ViewSonic ViewBook 730 is Android 2.2 tablet as cheap as Nook Color
The Nook Color has been a popular option for Android tablet users thanks to its cheap price but decent hardware. However, despite efforts by Barnes & Noble, the tablet requires some hacking to reach its full potential. This makes the device a bad choice for casual users who just want to use the device. Fortunately for these people, ViewSonic has just released a 7-inch Android tablet at the Nook-busting price of $250.
On the hardware side, the new ViewBook 730 is a mixed bag. The device offers a speedy 1GHz processor, WiFi, Bluetooth, a front-facing VGA camera, 8GB of internal memory, and 1080p HDMI out. Unfortunately, the screen only has a resolution of 800 x 480, and ViewSonic opted to use resistive instead of capacitive technology, possibly to lower cost. For software, there's a lightly customized version of Android 2.2. While this should be adequate for most uses, it would have been nice to see Android Honeycomb, the tablet version of Android.
Even if the decision to use a resistive display was based on cost, ViewSonic is still touting it as a feature. The ViewBook 730 will include a stylus, and pre-installed applications will allow users to write in applications, draw in the included Sketcher app, and highlight and annotate books.
Despite the screen, the ViewBook still seems like a good device. For anyone who wants a low cost tablet without hacking, or needs a device for note taking but doesn't want to pay the premium for the HTC Flyer, the ViewSonic ViewBook 730 is certainly a device to consider.
[UberGizmo]
