ie8 fix

Photo tour of Identity Tab: 7-inch budget tablet

By | February 16, 2011, 9:12am PST

We are constantly being surprised at the high prices OEMs are putting on Android tablets, but there are a few exceptions to the rule. The good folks at Dynamism sent me an early model of the Identity Tab they are selling, and the excellent build quality is welcome given the reasonable price of the tablet. Tablets with Wi-Fi only may be rare, but this is one exception to the rule.

I am not giving a full review of the Identity Tab as the unit I am evaluating, while the final hardware version, is lacking the final software that will be shipping to customers. The hardware is impressive on its own, and worth taking a photo tour of a very nice Android tablet.

Check out the photo tour of the Identity Tab Android tablet.


Image Gallery: Check out the Identity Tab Android tablet from Dynamism. Image Gallery: Samsung Focus Image Gallery: Samsung Focus browser

Specs:

  • Processor: Samsung Hummingbird, 1GHz
  • Memory: 512MB
  • Display: 7-inch, 800×480 capacitive multitouch
  • Ports: 3.5mm headphone jack, SD card, miniUSB, miniHDMI out
  • Power: 4,100 mAh Li-polymer
  • OS: Android 2.2 (Froyo) including Android Market
  • Graphics: PowerVR SGC 450
  • Storage: 8GB NAND Flash
  • Communications: Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
  • Camera: 3MP (no flash)
  • Dimensions: 7.52×5.14×0.57 in., 0.93 lbs.
Despite the reasonable price of $349, Enspert (OEM) only took a low-budget route with two of the components. The 7-inch touch display, while bright and crisp, only displays at 800×480, a low resolution. The camera has no LED flash as is common, and is only a 3MP version.

Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily e-mail newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.

Topics

James Kendrick has been using mobile devices since they weighed 30 pounds, and has been sharing his insights on mobile technology for almost that long.

Disclosure

James Kendrick

James Kendrick has no affiliations or relationships that need to be disclosed.

Biography

James Kendrick

James Kendrick has been using mobile devices since they weighed 30 pounds, and has been sharing his insights on mobile technology for almost that long. Prior to joining ZDNet, James was the Founding Editor of jkOnTheRun, a CNET Top 100 Tech Blog that was acquired by GigaOM in 2008 and is now part of that prestigious tech network. James' writing has appeared in many print publications: Smartphone and Pocket PC Magazine, Information Week and Laptop Magazine to name a few. James' coverage of the mobile technology sector has regularly appeared in the New York Times, Salon.com and CNN/ Fortune online. Not just a writer, James has filmed numerous video reviews and how-tos that have garnered well over a million viewers. He has appeared on local news segments and been interviewed by the Associated Press on mobile technology topics. Additionally, James has been podcasting about mobile technology for years.

8
Comments

Join the conversation!

Just In

good idea about android
gavin.chan 2nd Oct
A good post. Thanks for sharing.Hi, do you own a tablet pc? We supply kinds of tablet computers, including wholesale android tablet and windows 7 tablet pc. Buy a 8 inch android tablet from China at wholesale price.ydR9n
0 Votes
+ -
Not too bad...hardware is a little weak, especially considering that you can buy a Galaxy tab outright for about $150 more, and then you have the option for cell service if you want it.
0 Votes
+ -
When Googling for 7" tablets, I found your article. I was excited until I read $349. When tablets like the NookColor (yes it's a tablet in an eReader disguise, but it is a 7" tablet) are out for $250...I'd hope that something with just stock Android (i.e. no special software customizations) would be even cheaper (or at least the same). Make it $249 (or less) and they'll sell like hot cakes!!! Even the new Archos 70 Android tablet sells for $279!
0 Votes
+ -
The Nook Color is $100.00 less and has a 1024x600 IPS LCD display. Outside of a slightly faster processor, I don't see the value here. 800x480 is absolutely unacceptable resolution over 4 inches.
they might have a winner.
0 Votes
+ -
the nook color is 7", capacitive screen at 1024 x 600 and Honeycomb is available for it via a root/sideload.
Kendrick, you really are stock into the box of expensive android tablets and the lack of wifi only tablets.
What is it with you? Once you take a position nothing will ever change your mind? I guess so.
Like a few before m said, just check Amazon to find dozens and dozens of android, wifi only, very able and well priced tablet/ereaders. I think your problem is that, you are stuck in the tablet only mode when ereaders are also tablets but not sold as such. Where is your critical thinking? Oh sorry, you work as a tech writer. You do not need to think at your job, just write about any crazy idea that comes to your head.
Let me see. You think the tablet you are talking above is nice and well priced, you kidding, right?
7 inch and a resolution of 800x480. Are you living with those guys from Geico, under a rock?
The Nook, great little tablet, $199 and a better resolution. The Cruz Reader, $119 at Borders, 800x600 resolution and does everything the expensive ones do.
Nextbook Next3, 8.4 inch screen! 800x600 resolution, $ 157 online, a great android tablet. The white Pandigital Novel, 7 inch, 800x600 resolution, great little tablet and reader and now with the latest firmware upgrade they have open it up to a full blown android tablet/ereader.
Anyway, I know we will never change your non-visual mind, but maybe (if you were able to find one with your ridgeness) your wife, reading of som of the comments will help you see the light of the train coming down the tunnel that will hit you right down the middle!

Before I forget, all those one I mentioned have a fantastic, well designed, strong built. None of them feel cheap.
0 Votes
+ -
good idea about android
gavin.chan 1st Oct
A good post. Thanks for sharing.Hi, do you own a tablet pc? We supply kinds of tablet computers, including 3g wifi tablet . Buy a freescale android tablet from China at wholesale price.yP5pw
0 Votes
+ -
good idea about android
gavin.chan 2nd Oct
A good post. Thanks for sharing.Hi, do you own a tablet pc? We supply kinds of tablet computers, including wholesale android tablet and windows 7 tablet pc. Buy a 8 inch android tablet from China at wholesale price.ydR9n

Join the conversation!

Formatting +
BB Codes - Note: HTML is not supported in forums
  • [b] Bold [/b]
  • [i] Italic [/i]
  • [u] Underline [/u]
  • [s] Strikethrough [/s]
  • [q] "Quote" [/q]
  • [ol][*] 1. Ordered List [/ol]
  • [ul][*] · Unordered List [/ul]
  • [pre] Preformat [/pre]
  • [quote] "Blockquote" [/quote]
ie8 fix

The best of ZDNet, delivered

ZDNet Newsletters

Get the best of ZDNet delivered straight to your inbox

Facebook Activity

White Papers, Webcasts, & Resources
ie8 fix