Google Nexus 7 Tablet

[Finner]

I'm surprised I didn't see an article on this already. Yesterday Google announced their Nexus 7 tablet and personally I think it looks awesome.

For $199 you get an 8 GB and for $250 you get a 16 GB tablet.

Obligatory Photo:



Engadget calls it the best $200 laptop you can buy.

udget tablets typically make the biggest sacrifices on the display front, and certainly the 1,024 x 600 resolution on the Kindle Fire feels a bit constricting at this point. Not so with the Nexus 7, which is fronted by a very nice 1,280 x 800 IPS panel rated at 400 nits of brightness.

In fact, if benchmarks are to be believed, this little guy actually performs better than its bigger brothers. SunSpider tests, which look at JavaScript rendering speeds in the new Chrome browser, were completed on average in a relatively speedy 1,785ms. The tablet burned through Vellamo with an average score of 1,650 and notched 11,713 in CF-Bench. Only the Quadrant score was on the low side compared to the much higher-priced competition, coming in at 3,501.

And of course a tablet is only good for as long as you can use the thing, and we were quite impressed by the longevity here. We came within spitting distance of 10 hours on a charge using out standard rundown test, which has the tablet connected on WiFi and looping a video endlessly. That's very, very good for a budget 7-incher and bests many bigger, more expensive slates.

The Nexus 7 is an amazing package for something that costs a penny less than $200. It feels like something that could sell for much more. It has a great screen, solid performance and a clean, clear, uncluttered version of Google's latest operating system, Jelly Bean.

I'm debating if I should buy one. For the price point I don't see how I could go wrong. Tablets with equivalent specs right now sell for double the price.

[Rathji]

The first thing that has come along that has made me regret my playbook @ $200. (as much as you can regret a gadget purchase that was made 9 months ago, given the advances that come out)

[GreenLantern]

Interesting. Keep going Google, need more rivals for the Ipad.

[Bobblehead]

It seems to be being positioned more as a competitor for Amazon Fire. Same screen size/type, same price point. and as for media, Google is apparently now selling Movies, TV Shows and Magazine subscriptions through Google Play (although I don't know how fast/if that will occur outside the US). Up to now Google have just rented Movies (or sold books) through Play.

[photon]

If only it had an HDMI port. Still will probably buy one if I get involved in an Android oriented project.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by photon

If only it had an HDMI port. Still will probably buy one if I get involved in an Android oriented project.

I thought it did?

The HDMI port follows Google’s renewed TV efforts and may encourage developers to build apps for the living room

http://www.philly.com/philly/enterta...mpid=138887484

[photon]

Whaaa? I thought I'd read it didn't, I'd definitely get one then.

EDIT: I don't see it on the spec sheet, only seems to say USB.

[sclitheroe]

It's a very interesting product at the price point. Assuming one weren't invested in the iTunes ecosystem already, that $200 iPod Touch seems a tad pricy, unless you wanted to use it while exercising.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by photon

Whaaa? I thought I'd read it didn't, I'd definitely get one then.

EDIT: I don't see it on the spec sheet, only seems to say USB.

Searching it sounds like the early demo versions had it but the latest version doesn't. But the reporting seems all over the map.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Very excited in this product. I liked the smaller form factor of the Blackberry Playbook but it the software was junk even with the new OS update. The total lack of Netflix support in any future made me return it.

I've been using my iPad less and less because I just don't like the bigger size. It will be nice to get this and be totally free of the Apple ecosystem.

The price seems great too.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Searching it sounds like the early demo versions had it but the latest version doesn't. But the reporting seems all over the map.

Mhl, maybe?

[Azure]

Just about everyone seems to be calling it a winner.

It seems to be too. The pricing helps too.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Ordered! I have a company issued iPad and it will be interesting to offer up some comparisons. (I use a Galaxy Nexus as a phone already)

The question is when will this ship.... I'm not terribly optimistic for the Mid July timelines I've heard given the Asus debacle with the TF Prime. Than and the price point + positive reviews mean that this could be a serious seller.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

Mhl, maybe?

I've seen people wondering that but it doesn't seem like it. If that was an option I would think they would be including that in the spec list.

According to an article on The Verge, the HDMI was a late cut to be able to make the price point"

Apparently, the devices are still pricey enough that Google is selling the Nexus 7 at cost, and even then, a number of features didn't make the cut. This ME370T won't come with a stylus, an HDMI port, or a rear-facing camera, and comes with 8GB or 16GB storage compared to the 16GB and 32GB configurations originally planned, and the microSD slot to expand that capacity at will is also not included here.

The "ME370T" is the Asus tablet that eventually became the Nexus 7. http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/28/31...-google-nvidia


And the review the Verge gave was very positive:

Google’s Nexus 7 isn’t just an excellent tablet for $200. It’s an excellent tablet, period.

The Nexus 7 delivers way more functionality than I expected, and it delivers it in a package that’s sleek, smart, and affordably priced.

Believe it or not, the last time I was surprised by a product with those same qualities, it was called the iPad.

http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/29/31...nexus-7-review



Edit: per Anandtech:

In addition, MHL is not supported on the Nexus 7, which isn't very surprising since adding MHL requires another package and would increase BOM cost.

[Finner]

I just ordered one as well. My wife as an iPad so will post some comparisons as well when I get it.

[Bobblehead]

Here comes the Apple competition....

According to Bloomberg’s sources Apple will release a new iPad coming in the Fall. People who have “knowledge of the plans” have revealed that the screen size should be between 7 and 8 inches, thus making it more affordable.

http://mobilesyrup.com/2012/07/04/ap...ber-bloomberg/

[Azure]

You mean they will actually try to compete instead of trying to ban it from being sold?

Amazing.

[QuadCityImages]

They'll claim they just invented 7" tablets, and then patent making 7" rectangular items and THEN sue.

[Torture]

Super excited for Google Now... All the reviews make it sound like a big step forward.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Azure

You mean they will actually try to compete instead of trying to ban it from being sold?

Amazing.

We don't really know that yet.