews basically say its not quite worth the full sticker price but this thing is a good deal for the m3 with keyboard and pen for 450 its a pretty compelling option. It's still a bit buggy but the experience is better than a year ago.
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All of the reviews basically say its not quite worth the full sticker price but this thing is a good deal for the m3 with keyboard and pen for 450 its a pretty compelling option. It's still a bit buggy but the experience is better than a year ago.
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Boxing
For a 2-1 is this a better version then the surface pro 6, do u think the new ipad can do everything well enough to compete as well! Im looking for a secondary device that can flip between both, have growth potential and most flexability!
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For a 2-1 is this a better version then the surface pro 6, do u think the new ipad can do everything well enough to compete as well! Im looking for a secondary device that can flip between both, have growth potential and most flexability!
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