After seen and using iPAds, iPad2s, Iconias, Asus, Galaxy Tab, this Viewpad 7e from Viewsonic Viewsonic V7E_1WNA1US7_01 ViewPad 7e 7-Inch Android 2.3 Gingerbread Tablet White is the nicest fashion statement for less than $180 you can make during these holidays!
I have used tablets and convertible tablets, for entertainment, reading ebooks and for teaching math and physics classes, and this is the nicest, coziest 7in tablet me and my family have ever had so far.
Some claims it freezes. Mine, not whatsoever. Perhaps kids had to be careful not to push the tiny on/off button at the top right.
Some also may complain it does not come with Android Market or is rooted. Need to know that Android Market is not really free, when you pay for a nifty expensive tablet that does the same things as this one, there, you are paying for AM. Nothing is free, unless you are willing to risk rooting it and installing a generic rom to have partial access to AM. But then you got something else: a generic tablet.
The fact that has a fast-response resistive screen makes it ideal for teaching and for school. Kids need to learn to write, and the appropiate apps, this Viewpad 7e can change the classroom. School districts will see the immense savings on their budgets.
Pros:
sleek white frame (could come in other fashion colors)
white/black/white packing,
nice front buttons instead of on-screen,
nice 3d Viewscene home screen
good size for internal memory
fast enough for the price
allows to install reliable non-Android Market apps
connector for HDMI and USB on top
front and back cameras, both videocapturing
quick no-false response for a resistive screen
works with $1 stylus/pen (eg Uniball Signo MC3, BIC e3)
does turn off accidentally (asks to be turned off politely)
decent price (if kept under $199)
Cons:
not a full Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) implementation
should have included a plastic stylus
not Android Market (if really want it buy a expensive tablet)
may not fit well in small hands like kids'
plastic case casting surface not uniform (it may have been done too fast to launch it)
should have included one complimentary screen protector
not easy user replaceable battery
front camera a bit grainy with low light
A definite buy for a first family tablet. Not to be compared with flagship tablets. Tablets should now be classified according to levels; it is not fair to compare this one to iPads or other $500-800 tablets. It is a star in its own level.
As a scale for comparison, a generic $70-90 tablet will be like having a Chery QQ or Tata Nano minicar, an iPad2 or or iPad3 with 4G access will be like a Range Rover Evoque, this Viewpad 7e is like a well built Toyota Corolla. If you want something like the new shrink-size Infiniti in tablets, then get a Samsung Galaxy Note.
Well done for a budget tablet. We'll see how it lasts and endures. My review of its application for educational environments will be soon posted on my blog,
If you are looking for this tablet, it means that you are looking for something in the $200 price range.
As some of you already know it, the Kindle Fire costs only $199 with IPS capacitive screen, duo core and 8GB.
So if you can get this tablet under $200, you get a pretty good deal if you want something decent with a front camera for video call. Otherwise, the other good bet is MID 7022 which has a capacitive screen.
-----------------
Ok, there are a lot of things to be said about this tablet. Some other reviewers have rated this tablet as bad as it could be (e.g. freezes, and etc...). True and not true.
I have a Toshiba Thrive 16GB. Comparing a 16GB 10" screen Tegra 2 with 1GB of RAM to this little toy seems unfair, but this tablet is not bad. You just must know how to fully utilize the Viewpad 7e.
The PROs:
white case
small form factor (i.e. 7 inch screen)
front and rear camera
Android 2.3
microSD slot
4 buttons below screen
sound
The CONs:
limited 4GB storage
512 MB RAM
single core
screen resolution
------------------
I was able to install Google Market. It's really not that hard when you make some research on how to install it. BUT I've found it useless because it's not the up-to-date one.
The 1Market and the Appstore pre-installed in the Viewpad 7e are good enough. You just have to make yourself as a SuperUser. Also, the device is already configure for the user to be able to move installed applications to the SD. Or if you want you can install App2SD for free.
------------------
Knowing that you have only 4GB, a single core, and 512 MB RAM to play with, you must know how to work with what you got. The key is to clear any unnecessary program when not in use, not to use the 3D Launch (a.k.a. SPB Shell), and definitely NO Live Wallpaper.
It may sound easier said than done, right??? Well, there's a free app for that's called Gemini Taskiller Widget program. After installation and setup, all you need to do is to shake the device so that it would clear your RAM every time after you close a program to open another one. My 8 year old girl can do it. Why can't you?
----------------
With QQ Player installed, I can even play RMVB! MKV can also be played for animation episodes. This is all a cool and cheap tablet that can do it all with restrictions of course.
Overall, for something under $200, it is a nice tablet. I got mine for $170 during Black Friday.
The other thing I want to mention is the screen. It's more resistive than capacitive. It also means that it is not as hard as gorilla glass of course.
I was a little put off by it, but I eventually get use to it. It is not that bad. It's like in a Nintendo DS, if not better. It is acceptable.
Although the resolution is not that high, it is really acceptable when watching NON-HD episodes. Let's face it! Who got enough bandwidth and time to download HD episodes regurlarly??? I was one of them, but then if you car recommended fuel is 87, why pay/waste for better grade?
On my Toshiba Thrive, when I play RMVB episodes, the pictures are very blurry because of the lower resolution format. On this baby, it looks more acceptable on a smaller screen @ a lower resolution.
--------------------
The other downside is the Wifi. I have really good reception. I have good signal even when I am in another room with closed door. The problem is that it seems to go to sleep even when I have set up Wifi to never go to sleep. I have also set my device with static IP, and the trouble still persists whenever the device is left unused for a while.
No problem. The solution is to reset the Wifi, and to find an easy way to do it. Just put a Wifi toggle switch as a widget in different pages, and flick it off and on whenever programs stop seeing any network connection. This usually happens after the tablet has been left unused for a while (e.g. charging).
Of course, in my more expensive Tablet (i.e. the Thrive), I do not have this problem. Hopefully, there will be an update soon to fix this problem. But then again, I know my way around it.
-----------------
The sound on this tablet is pretty impressive. I did not expect it to be that good.
The Toshiba Thrive has stereo speaker. This Viewpad 7e only has one, but it sounds better than my Toshiba Thrive!!!
How so? Acoustic design. The Toshiba Thrive stereo speakers just throw sounds straight from the bottom. The Viewpad 7e resonates through the tablet nicely with only one speaker to make it more lively (kind of like a tube TV in hand)! Simply amazing! And with a white case, it's just class (with restrictive power).
But as a Toshiba Thrive owner, I really have some hard time swallowing this. Yes, a bit mad indeed about what the Viewpad 7e can throw in the sound department. -
-----------------
Also, after installing programs (then move them to SD if possible), don't forget to reboot, then test the program.
The battery is adequate. You just have to tune down the screen brightness, and lower the volume whenever you can. My daughter just crams the volume to the MAX, and she still gets some good kicks for about 3 hours. Good enough for me! I don't want her to be in front of the screen too long.
-----------------
Like I said, once you know how to operate this baby, for the price it is a steal if you can find it close to the price range of a MID 7200.
At least with the Viewpad 7e, you can still use Skype or other programs to do video call. The Kindle Fire can't. Also, the Viewpad has expandable microSD storage that you can total up to 36GB (4+32). But it is no duo core, nor does it have IPS screen. It is what it is. It just depends what you want for something close to $200.
Otherwise, save your money, and buy an Iconia A100 for more $$$!
Buy Viewsonic V7E_1WNA1US7_01 ViewPad 7e 7-Inch Android 2.3 Gingerbread Tablet - White Now
Very fast web browsing. Much better than Kindle Fire. Has real Amazon Kindle Ap. You can't beat it for the price.Don't order The ViewSonic ViewPad 7, 7 Inch Android Tablet Folio Leather Case Black , it is junk and doesn't fit.
Read Best Reviews of Viewsonic V7E_1WNA1US7_01 ViewPad 7e 7-Inch Android 2.3 Gingerbread Tablet - White Here
It's a nice piece of hardware with excellent sound and graphics. It's very sturdy. I recently found out that there is a way to install the Android Market and that was the only thing that was missing. Thank you, Dr. Chuck Yuen.
Edit:
I dropped my review down because it won't play wma files and their tech support people are morons. If you need to reset the Viewpad because it locked up, then simply press the power key and the home key together. Also, the manual states that it plays wma files and it doesn't.
Want Viewsonic V7E_1WNA1US7_01 ViewPad 7e 7-Inch Android 2.3 Gingerbread Tablet - White Discount?
Edit: Sadly, as some others have reported, my Viewpad 7e also showed issues when reading microSDHC cards. In my case, only 2 of 4 cards that I own would even read. One of these cards was brand new, and all of them work fine in other devices. Of the 2 cards that my Viewpad could read, one would un-mount itself and become unreadable within minutes, and the other would work fine for several hours, but randomly either un-mount or corrupt files. As recommended by Viewsonic Customer Service, I tried reformatting all the cards, both on a PC, and in my Viewpad 7e, but it didn't change anything.
I did really like my Viewpad 7e, but I was forced to replace it with another tablet when Amazon was unable to ship a replacement (or give a firm date when one would be available.)
Hopefully, the problem I had with the microSDHC card reader on my Viewpad was a fluke (and not indicative of a general design defect of some sort), and if so, I would still rate the Viewpad 7e a fairly good value, because though it lacks some features, like a capacitive touch screen, that are found on other tablets like the Kindle Fire, by way of compensation it has other useful features like cameras, bluetooth, and expandable microSDHC memory.
. . . But, for this comparison to work in the Viewpad's favor, the added features (like the micro-SDHC card expansion slot) also have to ACTUALLY WORK.
For the record, here are the things that I really liked about my Viewpad -
Both front and rear cameras (fairly rare on such an inexpensive tablet)
512 k memory, and a 1GHz CPU (better performance than most other low cost tablets)
USB OTG Host capability
Bluetooth (also rare on inexpensive tablets selling below 200 dollars)
Easy to hook up an external keyboard and mouse (works with BOTH Bluetooth and USB)
The multi-touch 7 inch 800x600 screen with it's slightly more spacious 4:3 aspect ratio
... (vs. the 7 inch 16:9 screens found on most other devices)
Built in Flash Video in the browser.
... And here are some of the things I was not as thrilled about -
The Viewpad 7e's cameras are only so-so (not nearly as good as the built in cameras on the Samsung Galaxy Player 4 for example)
On the Viewpad 7e, if you forget to disable 'Sync' and 'WiFi' with the Power Widget before using the sleep button, the battery will drain really fast for a device that is supposed to be 'sleeping' in low power mode. My other Android devices (as well as my Netbook PC) will run several days to a week or more while sleeping, but the Viewpad will drain in less than 24 hours if Wifi is not disabled. Disabling WiFi and Sync will extend this to a few days, which is a little more reasonable, but still less than every other device that I own.
The Viewpad 7e touch screen is resistive, so instead of a nice smooth scratch resistant glassed in front like the Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet, what you see on the Viewpad 7e is a plastic screen that is slightly recessed into a picture frame style bezel (which may present both a durability and an aesthetic issue with some folks) and of course, you have to use a slightly firmer touch than with a capacitive screen.
I didn't find this to be a deal breaker with my Viewpad, because the extra pressure required was fairly light and not too objectionable, and I have to admit that, after careful calibration, the pointing accuracy was excellent (easily as good, and often better, than many of the capacitive screens I have used).
There is no Compass or GPS on the Viewpad 7e. I suppose this is forgivable given the low price point, but the only slightly more expensive $200 Galaxy Player 4 has nearly every feature that the Viewpad 7e has, including a 1GHz CPU and 512k of Ram, PLUS more flash memory (8 Gigs) AND both GPS and a Compass all in a tiny Cell Phone sized package. Of course this could be explained away as an apples-to-oranges comparison, since the Galaxy Player has only a tiny 4 inch screen; Ok, but how about the 8 inch Vizio Tablet which ALSO has both a Compass and built in GPS plus an even HIGHER RESOLUTION 8 inch 1024x768 screen? Admittedly, you don't get something for nothing, and the Vizio is a bit more pricey, especially here on Amazon, but over the holidays it sold all around the country for as little as $189. Bottom line, after not thinking that it would matter, I went on to find that there are a ton of new apps that depend on GPS and Compass, so even if it would have raised the price by 10 or 20 dollars, I would have preferred that the Viewpad 7e include both a GPS and Compass.
Another big negative for many folks is the fact that the Viewpad 7e doesn't have the full Android Market from Google. Instead, you get Amazon's App Store, and 1Mobile Market. I bought this device mainly for use as a book reader, and I WAS able to find All my favorite book reader Apps. The Kindle App comes pre-installed, and between the two markets that were provided, the B&N's Nook App, as well as Aldiko, Cool Reader, FBreader were all available.
Also, unlike some Android phones, the Viewpad 7e is not blocked from installing Apps from other sources (you just have to select it as an option under settings), so I was able to find and load several Apps by going directly to their respective web sites and downloading the .APK files directly (After a successful download, you can either just pull down your notification panel and install the app from there, or from `Downloads' on your `All Apps' page.)
Because of these other alternatives, I didn't think that the lack of the full Android Market would bug me, but like the GPS thing, I found that I was bugged just a bit by missing access to some of the really cool Google Apps like Google Maps, Google Earth, and Google Sky.
On the plus side, I did find that the default firmware on the Viewpad 7e is fairly easy to 'Root' (Gingerbreak did it in one-click), and there are then several fairly easy methods to install the full Google Android Market, so this would not have continued to be an issue for me (had I been able to keep my Viewpad 7e) since access to the full Android Market can fairly easily be added (though I understand that not everyone will want to have to hack their tablet to make it do what they want it to...)
I also had plans to fix the lack of a GPS on my 7e by adding a tiny TomTom external Bluetooth GPS (only about 10 dollars here on Amazon) but fate intervened, and as I noted in my first paragraph above, I had no choice but to return my Viewpad 7e due to a problem with the built in microSDHC card reader.
Overall, despite the issues I mentioned, I did like my Viewpad 7e, and still consider it to be a pretty good 'starter' Android Tablet.
On the other hand, if you think you would be bugged by the lack of a capacitive screen, GPS, and access to the full Android Market (and are willing to spend a few dollars more), I suggest that you check out the Samsung Galaxy Player 4 or 5 (which have 4 and 5 inch screens respectively) or the Vizio 8 inch tablet.
To replace my ill-fated Viewpad, I ended up picking up a refurbished Vizio 8 inch tablet for just under $200, and then, because the Vizio is a bit larger and I missed the portability, I picked up a little Samsung Galaxy Player 4.
With the Vizio, I lost the Viewpad 7e's rear side camera, but gained a beautiful larger 1024x768 glass surfaced capacitive screen which works very nicely. I do notice though, that on the Vizio, the standard home-screen 'launcher' App is really sluggish compared to what I was seeing on my Viewpad 7e, and unlike my Viewpad, the Vizio doesn't give you the option to just use the standard Android launcher (which I fixed by loading the Go Launcher from the market). Also, though the Vizio's screen is only technically one inch larger than the Viewpad 7e, the difference in portability and general `hand-hold-ability' is pretty noticeable. Though I found it fairly easy to hold my Viewpad 7e in one hand, the Vizio is definitely more of a prop-it-in-your-lap type device.
And lastly, since I mentioned also getting a Galaxy Player 4, you may be wondering about how it stacks up against the others.
The answer is in comparison to both the Vizio 8 inch tablet, and my original ViewSonic Viewpad 7e, the Samsung Galaxy Player 4 (which is also based on Android 2.3) is flat out the slickest, best working, and most powerful Android Tablet of the three.
The Galaxy Player has a super smooth and accurate capacitive touch screen.
The Galaxy Player Plays nearly every video format you can think of right out of the box.
The Galaxy Player has a noticeably better front camera than either the Vizio or Viewsonic, and a MUCH, MUCH, MUCH BETTER back camera than the Viewpad 7e (Vizio has no back camera at all)
Compared to both the others, the Galaxy Player 4 is smoother and more stable, and both the Web Browser and Flash video are more reliable.
My Galaxy Player 4 battery life is actually better than my previous Viewpad 7e and roughly on a par with the 8 inch Vizio (5 hours when playing multi-media, and longer when used as a book reader or for other low-cpu tasks at reduced screen brightness)
Hard to believe that a tiny device that is mostly billed as an MP3 and Video Player can out class two dedicated Android 2.3 Gingerbread Tablets, but that's the way it is.
Pretty much the ONLY thing that the Samsung Galaxy Player 4 gives up to the other two tablets is their larger screens, but if you can live with the Galaxy Player's diminutive 4 inch screen (which is razor sharp by the way), in terms of it's raw performance as an Android tablet, it's the best of the three by a wide margin.
Sorry to drift off into discussions of the pluses and minuses of the tablets I purchased to replace my defective Viewpad, but I thought that a few direct side by side comparisons might help anyone who is comparison shopping.
