Android systems nowadays have been very popular and seem to be catching attention of many platforms and vendors. Viewsonic recently announced its Viewpad7, which features an Android 2.2 on a 7 inch screen. It may not be an alternative for a netbook as well as lacks the bone to compete with iPad but it surely has an impressive specification list to boast about. Priced at $450, the viewpad7 is undoubtedly one of the high end android tablets available and with SIM and memory card enhancements it really is an appealing gadget to get hands on!
The ViewPad 7 has squared-off edges and paperback dimensions seemingly like a slim brick. 4.3 inches in height, 7 inches wide, and .5 inch thick, the ViewPad 7 is very much pocketable than the Galaxy Tab, and iPad. The screen has an 800×480 resolution, covered with a scratch-resistant glass. It has the all conventional Android four touch-sensitive buttons that run along the screen for Home, Menu, Search, and Back. At front, poses a 0.3-megapixel camera on the top left corner of the screen that supports video chat applications. On the backside, a 3-megapixel camera is placed near the center, lacking flash, found on Android tablets. Viewpad7 includes USB port for data transfer and alongside charging slots for headphones. Slim speakers are built on the left and right edges with a power button on the left side. Overall, the hardware design is solid and classy, a 7/10. Viewsonic happen to have applied minimum of the efforts on reengineering the user interface of the Android 2.2 OS to Viewpad optimization. Furthermore, there are three keyboard patterns found, the QWERTY, 12 key & CooTek T+. Viewpad7comes with an option of switching between the designs by hitting left and right.
Other than the all impressive contents of Viewpad 7, there are however some glitches. It does not support flash programs and does not have the capability to optimize common utility entities like calendar, notes, contacts and email. Furthermore, the Viewpad doesn’t come with an output video support. However, many of these glitches are said to be countered by the attractive official android market for latest and greatest applications, as it offers the fill undiluted Android experience.
Viewpad 7 also offers Bluetooth support, wireless audio streaming alongwith device support, GPS, navigation applications, Wi-Fi and USB interface. The application support makes the device lively. It has a pre-installed office applications, which makes this device productive as well as this allows the user to access Microsoft office files on the go. For complex document edits and renders, it also comes with a peripheral support. Furthermore, the Viewpad’s calendar and email applications are already designed to sync with Gmail and other exchange accounts which enhances scheduling and productivity. What probably is the best feature for many users to consider is the battery life of Viewpad. Viewsonic states that the Viewpad 7 has a battery life of 10 hours. This is a pretty decent battery life of a device that runs an android with dual cameras, with media playback support.