Affordable Android-powered iPad-like Tablet Computers Galore: While browsing through dealextreme.com, a popular online shop for electronic products here in Asia, I was really surprised to see several iPad-like tablet computers that are sold for as low as $99 (US). Another surprising thing is that they are all powered by Android.
I'm also amazed that some of these Android tablet computers have key features that are absent on the iPad such as built-in camera, MicroSD slot, and Ethernet port among others. You may think that I'm kidding, so I've gathered some of them here:
I'm also amazed that some of these Android tablet computers have key features that are absent on the iPad such as built-in camera, MicroSD slot, and Ethernet port among others. You may think that I'm kidding, so I've gathered some of them here:
Android-powered iPad-like Tablet Computer #1
Price: $147.50
Technical specifications and basic features:
* Operating System: Google Android OS 1.5
* Processor: ARM926EH-S rev5
* RAM: 128MB DDR2
* Storage Capacity: 2GB NAND FLASH, support SDHC TF card up to 16GB
* Display: 7-inch TFT LCD widescreen touch display (800*480 pixel resolution)
* Touch Control: Full size touch operation, sliding menu, functional icon dragging, Orientation Sensors w/ accelerometer, automatic steering display screen
* Network: 802.11b/g Wi-Fi network connection
* Camera: 1.3-Megapixel
* Slots: Micro SD/TF card slot (support up to 16GB)
* Mini USB port
* Functions: E-Book, Office word processing, Document to go (word, excel, PPT, PDF)
* Software: Google Chrome Lite Browser
* Multiple languages supported
See the rest of the specs and features HERE
Android-powered iPad-like Tablet Computer #2
Price: $132.96
Technical specifications and basic features:
* Operating System: Google Android OS 1.6
* Processor: 800MHz (Actual 533MHz)
* RAM: 128MB DDR2
* Storage Capacity: 2GB NAND FLASH, support SDHC TF card up to 16GB
* Display: 8-inch TFT LCD widescreen touch display (800*600 pixel resolution)
* Touch Control: Full size touch operation, sliding menu, functional icon dragging, Orientation Sensors w/ accelerometer, automatic steering display screen
* Network: 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi network connection
* Slots: Micro SD/TF card slot (support up to 16GB)
* USB port
* Software: Google Chrome Lite Browser, UCWEB Browser; Mainstream web mail service, Gmail, Yahoo mail, Hotmail, Sina mail, 163 mail, Fring, * Skype, QQ, MSN, SKYPE, GTALK
* Multiple languages supported
See the rest of the specs and features HERE
Android-powered iPad-like Tablet Computer #3
Price: $107.70
Technical specifications and basic features:
* Operating System: Google Android OS 1.6
* Processor: VIA WM8505 ARM926
* RAM: 256MB DDR2
* Storage Capacity: 2GB NAND FLASH, support SDHC TF card up to 16GB
* Display: 7-inch TFT LCD wide screen touch display (800*480 pixel resolution)
* Touch Control: Full size touch operation, sliding menu, functional icon dragging, Orientation Sensors w/ accelerometer, automatic steering display screen
* Network: 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, RJ45, 10/100Mbps
* Camera: 1.3-Megapixel
* Slots: Micro SD/TF card slot (support up to 16GB)
* USB port
* Software: Google Chrome Lite Browser
* Multiple languages supported
See the rest of the specs and features HERE
Android-powered iPad-like Tablet Computer #4
Price: $99.30
Technical specifications and basic features:
* Operating System: Google Android OS 1.6
* Processor: ARM926EJ-S rev5
* RAM: 128MB DDR2
* External memory: Support micro SD card up to 16GB
* Display: 7-inch TFT LCD wide screen touch display 800*480-pixel resolution
* Touch Control: Full size touch operation, sliding menu, functional icon dragging, Orientation Sensors w/ accelerometer, automatic steering display screen
* Network: 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, RJ45, 10/100Mbps
* Microphone
* Speaker
* TF card (support up to 16G)
* Multiple languages supported
See the rest of the specs and features HERE
Because of their budget-friendly price and their open source, hackable Android OS, I gave in and bought the first one from the list above. Although it may lack the killer features of the Apple iPad, I believe it will give me more value for my money.
Shipping to the Philippines is entirely free of charge.
The apache license doesn't require the distributor to distribute source code to the end user. It allows copytheft where opencode is closed up.
The EKEN M001 is pretty slow but fun. It doesn't have sleep mode or a camera and barely can play movies, but for $100 what do you expect? It is usable for web browsing and coding android apps.
For the Eken M001 I paid $0 in duties to Canada.
Also check out http://slatedroid.com for support related to these products. There's a modding/user community there.
The simple truth is that the source code reveals how the hardware works. Some of those workings are trade secrets, and hardware companies keep coming up novel ways to shave cost. They want to protect these secrets. It is one of the ways they are able to sell the hardware for only $100 a pop.
The linux community has embraced this situation. Newer versions of the kernel enable userland drivers, which block custom hardware from disclosure under the GPL.
The BSD license isn't theft. It is all about being an enabling technology. Some folks use it in an open way, others in a closed way. Google developed Android, so it isn't like Google is taking the community's sources and turning them bad. Companies are taking Google's code and doing what google said was OK. etek didn't steal Google's code, Google sold it to them and fully expected them to do this sort of thing. It's been known that Android does this from day one.
Nice list. im thinking of buying one for my bussiness. how long did it take to get delivered to your doorstep? are there any hidden cost? thanks