Better spec than I was expecting, might bag one.
That's a pretty decent device - quad-core, USB and uSD for less than £120. Kind of makes the iPad Mini look grossly overpriced unless the HUDL's (stupid name) screen is atrocious. Kudos to Tesco's for having the bravery to leave it more-or-less stock rather than “doing an Amazon”.
I suspect that this'll fly off of the shelves pre-Christmas. Heck, if they did a 10" version then I might be tempted myself!
Strange price really, thought they'd definitely aim for under £100 with a lower spec model…
That actually doesn't look too bad…
£60 with clubcard points? Surely a bargain. Better screen than expected too, almost ideal res for a 7" device.
The better than expected display make this an interesting proposition. Also the fact that its storage is expandable.
I guess the SoC is a MediaTek Quad-A7 device, or maybe a last-gasp for the Tegra 3.
Looks like a good deal, the HDMI socket makes it a better bet for media than the Nexus 7, as you'll be able to hook it direct to a TV if you want.
As above I'm surprised that it actually sounds pretty good spec. I have a 2013 Nexus 7 so I won't be picking one up myself but I may recommend it to family. Looks like its running pretty stock android (which is what I was worrying about).
Res suggests it's a 16:10 ratio screen. Doing the math based on the res and a diagonal dimension of exactly 7" it works out at ~ 243dpi, which is absolutely fine if you ask me.
With Google Play support and GPS it is tempting for me at the money. Will wait for reviews to see how annoying the Tesco branding is, but if not too bad it might be happy Xmas to me with one.
Hmmm - Tempting at £60 although depends how many Tesco clubcard points are required… Glad to see its almost plain android and its such a decent spec. Sort of wished I hadn't persuaded my parents to get a recon nexus 7 2012 for £99 the other day…
DanceswithUnix
Rumours say this an an Archos built device based on a Rockchip 3188.
If true, then that could be a stonking deal.
Edit to add: Well the Archos bit is true. The 3188 is a quad A9 cpu on 28nm to save people some Googling :)
Just doing a little Googling and the R3188 looks like it's running at quite a high freq, which makes me wonder how the battery life and performance compares v's Tegra3. Wet-finger-in-the-air is that this could be quicker than a Teg3-powered device, but the Tegra makes a better games platform. In which case, as you say, time to dig out that Clubcard and form an orderly queue.
It's got great specs, thats for sure.
Granted it's really cheap, maybe it's just me, but am I the only one who thinks it looks plastic/low budget.
Tesco Clubcard users who, with the voucher system, will be able to get it for £60.
But at £60, it's definitely a bargain. (Any more details about how to get it at that price)
crossy
Just doing a little Googling and the R3188 looks like it's running at quite a high freq, which makes me wonder how the battery life and performance compares v's Tegra3. Wet-finger-in-the-air is that this could be quicker than a Teg3-powered device, but the Tegra makes a better games platform. In which case, as you say, time to dig out that Clubcard and form an orderly queue.
Tegra 3 had dated looking shaders when it came out. Games look OK on my phone (HTC one), but 10 minutes of gaming and you can't hold the damned thing it gets so hot.
The R3188 is a 28nm device, so the 40nm Tegra 3 is at a pretty huge disadvantage.
Sounds like I'll be getting one for our daughters birthday. I hope they don't run out, her birthday's on the 9th Oct.
If its made by Archos it should be pretty rootable, so like the Nook HD should make a bargain tablet for slapping cyanogen or equivalent on. Just waiting to see what the screen is like (viewing angle and colour wise). I assume it has full playstore access out of the box?
At £60 with points its almost a no brainer!
I did quite a bit of research into (very) cheap 7 - 8“ tablets recently.
I really wanted 8” but I thought the best value (out of 7 tablets compared) was the Nook HD. It's only £99 but like this is 7“ 1440 x 900 with all reviews saying a gorgeous display with the actual display element v close to the outer surface.
The advantages the Nook HD has is that it's £20 cheaper, got an unusually high 12+ hr battery life, and the modified android has great user switching (separate accounts for the kids etc etc).
The disadvantages of the Nook HD are that it's dual core (vs quad), ICS (not JB), no camera and no GPS.
I don't care too much for a camera but I actually quite like the idea of trying out a 7” sat nav in the car so GPS is a rare bonus on the Hudl.
£60 with clubcard definitely attractive but for me, it's always better to get 4x the value (vs 2x) using them to get restaurant vouchers.
I don't eat out often but it's nice to think that the a portion of the bill can be reduced to a quarter.
Still tempted though…
If I was going to put a 7 inch in the car I'd probably check to see if Brodit do a cradle first…
Good spec but the Tesco brand on the back puts me off
Neostar
Good spec but the Tesco brand on the back puts me off
So slap a sticker over the top? :p
I'd be worried about that old cliche …
there's a price to all this cheapness … that is, shoddily built and liable to fall apart it you even so much as look at it funny.
crossy
So slap a sticker over the top? :p
…
My thought exactly. One of those Brother (or whatever) labelling machines would do a perfect job.
crossy
….
I'd be worried about that old cliche … there's a price to all this cheapness … that is, shoddily built and liable to fall apart it you even so much as look at it funny.
Again, my thoughts exactly, BUT ….. it's not necessarily the case. Case in point, clothes. It isn't just low-end cheap supermarket clothes being made in very low labour cost countries, but high-end designer stuff too. And there are decently made high spec phones, etc, coming out of China at a fraction of the price of status symbol Apple, Samsung, etc.
So my guess would be that that's what Tesco are doing …. buying and badging something that may well be a high seller in China, but is an unknown brand here. I'm no Tesco fan (in fact, haven't bought
anything in there in years) but I'd be surprised if they would put their name to anything too cheap or tacky. It's not worth the reputational damage.
What would worry me, personally, a bit more is exactly what customisation had been done, and the potential for Tesco snooping on my usage habits. Of course, if a decent custom ROM becomes available, I might look at it, but personally, not with Tesco-supplied software on it.
Saracen
So my guess would be that that's what Tesco are doing …. buying and badging something that may well be a high seller in China, but is an unknown brand here. I'm no Tesco fan (in fact, haven't bought anything in there in years) but I'd be surprised if they would put their name to anything too cheap or tacky. It's not worth the reputational damage.
What would worry me, personally, a bit more is exactly what customisation had been done, and the potential for Tesco snooping on my usage habits. Of course, if a decent custom ROM becomes available, I might look at it, but personally, not with Tesco-supplied software on it.
It is an Archos designed machine who are French I believe, and have a good reputation for firmware support on their devices. I am guessing it is a cost reduced version of their gaming tablet that was announced this week.
I was in our local Tesco last night, and they had a display stand up already. Couldn't actually play with the tablet as it was stuck on an install screen unable to get a WiFi signal but at a quick glance it looked OK. The usual Archos large bezel around the display may put some people off.
DanceswithUnix
It is an Archos designed machine who are French I believe, and have a good reputation for firmware support on their devices. I am guessing it is a cost reduced version of their gaming tablet that was announced this week.
….
Noted. I saw the Archos stuff earlier too. But I don't know much about Archos. It strikes me as quite possible that, French or not, it's made for them in China, either to their spec, or based on something else, with their adaptations/modifications. Or not. Dunno. ??
What isn't made in China.
Actually the failed sticks of Ballistix ram I just sent back had “Made in USA” stamped on them, so some things are not made there ;)
According to the FT and Tesco's chief information officer it's made by Wistron not Archos, will pick one of these up as it is much better to have grubby little hands ruin a £120 tablet than a much more expensive one.
