Tablets: SD storage vs USB OTG

futureal33

futureal33

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Afternoon all,

After my tablet broke this weekend, I have been searching around for a new one to replace it with, and after many hours of reading reviews and video comparisons, I have pretty much narrowed it down to two

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1
Google Nexus 10 (also made by Samsung)

I WISH there was a perfect tablet... but it seems it doesn't exist!

I love the spec and design of the Nexus 10, but the fact it doesn't have an SD card slot really annoys me!

A primary use of the tablet would be take away on holiday with me, and download photos from my camera to the tablet's SD card - so I could view them as and when on a large screen, whilst also freeing up space on my in-camera memory card.
As well as that, I would have various films and music on the SD card.

The Nexus 10 doesn't have SD card support, so the only way of having external storage would be to have a USB on the go (OTG) cable and USB pen drives.

As far as I am aware, to do this on the Nexus 10, I would need to import the photos to a local folder, and then somehow export them from the in-built memory to an attached USB Stick via USB OTG cable - this sounds like a really clunky way of going about things, and Im not even sure it would work?

What I do like is the idea of is being able to have multiple USB Pen drives with the USB OTG cable... for instance a music drive, a film drive, a photo drive etc etc.

Could anyone who has used a USB OTG cable comment on whether what I am trying to do is possible - ie, copy content off the internal memory of the device onto USB sticks?

Thanks
 
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I have done this with a Samsung phone, and although viewing the images on a larger screen is fantastic, transfers on and back off again (to a flash drive) can be very slow. By far the easiest option is to just buy more memory cards...

Not sure about the Nexus' OTG capabilities, that's something you'd need to verify obviously.
 
JT74 said:
transfers on and back off again (to a flash drive) can be very slow.
Click to expand...

My thoughts and worries exactly. At least with the Samsung Note, it would only be 1 transfer (camera > tablet) but with the Nexus it would be a case of camera > tablet > USB OTG Flash drive

I have no idea how fast or slow that would be... but I have a feeling I would be disappointed by it.

One other thing. Can anyone tell me if the USB OTB interface is fast enough to stream HD content? Or would I need to import it off the USB drive onto the device, then play?
 
With Windows 8 you can do what you want, copy from an SD card to USB device. These are getting cheaper, so keep an eye on Windows 8 tablets

You might be able to do it with Android, but not sure if the apps will support the stuff on the external drives or deal with multiple drive.
 
It'll stream as fast as the storage will allow, some flash drives are too slow. I used a Corsair Voyager, which is not only fast enough, it has also proven itself to be indestructible.
 
I'm waiting for the 64G Nexus 10... I really really hope they will make one. 32G is just too small for lots of HD vids.
 
arad85 said:
I'm waiting for the 64G Nexus 10... I really really hope they will make one. 32G is just too small for lots of HD vids.
Click to expand...

What about a Samsung Note 10.1? 64GB, with another 32 on a removable SD card. :D
 
JT74 said:
What about a Samsung Note 10.1? 64GB, with another 32 on a removable SD card. :D
Click to expand...
Completely different UI to Nexus (yes, I know it's Android but play with them and you'll see what I mean). I have a Nexus 4 and 7, so am holding out for the 10.... Plus I want the high res screen of the 10 ;)
 
arad85 said:
Completely different UI to Nexus (yes, I know it's Android but play with them and you'll see what I mean). I have a Nexus 4 and 7, so am holding out for the 10.... Plus I want the high res screen of the 10 ;)
Click to expand...

:plusone: :agree:
 
I'm using the MS Surface RT and love it.

One of the best features over the Apple/Andriod market is the fact is has a full size USB2 port built in - I plug in a cheap SD to USB adapter and can easily import from the SD card in my 5D3 :thumbs:

Edit: Also it has 64gb storage and takes a 64bg micro SD card as well for 128gb
 
But that's even lower res...
 
Weetobix said:
I'm using the MS Surface RT and love it.

One of the best features over the Apple/Andriod market is the fact is has a full size USB2 port built in - I plug in a cheap SD to USB adapter and can easily import from the SD card in my 5D3 :thumbs:

Edit: Also it has 64gb storage and takes a 64bg micro SD card as well for 128gb
Click to expand...

How is photoshop express on it?
 
arad85 said:
Completely different UI to Nexus (yes, I know it's Android but play with them and you'll see what I mean). I have a Nexus 4 and 7, so am holding out for the 10.... Plus I want the high res screen of the 10 ;)
Click to expand...

Yeah, fair point. I usually go for a custom ROM on everything so haven't used Samsung's own software for long.
http://www.cyanogenmod.org/
 
I have enough computers to worry about here... Romming tablets - no thanks :D (my Androids are stock and not even rooted - not found a need).
 
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