tl&dr: the Nexus 7 is a killer tablet that considering a powerful, low-cost tablet should go out and get now.
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As you may have heard, I’m a bit of a data geek. The more information I can get and process, the happier I am. So it was with that in mind that I purchased a Nexus 7 (2013 version). I had my mind set on the Nexus 5 phone but initial reviews didn’t blow me away enough to change phones.
I’ve had an iPad for about 3 years now so I was coming into the tablet game with some experience. Although my experience with the iPad was that it was a device in search of use. It was too big to be convenient and not fully functional enough to compete with my laptop on a regular basis.
Even still I had heard so much about 7″ tablets over the past 18 months that I felt the need to give it a try. Additionally, I had purchased an iPad mini for my wife for her birthday that she currently swears by. Even my time with it wasn’t bad, but it still wasn’t a no brainer.
So I went in on the Nexus 7 and from day 1 I was in love with it. Unlike the iPad mini it fits in one hand (being about 1 to 2 inches narrower even though it’s the same height). Within 24 hours it had become by default news consumption device. It was so more convenient to use than my laptop and could fit in my pocket as I wandered from place to place.
Part of this may be because I’m so invested in the Android ecosystem. On startup my apps and data came across with all of about 5 minutes work. And even on the go it’s a phone replacement due to its size. The only thing I really need my phone now is for phone calls which is a weird feeling because when I used to leave my desk my phone was everything. Once I throw my bluetooth on I never have to pull my phone out at all other than to actually dial someone up.
This also proves why I desire good wearable tech so much. The convenience of information on the go in an easy to access manner is a real desire for many people. A smartwatch integrated with Google Now, text, email and select apps would be a killer. Even Google Glass for the convenience of accessing more in-depth information on the go would be such a win (assuming it is properly put together).
But it isn’t possible to end a post about the Nexus 7 without mentioning the price. Being significantly cheaper than the iPad mini is another win. It really is the complete package.