14 DAY TRIAL // With all the news about tablets making the web recently, it is not overly surprising to hear that Pioneer Computers has also joined the fray, although the low cost of its slate may take people off guard.
Tablets only established themselves as a market segment in their own right just last year, but they are already believed to be a danger to netbooks and other laptops.
Apparently, the lack of a physical keyboard is not as big a disadvantage as some believed at the start of 2010.
The development of more suited versions of the Android operating system also contributed to the progress, as did more powerful ARM processors.
The DreamBook ePad, as Pioneer's slate is called, is a 7-inch model at whose heart lies a dual-core ARM Cortex A-9 chip, whose clock speed is of 1.2 GHz.
The resolution of the screen is 800 x 480 pixels, while the aforementioned chip is complemented by 256 MB of RAM (random access memory).
Additionally, there are 2 GB of internal storage, plus a microSD card slot, which will let one add a significant extra amount (up to 32 GB).
What's more, a webcam is present, of 0.3 or 1.3 megapixels, while a G-Sensor, a pair of 1 W speakers, a 2,400 mAh battery and 802.11 b/g/n WiFi (3G is optional complete the primary feature set.
Needless to say, being a tablet, touch input is supported, in this case two-finger multi-touch.
There is also mention of 3G (WCDMA, CDMA-EVDO, TD-SCDMA ready) and optional USB GPS (dongle), plus USB 2.0.
All the above are packed inside a frame that weighs 400g and runs the Android 2.2 operating system (OS). Those interested in a direct look over the specifications, as well as buying a model, need only drop by the official web page on Pioneer's website.
The price is, compared to most other tablets, quite low, of 199 AUD, which is the rough equivalent of 201 USD.