Recommended hardware to learn Android Programming

[SkillsUpgrade]

I'm a long term Java programmer who wishes to upgrade my skills to include Android. I've tried using the Android SDK on my Mac and the simulator, but find it an unfriendly environment.

I'd much prefer a real tablet. However, few tablets have Android 3.0, and they are the expensive ones. I'm reading that Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is coming, and it should load onto Android 2.3 Gingerbread phones and tablets.

Is this true? Can I buy a 2.3 tablet and upgrade it to 4.0 later?

And if my main purpose is to learn Android programming, what sort of tablet would be best? I would prefer to have the various "gizmos" such as camera, microphone, GPS, and motion/tilt sensors so that I can experiment with them.

I'd pretty much decided to buy a reasonable tablet such as an Asus Transformer with dock. However, it was googling the Transformer that alerted me to the quad-core Transformer 2, and Ice Cream Sandwich.

Any comments/advice?

[droidexpert]

galaxy nexus from google. thats my recommendation

[frosteam]

Originally Posted by SkillsUpgrade

Is this true? Can I buy a 2.3 tablet and upgrade it to 4.0 later?

If device is popular enough - company that made it sold millions devices over the world you can expect upgrade. But it is allways a risk unless company have announced such upgrade.
In other words you can save few bucks and stick with device without upgrade, but hey you wrote about Asus Transformer, I belive that I saw official announcement from Asus somewhere that they will support upgrade to ICS on all Eee Pad family.

[seneca88]

Galaxy nexus is a good choice. The first device with ICS. But for compatibility test, suggest to buy a HTC as well. Its sense ROM is a bit different.

[elf2droid]

I purchased HTC wildfire s for jave dev purposes