Right after the completion of CES, ASUS is announcing another new device for emerging markets. The MeMO Pad ME172V is powered by the VIA WM8950 (as rumored back in December), part of the WonderMedia Prizm line of SoCs, with a single core 1.0 GHz ARM Cortex-A9 and Mali-400 graphics processing capable of 1080p video playback and basic 3D. ASUS is claiming that the MeMO Pad ME172V is meant for "novice to basic tablet users" rather than "Android enthusiasts, 3D gaming and early hardware adopters, who are better suited to the more powerful Transformer Pad Infinity or Nexus 7 series."
This is a full Android experience that includes access to the Google Play store, ebooks, social networking and web browsing. With a focus on pricing and performance per watt, ASUS still claims that the MeMO Pad ME172V will offer a "smooth and fluid user experience" though I question how much it can handle with a single Cortex-A9 core.
The screen resolution is 1024×600 and the tablet will run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with only moderate tweaks from the ASUS UI team. It will be available in either 8GB or 16GB capacities but with a microSD card slot that can be expanded by 32GB.
What about availability? ASUS had this to say:
ASUS MeMO Pad will be available starting this January in selected markets from authorized ASUS resellers. We will carry this device in the US market starting in April with a US specific image (full support for our region including Hulu Plus, Netflix, HBO Go, etc, etc.)
So if you are looking for a $149 tablet, the MeMO Pad ME172V might be the best option when it is available in the US later this spring. We are working with ASUS to get a sample to test out the quality of the build as well as the level of performance and usability you can expect for this low-cost tablet.
The CPU is going to be
The CPU is going to be ssllooww. Other than that not to bad.
IF Asus sticks to the price
IF Asus sticks to the price tag they claim then Yes it is a fair price for novice users of tablets.
Ryan did you get hands on?
Ryan did you get hands on? how was the speed of the interface?
Never mind i read the last
Never mind i read the last sentence…
oops
…And of course if Asus
…And of course if Asus gives a sample to the PC Perspective team to test out the quality of the build, performance and usability and if its a Go by PC Perspective I will purchase the MeMO Pad for myself this coming Spring.
Another Android tablet maker
Another Android tablet maker worth a look at in 2013 is Ainol Electronics- which recently introduced a number of impressive, well-priced Android tablets and is also noted for winning Runner-Up for “Best Tablet of the Year” at CES 2012.
One of the first U.S. resellers to carry the new Ainol – Novo brand tablets is a site called TabletSprint – and this week the Novo 7 VENUS launched — a 7-inch tablet with a QUAD CORE processor for $149 that takes on the Google Nexus 7 and other competitors for a lot less and offers a lot more — with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS, a high resolution 1280×800 IPS screen, 16GB memory, a 4000 mAH battery, both front and rear cameras, a MicroSD memory card slot for unlimited storage, Google Play with access to 400K+ Apps, a MicroUSB port for connection to printers and other electronic devices, HDMI – to view personal videos and to download movies and watch in full 1080p (HD) on to a large screen TV, WiFi, Ethernet, and an option for 3G/4G connection. It’s also a great gaming device with its high resolution screen and motion gaming sensor. The site TabletSprint also offers a 7″ Compact Case with built-in Keyboard ($22) which easily transforms a tablet into a mini-laptop–
TabletSprint also offers a
TabletSprint also offers a few other brand new models with most launching in January, including the Novo 10 Hero – a full-size 10-inch tablet packed with impressive features for only $219 –
TabletSprint also includes $25 in quality Bonus Apps with all tablets available through their site — both these new models and a few others featured are certainly worth checking out and comparing to other major brands–
Looking only at the
Looking only at the processor, it is expensive. You can buy tablets with WM8850 (the same as WM8950, but with higher clock speed) for $50-$60 on eBay. So you are paying $90-$100 for the ASUS logo, quality and support. Does it worth it? Maybe yes, maybe no.
At least it is a good thing to see more low cost tablets from known brands, no matter the hardware.
I think its a little pricey
I think its a little pricey for what you are getting. For $50 more the nexus 7 is a better value. Just looking at the specs, this tablet would have to be priced around the $120 mark to be compelling.
Love the competition though. The prices of tablets are really starting to come down. Wont be long before we start seeing sub $100 quality tablets.
I cannot stress how much more
I cannot stress how much more worth it is to get the nexus 7 @ $200, I bought 2 for xmas and their perfect. But of course if this has the perforance to play 720p content no stutter it may be worth it, especially with an sd card slot
No Hulu.com…..Netflix works
No Hulu.com…..Netflix works fine