I like the device, but I still enjoy my netbook far more. My opinion was that the Nate's review was a little harsh, but I'm not sure where you got the idea I am this huge fan of the device. It works better than my SmartV7 with Android (but by comparison that isn't saying much). I didn't even have as much problem with mine and its screen compared to the video of the black model shown above. Remember though, I'm not comparing it to an iPad, I mean, that is silly, the cheapest iPad is $499. Not to mention that before the iPad there wasn't much else available than these Chinese devices, which I am very used to dealing with.
There is one thing we agree on. I'm not that impressed by any of these Android tablets. I don't much care for the fancy page turn animations. I don't like the OS as much as WinCE and wish that WinCE (and newer) would get more support. The OS may have a lot of software, but most of it is written with a phone in mind (screen size included). I'm interested in the Meego OS. I also have to say that Linux on my SmartV7 and SmartQ7 runs better than Android on any tablet/MID that I have tried so far (it just takes a little customizing).
I still think the reviews were a bit harsh for what Pandigital is trying to do. It isn't clear to me what is better about the black version, as it seems slower than the white one I have. It is interesting that you say that it is just a picture frame with an Open Source OS. I've got one myself and it is definately no picture frame. On the other hand, I bet their marketing department is not dealing with this well and customers will definately use this as excuse to excuse them from the playing field. If anything, they deserve credit for making such an interesting, if underperforming, device. In its current condition, it won't be replacing even a Nook, much less an iPad.
For what its worth, I think the market passed the 7" netbook factor by too quickly. I love how my 10" netbook sits on its own - I don't have to hold it. I can place it on my lap, next to me in bed, on my desk next to me, or just about anywhere else I can find a flat surface. I've been looking at these
little WinCE 7" netbooks on eBay. I could fork out $89 for a WinCE device that could sit on its own and I could use it to read. I doubt I would use it for anything else (since my real netbook is so much better), but it might be a more portable version of my netbook. I don't know, I really don't NEED it, but I feel like playing with the little thing. I could actually write some cool little programs for it, especially since it has 6.0 R3 (silverlight support). I wonder if they will offer an image with Embedded 7?
Nate was right though. The SmartQ7 is a better ebook reader than the Pandigital, at least in the PD's current shape, and only when the SQ7 is running Linux. Until PD can update that firmware it will remain this way, but the PD has the hardware to perform much better than it does.
Maybe the Android tablet market will get better with the Ramos W7 and other capacitive versions coming out. The only thing is that they will also be more expensive.
EDIT: Hrmm. I might get this one instead. It is a little more expensive, but looks like a cool toy to play with. I can use VS2008 to develop something for it. It would be interesting to find out if I could mod it to use a touchscreen hehe.
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-7-Mini-Netbo...item335e6273b3 BTW these are just musings - nothing to take serious for anyone else considering a new purchase. I guess it is only a little over 1 pound in weight and quite a bit smaller than my 10" netbook. Guess I'll find out.