Ebay Android Tablets, junk or possible alternative to iPad?

[Kompresshun]

I've been looking at these Android Tablets on ebay some the past few days, they're kinda striking my intrest but of course most of them are made in china and are meant to be iPad knock offs. I can't find a whole lot of info on them but what I have found around the net doesn't seem to reflect any complaints with the hardware of the device at all and very little involving the software. They vary in price and specs depending on where you look and what features come with it, i've seen them come with anything from a 500mhz CPU and 128mb of ram up to a 1.2ghz CPU with 256-512mb of ram and running anywhere from Android 1.5 to 2.1. The only reason i'm interested in one is because i'd like to have something slightly larger than my phone to browse the net on at home rather than pulling out my heavy laptop. I'm not really sold on buying one right now but I do plan on getting something in the near future in the form of an Netbook or a reasonably priced Android tablet(something less than $300).

Here's a couple of the Ebay Tablets for reference:

http://cgi.ebay.com/EMS-10-2-ZT-180-1GH ... tops_Nov05

http://cgi.ebay.com/Tablet-PC-Laptop-iR ... tops_Nov05

Now there are some other options out there of course, being the Archos 7 Home Tablet and Samsung is also working on an Galaxy Tablet which no pricing has been announced for yet. The Archos tablet seems like a good buy at $199 but currently it isn't allowed access to the Android Marketplace, so Archos has they're own app store, which has a small portion of apps available in the marketplace. The Samsung Galaxy tablet looks like it will be pretty nice, but again no pricing announced and somehow I believe it will be more than i'm willing to spend. I probably should just save my money and buy something nicer in a few months but i'm a sucker for technology

Here's a link to the Archos Tablet:

https://store.archos.com/archos-home-tablet-p-104.html

[RobPaulson]

are those even real??

1. i saw a nexus one boot screen. wut?
2. microsoft's I.E. logo on the box?
3. sketchily similar single front button design from apple devices, lawsuit much?
4. extremely unprofessional pics.
5. and internet explorer listed as the used browser? afaik there is no IE application for android OS.
6. skype? not unless they hacked around the verizon contract...

this thing wreaks of a scam. . .

[Kompresshun]

are those even real??

1. i saw a nexus one boot screen. wut?
2. microsoft's I.E. logo on the box?
3. sketchily similar single front button design from apple devices, lawsuit much?
4. extremely unprofessional pics.

That's what i'm curious about, the specs on everyone of them i've seen have seemed different and they all look like cheap knock offs of the iPad. If they're legit and work the price is great but I can't see myself shelling out a couple hundred bucks or so to find out.

[RobPaulson]

i mean, who the f*** developed the hardware? some dude with glass cutters, soldering iron and some super glue?

there is no known manufacturer of this hardware according to the ebay article. (unless i missed something)

i'm callin scam/fake on this one. that or its just some cheap crappy manufactured no-name from china. in which case, i'd want nothing to do with it.

[AppleBonker]

There are android tablets on the horizon coming from legitimate manufacturers. I would wait to see what pans out with them.

[Dattebayo]

i mean, who the f*** developed the hardware? some dude with glass cutters, soldering iron and some super glue?

That's not too far from the actual make of most computer equipment.

[wingFeather]

People are afraid to buy a $200 Chinese tablet, yet see no issue with shelling out $30,000 for a Hyundai. Anyone else see the fail here?

[Dattebayo]

Anyone else see the fail here?

Yeah, you posted. Instafail.

[RobPaulson]

Yeah, you posted. Instafail.

it must be opposite day. this is the second time i've agreed with u today dave.

[wingFeather]

Yeah, you posted. Instafail.

We're kindred spirits then. Haven't seen anything valuable from you yet, either Lets drink beers together.

[Razi]

Anyone else see the fail here?

Yeah, you posted. Instafail.

Bingo!!!

[ADDirishboy]

Dave's on a role today!

[PoorManQ45]

Honestly, pick up one of these instead

http://cgi.ebay.com/Dell-Latitude-D430- ... tops_Nov05

I'm typing on one right now. It weighs about 4 pounds and gets around 7 hours of battery life with a new 9-cell

*edit* I actually bought two from that ebay seller. They came in very good condition, and have a factory warranty left on them.

[Jesda]

There are several real Chinese Android tablets out there, and they are real.

Here's one sold at K-Mart for $170, same specs:
http://www.androidtablets.net/forum/and ... 149-a.html

These are mediocre, but the Archos tablets suck.

[RCA]

http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/16/keep ... unboxed-f/
http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/02/keep ... -1-displa/

Finally, tune into 53:15 of Episode 10: Jimmy Fallon....
http://www.engadget.com/show#player

[wingFeather]

Makes you wonder why iPads are 4x the price...

[Jesda]

Makes you wonder why iPads are 4x the price...

Because most of these use old-fashioned touch screens (think of a Palm Pilot from the 90s) and run sluggishly.

[RobPaulson]

Makes you wonder why iPads are 4x the price...

thorough R&D and a gullible sheepish pop culture following.

[AppleBonker]

I'm pretty happy with the price I paid for my iPad.

[wingFeather]

Because most of these use old-fashioned touch screens (think of a Palm Pilot from the 90s) and run sluggishly.

I see. I need to do more research - luckily just found this site: http://www.androidtablets.net/

[RCA]

I'm pretty happy with the price I paid for my iPad.

You're insane and have a lot of disposable income?

[AppleBonker]

I wouldn't call myself rich. Some people might think I'm doing ok, I guess. I don't have a wife or kids chewing up my income, so maybe that has something to do with it.

I don't consider it an insane purchase either. In fact, I don't really understand most of the iPad hate.

[RCA]

PMed

[RobPaulson]

I don't consider it an insane purchase either. In fact, I don't really understand most of the iPad hate.

i'm a bit spiteful about my entire iphone experience. therefore, the hate shall continue to flow, fanboi.

[wingFeather]

i'm a bit spiteful about my entire iphone experience

Add me to that list

[Kompresshun]

I don't hate Apple products, I have to say i've missed having my iPod touch(loaned it to my father in law while he's overseas for the military) but I can't bring myself to spend $500 on the iPad, now that's because I have other expenses in my life(like my wife, child, house, and 2 cars) that are more important and i'm also a bargain hunter too, i'm not going to buy something in most cases unless I feel like my money is being well spent. When the iPad came out though, I couldn't even understand the use of a tablet altogether but now I could see it being useful to me whether it be a tablet or a netbook.

I am curious to see some of the more credible Android tablets that are on the horizon though, i'm really interested to see how much the Samsung Galaxy tablet will be since it will have a 7" screen and a kickstand. I think i'm considering the idea of the netbook more though but i'm gonna wait and see how much these legit tablets are going to run before I make any decisions.

It was pretty amusing to see these chinese knockoffs though and I wanted to do some research to see if somebody would actually buy one of these, I was amazed that people actually spend their money on something like that. There's cheap knock offs of every apple product though on eBay but isn't funny how you hardly ever see cheap electronic knock offs of other products?

[AppleBonker]

My netbook definitely gets more use, but I still like my iPad. However, I use them for two totally different purposes.

If you are giving it some time, you might be able to score a deal on the iPad when Apple gets ready to push the second generation out (no idea when that will be). My guess is the second gen will have a bit more RAM, a better screen and probably a front-facing camera so it can utilize Face Time along with the new iPhone. If those things aren't deal-breakers for you, I'm sure the first gen iPad will be selling at crazy discounts when the second gen comes out. Heck, you might even be able to find one used for dirt cheap. Just a thought.

[Kompresshun]

My netbook definitely gets more use, but I still like my iPad. However, I use them for two totally different purposes.

If you are giving it some time, you might be able to score a deal on the iPad when Apple gets ready to push the second generation out (no idea when that will be). My guess is the second gen will have a bit more RAM, a better screen and probably a front-facing camera so it can utilize Face Time along with the new iPhone. If those things aren't deal-breakers for you, I'm sure the first gen iPad will be selling at crazy discounts when the second gen comes out. Heck, you might even be able to find one used for dirt cheap. Just a thought.

You make a good point, i'm in no hurry to buy anything either right now. That's how I got my iPod touch anyways, I waited for the 3rd gen to come out and picked up a 2nd gen 16GB for $170 in the Apple refurb store. I have no need for anything more than what already comes with them, I just want to be able to browse the web and if possible, log into some of the content management websites I manage when I need to make a quick change to something. Also with us traveling more recently, it's made me want something more portable to take along with me.

[wingFeather]

I got into tablet computing about 7 years ago, so I'm kinda over it. Part of my disbelief of the iPad is that Apple came into the game 7 years too late, and yet fanbois are acting like it's a new technology that revolutionizes the world. It's not. I've played with the iPad on a few occasions & just feel like it's old news. Perhaps if I was behind the times I would be amazed.

[AppleBonker]

I got into tablet computing about 7 years ago, so I'm kinda over it. Part of my disbelief of the iPad is that Apple came into the game 7 years too late, and yet fanbois are acting like it's a new technology that revolutionizes the world. It's not. I've played with the iPad on a few occasions & just feel like it's old news. Perhaps if I was behind the times I would be amazed.

Ok, I think I'm confused. You're comparing the iPad to "tablets" from 2003. I may be too young to remember quite well, but here is what I recall:

iPad (current)


Toshiba M200 (circa 2003)


Palm Tungsten T5 (circa 2004)


And these are similar to you? Am I missing something? Are you high? I'm not sure which one from roughly 2003 you would consider a "tablet", or maybe there was some other product on the market that better fits that description. Please elaborate on what was comparable to the current iPad 7 years ago. I was a bit of a nerd back then too, and I probably would've been interested in a tablet if it had any worthwhile features. Maybe I missed my chance.