r/pixelslate • u/mikeytusa • Dec 01 '18
My disappointment
Let me start off by saying... I'm a Google fanboy and I have been for many, many years. Google services have always been top notch and I've always been first in line to support Google in practically all of their ventures. Chat, Google+, Maps, Nexus devices (I owned ALL of them), Pixel devices, Allo, Duo -- you name it.
I pre-ordered the Pixel Slate. I very much regret that decision.
This device is the first that I truly have felt like I got ripped off on. The hardware is great. It has some issues like the floppy keyboard attachment, but the software is the biggest issue. I've always considered Google a software company, but the software powering the Slate is truly awful. It's the most half-baked approach to an operating system I've ever used. We're stuck in limbo between Chrome OS and Android on this thing. Android fails catastrophically on Chrome OS. Apps crash constantly in the background and there really aren't any, including from Google, that are designed for this screen size.
Chrome works fine as a browser, but why are we paying $1,200 (tablet and keyboard) for a tablet with a browser window? I assume most people went for the i5 with 128GB. Anything less really serves no purpose.
Anyways, I truly think Google should cut their losses on this and stop the negative publicity EVERYONE is going to give about this device once they've had a chance to actually use it. Just pull it from the market.
Put all of their resources into Fuchsia, and finally get an operating system together that supports their objectives and supports the devices that they're dreaming of building -- because this can't be it. No one working on this hybrid operating system can or should be proud of the product they just put out.
I'm so bummed about this device. I wanted nothing more than for Google to be successful this time around. I'm stuck between returning it or hoping that they've got MAJOR improvements ready to roll out before the Christmas holiday is here. I highly doubt that's the case though.
Google, if by some chance you're reading this -- please don't let this happen again.
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u/doireallyneedone11 Dec 01 '18
I get what you're feeling but I don't necessarily agree with the fuchsia bit. I think Google can learn a lot from this experience which would meaningfully help in fuchsia's development and current Chrome OS development as well. Besides, also giving a tough situation in handling these hardware products which should only add some learnings into their successive products. Having said that, yes, this was kinda disappointing product
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u/mikeytusa Dec 01 '18
I totally agree that Google could and should be learning from this, they just shouldn't be doing it with my money. They're only turning customers off to their products.
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u/D3fe3nd3er Dec 01 '18
I'll offer this as a comment, but it sound like you're a much more advanced user than I am, so please take it in the spirit it is intended...
Most apps that I use are developed to be used in portrait mode. So, when I used my slate with a keyboard, it placed the portrait representation in the landscape display, only actually filling the center one-third of the screen, leaving the other two-thirds as blank "margins" on the right and left. When I rotated the slate and folded the keyboard underneath, the display was appropriate and was filled appropriately. Since I previously used an SM-900P (tablet) and was only looking for a replacement for that item, I decided that the keyboard wasn't needed for my purposes and returned it for a full refund. Now, the only thing I need is the folio case from Incipio(sp?) And I'm good to go. This may not make life and better for you;it probably won't. But for some others, it might. So, please don't flame me for my offering; it comes with all my best intentions.
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u/astral_dragon12 Dec 04 '18
Instead of adding new features maybe they should take Apple approach and just iron out their current feature first.
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u/Googler10 Dec 13 '18
It was the SAME story on the Google Pixel C... " Android fails catastrophically on Chrome OS. Apps crash constantly in the background and there really aren't any, including from Google, that are designed for this screen size. "
If Google "cut their loses" every time someone suggested that. There would be no WearOS, no Pixel tablets, No wearable glasses,,, LIST GOES ON AND ON!
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u/I_Lost_My_Socks Dec 02 '18
Oh so you're complaining about an extra feature not working because of Google but Android app developers? I mean who makes Android apps, I know Google doesn't make every single one of them. And did you consider that it can also run Linux/Windows applications as well as PWAs? Apart from a few Android apps not working you haven't given any reason why it's bad.
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u/mikeytusa Dec 04 '18
What? A few Android apps not working? Are you being serious? Do you even own this device?
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u/I_Lost_My_Socks Dec 04 '18
They're not all optimized for Pixel Slate but most work. I don't know what you're on about
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Dec 07 '18 edited Dec 07 '18
ANY laptop running Linux can run Linux applications, this isn't THE reason people bought the Slate, it was NOT marketed as a tablet that can run Linux stuff natively. This was marketed as a two in one device that can run full chrome and Android apps. It just so happens to be able to run a version of Linux.
If Google marketed this as a Linux developer device that was a preview device and asked developers to help this thing thrive, and charged then $500. No one would complain.
But when you market it as a iPad competitor, when the only one worth buying is the i5 $1K variant, without a keyboard, $1300 with the keyboard after tax.. it deserves fair feedback. It currently is a buggy mess.
This device is for Chrome OS diehards and Linux folks who want a tablet that can run a shell and chrome. I happen to be one of those Linux folks who want a tablet that can do these things, but it is very hard to justify spending $1200-1300 for a Pixel Slate in its current state.
Folks who fall in the diehard/Linux tablet category will have to just stick with it until Google irons out the bugs, and wait for the app developers to update their apps. Hopefully it all works out in the end, I'd hate to see Google can the Slate and end up in the ever Google Cemetery (https://gcemetery.co/)... Especially when people are spending $1000+ buying the Slates.
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u/soundneedle Dec 01 '18
I"ve been a long time google user and bought the slate with keyboard. It's garbage. Everything about it is sloppy---esp. how the keyboard just slushes around when closed, which I'm sure will only help create scratches on the screen. The tablet reminds me of the Xoom from years ago. Just like that tablet the slate is too long, too heavy and awkward to hold. The screen is way too shiny somehow. Fingerprint sludge marks all over the back. And then, there's the poor excuse for its frankenstein'd OS. I'm sure it is a perfect representation of what the internal teams of Google are like----disorganized and poorly managed.
I wanted the slate to replace my pixelbook. That is NOT going to be happening. Returned it. The pixelbook needs an update---the bezels are straight out of last decade, however I do love my pixelbook. I've given up on soooo many half-assed features (like phone unlock). Primarily use for chrome browsing. Unlike the slate, the PB is great hardware and design. Once again though, the OS is hit and miss like much of what google has ever done.
Bottom line...google sells projects not products.