SGPT211US/S
3.1
5
16
16
Good Portable Tablet
I bought a Tablet P last week with an eye for using it as a really portable tablet. I give it four stars based on my preliminary evaluation. Here I reveal some good things Sony forgot to tell us.
What makes the P a good portable device?
1. Size: Its 7 inches by 3inches by 1 inch(closed) and it weighs about 13 oz. Regular tablets with 7 inch screens are about 7 by 4.5 inches. I can fit the P in my pants or jacket pocket, and the clam shell case makes a carrying case unnecessary.
2. Mobility: You can actually use it when the case is closed. For example, turn on the music player and, without turning the P off, close the case. The screens turn off, but the music continues to play. The P is obviously much bigger than an Ipod Nano, but the P does more.
I updated the Google Maps app to the newest version and that gives me ?off-line maps.? A map with about 10miles square size around my house used about 2 M memory. I tried that set-up walking around the area and it worked fairly well. Google offline doesn?t give step-by-step instructions but it will show you were you are on the map. The GPS worked when the P was in my hand, but it wasn?t too good in my pocket, just as my regular GPS works.
The battery is removable, like in a digital camera. A back-up battery could be useful on the road, as it is with a camera. The battery is expensive, however.
3. Universality: Big claim! The AC power supply runs off 100-220 Volts at 50-60 Hz. That means you can operate the P in Europe using only a plug adaptor: no converter is needed.
4. Functionality: The 5 meg back camera is a decent camera. I could photograph a flyer and it was legible. I downloaded an app called ?camscanner,? and converted the flier to a .pdf file. Very handy.
I loaded the ?Evernote? app in and it works fine: this will probably be my ?productivity? app for taking notes
5. Media Handling: I could actually use the dlna program to receive photos and videos from my desktop computer, and I could send photos from the P to the computer. More very handy.
Nuts and Bolts
1. Connections: I have not tried USB yet. My Bluetooth headset paired, but I don?t hear anything: this needs more investigation. Headphones work fine(audio is stereo), better than the mono speaker. You can improve the speaker sound by putting your finger over the speaker: that kills excessive highs.
2. The operating system is Android 3, not Android 4, and it doesn?t look like Sony will actually upgrade. Many apps need updating. The ?Sony Select? app says YouTube is available for the P, but the link doesn?t work. Go to the browser and type in m.youtube.com. You get the video in the top screen, play list in the bottom screen.
3. The split screen is not as big a deal as some reviewers make out. The Sony apps are mostly set up put pictures on one screen and controls on the other. Some apps give you the option of two screen or one screen display.
4. Instructions: There aren?t any in the box except for the one page quick start. There is a ?Help? app that gives some help. Go to Sony support and there?s more.
5. The usual self-maintenance apps are installed.: calendar, calculator, e-mail, contacts, browser, photo and video apps and stores, etc. They look competent.
Conclusion
I like this machine as a portable. If this is close-out time, they may not be for sale much longer. If the portability aspect is of interest to you, the P deserves a serious look
October 22, 2012
this tablet sucks
don't buy it..
app always crash
sony didn't do anything for this tablet to be used easily.
October 3, 2012
A tablet design for the rest of us
i am a grad student who has owned the iPad, the Sony Tablet S and now the Sony Tablet P.
This device by far is the best of the 3 . I am also an experienced IT professional who works around and with technology everyday in the field of support services. I can tell you first hand this device is the most practical tablet on the market. If you are looking to buy a tablet to play games, look else. If you are busy professional who wants an all around device that get the job done with style and function, you want this device. Complaints about battery life are unsubstantiated. Proper use of this device will manage battery power for at least 7 hours but no one is using a tablet for 7 hours straight so complaints about poor battery life are false. The clam shell design in and of itself is worth its value compared to the screen on a standard tablet if it were accidentally compromised. I hope the Sony plans on improving on this design because i think it is a winner. Speed benchmarks and popularity is not why I bought the Sony Tablet P. but rather for its Ingenuous design and forward thinking in its conceptualization. I plan on keeping this tablet for a very long time and I hope the software upgrades to Android will follow. Thank you Sony for making a Tablet that leads instead of follows and something that is not only unique but truly functional beyond the "hype" of other Tablets. Oh, and by the way, I do play games on the Tablet P as well as on my PS3 system even though i don't consider myself a hardcore gamer. That's what the Vita is for.
October 3, 2012
SONY P
Im very disapointed. I waste my money, im thinking to send the tablet back. the battery 100% charge in the morning is 5% at night without using not even 1 time. app, doest work, Email crashes all times , SOUND is extremely poor, my Nokia Lumia sounds 3 time harder. Dont waste your money whit this toy.
June 9, 2012
