COMMENTARY | "EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL OFFER!" the ad says. And it's for a no-name tablet you've never heard of, but hey! It looks like the iPad, and it says here it's got a 7-inch touchscreen. That's pretty big, right? Plus it says it has apps and the Internet, and look! It's only $150. That's less than half of the iPad's cost! You'd better pick one up the next time you're at the big-box store, right?
Not so fast. First off, a 7-inch screen's only the size of an ebook reader's; about half the size of the iPad. Second, it may not be such a good idea to buy one of these things. And by that I mean you might literally be better off just saving the money.
Here's why:
No multitouch screen
You have to cut corners to make that kind of price tag. And it's not just a squeaky, creaky plastic body you end up getting; it's also a Palm Pilot-style touchscreen. You remember the Palm Pilot, right? No? Well, how about the Nintendo DS? That's right, it's a resistive screen that you need to use your thumbnail for if it doesn't come with a stylus.
More than that, it's not multitouch. That means no pinch-to-zoom in your web browser and no playing games or using apps where you need to tap in more than one place at a time. Plus, it might take awhile for a cheap tablet to even register when you tap it, because it's ...
Extremely slow
Cheap tablets often take whole seconds to register taps or screen-tilts, let alone load an app. And because of their slow processor speeds, you can forget about playing most games or apps.
But that's OK: a cheap Android tablet can't even install most of them anyway. That's because it has ...
No Android Market access
Now, some cheap Android tablets have their own app markets. And unlike with the iPad, you can download apps off the Internet and install them on most Android tablets.
But not being able to use the Android Market is still like getting an iPad without the App Store. That's because the Market is the fastest, most convenient way of getting Android apps and finding the ones you want in the first place. You can visit its website on a cheap Android tablet, but while you're there it's "Look, but don't touch."
Wait, there's more
What else do you take for granted that a tablet can do? Optional 3G wireless? Camera and webcam? How 'bout an HDMI port? A cheap Android tablet probably lacks all these features.
Now the good news
First, individual tablets may vary. And if you know what these cheap tablets usually lack, you'll know what to look for next time you see one of those "specials" -- or what to ask the salesperson.
Second, I have read some positive reviews of these generic-brand tablets online. Not on the big gadget sites, but just from satisfied customers on Amazon. So if you're sure that this is what you want it'll last you long enough to be worth the price tag, then go for it. Just check on the store's return policy, and see if you can play with the tablet in person before taking it home. Even a little thing might turn out to be a huge annoyance.
Jared Spurbeck is an open-source software enthusiast, who uses an Android phone and an Ubuntu laptop PC. He has been writing about technology and electronics since 2008.
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