Technology Review: The Nexus 7

I don't like to think that I like technology. I often opine about the glory days gone by where people had landlines and answering machines, and VHS tapes were the only way to watch a movie. I could go on and on about how much I miss the 90s, but that is not what this is really about.

For the last two weeks I have found myself confined to the couch and yet awash in a sea of technology, not unlike the Apple freaks on Portlandia. As I look around me I see the Olympics on the flat screen,  the laptop I am typing on, my smartphone, my Kindle, and my newest acquisition, the Google Nexus 7 tablet. (Also, wonder of wonders, an actual book! Devil in the White City by Erik Larson.) An extreme surplus of gadgets, I am sure you will agree, for a woman who professes to dislike technology. I am finding that as much as I miss the good old days, I can't deny my pleasure in having these venues of media available to me in so many different ways, and the Nexus 7 is just the cherry on top of the sundae.

The opening screen. I think the collage is so pretty

My husband surprised me with this gift after I had expressed interest in upgrading my original Kindle to a Kindle Fire and I have been having a blast with it for the last four days. It is slightly smaller than the iPad, which works to its advantage, particularly for women, as it is easily held in one hand. (It also, incidentally, fits perfectly into the side pocket of my purse, which I happen to love.) The smaller size does nothing to diminish the quality of the images on the screen--indeed, I was so dazzled by the clarity and color of the main page that when I first turned it on I just sat there, gazing at the welcome screen in stupified silence.

Once I finally got up the nerve to start touching things, I was reminded why I happen to love Google so much. The interface was incredibly intuitive, which may be in part to the fact that I am used to using Android, but I believe is also partly because the buttons are useful and do what you think they should do. And Google provides excellent incentive to use their product, providing me with all kinds of freebies. In my library from the very beginning were the latest issues of Popular Science, Esquire, Food Network, Parenting, and Country Living magazines. I had a movie in my media library, three music albums, and not only the latest book in the Bourne series, but also the complete works of William Wordsworth and Elizabeth Barrett Browning (yes, it is a little creepy how well Google knows me, but also kind of great). And that wasn't all. They immediately provided me with a $25 credit to use in the Google Play store. I love getting stuff for free, but it also served the purpose of helping me get acquainted with the way things worked.Very smart indeed.

The apps available for the Nexus 7 are the same as are available for any Android device, but I found the store much more enjoyable to browse on the tablet, and certain apps, particularly social media like Facebook and Twitter, much easier and more fun than the versions I have on my phone. By downloading the free Kindle app, I now have all the books on my Kindle available on my Nexus 7 as well. As with all Google devices, it synced up perfectly with my Gmail account, immediately starting and updating my email, my Gchats, and my Google+ account after only one sign-in. This is the kind of synergy I love, because it allows me to seamlessly switch between electronic devices as need dictates.

The only downside I have encountered so far is that the camera is front-facing only. It is great for video chat and taking impromptu profile pics, but makes it difficult to take pictures of anything else, something I learned while exploring Instagram for the first time. To me this is a minor issue, as I have a camera on my phone for taking pictures, and all the pictures taken with my phone are immediately uploaded to my Nexus 7 as well.

The bottom line is that after using two versions of the iPad, I am not at all sorry to have gone with the Android equivalent. Not only is it cheaper than the iPad (coming in at about half the price--$199 vs. $399*), but it is less cumbersome. With the iPad I feel like I am carrying another laptop; with the Nexus 7 I feel like I am carrying a larger version of my phone. Hardcore Apple advocates will likely not be satisfied with this product, but if you are looking for something pretty, serviceable, and easy to use, the Nexus 7 is probably the perfect place to start your foray into the world of tablets.

What piece of technology do you find most useful? Does anyone else ever miss VHS tapes?

*It should be noted that the $199 price tag is for 8GB of memory, while the iPad's 16GB is $399. However, the 16GB Nexus 7 is still cheaper, priced at ~$250.   
**It may also bear mentioning that the Kindle Fire is also $199, so if you are interested in an e-reader primarily, that is also a good option for less money.