Cheap Android Tablets now at PB Tech! How cool is that?

Forums › Android › Cheap Android Tablets now at PB Tech! How cool is that?

Linuxluver

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#67903 10-Sep-2010 16:07

I'm on a PB Tech "VIP" customer list along with everyone else north of Taupo.

In today's email, the guff includes this item...which is kinda cool as PB Tech also sell Acer Liquid and BeTouch Android phones.

Screenshot:

Proof!!

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#378612 10-Sep-2010 16:16

Yeah. I saw this too... I might have to call in and see one in real life. Linuxluver if you see one can you let me know how the screen compares to your existing Eken?

Cheers, Mat

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

Linuxluver

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#378615 10-Sep-2010 16:24

hairy1: Yeah. I saw this too... I might have to call in and see one in real life. Linuxluver if you see one can you let me know how the screen compares to your existing Eken?
Cheers, Mat

Sure.

I'll probably perform my weekly ritual of tech-worship at PB Tech in the next couple of days.

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old3eyes

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#378647 10-Sep-2010 19:16

Android OS 1.5. Getting a bit old now..

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vinnieg

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#378657 10-Sep-2010 20:09

A bit of false advertising though, there is no way in hell these play HD movies :) I'll have my review up in 5 days when my replacement finally arrives :S

But so far the issues are:
1.5 android, no sign of 2.1 unless the Archos 7 gets 2.1 ported over when it arrives(same chip)
720P PLayback = non existant, they shouldn't claim HD video
Youtube playback in fullscreen = slow
Haven't tried the Skype app yet, but will when i get it back
Resistive touchscreen is pretty bad

Apart from that it's ok, can play most DivX/smaller files well, once a new firmware is on it, the brightness is better too!!!

Not sure if I'll be keeping the replacement yet though, I've got my eye on a Galaxy tab or another netbook

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

Linuxluver

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#378695 10-Sep-2010 23:15

vinnieg: A bit of false advertising though, there is no way in hell these play HD movies :) I'll have my review up in 5 days when my replacement finally arrives :S

But so far the issues are:
1.5 android, no sign of 2.1 unless the Archos 7 gets 2.1 ported over when it arrives(same chip)
720P PLayback = non existant, they shouldn't claim HD video
Youtube playback in fullscreen = slow
Haven't tried the Skype app yet, but will when i get it back
Resistive touchscreen is pretty bad

Apart from that it's ok, can play most DivX/smaller files well, once a new firmware is on it, the brightness is better too!!!

Not sure if I'll be keeping the replacement yet though, I've got my eye on a Galaxy tab or another netbook

My M001 can play HD YouTube videos provided WEB FLV v1.5 and Youtube v1.0 are installed. It has pretty much the same spec.

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old3eyes

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#378729 11-Sep-2010 08:45

This one may be better.
http://dvice.com/archives/2010/09/archos-reveals.php

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Old3eyes

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Linuxluver

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#379231 13-Sep-2010 10:12

hairy1: Yeah. I saw this too... I might have to call in and see one in real life. Linuxluver if you see one can you let me know how the screen compares to your existing Eken?

Cheers, Mat

I went to PB Tech at Wairau Valley on Saturday afternoon, but all their aPad tablets had sold out.

.....that has to be good.

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magu

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BitSignal

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#379245 13-Sep-2010 11:03

They were selling them at the Auckland Home Show as well. Found them very, very slow. Painfully, in fact.

"Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads." - Doc Emmet Brown

Linuxluver

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#379247 13-Sep-2010 11:08

magu: They were selling them at the Auckland Home Show as well. Found them very, very slow. Painfully, in fact.

Agreed. The stock firmware can have user-patience as a pre-req. Worth it for $120....less so for $300-ish.

In my experience to date, the modded / custom firmware is much better...and it pays to use the very latest drivers from the maker - either in their firmware updates or in a custom version - as they have also done fair bit to speed them (Eken M001) up.

The aPad's have basically the same spec as the M001 devices. I haven't really looked at the firmware for the aPads as I don't own one.

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Behodar

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#379257 13-Sep-2010 11:57

vinnieg: A bit of false advertising though, there is no way in hell these play HD movies :)

I like how it features a modified HD DVD logo :)

magu

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#379258 13-Sep-2010 12:00

And how they'd have you think that it's got a 1133Mhz proc because of the little + sign between 600Mhz CPU and 533Mhz DSP. :D

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Linuxluver

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#379703 14-Sep-2010 15:16

magu: And how they'd have you think that it's got a 1133Mhz proc because of the little + sign between 600Mhz CPU and 533Mhz DSP. :D

Even the 600MHz is a "Shenzhen Number".

Every benchmark I've run on them says they do 300Mhz.

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th3r3turn

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#379925 14-Sep-2010 22:59

any reviews on this, from people have used one in here? im trying to find something to read pdf files from, have been lookin @ the kindle, but have found mix views on if i can use my current PDF files!

jaskarn

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#379965 15-Sep-2010 00:22

I tried one today, but tbh after using an iPad, nothing compares. The build quality on these Chinese made units is very poor, even though the iPad in Chinese made, it's built to a very high standard.

Secondly the OS is definitely not as fun to use as the iPad. That said, at that price you can't really go wrong, plus your not stuck with Apple's weird controlling policies.

Linuxluver

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#379967 15-Sep-2010 00:33

jaskarn: I tried one today, but tbh after using an iPad, nothing compares. The build quality on these Chinese made units is very poor, even though the iPad in Chinese made, it's built to a very high standard.
Secondly the OS is definitely not as fun to use as the iPad. That said, at that price you can't really go wrong, plus your not stuck with Apple's weird controlling policies.

You can't compare these to iPad. Update: Well...you can....but it's not apples to apples. :-)

The M001 devices (same spec as apads from PB Tech) are $120 on TradeMe. Cheapest iPad is $800 and most expensive is $1300.

You can buy anywhere from 6 - 9 M001 devices for the price of an iPad (lowest to highest).

That said.....the M001 and similar devices can easily be GOOD ENOUGH, with the best firmware loaded, if all you want is a cheap e-reader or a small, cheap Internet or game device or MP3 player or low-res video player...or an FTP server for supercheap...or all of the above.

These devices are for people who won't be spending $800 - $1300 on any tablet.....at least not a crippled one from Apple.

The Samsung Tab, to be released this month, will be comparable to the iPad..and have a comparable price...but as it is Android, it won't be crippled where data access (music / video, etc) is concerned...and you'll likely be able to tether it to an iPhone whereas Apple won't let you tether your iPad to your iPhone.

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