Quick reminder: The HTC Flyer is now available exclusively at Best Buy, both in stores and online. It's the Wifi-only version we looked at yesterday, and it will run you $500 (with an additional $80 for the Scribe digital pen). It's 7 inches, it's Gingerbread-flavored, and it's rocking Sense. An interesting package indeed. Sound off below when you've finally gotten your hands on one.
Source: Best Buy
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HTC Flyer now available at Best Buy
This tablet is really only for customers that want or need an active digitizer. If you dont, then there are other options for just an Android tablet. Most of the posters in this thread forget that is the key differentiator with this device. Move on instead of slamming the specs and hardware.
I think the flyer is a great tablet if you are looking for something that is more portable than a 10 inch tablet. My girlfriend has an iPad and it is just too big to carry around. I can fit the flyer in my pocket and take it anywhere. People can go back and forth on what tablet is better, but it really depends on what you want to use it for. All of the tablets that are out now are cool. I just feel that HTC does a great job with the new devices that they are releasing. By the way the stylus is a must have imo and is very functional.
I'm going to have to check this out when I get a chance. I'm not going to write it off just because it doesn't Honeycomb (which I hear isn't all that good right now anyway). I like the 7" tabs better than the 10", they just feel better when holding them in my hands. I currently have a Samsung Galaxy tab and love the feel of it.
The way the trend is going this will be the size of smartphones next year. I will hold off till then.
It is Gingerbread on Flyer.
I tried it at local Bestbuy today. It feels good in my hand but I feel that the interface was QUITE laggy. I still think within 7inch family, it is not as well as samsung galaxy tab (the one after gingerbread update in mid june!)
Read my technology review at http://www.opinionatedfool.com
The Flyer feels real nice in your hands. I went to Best Buy to preorder the EVO 3D, and I stopped and looked at the Flyer. It's made real solid. If it had Honeycomb, I might have bought it instead on my Xoom.
I went by BB today to take a look at it... I have to say before going in I really hated HTC for only supplying a 7 tablet WITH what seems like outdated hardware for the same price as the bigger (IMO) better tablets, but I was mildly impressed with it once I held it. As always HTC does a great job with the physical appearance of their devices and it felt good. However after flipping the carousel for a few minutes it got rather boring (maybe because my EVO runs sense 3.0 with gingerbread?) I dont know but I realized that I would loose a lot by purchasing tis tablet ESPECIALLY since it is without honeycomb. No google talk video chat, No scrolling widgets, No Tegra 2 video games.... IMO the HTC flyer will be a better tablet when honeycomb releases for it or when the HTC flyer 2 hits stores, but I just couldnt justify to myself to pay the price for something that seemed so outdated...just my two cents though to each his own...
I wouldn't want honeycomb on it until its ready and with some decent apps.
agreed but the I dont see why anyone should pay 600 + another 80 for the stylus, for a large HTC phone with a pen....
its not $600 plus $80 for a pen. Its $500 plus $80 for a pen but you don't have to buy the pen for that much I bet similar are on the market for half that.
Im sorry I meant to type $500 but that's still a lot for something that (to me) seems behind the technological curve of the newer tablets and I heard that only the HTC scribe pen works with tablet...? No? If not then that's even dumber for HTC to not include it out of box because then the consumer can go third party for a feature that is supposed to make the flyer stand out against other tablets
The UI on iPad is the same as the iPhone and doesn't change the fact that they sell millions. It is a great tablet with a great OS.
I may have to pick one of these up. It's the same price as the Inspire 4g.
It is a giant Tbolt on wifi; but slower. I like the size, but the UI screams phone and there is no flash (although I think HTC has one of the best cameras) Still I'll wait.
I played with it for an hours. Listed my iPad on.craiglist while I played with it. Dropped $590 and walked out. It is by far the most useable tablet since the iPad. HTC has done an excellend job with their email app and social app. The pen should be a must on every tablet and is worth the $80. When honeycomb is ready and HTC releases it i will think about it. Right now 2.3 is perfectly functional. This is the tablet rim should of released. Great job HTC you have outdone the rest.
There's something seriously disturbing about the fact that there are bigger and better tablets for less money, yet people still think this is a great deal.
Bigger is not always better. Dell streak is a 5inch cellphone and sucks
"bigger AND better" means that those other tabs have bigger displays AND better specs, not that they are better because they are bigger. And those tabs still cost less than the flyer.
Where's the dual core? Where's the HDMI? Where's this amazing stylus that is all over the ads? Oh that's extra to use features that you advertise as a main selling point of the product? Wonderful. What about Honeycomb? For $500, this tab is overpriced and under spec'd, even compared to tabs that are the same size.
No not even close. Xoom is over priced, Ipad is over priced, and playbook is overpriced. All of them are held back by software or lack of available options. Non upgradeable memory, no flash, non working micr sd slots, un-finished software. weak cameras and on and on. This tablet's specs are just as good. 1.5ghz, 1gb ram, 1gb memory with possibility to expand, stylus integration, build quality. And bigger doesn't mean better specs. Also what costs less than the Flyer? The stylus works and probably would of been included if the dollar wasn't so crap right now. Honeycomb is crap right now and thats a fact. You can go get a playbook which has better specs but good luck checking your email, calendar, or downloading a quality app.
No not even close. Xoom is over priced, Ipad is over priced, and playbook is overpriced. All of them are held back by software or lack of available options. Non upgradeable memory, no flash, non working micr sd slots, un-finished software. weak cameras and on and on. This tablet's specs are just as good. 1.5ghz, 1gb ram, 1gb memory with possibility to expand, stylus integration, build quality. And bigger doesn't mean better specs. Also what costs less than the Flyer? The stylus works and probably would of been included if the dollar wasn't so crap right now. Honeycomb is crap right now and thats a fact. You can go get a playbook which has better specs but good luck checking your email, calendar, or downloading a quality app.
No not even close. Xoom is over priced, Ipad is over priced, and playbook is overpriced. All of them are held back by software or lack of available options. Non upgradeable memory, no flash, non working micr sd slots, un-finished software. weak cameras and on and on. This tablet's specs are just as good. 1.5ghz, 1gb ram, 1gb memory with possibility to expand, stylus integration, build quality. And bigger doesn't mean better specs. Also what costs less than the Flyer? The stylus works and probably would of been included if the dollar wasn't so crap right now. Honeycomb is crap right now and thats a fact. You can go get a playbook which has better specs but good luck checking your email, calendar, or downloading a quality app.
I never mentioned the PlayBook, Xoom or iPad. What about the Asus EEE Tab Transformer, or the Acer Iconia A500? Not only does the Transformer have better specs, it's also cheaper. I didn't even mention the list of tabs which are cheaper than the Flyer.
I'm sure the Flyer is nice, and clearly you're happy with your purchase, but just because you bought it doesn't mean it's a good deal. Let me know when HTC releases something with dual core and HDMI out, or when they competitively price the flyer. Just watch, it will sell poorly and HTC will drop the price in 2 months, just like Samsung did.
Yeah I had Best Buy in Kennewick WA hold one of these flyers for me until today. I did a bit of research and found that you CAN get more. I ended up buying a Transformer for $400 and then a 32gb MicroSD. All delivered to my house for around $470. So I have 48GB on board at that point and a 10.1" screen, IPS display, gorilla glass etc etc. All of that for $30 LESS than just the Flyer alone. I think came out ahead
What carrier is it with?
wifi only right now at bestbuy. Sprint will be getting a wimax version later
at the risk of sounding old school, isn't this just a Palm TX
I love it, but pleaaase make a 10" but this 7" is 499? Eeeee... whats the 10"? 799?
Played with this thing at BBM and was really impressed with how well the stylus worked. I can see this really helping me with note taking in college. As soon as it drops on Sprint I'll be first in line.
I propose a new party: tablets are to damn high!
Lol
I'll go check this out today.
I REALLY like my ThunderBolt, and like the size of this tablet.
Not sure if I'll get this or wait for the next HTC tablet.
Don't want to jump the gun and buy something before the technology matures.
Love the hardware. After having (and returning) a Xoom I could honestly care less about Honeycomb. The majority of what I'll do is web browse, games, and media. The new Sense looks great and I love HTC so I think it'll be a solid choice for me.
I checked it out at bestbuy yesterday and I was really impressed with the look and feel. I'm only interested in 10" tabs so I'm not in the market for this but I understand people that want something more portable. I really think htc is using this as a test to gauge the tablet market hence the $499 price. I really don't see how they would expect this to be anything other than a niche product at that price especially with the pen at an additional $80
meh. I picked up the Acer a500. Honeycomb, average tablet specs, and lots of features (loving the USB port on it). I think I can live without this one.
Got mine yesterday as well. Color me impressed with the performance, the UI, and the Scribe technology. Can't wait to use it at work this coming week to annotate white papers as I review a series of vendor demos.
No Honeycomb, no thanks.
Picked mine up yesterday! The Sense is a bit different from the Sense on the latest phones. Really fast and I love the size.
The Nook Color is also 7" & can be rooted to run Gingerbread & even Honeycomb. It costs HALF of one!
I've tried a rooted nook color. Slow as hell. I can see why it's half price. You pay for what you get, and nook is severely lacking in performance and other features. I don't know how you can even compare the two other than the fact they run Android. Compare the two hardware wise. The nook color SHOULD be half price.
over priced and kind of late to the party no ?
Exactly.
Stylus?
80 bucks more???!!!
For the same price you can get a higher def, bigger screen, thinner, dual core, HDMI, 1080p, and LED Flash in a Samsung Galaxy 10.1 that is a real Honeycomb device.
Why would HTC try to go head-to-head on price against a beast like the Galaxy 10.1?
If you want a smaller screen, get the the Galaxy 8.9 for $449 with all the other specs as the 10.1.
Still can't get over the fact that this is essentially identical to the new sense on phones. Zero imagination on HTCs part, which is disappointing.
Uhmmm Gingerbread... Not Froyo...