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  • MagickMan - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    1GB of RAM? They're stumbling right out of the gate.
  • DanNeely - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    ...and the 1280x800 screen leads to a full speed faceplanting.
  • nathanddrews - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    Gotta burn through all that Tegra 4 back stock somehow.

    $149 would be a better price, methinks. $199 should either be 1080p IPS or 2GB... or both. The Nexus 7 does both for only $30 more.
  • Impulses - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    Seems like it's priced a bit too high to compete with the Nexus 7 but I guess street price could be lower (are we gonna start seeing rebates left and right like for GPUs?) and the micro SD slot will draw some in... Frankly I think removable storage media is less of an issue on tablets (just use USB OTG or that micro USB / micro SD OTG reader from minova), but there's still some usage cases where anything dangling is a no no (like if you're giving it to a child).

    The more interesting element here is why NV is doing this at all... Are they that desperate to get Tegra 4 out there? Will their partners really wanna compete with the likes of Samsung?
  • Wolfpup - Thursday, September 19, 2013 - link

    Ugh, I know from a marketing standpoint Samsung wins, but I wouldn't touch one of their gooped up tablets with a 10 foot pole. I wouldn't touch their best one for $75.

    Nvidia I have some faith in actually providing updates, and of course if this is real Tegra 4, it's awesome hardware (not sure, as I'd thought before to hit that price point they were using the "Tegra 4" that actually had A9s, though I'd still take that any day over a Samsung tablet).
  • Impulses - Thursday, September 19, 2013 - link

    I agree with you on all counts, the only problem is the Nexus 7 is stiff competition. Maybe they should've done a 1920x1200 10" model at $350-400 instead, maybe even 1280x @ $300? Most large tablets are still pretty overpriced, are smaller ones selling better becausepeople want smaller or simply cause they're significantly cheaper (I actually went from 10" to 7" by choice but I dunno anyone else that has).
  • twotwotwo - Saturday, September 21, 2013 - link

    ++Impulses. All signs are that T4(/Cortex A15) is just silly fast; that speed at that price is great, and not having the s/w actively botched by Samsung is a bonus. On the other hand, the N7 screen and so on are pretty spiff and it doesn't cost much more. So.
  • asdasdasdcan - Tuesday, November 12, 2013 - link

    doesnt matter as long as the flash isnt speedy enough. the flash is the bottleneck. better cpu wont do much better on day to day task as lont as you are not editing videos and stuff.
  • asdasdasdcan - Tuesday, November 12, 2013 - link

    it's not about the resolution it's about the ppi you dumbf.ack. you just dont get this. 1080p 1080p 1080p blah blah well you know what? 1080 requires 2 times the graphics power as a 720p screen. it's much more useful to spare that processing power for battery life and higher fps' on games.
  • Hrel - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    My thinking is they did that because that SOC can only run the way they want at that resolution. A higher resolution would require a more powerful SOC which they haven't released yet. Also has the added benefit of reducing cost and raising profit margin.

    At some point they made the decision they wanted to get a product out in a specific time. They committed to it. So from there it's just a matter of doing it. This product isn't meant to be a flagship tablet. It's not meant to make people go "wow, I'm buying only Nvidia from now on". It's just a safe entry into a new and wildly sporadic market. They're just establishing a presence as safely as possible.

    My guess, they're going to release that "wow" product based on their first "real" mobile GPU. Which I forget the name of right now, but anandtech talked about it in one of those articles about the Shield.
  • dragonsqrrl - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    It's a powerful SOC, and it's certainly capable of driving a 1080p display without a problem. I think it's just a poor decision by Nvidia in light of the specs and pricing of the new Nexus 7. They should've either used a 1080p panel and slightly increased the price, or stuck with the 720p panel and decreased the price. Somehow I think the 1080p route would've made more sense, and made for a more compelling product.
  • pearl62 - Monday, September 23, 2013 - link

    It's also possible they can't actually get their hands on any 1080p 7" displays, as they are all allocated to much more important customers...
  • Laxaa - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    Yeah. What the hell?
  • piroroadkill - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    Yeah, what on earth? If they wanted to not go all the way with a 1920x1200 screen, I hear Barnes & Noble has stock they want to shift (1440x900)..
  • 1Angelreloaded - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    What? Nook HD + on the father's day sale I picked up for 165$ total after tax and 3-5 day shipping, and that has a 1920x1200 screen res and is 9inch, grant t it only has TI omap proc, but still has google play, and its only lackable feature is cameras for Skype, but for that price I'm not arguing.
  • Death666Angel - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    2" difference puts them in completely different categories, afaic. Glad you like it though.
  • HighTech4US - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    No GPS on the HOOK, so no Google Maps Navagation.
  • Krysto - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    Isn't that as much as the latest "high-end" iPhone?
  • Impulses - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    Huh? IPhones run like $450-650, you only get them cheaper thru a contract subsidy... The prices for these tablets are what they are, period. Did you mean iPod touch or something?
  • superjim - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    For $200 the specs are actually really good. The Tegra 4 alone is a beast. Had it been 1920x1200 res then it could easily be a Nexus 7 killer.
  • ollienightly - Friday, September 20, 2013 - link

    They need 2GB of RAM first. 1200p or not.
  • lancesundrich - Thursday, September 19, 2013 - link

    A new series of Android tablets also launch this week using Intel’s new Clover Trail processor -- offer impressive performance for a mid-range device that outperforms many tablets with quad core processors.

    Ramos Technology has partnered with Intel to introduce the i-Series with 8", 9", 10" and 12" models -- with very competitive pricing and all feature HD displays and GPS --

    Intel’s new processor with Hyper Threading technology runs four threads simultaneously and outscores many mainstream quad-core tablets in benchmark testing.

    The most-compact model is the i-8 ($199) with an ultra sleek-design and is the world’s thinnest 8" tablet featuring a 7.9-inch HD screen, similar in size to the mini iPad – and almost as compact and easy to carry as a 7" tablet, but with 40% more screen space, which makes viewing tablet content much easier– and the new i-8 matches most features of the Nexus 7 -- including GPS – plus MicroSD storage--

    More on the new Ramos i-Series at--Tab l e t Sp r i nt--
  • asdasdasdcan - Tuesday, November 12, 2013 - link

    for 1280x800 res 1gb is enough. ram management is all about software and stock adroid does a pretty good job about that. this is not a full fledge desktop. therefore the programs are not aimed to be running on crazy high specs. seriously, if you dont know no shit about technology just dont act arrogantly. evga is nvidias closest partner. they will make a heck of a job manufacturing this and stock android is just really stable. it does not have as much bugs as something like a sense or a touchwiz device. ıts so annoying of you f.ackers complaining about resolutions and ram. it's all about the ppi josh darn it just dont be a dumbf.ack
  • Drumsticks - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    Certainly not a bad first attempt, and the stylus is sure to draw some people at this price. But it better be a *good* 1280x800 display if it wants to compete with a $30 nexus 4 that has probably an equivalent SoC, a "slightly"? better front facing camera, and will possibly do better on battery life (although it's a lower res display and less RAM with a slightly larger battery) so maybe not.. Also, it has more RAM than the Note.

    Doesn't look like a bad t ablet for the price though, assuming the stylus looks well and has the right support.
  • BMNify - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    Google susbsidised Nexus devices are not available to the majority of the world, so this Tegra Note makes sense for that big market.
  • Impulses - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    That Google subsidized rhetoric is pretty tiring... What does that make this, an NV subsidized tablet? Just because Google isn't making any money off the Nexus line doesn't mean ASUS or others aren't.
  • BMNify - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    Huh!! what rhetoric? why get angry over truth, Nexus devices are sold at cost by Google, Nexus 4 costs $400-$500 in majority of the world when compared to few countries who got it for GOOGLE SUBSIDISED $200-$300.
  • Impulses - Thursday, September 19, 2013 - link

    I'm not angry, you're the one that seems angry Google doesn't sell the Nexus line in X or Y country, angry enough to remind us about it in multiple comments here... Hey, I'd be angry too! (Google does do a piss poor job of expanding many services globally, not just Nexus sales) I don't see how it's a negative that Google's pricing those devices aggressively tho, which is what the subsidy comments seem to imply (maybe I'm wildly misreading thetone). Most other similar devices fall in the opposite end of the spectrum and are wildly overpriced given the BoM and the mobile OS they run...
  • thesavvymage - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    They say google subsidized because in countries that dont have Google Play to buy it from it still costs $500+ instead of 2 or 300
  • Impulses - Thursday, September 19, 2013 - link

    So by that logic this is an NV subsidized tablet, they can't possibly be breaking even if they are putting their own chips in it and selling it for close to what a N7 sells for...
  • eanazag - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    It is not bad for $200. Maybe not enough to compete with the Nexus 7, but it can't be sold at cost or a loss. It is a good way to take care of Nvidia's GPU partners. It has the promise of updates. I don't see why there has to be complaints.
  • jjj - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    Would be nice if they would guarantee fast software updates for 2 years , it's something we don't really get from anything but Nexus devices.
    Specs wise, that 1GB of RAM seems like the wrong place to cut costs for a Tegra 4 device.
    They should also sell a "Shield game controller" accessory for it and enable PC games streaming.
  • Stuka87 - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    The real question is how long will they support it. If it flops (Like I personally feel it will), will they continue to provide support to those that do buy it?

    The other question is does it run vanilla Android, or is it mucked with like some other OEM's do. If its vanilla, that at least will kind of solve the support issue.
  • 1Angelreloaded - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    See that is why you don't buy stuff on initial release, and wait for reviews and a couple revisions of the hardware, otherwise you might end up with a paperweight.
  • jasonelmore - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    they are already going to have to provide OTA updates to shield, which is selling well with rave reviews, i'd imagine those updates would be compatible with this tablet..
  • Dribble - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    Better display and more memory and this might have had a chance - would probably have made it cost just slightly more then the nexus 7, but for that you get a better soc, microsd slot and pen.

    However as it is pretty hard to recommend...
  • BMNify - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    Nexus devices are not subsidised by Google outside of the few 5-6 countries, so its better to think globally when comparing with such devices.
  • sherlockwing - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    Double check you numbers, Nexus 7 2013 is avliable in 10 countries, not 5-6:
    Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom, United States
  • BMNify - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    10 out of 249 countries is still leaving the majority of world, devices such as Tegra Note can provide good option to those remaining 239 countries.
  • jasonelmore - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    you guys got spoiled by the nexus 7. remember the nexus 7 is being sold at a loss in google's pocket, and this tablet's gpu obliterates the nexus 7's. This tablet could easily do offscreen 1080p, it's another nice way for nvidia to show off tegra 4 and prove that it can be done right in a tablet.
  • chizow - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    Not a bad effort, pretty nice looking device like a larger HTC One. At $200 it has a chance but it may still be too close to the Nexus 7. I'm not really interested in an Android tablet but Nvidia is building up a pretty nice track record of designing 1st party devices with Tegra. Will be interesting to see where this goes, and if they try to associate this with Shield as part of their TegraZone Android gaming platform.
  • Mondozai - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    Had they launched this 6 months ago, it'd been a hit. Now? It gets out before Christmas and Nexus 7 (2013) should get a royal price cut or two at that time.
    You get lower resolution and unlike the Nexus 7 the amount of consistent updating is shaky at best.
  • Impulses - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    I doubt you'll see any significant Nexus 7 discounts... You might see the occasional $30 off Black Friday sale like last year (or like at launch for the new one) but that's it.
  • 1Angelreloaded - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    1GB of RAM and that screen resolution will simply hold this tablet back in an already saturated market now if they would have released it 1-2 years ago it would be spot on.
  • iceman-sven - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    GPS?
    I am IT in a company. We currently use a dozen of TomTom for car navigation. But there are totally unreliable, poor display and so on. I want to shift it, to Nexus 7 2013 + Navigon. This might be an alternative if it has GPS. But spec wise, I would still prefer the Nexus 7.

    Does anybody know a good Nexus 7 holder for in car use?
  • HighTech4US - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    I too need Nexus 7 holder for in car use.

    Anyone have links?
  • HighTech4US - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    Car Tablet Mount Holder+USB Post+Cigarette Port Outlet For Asus Google Nexus 7

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&...

    I like that it plugs into the Cigarette Port Outlet and allows both USB powering of the Nexus 7 and still provides a Cigarette Port Outlet for whatever was originally in the Cigarette Port Outlet
  • iceman-sven - Thursday, September 19, 2013 - link

    Not what I search. I need something for the windshield. Or I use Garmin HUD + Nexus 7.
  • speedwheels - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    The screen is shockingly sub-par for 2013 especially when the Tegra-4 GPU is beastly. It can easily handle decent framerates at 1080p even for the most visually complex games..
    Performance wise,this will edge out the Nexus-7 and be the equal of most snapdragon 800 based tablets.
    Add a small discount to this tablet and it might be the best value going.. A Tegra-4 7 inch tablet for $160-$170 by christmas?Sign me up...
  • Death666Angel - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    Hm, not so bad. But in light of the Nexus 7 2013 (I hate those computer products where we now have to add the year to their name), a bit lacking. I am looking forward to the Tegra 4 performance and battery life numbers as well as screen performance. While 800p is low end today, if the price and everything else are right I could live with that. That stylus looks okay, better than the usual capacitive ones, but I'm waiting for someone independent to actually test it. Though I don't think I'd pay more than 170 for it.
  • BMNify - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    Google subsidised Nexus 7 is not available outside 5-6 countries, so this a much better option for the majority of the world.
  • JarredWalton - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    And let's not forget the microSD slot -- something you'll never see on a Nexus.
  • sherlockwing - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    Nexus 7 2013 Wifi/LTE is available in 10 countries, not 5-6: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom, United States
  • BMNify - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    10 out of 249 countries is still leaving the majority of world market which makes much more sense for Tegra note.
  • nerd1 - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    digitizer alone justifies $100 (or MORE, considering pen options for iDevices)
  • Impulses - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    Passive stylus = digitizer?
  • ruzveh - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    There is also no mention of Bluetooth? Battery is very less and also there is requirement of better front camera on tablets then rear one as it will help other people to see a better face when doing skype. I see other people with such a bad video when u do skype with them coz that VGA suc
  • HighTech4US - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    The rest of the specs and features include 802.11bgn WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, GPS and Wireless Display, bucnh of sensors and micro USB port.

    http://www.fudzilla.com/home/item/32545-nvidia-off...

    Quote: "Battery is very less"

    10 hours isn't enough for you?
  • Hector2 - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    I'm waiting for the new, cheaper pre-Xmas tablets to come out --- especially to see how new Intel-based tablets look. It'll be interesting to see if vendors actually do come out with $100 tablets like Intel has predicted. Since I have a 6-core desktop and a dual core laptop, I don't need a tablet, but I'll bite if they're cheap enough with the right features
  • HighTech4US - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    $100 tablets will just be toys for children, maybe okay for ebook readers and casual browsing but not for much else.
  • Impulses - Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - link

    I don't see how anyone could produce something enticing for $100, at least enticing enough to not seem like crap next to a Nexus 7 to anyone who isn't in the poor house, not this year anyway (or next...).

    Where did Intel predict that anyway? Their most interesting tablet SoC are still more expensive than ARM's... I can see plenty of reasons to want a small tablet in addition to a laptop, a phone, and a desktop; tho they're all luxury reasons. Most people only need a phone and a computer, if that.

    A tablet's definitely nice to have tho, way nicer for reading on the couch, showing something around quickly in a small group, etc.
  • irulz - Monday, September 23, 2013 - link

    Only 1GB RAM could be a limitation for future upgrades, they should have kept 2GB RAM for this price... at this price Nexus is the best device in market.

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