News - ASUS and NVIDIA team-up to take on Kindle Fire, Tegra 3 at $249

[HEXUS]

7 inch 1280x800 quad-core Tegra 3 ASUS tablet to take on $199 Kindle Fire.

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[Biscuit]

AAnnndddddd things just got interesting.

[[GSV]Trig]

Oooooo, thats not bad..

[Jonatron]

Are 7 inch tablets really any good though?

[Biscuit]

Well whilst i really liked 10", it was too big to comfortably type on the screen without it resting on my lap or a table. If you are moving around and holding it with both hand this can be a bit of a pain.

I couldn't say that it will definitely work for you but what i can say is that its definitely not a useless form factor.

[MaddAussie]

Link it to the cars ECU and then we have a very nice Torque display for the car...

[crossy]

Link it to the cars ECU and then we have a very nice Torque display for the car...

Renault's already proposing that - see this month's Linux Format magazine or http://blogs.wsj.com/tech-europe/201...r-as-platform/

Are 7 inch tablets really any good though?

I got one with my HP printer - and I'd say "yes" depending on what you want to do. The biggest problems I've had with my baby tablet have been related to the limited nature of the OS support (since it was really designed as a front end for the printer!) and the low hardware spec - neither of which is likely to be the case with the Asus/NVidia device.

If you were looking for something that is mainly an ereader, but can do websites etc too, then I find 7" to be a better size than my "proper" (10") tablet. I'd also think that the smaller unit would be more commute-friendly - so ideal for a quick AngryBirds or video watching session while waiting for bus/train. After all, the form factor is roughly equivalent to a large paperback or small hardback book.

I'm sure that some will complain loudly if it's lacking 3G, but to be honest 3G hotspots are cheap and easy to get, (assuming you don't have an understanding teleco who let's you tether to your phone).

[Biscuit]

Surely with a tablet you can tether to your phone and they would never know as the browser tags would be mobile anyway?

[scaryjim]

I'm with the go 7" crowd. My 10" tablet wasn't really any more portable than my 13" laptop is, and it was a lot less use. With a 720p screen a 7" tablet should be great for pretty much anything you want to do with it. This is *definitely* the most interesting tablet I've seen announced in a long while.

EDIT: that said, the lack of 3G is a *bit* disappointing, as next time I upgrade I'd like to go for a really basic phone and a 3G Android tablet that can then be used as a mobile hotspot. What's the point of having a 7" tablet if you also need to carry around a 3" - 4" smartphone to tether it to...?

[MaddAussie]

Renault's already proposing that - see this month's Linux Format magazine or http://blogs.wsj.com/tech-europe/201...r-as-platform/

I do it already, using my phone a bluetooth ODB2 adapter and theTorque App.

When I had my transformer prime it was great but just that too big for use in the car a 7" tablet would be a better fit

[billybear]

If Asus can deliver this tablet soon, then it will wipe the floor with the iPad 2. I seriously hope that Samsung responds as any competition is good

[[GSV]Trig]

There will always be a market for the ipad, after all its just a large screen iphone, and thats all a lot of people want.

No doubt at some point they will reinvent "widgets" and then the front screen will be a bit more useful..

[mark22]

I can definitely see me buying one of these.

[Brewster0101]

If Asus can deliver this tablet soon, then it will wipe the floor with the iPad 2. I seriously hope that Samsung responds as any competition is good

I will believe Asus when I see the product on the shelve ready to buy, this almost seems like a PR stunt and too good to be true.

[Singh400]

I'd love one but I honestly don't see where it would fit in. It's a fun gadget to have, sure. But as for everyday usability? Not a chance.

[Scribe]

UPDATE: So close on the name, the device is officially the 'Asus Eee Pad MeMO 370T'. The rear camera is an 8MP auto-focus, the device features stereo audio with a standard headphone socket, a Micro SD slot along with Micro HDMI and Micro USB 2.0 connections. The rear of the device is a spun metal-like finish.

Suggestions are also floating around that the device will launch in the next few months.