Re: [PLUG] Linux friendly tablet?

On Fri, Jul 6, 2012 at 9:46 AM, David Coulson <david@davidcoulson.net> wrote:

On 7/6/12 9:15 AM, Eric H. Johnson wrote:

I don't think it is a technical issue as much as a preference to not be held
hostage to Apple's walled garden.

Sure, but that has nothing to do with Linux. If you don't want an IOS device because of how Apple restrict applications, that's fine by me - Could still run Linux under the hood, and you'd have the same problems. Isn't 99% of what Android runs actually inside a JVM anyway?

My general aversion to Android is the frequency of major OS updates and inconsistency of when vendors support each release on their own device. It's like the old days when I had a Blackberry and had to get the AT&T or VZ specific code update for it, which was usually months later than what RIM released. Maybe it's getting better with Android 4.x, but there were plenty of people at my office complaining about the 2.x to 3.x transition.

Not to beat a dead horse, but if you get a Nexus device, it's easy to install updates whenever you feel like it. There's a great ecosystem of community-maintained Android buildsâCyanogenMod certainly stands out of the pack for me, but there are other great ones, tooâand the Nexus devices ship with an easy method for unlocking the bootloader.

Last week I finally retired my Nexus One, that old workhorse, after two and a half years. Upgraded to a Galaxy Nexus and it's quite good. Currently I'm running stock Android 4.0.4, but this weekend I'll install CyanogenMod and my favorite root-friendly apps. If you're worried about being beholden to carrier update schedules, buy a device that lets you set your own schedule.

JP: my vote for the cheap tablet goes to the $200 Nexus 7.
Â

David

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