Google Nexus 7 First Impressions

yolk — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 08:02:22 +0800

I remember staying up to watch Google I/O Day 1 keynote last month and despite already knowing that Google will announce a 7″ tablet, it was still exciting to see it being revealed.

Nexus 7 went on pre-order the same day and it started selling like hot cakes. I know many of us back home were rather envious of some of our friends who were fortunate enough to attend the event.

Why is Nexus 7 an important device for Google ? Well it first of all represents a merging point for Google’s product and cloud services coming together. The latest in hardware (quad core), latest in software (Android 4.1 Jelly bean), Google Chrome and personalised assistant Google Now, among others.

For users who are already using Google’s services ie Gmail, Movies, Books, Magazine etc this device makes perfect sense, plus it’s only 7 inches making it portable and light. The biggest selling point has definitely got to be its price as well; USD 199 for 8 GB and USD 249 for the 16GB variant.

I was fortunate enough to grab one from Harvey Norman while I was travelling in Melbourne, Australia and have been thoroughly enjoying my time with it. It did cost me slightly more though, at AUD 319 for a 16GB version but the silver lining is that I got to actually test the unit before forking out money for it.

Specifications
The Google Nexus 7 like previous Nexus devices sets the standard for next generation Android tablets. It comes with a 7-inch back-lit IPS display (1280 x 800 resolution, 216 ppi); 1.3GHz Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor; 1GB RAM; 8GB or 16GB storage; 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera; Bluetooth 4; WiFi N; accelerometer; GPS; gyroscope; magnetometer; microphone; near field communications; 4325 mAh battery; and Android 4.1. The tablet itself measures at 198.5 x 120 x 10.45mm and 340 grams.

The Packaging

Nexus 7 box along side a 2.5″ hard drive

Having previously owned Asus devices namely the Transformer and Transformer Prime, I was pretty surprise when I got hold of the Nexus 7 box. It was pretty tiny and compact in comparison with the other Asus devices.

In fact the box is so damn compact that many had problems removing the unit from the box. Fortunately I’ve seen a couple of unboxing videos on YouTube and was prepared with a pair of scissors.

Nexus 7 box along side a 2.5″ hard drive

Here’s the video, it was definitely funny watching all the failed attempts at unboxing the Nexus 7.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32DD4DF7Qpo[/YOUTUBE]

Upon opening the box, you’re presented with the actual tablet and underneath it is the manuals, USB cable, and AC charger. Nothing out of the ordinary here and the device is already half charged out of the box which is certainly a plus point.

1.2 MP front facing camera

Build
The most important thing for me is how the Nexus 7 would feel in my hands and thankfully it didn’t disappoint. I’ve had a chance to try out Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 7.0 and Tab 7.7 and it comes no where close in terms of feel. Asus/Google did a brilliant job in choosing the material for the back of the Nexus 7. It’s smooth to the touch and yet with it’s little dimples/dots gives a confident feel while holding it, so there’s no worry about it slipping out of your hands or leaving smudges like some devices with a glossy back.

Textured back on Nexus 7

The screen is excellent and has wide viewing angles plus it’s on par if not slightly better than most IPS LCD tablets out there. The speakers on the device is placed at the rear of the device and is loud enough unlike the Transformer Prime. The tablet comes with a Quad-core Tegra 3 so there’s definitely no complains there when it comes to playing games, watching 1080p full HD movies or even browsing the web with multiple tabs on Chrome. It remains buttery smooth.

The Software
The only thing I didn’t really like about the setup process is that you need a WiFi to get it working. There’s no way to skip the setup process like other Android phones/tablets. Couple of minutes after I got it connected to the WiFi I was prompted about an update (Android 4.1.1) and it prompted for a reboot. The installation process went smoothly and took less than a minute.

I’ve had Jelly Bean on my Galaxy Nexus for a couple of weeks now so I definitely know how much better and smoother it is compared to Ice Cream Sandwich and it’s no different on the Nexus 7, everything works as expected and is buttery smooth; at times I feel it’s more responsive than my Galaxy Nexus.

Phone UI on Nexus 7

The other thing I didn’t really like was the phone UI on the Nexus 7. It made things look cluttered, and to a certain extent made the tablet look like a giant Galaxy Nexus, without phone features. There’s already a workaround to enable tablet UI but it involves rooting the device and changing system files, so casual users should avoid this.

Conclusion
Overall I really love how the Nexus 7 feels in my hand and I’ve used a couple of 7 inch devices previously so I definitely know the merits of having one compared to a 10 inch tablet. The price factor makes it even more attractive plus you’ll get USD 25 credit to spend in Google Play.

Not all Google content is available in all parts of the world though; for eg here in Australia there’s no access to Magazines and you can’t buy movies, only rent them.

Apart from that, taking the ecosystem out of the equation the Google Nexus 7 is a solid tablet that will make many soon to be ebook readers compare their purchase with the Nexus 7 first before deciding on which one to get.

Keep on the lookout in the future for a more in-depth review from us as we get to know the Nexus 7 better and try to see what works and what doesn’t.

Likes

FAST and snappy thanks to Tegra 3 (quad-core)
Excellent high resolution display (216 pixels per inch ppi)
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
Light; measuring at 10.45mm thin and weighs 340g
Low cost

Dislikes

No 3G
No option to expand storage
Phone UI
No HDMI or MHL support

My adventures into photography

yolk — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 17:20:00 +0800

Have always been interested in photography but have never been serious. Still saving up to get that dslr that I've been craving for. Met ac98 there as well and it was an honour to see a pro at work.

Followed him around for a while and manage to catch some shots as well, kinda intimidating with all those dslr and super duper long lenses

Need help

yolk — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 11:46:42 +0800

Anyone know where I can get my Senn HD497 rewired ? One side of the can is not working and the cable seems to be broken. Anyone can do it in the Klang Valley area ? TIA

After a workout

yolk — Wed, 03 May 2006 13:02:10 +0800

Usually what do you guys have for dinner or after a workout ? I am only able to hit the gym after work which is usually after 7pm and usually by the time I'm done it's already 9+pm. So what should I consume for dinner ?

Which postgrad course ?

yolk — Wed, 03 May 2006 09:30:31 +0800

I have a degree in IT and now planning to do my postgraduate. I'm lacking in the area of business and have decided this is where I need to focus on. Just want to find out the difference between a pure MBA vs one that is M. Sc that has business based subjects like marketing, human resources, financial & management accounting control, business process reengineering etc and of course computer based subjects. I know it's easier to go into other profession (not computer related) with MBA but how "valueable" is a M. Sc if I one day decide I had enought of IT and decide to venture to other fields ??

Notebook recommendation needed

yolk — Fri, 28 Apr 2006 07:43:53 +0800

I'm planning to get a notebook soon and so far the dell inspiron 6400 seems to be the best bang for buck and also meets my requirements before I pay for it I was just wondering if there's any other notebook that's in my budget and requirements.

1. Budget 6-6.5k
2. Must be widescreen (minimum 13+" max 15+")
3. Maximum 3kg with case/adaptor
4. 1gb ram (prefferably 667mhz)
5. duo core processor
6. 80 or 100 gb 7200rpm SATA hdd
7. Not intel video (ati or nvidia preffered)

If anyone knows of any other brand that meets my requirements pls post the price and specs so I will be able to compare. Most importantly must have good support

Today last day for dell promotion

Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by yolk

Google Nexus 7 First Impressions

My adventures into photography

Need help

After a workout

Which postgrad course ?

Notebook recommendation needed