Pioneer Computers of Australia has gone on the offensive and has launched two new tablet PCs in one go. And of the two tablets PCs, it is the 10.6 inch model which is smaller in size among the two tablets and has caught the fancy of most out there, one reason for which is the affordable price tag that it comes with.
But that is not to undermine the sleek and svelte looks that the DreamBook ePad A10 tablet sports though many would readily agree the uncanny similarity of the ePad A10 with the Slate device supposedly in the making at HP. So for those who have been hit hard by the Slate yet playing ‘hide n seek’, here is something to drool over. And the DreamBook ePad A10 will set one back by $AUD599 in Australia.
Th highlight of the ePad A10 is its 10 inch screen (10.1 inches to be precise) that packs in 1024 x 600 pixels. On the other side of the widescreen multi-touch WSVGA LCD panel is an Intel Atom N450 processor that clocks in at 1.66GHz. Coupled to the Atom N450 is a 1 GB DDR3 memory which can be stretched further by another gig. As for onboard storage space, the ePad A10 comes with 32 GB solid state drive. The Micro SD card reader allows for further expanding the storage capacity.
Coming to the ports on offer on the ePad A10 tablet, there is a mini USB port as well as the standard USB 2.0 ports, with two of the latter being present. Then there’s the facility for a headphone out and a DC in. An interesting aspect of the ePad A10 is its inclusion of a combo HDMI socket for both VGA and RJ45 Adaptor Port. Then there is also the Support Cable Detect Function integrated into the tablet that aims to save on power.
Apart from these, the ePad A10 incorporates a built-in 1.3M front facing camera, 2 stereo speakers and a built-in MIC. The integrated G Sensor picks up changes in orientation of the tablet and acts to rotate the screen without requiring the user’s intervention. Connectivity option with the ePad A10 tablet include 802.11 a/b/g WiFi, 3G and 3.5G.
However, at $599, one does not get any OS pre-installed on the device though there is mention of Windows 7 as the default operating system for the ePad A10. Instead, the official Pioneer Computers site mentions it has to be purchased separately with it being the Windows XP home edition SP3 that is on offer. And this comes for a price too, an additional $39, thereby pushing up the total price of the tablet to $638. So what you get for $AUD599 is the base version of the ePad A10 tablet sans the OS and 3G connectivity. To avail of the 3G modem, you will have to fork out an extra $99 with Optus and Virgin Mobile being the service providers.
Now coming to battery life of the device. Pioneer Computers mentions it is in the range of 5 hours with three cell lithium polymer battery pack providing the juice. This works out to nearly half the life of an Apple iPad on a single full charge. Also at 267mm x 173mm x 8-17mm, the total weight of the device works out to 900grams, which is again 250 gram more than the iPad.
So, it remains to be seen if it can take the battle of the best tablet to the Apple camp, which for now seems well fortified.
You will have more on this as they emerge along with all the latest tablet pc and e-reader news. So keep watching.
Also, the July issue of the Good E-Reader Magazine is out and is creating waves. So pick up your copy today if you haven’t done already.
With a keen interest in tech, I make it a point to keep myself updated on the latest developments in technology and gadgets. That includes smartphones or tablet devices but stretches to even AI and self-driven automobiles, the latter being my latest fad. Besides writing, I like watching videos, reading, listening to music, or experimenting with different recipes. The motion picture is another aspect that interests me a lot, and I'll likely make a film sometime in the future.
