The Superpad 10.2 tablet PC is responsible for introducing low pricing back into the tablet PC world. We haven’t all got $500 hanging around in our pockets waiting for the new shiny gadget! Hooray for the Superpad, which costs less than half that. But is it worth that budget cost?

Superpad Specs

* Price: under $200
* Release date: 2010
* OS: Android 2.1
* Size: 10.5 x 0.5 x 6.5 inches
* Weight: 1.59 lbs. / 0.72 kg
* Screen: 10.2 inches
* Resolution: 1024 x 600
* Memory: 4GB onboard memory (can be expanded up to 32GB)
* Processor: FlyTouch ARM11 1GHz
* Wi-Fi connectivity
* Camera: 1.3 MP
* Battery life: 3hrs

Superpad 10.2 Tablet PC: the good points

Cost: You can’t help noticing the price is the Superpad is pretty cheap! If the tablet wars were fought on pricing alone, the Superpad would already be victorious. However, we usually realise that lower pricing means some compromise on features and speed, and for this price you can’t expect something as powerful as the ipad 2 or Motorola Xoom. With that being said, the introduction of a tablet of this price range is welcome. If you have been lusting after a tablet but just can’t afford a high-end one, the Superpad could be a great solution.

Looks: for a budget tablet, the Superpad looks surprisingly good. It’s never going to win a beauty contest, but for what it is, it looks just fine.

Camera: The 1.3Mp camera which comes with the Superpad again is never going to win prizes or look great compared to your digital camera, and it can’t meaure up to many of the other tablets. But when looking at a tablet of this price, many people wouldn’t expect a camera at all! Remember, the ipad 1 had no camera originally, it was only with the iPad 2 that Apple included one.

Android: Already have an Android smartphone? You will find the Superpad very easy to get to grips with. The Android market (app store) is constantly expanding, with many thousands of apps available. Do keep in mind that the Superpad’s budget processor won’t be able to run the most high-end games and apps.

2x Micro-SD Slots: This is a real plus and means you can upgrade the existing 4gb memory to as much as 36gb, bringing it into contention with high-end tablets and giving you great storage for music and movies.

Ports: Additionally to the micro-Sd slots, the Superpad also boasts two USB 2.0 ports, a mini HDMI port and a headphone jack. The USB ports (not present on the ipad 2!) mean you can add an external keyboard, mouse or some extra storage. The Superpad also has an ethernet port so you can connect directly to the LAN.

Superpad 10.2 Tablet PC

Superpad 10.2 Tablet PC: the bad points

Battery Life: The main selling point for any tablet computer is its portability. A battery that only lasts 3 hours really limits this portability. It will be fine for short journeys, but forget using it on a long train journey, and be prepared to take a charger everywhere you go!

Wireless: Problems with the wifi connection have caused a lot of complaints with many users reporting it frequently dropping the line. Not good if you want to use it for staying connnected on the go, using WiFi hotspots.

No Multi-Touch Screen: The tablet comes without multitouch, which means that it won’t respond to squeezing or pinching the screen, something most smartphone users have come to expect. Controls are therefore more basic, but then this is a budget tablet.

Storage Space: The initial storage is 4gb, which might sound okay – but after you’ve taken the Android OS into account, you’ve actually only got about 2gb free. A couple of apps and that’s gone! Luckily you can add storage with the micro-SD slots.

OS version: The Superpad uses Android 2.1 which wasn’t designed for tablets, only for smartphones. This means the more powerful and up to date apps may not work on the superpad.

Reliability: Lower specs means less reliability. Frequent crashes have been a problem for some users. Hmmm… You get what you pay for?!

Conclusion

This is a great tablet for those who don’t need a very powerful tablet, and are working to a tight budget. You’ll still be able to download email, browse the web and use office apps. But for the price, don’t expect the Superpad 10.2 Tablet PC to give you the power and flexibility of a more expensive option.


Filed under: Superpad • Tablet PC Reviews

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