Asda has launched an 8 inch Android tablet for just £99, while the bargain-basement price does inevitably mean that the Arnova slate is not packed to the rafters with features.
The Arnova 8 brings a 4:3 resistive screen, 4GB of internal memory and a microSD slot (up to 32GB) for additional storage. However, the resistive technology is disappointing - users would surely pay more for a more responsive screen type.
Operating system wise, the Arnova comes with Android 2.1 Éclair, and Asda are boasting that this underlines their desire to become the 'UK's tablet world' - put at least Gingerbead on there, and you'd be talking.
Packed in
Alex Crowe, technology expert at Asda said: "It's absolutely amazing what can be packed in to this fantastic Arnova tablet.
"Tonnes of books and music, email, Internet browsing, games and much, much more – and it only weighs ounces. It really is the perfect holiday gadget and at this fantastic price it can't be beaten."
The Arnova 8 comes with a 800x600 resolution screen, and boasts 25 hours of music playback life.
As you may expect, this will not be a tablet to compete with the likes of the iPad or any of the high-profile Android tablets arriving at the moment.
But for less than £100 it may well prove to be a big seller for the WalMart owned supermarket.
Your comments (6) Click to add a new comment
quatermass
July 20th 2011
6. It can't have google market as Google don't like tablets running less than 3.0.
How much RAM do you think it'll have I wonder? 256MB? Can't run much if it has that.
Alert a moderator
bradavon
July 18th 2011
5. I meant to say yeah right. I don't believe the battery will last 25 hours.
Also agreed, I bet it has no android market. Which is crucial.
Alert a moderator
thesoupthief
July 18th 2011
4. This kind of dross risks poisoning the well for later, better bargain devices
Here's a linky with some video on this 600mhz lump
http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/26/archos-arnova-8-and-10-tablet****-the-bargain-bin-video/
Note that Archos threaten a later 1ghz cortex A8, capacitive screened device
Alert a moderator
meesterboom
July 18th 2011
3. Resistive screen, oucha!
Alert a moderator
delboy1979
July 18th 2011
2. I bought an Archos 101 tablet (Froyo 2.2) at the start of the year, this was deemed mid range rather that budget. It was truly awful with a VERY limited viewing angle (straight on, nothing else), very slow and it literally broke within an hour of me initially powering it on. Like the Archos, I bet this won’t include support for very important and minimal functionality like android market/flash etc.
My experience with the Archos nearly ruined my whole future opinion on tablets, I bet this’ll be the same for people who buy this.
Very low end budget = a waste of money and your time.
Alert a moderator
bradavon
July 18th 2011
1. 25 hours? Yeah. This will be a false economy. It's bound to be so awful, you'll regret buying it.
Alert a moderator
Tell us what you think
You need to Log in or register to post comments