I finally got my Asus Transformer Prime tablet this week on the 11th. The next day they OTA upgraded the thing to the latest Android OS, v4. I actually liked v3 better. This version is actually much less intuitive, even I have had to struggle a bit to figure out how to do what was straight forward and obvious in v3. It’s much like a new Microsoft OS release, they moved things around, added very little new to the user interface, but changed enough to make it difficult to figure some things out. That seems to be the new theme in OS upgrades, can’t think of what new things to add, so we will make it harder to figure out so they appreciate that it’s new.
Between the iPad, BlackBerry Playbook and this top of the line Android tablet, I like the Playbook OS the best by far! It’s the easiest and most intuitive OS of all 3. Easy to switch between apps and figure out what to do. In fact I constanly find myself doing Playbook screen swipes to the Transformer only to realize I don’t have those conveniences I love about the Playbook. It’s a shame RIM dropped the ball for the better part of a year and haven’t come out officially with OS v2 and email, calendar and contacts apps. I’ve upgraded to the developer beta version of OS2 and managed to get some Android apps running on it, so I now have the Android versions of the missing apps. It’s too bad that RIM has had such poor management running the company the last few years. Analysts say they think that RIM might have to sell or go under. I’ve heard some analysts say they think the company won’t survive another year as it is.
As for the Transformer Prime, it’s okay. Like I said, I greatly prefer Android 3.2.1 to this 4.03. This ICS (Ice Cream Sandwich version 3) is a definite step back in user experience over what I think they liked to call Gingerbread (v3.) And bare in mind I used Android 3 for less than 2 days. In fact considing all the incredible hype Android ICS (v4) has received this past year, I was hoping for a whole lot more and a completely new interface. It’s no more than v3 that’s less user friendly, that’s basically it. I can’t think of a single thing I see as an impovement over v3. But one thing is for certain, Google has developed the same brain washing of industry journalists, pogcasters and tech reports that they have them wrapped around their fingers like Apple does. Good for Google as a business. Bad for us, since we can no longer trust industry reports of what the new products hold for us. Yes, I’m somewhat disappointed with the Transformer Prime and more so that means the OS. I’m not even sure I like Android OS4 over 2.3. It’s a different experience for sure, but not better, faster, or more intuituive.
Apple iPad has nothing to worry about when it comes to the Transformer Prime or Android 4. I’m no fan of Apple or the iPads (and I have one) and very few people that aren’t already Android users will pick this tablet over an iPad. I have been an Android fan and user, but if I wasn’t, I would take an iPad over an Android 4 device easily.
Personally I’ll throw my hopes behind the Playbook. And I’m well aware that’s like betting on a known injured horse.
My recommendation to non Android fans is to stay far away from wasting $500 on a Transformer Prime. You’ll likely be disappointed.
My current overall Transformer Prime rating: 4/10