I decided to take a chance on a Chinese tablet.

[Hayabusa Rider]

http://dealsprime.com/tablet-pc/android-operating-system/android-4-1/xpad-quad-core-android-4-1-1-tablet-pc-9-7-ips-retina-2048-1536-rk3188-1-8ghz-16gb.html

Sparse reviews but if it meets specs and build quality is decent I'll be happy.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

thats pretty brave of you to spend $243 on that. it would have been safer to go with a refurbed nexus 10, i think theyre going for $399 right now. the cheapo chineses tablets ive seen are usually very slow but hopefully the "rockchip" can get the job done. mali 400 is pretty old isnt it, esp to be running a retina type display, i believe its "worse than ipad 2" graphics

 

[Gillbot]

I had a knockoff ebay ipod for a while for my daughter and it turned out much better than expected. Sure the quality was poor but for her it worked out well until she was old enough for a real ipod.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Well looks interesting. I'd spend the extra $150 for a Nexus 10 though.

 

[s44]

Terrible idea for anyone else, given the Nook sale.

 

[Roland00Address]

The Nook HD+ has a resolution of 1920x1280 in a 9" 1.5 aspect ratio. This means it has 256 ppi

This is a 9.7" 2048x1536 in a 9.7" 4:3 aspect ratio. This mean it has 264 ppi

Nook HD+ is $180+Tax
Your is $243

You do get faster cpu, cameras, etc but who knows if about the build quality, battery life and warranty.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

The Nook HD+ has a resolution of 1920x1280 in a 9" 1.5 aspect ratio. This means it has 256 ppi

This is a 9.7" 2048x1536 in a 9.7" 4:3 aspect ratio. This mean it has 264 ppi

Nook HD+ is $180+Tax
Your is $243

You do get faster cpu, cameras, etc but who knows if about the build quality, battery life and warranty.

I figure I'll give a video review after I have it. We'll see what it's like.

 

[swanysto]

I figure I'll give a video review after I have it. We'll see what it's like.

I wouldn't mind seeing that review.

 

[dlock13]

I wouldn't mind seeing that review.

Seconded.

 

[apathy_next2]

Seconded.

Third. /

 

[gmaster456]

Good luck. I hope everything works. Keep us updated.

 

[Zaap]

I'd love a report after a month or so of charging/discharging cycles how the battery life is. No matter the rest of the stats, my biggest potential issue with no-name Chinese tablets is major corner cutting on the battery, as well as battery drain even with the screen off so that whenever you pick it up after a time it's likely to be dead. I'd love for this one to be an exception, because those stats look great on paper to me.

 

[dagamer34]

That tablet is also using an Apple reject panel. Who knows what you might get.

 

[Zaap]

That tablet is also using an Apple reject panel. Who knows what you might get.

I was thinking that might be the case. There seems to be a thriving market of monitors made from reject Apple IPS displays that I see many owners rave over, so I'm guessing this would be a similar situation? ( unless they're using less than A grade panels.)

 

[swanysto]

I know shipping from China can take a while, but is there any news on this?

 

[pm]

I was thinking that might be the case. There seems to be a thriving market of monitors made from reject Apple IPS displays that I see many owners rave over, so I'm guessing this would be a similar situation? ( unless they're using less than A grade panels.)

I have one of those panels (Shimian QH270) and I'm definitely one of the people raving over them. My Shimian Q270 was one of the best computing purchases that I've ever made - it is a gorgeous screen at a cheap price and I've never seen anything wrong with it that should have resulted in it being a reject.

Having had such a good experience with the Q270, I'd be much more inclined to buy more reject high-grade panels. And certainly one of my biggest concerns with buying a cheap tablet would be the type of panel used.


On the original topic, I'm with swanysto - I'd love to hear more about the tablet if it's arrived.

 

[Rottie]

Nook HD+ is better for the price!

 

[pm]

Nook HD+ is better for the price!

Better how? The resolution is worse, the screen size is smaller (due to aspect ratio), the Nook's processor is a dual core clocked at 1.5GHz, while the "Xpad" has a quad-core clocked at 1.8GHz. In what way is the Nook HD+ better except that it has a better brand name? Especially since there aren't any real reviews of this XPad. That like when I bought my Shimian and people said "the Dell U2711 is better" without any basis except Dell's brand name.

I will grant you that there is a good chance that the Nook HD+ is, in fact, better because of software optimization, software support, or possibly battery life or stability. But I wouldn't proclaim as if it were fact before someone who has one tells me what they think of it. On paper, the "Xpad" stomps all over the Nook HD+.

 

[Bateluer]

I have one of those panels (Shimian QH270) and I'm definitely one of the people raving over them. My Shimian Q270 was one of the best computing purchases that I've ever made - it is a gorgeous screen at a cheap price and I've never seen anything wrong with it that should have resulted in it being a reject.

I have two of those ShiMian Q270s myself, awesome panels for ~360 dollars.

But, having owned a Chinese, no-name tablet before, I wouldn't touch another one with a 10 foot pole.

 

[pm]

I have two of those ShiMian Q270s myself, awesome panels for ~360 dollars.

But, having owned a Chinese, no-name tablet before, I wouldn't touch another one with a 10 foot pole.

Touche, sir.

I still await a review because I am an eternal optimist and a total cheapskate.

 

[tosaytheleast]

Hmmm this looks pretty cool to look at with all that specs. I think this is a good tablet for basic use. But of course it would not beat branded tablets. I think it's Mali GPU would not suffice for gaming purposes. I haev a friend who also owned a Chinese tablet with Mali GPU and it does not support most of 3D games. However if you would just use it for browsing and light gaming, I think this should be worth its price.

 

[jhansman]

Or...

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Acer-Iconi...ished/22630720

If you don't mind doing business with Wallyworld. 15 day return period, BTW.

 

[Bateluer]

Or...

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Acer-Iconi...ished/22630720

If you don't mind doing business with Wallyworld. 15 day return period, BTW.

Thats not a bad deal at all. Not seeing a Jelly Bean update for it though.

 

[jhansman]

Thats not a bad deal at all. Not seeing a Jelly Bean update for it though.

I know. I almost bit on it the other day, but held back. I suspect, once the warranty period expires (or before, if you dare), you can root and get a JB ROM for it easily.