India is yet to wake up to the tablet craze in a big way though that isn’t preventing companies from populating the market with suitable devices while they wait for the demand for such to pick up. And the latest to enter the scene is the Magnum brought forth by Lakshmi Access Communications Systems or LACS.
However, there isn’t a great deal of info available of the tablet as yet though what is known of the Magnum is this. The tablet will come with two screen size options – 10.9 cm or 12.7 cm resistive touchscreen and has 2 GB of internal storage, expandable further by 16 GB by way of a micro SD card. There is no word out yet on what its processor will be like or which operating system the tablet would run.
The Magnum is known to be compatible with Word, Excel, PDF and PPT file formats for reading while also including a Word Pad writer as well. The Magnum also comes with a unique Multitasking feature that allows its users to work on multiple files at the same time. These apart, the Magnum tablet includes features like a calculator, calendar, alarm, stop watch, torch light and files back-up.
However, things are a bit unusual as far as the Magnum’s browsing capabilities are concerned as the tablet does not come with even built in data connectivity feature though to make that up, the Magnum is capable of working in tandem with a cellphone via Bluetooth and connecting to the net over GPRS.The Magnum is also capable of pairing up with the existing phone via Bluetooth and synchronize the phone book through a single button. It can also double up as a hands-free unit by using the handset’s FM Transmitter.
The Magnum can also act a navigation unit allowing users to make their way using either an internal built-in or an external navigation map stored in a micro SD card. LACS also informed the Magnum can be an excellent entertainment device, compatible as it is with almost 90 percent of media files. So you can always have your favorite flicks and musics packed into a micro SD car and have them played back. What’s more, the Magnum also includes a mini-USB port that enables it to be connected to select televisions and projectors for an even more convenient viewing pleasure. And of course, the tablet can also let you catch up with your favorite books while if you still wish to have more, there are a host of interesting games the tablet comes pre-loaded with that you can make the most of.
A good thing with the Magnum is that all of these culminates into a net weight of just 152 or 196 grams while price too is a convenient Rs 8,999. So this should make up the lower end of the tablet scene with Binatone tablet being the other player in the budget segment with the Dell Streak at Rs 34,990 making up the upper segment.
Update: November 12 2010
This tablet is now available to be purchased online, directly via Lacs Website! You can choose between the 10.9 CM device for Rs 13,999 or the 12.7 CM model for Rs 15,999 and it comes in 5 available colors. If you live in the West Region you can call Mr. Santosh Oswal at 09922404259 and he can let you know where you can buy one in a retail setting.
Sovan Mandal is the senior tablet and tech corespondent for goodereader.com. He brings a international approach to news that is not just applicable to the North American market, but also Asia, India, Europe and others. Sovy brings his own writing flavor to the website and is interested in Science Fiction, Technology and Writing. Any questions, send an email