If you’ve got a product ready to tell the world about, you obviously haven’t just started work on it so these two very similar 8.9” tablets aren’t a results of any iPad hype and the fact that they are based on the netbook platform and offering Windows 7 means that they are targeted at a different, more productivity-focused user; just the sort of user that comes to UMPCPortal!
First-up is the ExoPC. Offered by a French company (with no English website. Clearly not interested in being the global #1,) it’s based on a 2009 netbook platform but offers a multi-touch screen, a 4 hours battery and, based on the SIM-card slot, a 3G option. A weight of 795gm 32GB SSD and 2GB RAM give it specs that raise it slightly above the average netbook and fit well with the requirements of a productive Windows 7 environment.
ExoPC have helpfully provided a comparison page which includes the Archos 9 and iPad but omits the other competitors, the Nav 9 and the EviGroup Pad. Pricing is $599 and is said to be available in March.
On to the Nav 9 then, this is the one that appeared last month as the Netbook Navigator 891A-NN. Again, we’re looking at a sub-1KG (2lb) 8.9” tablet but entry-level pricing gives you a slightly more basic model. Low capacity (2hrs) battery, 1GB RAM and 16GB of SSD are all lower than the ExoPC but there are options to upgrade all of them. A base unit (no OS, single touch, no cam) is going to cost you $500 and expanding everything possible will take you way up to a scary $1500 although at that price you’re getting 3G, 128GB SSD and the multi-touch screen.
It’s obvious that these two are from the same OEM (Sinchun) so it will be very interesting to see how these two companies position their competing products because as we all know here in UMPC-land, devices without keyboards are a tough-sell.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:38 pm
I’m still baffled at the price of these things. Over $500 for a netbook screen with a touchscreen overlay put on it. Don’t get me wrong though I love the concept but the price makes it a no go for me. Perhaps if we start seeing tablets for <$400 they'll become more appealing.
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February 3rd, 2010 at 5:45 pm
Touchscreen IS the main reason it jacks up the price. But being a Tablet, not having a touchscreen is umm… kinda not counter-intuitive.
Of course even if it cost $300, which is close to impossible with current hardware, Tablet with no keyboard will never be attractive as Netbook with a keyboard.
Unfortunately nowadays I’m forced to conclude the market for “MID/Tablet/UMPCs” is all thin vapor and won’t ever grow beyond a certain niche.
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February 3rd, 2010 at 5:46 pm
I meant to say “…kinda counter-intuitive”.
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February 1st, 2010 at 7:11 pm
*looks up the specs* Ummm.. no.
Atom N-series CPUs and Intel GMA graphics? This is 2010, not 2007.
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February 1st, 2010 at 8:42 pm
I think the key difference here is the Nav9 offers a 3G module, where the ExoPC does not, kind of defeating the purpose of the Webcam if not for Wireless SKYPE, etc.
Also, what sets both of these apart from the rest IMO is the Solid State HDD and 2GB RAM, not seen on any other sub-9″ tablets. This puts it a class above prior Netbook-level slates like the Archos 9 and EviGroup Pad.
I’ll reserve final judgement until they are both “officially” launched in March. They are always changing the prices/specs before release, and with all of the iPad hype I’m sure there will be more changes coming.
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February 3rd, 2010 at 5:48 pm
2-4 hour battery life?! What year is this? 2001? Gimme 10!
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February 1st, 2010 at 10:29 pm
So 2010 is going to be the year of the tablet PC! hmmmm maybe the manufacturers want them to fail, the price range needs to match netbooks for them to even be considered.
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February 1st, 2010 at 11:00 pm
When I think of regular netbooks, i think of cheap flimsy computers with crappy hardware which justifies the low price point. If the SSD components are as good as advertised it’s not likely we are going to see the prices drop much lower. The slate pc in general is a much more sturdy piece of hardware, it just needs better software before people will actually want to buy one.
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February 2nd, 2010 at 12:00 am
Far point Steve, however I’ve had my NC10 for a year and I don’t thin k it’s cheap or flimsy, mind I have used it and not abused it.
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February 2nd, 2010 at 11:32 pm
The same stupid 1.6GHz Atoms are in all of these Chinese slates. What is the big hassle with getting a Z510 in some of these?
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February 3rd, 2010 at 10:39 am
@cbone – well, would you rather have a weak smartphone cpu in your slate like the ipad? i bet an atom processor 1.6 ghz is much faster than that apple a4 smartphone processor 1 ghz.
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February 3rd, 2010 at 9:31 pm
They posted a full comparison here: http://netbooknavigator.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32&Itemid=52
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February 6th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
Smaller screen size but bigger and more weight. Crap!
I buy tablet even for 2000$ dollars but must have 7″ or 8.9″ screen and WEIGHT 300-350 grams. This is possible, wince tablets with 7″ screens weight 350gram.
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