HP Introduces $169 Android Tablet

tubemonkey · 02-24-2013, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Hewlett-Packard is making a tablet comeback, and it's learned a few lessons from the the failure of the TouchPad it seems. Not only is the new HP Slate 7 powered by Android, it costs a mere $169. It's the first in a planned line of tablets using different operating systems, with plans for HP smartphones too.

Taking on the iPad with the TouchPad didn't work back in 2011, so HP now has the smaller, cheaper Google Nexus 7 in its sights instead. The TouchPad used HP's own software, but the Slate 7 switches to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, with minimal of tweaks. More Android tablets will follow, with HP hinting that Windows tablets could be on the cards too.

Quote:

You’ll be working with a 7-inch 1024×600 resolution multi-touch display. Then HP went with an unknown 1.6 GHz dual-core Cortex-A9 processor with 1GB of RAM, instead of the rumored Tegra 4 quad-core. Those two downfalls aside the tablet sounds decent. You’ll get 8GB of storage and micro-SD slot for expanded options, and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is also on board with Google Now. They’ve added a 3 megapixel rear camera, and VGA front for Google+ Hangouts. Dimensions come in at 10.7 mm thin, 197mm x 116mm, 13.05 ounces, and HP promises 5 hours of video playback.

Clearly aimed at the budget crowd, the Slate 7 has a mediocre 169 PPI display and the battery life sucks big time.

charmian · 02-24-2013, 02:39 PM

For only $30 more you can get a Nexus 7. I don't see anyone really being attracted by this. I guess it's supposed to compete with the last-gen Kindle Fire, but what if Amazon lowers the price on that more? However it's good to see that there seems to be some kind of budget tablet price war beginning.

JD Gumby · 02-24-2013, 03:03 PM

Battery life is its only real bad point, as is the lack of a GPS (which will flag a lot of apps on Google Play as incompatable). Screen resolution's adequate (the viewing angles and brightness/vibrancy are where the problems will lie). 1GB of RAM and 1.6GHz dual-core CPU are more than good enough, unless you wanted to run the latest and greatest non-"casual" games.

tubemonkey · 02-24-2013, 03:24 PM

The website says the price is starting at $169. I wonder what a higher priced version would include? Since it has a card slot, there's no real reason for them to offer a 16GB or higher version. But then, HP gave us the TouchPad.

ucfgrad93 · 02-24-2013, 03:34 PM

Android Central has had a chance to look at the new device. They don't seem too impressed by it.

afv011 · 02-24-2013, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Clearly aimed at the budget crowd, the Slate 7 has a mediocre 169 PPI display and the battery life sucks big time.

Yet that mediocre 169ppi s better than some tablets that sell for twice as much...

Anyway, it's a low end device that will soon be forgotten.

petermillard · 02-24-2013, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by afv011

Yet that mediocre 169ppi s better than some tablets that sell for twice as much...

Proving, perhaps that there's more to it than mere pixel-count...

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Anyway, it's a low end device that will soon be forgotten.

Which one?

JD Gumby · 02-24-2013, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ucfgrad93

Android Central has had a chance to look at the new device. They don't seem too impressed by it.

The article reeks of "It's not best in class, so it sucks!".

xendula · 02-24-2013, 09:36 PM

Too little, too late. With their track record, they should stay away from tablets and phones.

Tony1988 · 02-24-2013, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by afv011

Yet that mediocre 169ppi s better than some tablets that sell for twice as much...

Anyway, it's a low end device that will soon be forgotten.

Plus at 7 inchs you really do not need that high of a pixel count. Ever since retina displays everyone has become sort of stuck up when it comes to pixel count.

I dont even thinnk a 7" tablet has 1080 yet.

SeaKing · 02-25-2013, 02:45 AM

I think I saw that Craig had a 6" $89 one or something like that.

afv011 · 02-25-2013, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony1988

Plus at 7 inchs you really do not need that high of a pixel count. Ever since retina displays everyone has become sort of stuck up when it comes to pixel count.

I dont even thinnk a 7" tablet has 1080 yet.

Not yet (Nexus 7 replacement should have it), but we do have phones with 1080p instead. I agree it's become a bit of a d*** contest.

tubemonkey · 02-25-2013, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony1988

Plus at 7 inchs you really do not need that high of a pixel count. Ever since retina displays everyone has become sort of stuck up when it comes to pixel count.

I dont even thinnk a 7" tablet has 1080 yet.

There's a noticeable difference between a Nexus 7 (216 ppi) and a Kindle Fire 2 (169 ppi). Text is sharper and crisper. So, a higher resolution does matter.

Yolina · 02-25-2013, 05:07 AM

Already have a budget HP tablet... Got a 32GB TouchPad in the firesale

it's ok for what I paid for it. Obviously it's been running dual boot WebOS and CM for some time...

Quote:

Originally Posted by xendula

Too little, too late. With their track record, they should stay away from tablets and phones.

And, yes I think so too.

din155 · 02-25-2013, 05:22 AM

It seems someone in HP wasn't happy with giving away just touchpads.

02-24-2013, 03:03 PM	#3
JD Gumby Cynical Old Curmudgeon Posts: 1,085 Karma: 8495696 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Halifax, Canada Device: Kobo Mini, Kobo Arc, HTC Desire C	Battery life is its only real bad point, as is the lack of a GPS (which will flag a lot of apps on Google Play as incompatable). Screen resolution's adequate (the viewing angles and brightness/vibrancy are where the problems will lie). 1GB of RAM and 1.6GHz dual-core CPU are more than good enough, unless you wanted to run the latest and greatest non-"casual" games. Last edited by JD Gumby; 02-24-2013 at 07:07 PM.

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02-24-2013, 02:39 PM	#2
charmian Addict Posts: 386 Karma: 1814548 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kindle 3, Kindle PW2	For only $30 more you can get a Nexus 7. I don't see anyone really being attracted by this. I guess it's supposed to compete with the last-gen Kindle Fire, but what if Amazon lowers the price on that more? However it's good to see that there seems to be some kind of budget tablet price war beginning.

02-24-2013, 03:24 PM	#4
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,476 Karma: 158151390 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	The website says the price is starting at $169. I wonder what a higher priced version would include? Since it has a card slot, there's no real reason for them to offer a 16GB or higher version. But then, HP gave us the TouchPad.

02-24-2013, 03:34 PM	#5
ucfgrad93 Wizard Posts: 2,360 Karma: 9026681 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Colorado Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2nd Gen	Android Central has had a chance to look at the new device. They don't seem too impressed by it.

02-24-2013, 09:36 PM	#9
xendula eBookworm Posts: 2,300 Karma: 4525746 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: East Coast brrrrr Device: Kindle 4B/K ~ Nexus 7 ~ Kindle Paperwhite 1&2 ~ iPad Air	Too little, too late. With their track record, they should stay away from tablets and phones.

02-25-2013, 02:45 AM	#11
SeaKing Frequent Flier Posts: 1,282 Karma: 2058993297 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: KB kindle aboard, Galx Tab 7.0 Plus, trying out Droid 1 as mini-tab	I think I saw that Craig had a 6" $89 one or something like that.

02-25-2013, 05:22 AM	#15
din155 Guru Posts: 880 Karma: 7556602 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: UK Device: Kindle PW, Win 10 thinkpad 8in	It seems someone in HP wasn't happy with giving away just touchpads.

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