When faced with the prospect of returning my company owned iPad, I was faced with the choice: which tablet would be best for me? Given I would now be spending my own money, there was a greater sense of the need to optimize the decision. You may read my earlier post about the research which went into this decision, but after heavy testing with my new tablet, I'm convinced I made the proper choice (research post: Honeywell Minus iPad = Nexus 10).

My computing profile might be described in this manner: Does heavy research, browsing and reading … not a gamer. Having music and movies on my tablet is not important. If your computing needs tend to my profile, the Nexus 10 will be a perfect fit. If you're more of a gamer who wants lots of music and movies on your tablet, the iPad may be your best bet due to it's huge number of apps and installed base. 

From the start I liked the fact that I was able to connect any standard USB device to my Nexus 10 without the need to purchase special costly cables as was required with my iPad. Given I split time between between Duluth and Minneapolis, I now plan to leave my large screen laptop in Duluth during short trips south. I'll just connect a full sized keyboard and mouse to my Nexus 10 when I have heavy data input / typing needs.

The next item I really like about my Nexus 10 from a configuration / setup basis is that I am able to create multiple user identities on my tablet. As house guests always seem to want to use my tablet, I have created a "guest identity" of my Nexus 10.  My friends now use the "guest user account" and are able browse the web, read books, etc without gaining access to my own accounts or tablet settings. See the next few screenshots … you will see both my login screen and various desktops (mine and the generic guest).

Click any image in this blog post to view at full size!

Login Screen: Rich Hoeg and Guest

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Desktop Screen: Rich Hoeg

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Desktop Screen: Guest

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Often when reading techical reviews, I like to see a bit of what is under the hood. Thus, the next two screenshots are of my Nexus 10 Settings, and AndroSensor. If you're not familiar with AndroSensor, it's a great free App which lets you know what sensors (and their readings) are running on your device.

Nexus 10 Settings | AndroSensor Readings (click to maximize)
 

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Continuing this review, here are some other nice features I've learned to appreciate very quickly. While my first post of this Nexus 10 review series was created on my tablet, I'm using my laptop for this post. Transferring data between the two computers was extremely easy. Using a standard USB cable I connected my Nexus to my laptop. The tablet was recognized immediately as "an external hard drive". Within a few moments I was able to browse all the folders on my Nexus from my PC, and then copy the screenshots over to my laptop for this post. No expensive cables, special software or rooting was required.

The next part of my test involved confirming I could do the following … a key test for my desired off line use while taking long distance bike rides (i.e. many days):

1. GPS chip allows quick location readings
2. Able to pre-cache large regions of Google Maps
3. Able to import Garmin 305 bike ride data into Sportablet

This Summer I will take a 2000+ mile bike ride named the Grand Gaspe Tour (see route map). My Nexus 10 will be in my saddle bags. My goal is to be able to use Google Maps even while NOT connected to the web and still be able to determine my exact location. At the end of a day's 60 to 80 mile ride, I want to off load my day's Garmin 305 data to my Nexus 10 and Sportablet (i.e. route, distance, elevation, time, etc). My bike route will generally be in regions where a web connection is not available most of the time.

I am glad to say, my Nexus 10 passed tests #1 to #3 in flying colors. Here are a few screenshots. Everything was done while I was offline.

Google Maps: Northeast Minnesota Offline

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Sportable Nordic Skiing Activities / Workouts (click to maximize)

Route

Activities | Elevation over Distance

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In closing this review, the issue of the availability of apps needs to be addressed. While the number of Apps available for the iPad far exceeds the Android marketplace, if you are not a heavy gamer or intend to save lots of music to your device via iTunes, for normal browsing, research, data input, and information focused apps, the Nexus 10 is a hands down winner. The ability to directly connect your PC to your tablet and use your Google accounts in their native environments is fantastic. In addition, remember that for $100 less than an iPad 2, you also get a tablet which is much better from a hardware vantage point. (screen display, cameras, speakers, etc). Learn more about this aspect of the Nexus 10 via the Mostly-Tech blog's review.

One final word of caution … many corporations do not allow Android devices to be connected to their networks. Given all the different flavors of Android, it is a sys admin's nightmare in terms of managing all the various network configuration and security options.

My last set of screenshots will give you an idea of the apps I have installed. The first two screenshots show all my apps (no bloatware!), and the last few are of some apps which may be a bit unique to my interests, but help demonstrate the wide variety of apps available for the Nexus 10.

Click to expand any image and view at full size.

NorthStar Nerd's Nexus 10 Apps – Screen 1

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NorthStar Nerd's Nexus 10 Apps – Screen 2

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iBird and Moon Phase
 

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Amazon Kindle (books downloaded from my library)

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USA Today (not an app, but html 5 optimized via Google Chrome)

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This ends my initial Nexus 10 review. You may access all of my reviews in this series via this blog post: (scroll to the bottom of linked page for a list of my Nexus 10 posts / reviews)

I have had my Nexus 10 for about 24 hours. Over the weekend I will post an in depth review and link it here, but so far I am very happy. This blog post is actually part of my test. Right now I am wondering whether I am able to enter text and use the Typepad visual editor … plus post images. On my iPad it was necessary to purchase a special app / browser named Blogsy. Right now I am using the native Google Chrome browser which comes with the tablet.

Hmm … I was just able to use some special Typepad features (my blogging platform) to save a copy … now let's try inserting an image directly from the tablet. If this works you will see a screenshot taken from Google Maps. Eureka! It worked and allowed me to access all the image files on my Nexus. More tomorrow, but the Nexus 10 has passed this test.

FYI … one reason I like the Nexus 10 is … in conjunction with Google Maps the embedded GPS chip provides me my location while I am offline. Thus, if I pre-cache a region like this 80 mile square region of northeastern Minnesota, I get location services on a detailed map w/o the need for an expensive 3g subscription. Sweet.

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• Access all my Nexus 10 Reviews / Posts

Although this blog post title may seem strange, it actually has great logic. Over the weeks ahead I plan on conducting a thorough Nexus 10 review which I will post to NorthStarNerd.Org and link at the bottom of this web page. Just a few minutes ago I purchased a Nexus 10 16 gb directly from Google. 

Now, why the "Honeywell Minus iPad = Nexus 10". The answer is simple. While Honeywell is a great company for which to work, on January 2nd after 28+ years as a senior technologist, I submitted my retirement notice (learn about my post Honeywell retirement plans). One practical side effect of this decision is I will need to return my Honeywell owned iPad. While the iPad has been a great tablet, some experiences over the past two years while doing mobile research on this device, and my own Nexus 10 pre-purchase research has convinced me it is time to change horses! Why?

Here are the key items which have driven my purchase decision.

1. Flexibility: Two basic tasks on the iPad required expensive custom Apple hardware add-ins  (importing photos and displaying my screen to a projection system). My expectation is the Android based Nexus-10 with its standard USB connection ability will allow me to connect all kinds of peripherals without paying a premium.
2. Google Maps and Pre-Cache: My research indicates one has the ability to pre-cache maps (i.e. download large map regions for use while off line), and in conjunction with the built-in Nexus 10 GPS, use Google Maps while not connected to the internet. (Learn about my planned  2000+ mile bike ride, the Grand Gaspe Tour, and why this feature will be important to me). This is not possible via the iPad.
3. Garmin Forerunner Data Offloading: On the same bike trip, I want to be able to offload my Garmin 305 data for that day's ride. There is an app named Sportablet which offers this capability for Android tablets
4. Given items #1 to #3, the Nexus 10 16GB is only $399. In addition I get some key offline capabilities that would require a 3g connection ($$), and Android USB flexibility. I will lose access to Apple's much more extensive apps market.

In addition to these items, my main tablet use includes browsing the web, reading email, and reading books. The ability to sync with my Google accounts will be very useful, and these apps are already available on the Android (Chrome Broswer, GMail, Flipboard, and Kindle). The one other app I love which is not yet optimized for the Nexus 10 is the USA Today. However, I'm willing to take a risk that the folks over at Gannett are hard at work and will solve that problem for me in the near future.

Thus, the gauntlett has been thrown down. My order was submitted today, Saturday January 5th. Stay tuned for my reviews. I'll link them below, but first I need to actually receive my Nexus from Google.

• Pre-Purchase Research via Mostly-Tech Blog
  • Is the Nexus 10 Good Enough to Replace an iPad 3?
  • 50 Great Tips & Tricks for the Nexus 10?
• My Reviews / Posts
  • Google Nexus 10 Review: Day 2
  • Nexus 10: In Depth Review
  • Northern Lights Alerts & Monitoring via the Nexus-10
  • Nexus 10: Follow Up Review (News, Photo Mgmt & Browsing)
  • Creating True HDR on your Android Tablet | Nexus 10