Lenovo tablet goes sub-$200

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 02 Sep 2011 12:02 User comments (5)

Lenovo has launched their IdeaPad A1 at $199.

The tablet is 7-inches, runs on Android 2.3, has a single core 1GHz processor, 8GB storage and dual cameras.

At a resolution of 1024x600, the tablet has first generation tablet specs, but the price may persuade some users who could not get in on the HP TouchPad's firesale price.

Even the Samsung Galaxy Tab, originally launched at $500, has similar specs and sells for $250 or more from retailers, a year later.

The IdeaPad A1 goes on sale in two weeks.

Tags: Lenovo IdeaPad A1

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5 user comments

12.9.2011 13:26

ThePastor

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This would be great... if it had current software!
How do you put out a NEW device with last generation software?

22.9.2011 18:14

Xplorer4

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Originally posted by ThePastor:
This would be great... if it had current software!
How do you put out a NEW device with last generation software?

This is very common actually. It depends on development to some extent. If this tablet started R&D before Honeycomb, they arent going to stop all progress to suddenly start all over from scratch. Not to mention it helps reduce price to the customer. The average user doesnt care if it is honeycomb or gingerbread. It's just a cheap tablet so it makes it affordable and they can be "cool."

32.9.2011 18:28

ThePastor

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Except, there is a huge difference between Honeycomb and Gingerbread.
Once Android gets to Ice Cream Sandwich this may not be an issue, but at this point I highly doubt Gingerbread will upgrade to ICS but Honeycomb will almost certainly upgrade to ICS.

This is why I will wait until ICS comes out before I decide on the tab I want.

45.9.2011 15:43

Xplorer4

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Originally posted by ThePastor:
Except, there is a huge difference between Honeycomb and Gingerbread.

And? I never said there wasnt. Thats irrelevant. You asked how it could ship with last gen software? Aldo keep in mind Honeycomb is NOT open source yet, so I believe you have to go through google to obtain the source code. Google may not have come off the source code for a tablet using first gen specs.

Quote:
Once Android gets to Ice Cream Sandwich this may not be an issue, but at this point I highly doubt Gingerbread will upgrade to ICS but Honeycomb will almost certainly upgrade to ICS. This is why I will wait until ICS comes out before I decide on the tab I want.

You might be right, you may be wrong. At this stage all we can do is speculate. For now ICS looks more like Gingerbread then it does Honeycomb. Seeing as it is a merger of both source codes, I believe it will be upgradeable from GB, but I could be wrong as well. Then it comes up to carriers and OEM to decide who gets upgrades.

512.9.2011 12:42

Zeveroth

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Newbie

like teh Wii. Old software for new gen-tech. Talking about BS. Like all the other off market crap still coming out with 2.1 and so on. 3.x should be a mandated software.

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Lenovo tablet goes sub-$200

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