Reviews on Tablets

CNET Review: Acer Iconia Tab W500-BZ467 (32GB, gray, with keyboard docking station)

 

The Acer Iconia Tab W500 works in several potentially good ideas, undone by half-baked physical design that makes it needlessly frustrating to use.

 

The good: The Acer Iconia Tab W500 has a clever design that allows you to detach its Netbook-like screen for use as a standalone tablet.

 

The bad: The keyboard dock is a pain to connect or disconnect; you can't simply fold it shut like a laptop; and there's no touch pad, only a trackpoint stick.

 

The bottom line: The Acer Iconia Tab W500 works in several potentially good ideas, undone by half-baked physical design that makes it needlessly frustrating to use.

 

  

CNET Review: Amazon Kindle Fire 

Good: The Kindle Fire is a 7-inch tablet that links seamlessly with Amazon's impressive collection of digital music, video, magazine, and book services in one easy-to-use package. It boasts a great Web browser, and its curated Android app store includes most of the big must-have apps (such as Netflix, Pandora, and Hulu). The Fire has an ultra-affordable price tag, and the screen quality is exceptional for the price.

 

Bad: The budget price means no premium features (3G wireless, cameras, microphone, GPS, and location services are absent), but the biggest issues are its paltry storage (only 8GB of storage--with no expansion slot), lack of Bluetooth, and limited parental controls. Screen brightness could be better, and the app selection doesn't match Apple's or Google's (at least for now). Also, you'll need an Amazon Prime subscription to take advantage of some of the more-unique features.

 

Bottom line: Though it lacks the tech specs found on more-expensive Apple and Android tablets, the $199 Kindle Fire is an outstanding entertainment value that prizes simplicity over techno-wizardry. 

 

 

CNET Review: Apple iPad 2 (16GB, Wi-Fi, black)

 

Apple iPad 2 (16GB, Wi-Fi, black)Saturday, 12 March, 2011 4:13 AMThe iPad 2 refines an already excellent product. Its easy-to-use interface, vast app catalog, and marathon battery life bolster Apple's claim to being the king of tablets.

 

The good: Apple's iPad 2 is dramatically thinner and boasts front and rear cameras, FaceTime video chat, a faster processor, and 3G options for both AT&T and Verizon.



The bad: The iPad's screen resolution hasn't budged, photo quality is mediocre, there's still no Adobe Flash support, and ports for HDMI, USB, and SD all require adapters.



The bottom line: The iPad 2 refines an already excellent product. Its easy-to-use interface, vast app catalog, and marathon battery life bolster Apple's claim to being the king of tablets.  

 

 

CNET Review: Apple iPad 3 review

The good: Apple's new iPad includes a stunning new screen, matched by a quad-core graphic processor and the world's largest app and media store to feed it content. There's a proper 5-megapixel rear camera now, with 1080p recording quality. Optional 4G data from AT&T and Verizon afford an uncompromising mobile experience.

 

The bad: The new iPad is slightly heavier than last year's model; apps and movies optimized for the screen might take up more space; and ports for HDMI, USB, and SD require adapters.

 

The bottom line: With a host of improvements--faster graphics, 4G wireless options, a better camera, and a gorgeous high-res screen--the latest iPad cements its position at the head of the tablet pack.

 

 

CNET Review: Archos 70 (250 GB) 

Good: The Archos 70 Android tablet includes a capable 1GHz processor, capacitive 7-inch touch screen, front-facing camera, Bluetooth, HDMI output capability, and up to 250GB of storage.

 

Bad: The tablet is generally sluggish, build quality feels cheap, viewing angles are crummy, and the app store is thinly stocked.

 

Bottom line: The Archos 70 offers more horsepower and features than any other tablet under $300, but its limitations make it more of a toy than a tool. 

  

 

CNET Review: Archos 80 G9 (8-inch) 

Good: The lightweight, 8GB Archos 80 G9 tablet runs 1080p video smoothly, and its kickstand is a useful addition.

 

Bad: The tablet is uncomfortable to hold, with disappointing viewing angles and awkward button placement. Its single camera has poor recording quality.

 

Bottom line: The 8GB Archos 80 G9 delivers a complete Honeycomb experience at a low price, but its rough design, low-quality camera, and awkward button placement make it feel rushed to market.   

 

CNET Review: Archos 101 G9 (10.1-inch) 

Good: The Archos 101 G9 (8GB) runs 1080p video smoothly and has a good-quality screen, and its kickstand is a useful addition.

 

Bad: The tablet is too large for what it offers and has awkward button placement. Also, its single camera had poor recording quality.

 

Bottom line: The Archos 101 G9 (8GB) delivers a complete Honeycomb experience, but its rough design, low-quality camera, and awkward button placement make it feel rushed to market. 

 

 

CNET Review: Asus Eee Pad Slider SL101 (16 GB)

Good: The Asus Eee Pad Slider SL101's keyboard mechanism is well-implemented and useful to those frustrated with typing on a tablet screen. Also, the inclusion of Mini-HDMI, a microSD card slot, USB 2.0, and the latest version of Honeycomb makes this tablet worth its price.

 

Bad: The Slider is bulky and heavy for a tablet and can't be detached from the keyboard plate. Also, the typing environment feels cramped and the curved design on the keyboard plate blocks the spacebar. No LED flash on the camera means no nighttime picture taking.

 

Bottom line: Though it prevents a "pure" tablet experience, the Asus Eee Pad Slider's built-in keyboard is a welcome feature for those who break into cold sweats whenever typing on a tablet is mentioned.

 

 

CNET Review: Asus Eee Pad Transformer (16GB, Wi-Fi)

Good: The Asus Eee Pad Transformer has a high-quality screen and relatively cheap keyboard/dock make it an attractive option.

 

Bad: A few things keep the Transformer from completely blowing us away: the choppy recording and playback of the camcorder; its sharp edges; a build quality that's somewhat lacking; and problems that arise when docking.

 

Bottom line: The Asus Eee Pad Transformer is a low-price, quality Honeycomb tablet with useful options. 

 

 

CNET Review: Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime (64GB, gray) 

The Asus Transformer Prime is the best full-featured Android tablet yet, with a sexy design, thoughtful features, and an impressive camera.

 

The good: The Asus Transformer Prime sports an iPad 2-inspired design that's even thinner and nearly as light, while also managing to include microSD and Micro-HDMI support. The Prime delivers smooth and clear 1080p video, and the 8-megapixel camera captures detail and color more accurately than any other tablet we've reviewed. Feature highlights include being able to play games on HDTVs via a game pad and to throttle CPU speeds to save battery life.

 

The bad: Not every game takes advantage of the quad-core CPU, and frame rates can suffer as a result. When connected to the dock keyboard, the tablet is top-heavy and can easily slide off a lap or table if you're not careful.

 

The bottom line: The Asus Transformer Prime is the best full-featured Android tablet yet, with a sexy design, thoughtful features, and an impressive camera.  

 

 

CNET Review: Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet

Good: The Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet (8GB) is an affordably priced full-featured tablet with a vibrant 7-inch touch screen, built-in Wi-Fi, 8GB of built-in storage, and a microSD expansion slot. In addition to a full slate of books and magazines, it offers more than a thousand apps through its integrated (and growing) Nook Store and is optimized for Netflix and Hulu Plus video playback. The built-in Web browser works well and offers Flash support.

Bad: There's no access to the full Android Market; no Bluetooth, GPS, or camera; and no video rental (or purchase) option. The 8GB of internal memory may be limiting to some people, though unlike with the Kindle Fire, you do have a memory expansion option.

Bottom line: The Nook Tablet (8GB) matches up well to the Kindle Fire in specs and price--and has the added advantage of offering an expansion slot for additional memory.  

 

CNET Review: BlackBerry PlayBook (16 GB)

Good: RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook is a fast, powerful 7-inch tablet with HDMI output, advanced multitasking and security, and a browser that integrates Adobe Flash 10.2 for a desktop-style Web experience.

Bad: The 7-inch screen cramps the powerful browser; the wake button is difficult to push; and app selection trails the competition.

Bottom line: The BlackBerry PlayBook ably showcases RIM's powerful new mobile operating system, but its middling size diminishes many of its best features. 

 

CNET Review: DELL Streak 7

Good: The Dell Streak 7 tablet offers dual-core processing, 4G network compatibility, Adobe Flash 10.1 support, front and rear cameras, and an inventive reimagining of Android 2.2.

Bad: Dell's Stage interface doesn't make up for the stale operating system. Screen quality and responsiveness are not as good as they could be.

Bottom line: The Dell Streak 7 polishes Android 2.2 to a tablet-worthy shine, and is the first to deliver 4G compatibility--but it's not enough to distract us from the incoming wave of Android 3.0 tablets. 

  

CNET Review: HP TouchPad (16GB)

 Good: The HP TouchPad uses Palm's unique WebOS interface and delivers Adobe Flash-enabled Web browsing, Beats audio enhancement, and impressive compatibility with third-party calendar, messaging, and e-mail services.

Bad: The TouchPad has a thick, smudgy design, offers no rear camera or HD video capture, includes a limited app selection, and its unique cards system of multitasking isn't as fully utilized as it could be.

Bottom line: The TouchPad would have made a great competitor for the original iPad, but its design, features, and speed put it behind today's crop of tablet heavyweights.

 

CNET Review: HTC Evo View 4G (Sprint) 

Good: Fans of 7-inch tablets will appreciate the HTC Evo View 4G's screen quality, durable construction, HD video recording, and unique features, such as digital pen compatibility and HTC's Sense UI customization. 

Bad: The Evo View 4G is small, thick, and pricey, and isn't running Google's Android 3.0 tablet OS. Its most unique feature, the Magic Pen, may not come included and is expensive to replace.

Bottom line: The HTC Evo View 4G puts a new spin on the 7-inch Android tablet, but its high price and smartphone-style OS are a tough sell next to its bigger, cheaper Honeycomb kin.

 

CNET Review: HTC Flyer 

Good: Fans of 7-inch tablets will appreciate the HTC Flyer's screen quality, durable construction, HD video recording, and unique features, such as digital pen compatibility and HTC's Sense UI customization. 

CNET Review: Lenovo IdeaPad A1

Good: The Lenovo IdeaPad A1 includes front and rear cameras, Bluetooth, memory expansion, and a full-fledged Android experience, at a great price.

Bad: The screen has a bad viewing angle, the design is chunky, and the Android OS isn't the latest and greatest.

Bottom line: The Lenovo A1 is a classic Android tablet, at an attractive price, but its subpar screen gives the competition an edge.

 

CNET Review: Lenovo IdeaPad K1 

Good: Lenovo's IdeaPad K1 packs in all of the best features found in today's modern Honeycomb tablets and offers some unique Android optimizations and preloaded apps. 

Bad: The design is thick and heavy compared with the latest from Apple and Samsung, not all of the Android tweaks pay off, and the screen isn't as bright as it could be. 

Bottom line: Lenovo plays it safe with the IdeaPad K1, delivering a solid tablet that does little to stand out from the Honeycomb herd.

 

CNET Review: Motorola Xoom 2 (Dual-core processor 1.2GHz; 10.1-inch display) 

The good: The Motorola Xoom 2 feels like an amalgamation of all our favorite Android tablets of 2011.

Review: Motorola kicked off 2011 with the world's first Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) tablet, the Motorola Xoom. In its wake we witnessed a flood of imitators, and eventually a handful of thinner, brighter, more innovative tablets.  

 

CNET Review: Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (32GB)

CNET Review: Sony Tablet P 

With its eye-catching clamshell design and twin screen configuration, the Sony Tablet P sets itself apart from other Android tablets. It boasts a 1GHz dual-core CPU, 4GB of internal storage and Android 3.2 -- better known as Honeycomb. It also has 3G connectivity to make it a truly mobile device. 

Good: Unique design, Bright twin screens, 3G connectivity

Bad: Dual-screen setup isn't supported by all apps, Poor battery stamina, Low internal storage, Doesn't charge via USB

Conclusion: The Tablet P is a really odd device -- we're not entirely sure if we should love or loathe it. When the twin-screen setup is used effectively it's a real revelation, and reminds us of the first time we ever experienced a dual-monitor arrangement on a PC.

Few apps support those screens fully, however, and when Sony itself can't be bothered to ensure complete compatibility with its own pre-loaded programs, you know the long-term omens aren't good.

 

CNET Review: Sony Tablet S (16 GB) 

Good:The Sony Tablet S goes above and beyond the typical Honeycomb tablet experience by offering exclusive apps, ergonomic design, PlayStation certification for mobile gaming, DLNA video and music streaming, and an integrated IR universal remote control.

Bad: It's on the pricey side, the charging adapter is proprietary, and screen brightness isn't what it could be. 

Bottom line: Sony took its time with the Tablet S, and it shows. The industrial design is smart, and the software refinements are both practical and restrained.

 

CNET Review: Toshiba Regza AT200 (Dual-core Processor 1GHz; 10.1-inch display) 

The good: Thinnest and lightest 10.1-inch tablet; HDMI, micro-USB and microSD memory expansion.

 

The bad: Average screen; thin-sounding speakers; construction quality looks better than it feels; large proprietary charger.

 

The bottom line: The Toshiba Regza AT200 sets a new design standard for thin-and-light 10-inch tablets, but the specs don't live up to the name.

 

 

CNET Review: Toshiba Thrive 7 inch (32GB) 

The good: The Toshiba Thrive 7-inch has a mini HDMI port, a very responsive screen, and includes a built-in file manager.

 

The bad: Unlike the 10-inch version, there's no support for full ports or a swappable battery. Also, its camera placement is ill-conceived, the shutter speed is painfully slow, and the tablet is expensive, given what it offers.

 

The bottom line: The Toshiba Thrive 7-inch is a decent tablet, but there are simply better options our there for the price.  

 

CNET Review: Toshiba Thrive (32GB)

The good: The Toshiba Thrive's very aggressive pricing gives it an advantage over most other tablets. Its grooved back, full HDMI and USB support, full SD card slot, and replaceable battery justify its very bulky design. Also, its built-in file management system makes finding and accessing files in Honeycomb easier.

 

Bad: The Thrive's bulky design and hefty weight are not for everyone. Also, awkward back camera placement and a difficult panel removal process make us wish more time had been spent in the design phase. The LED lights on the bezel can be distracting.

 

Bottom line: The Toshiba Thrive is a bulky but aggressively priced Honeycomb tablet that earns its girth with full port support and a removable battery. 

 

CNET Review: ViewSonic ViewPad 7

Good: The ViewSonic ViewPad 7 delivers Android 2.2 on a 7-inch screen, with a powerful processor and rear- and front- facing cameras.

 

Bad: The ViewPad 7 is a doppelganger for the Samsung Galaxy Tab and shares many of its shortcomings, including a frustrating keyboard and awkward size. Lacks camera flash. Bring your own memory card.

 

 

Bottom line: The ViewPad 7 offers a solid platform for Android 2.2, but it comes off as an oversize, overpriced smartphone--not a Netbook alternative.