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Eken's 7'' Android Tablet Starts @ $100

By - Source: Tom's Hardware US

This 7-inch tablet looks like an oversized Android smartphone.

Shanzai.com has managed to get its hands on a Eken M001 tablet, the iPad rival that will supposedly have a starting pricepoint of a meager $100 USD. According to the site, the device sports a WonderMedia PRIZM MW8505 processor clocked at 600 MHz, 2 GB of internal NAND flash storage, 128 MB of DDR2 RAM, an audio port, an SD card reader (of up to 32 GB), and a 7-inch, 800 x 380 TFT screen. The device also operated by Android v1.6.

However the product page reports a little differently, saying that--in addition to the Android OS--users will have the option of choosing basic Win CE 6.0 (for an extra $2.20 USD) or Win CE 6.0 with a browser ($11 USD). Internet and network connectivity is achieved through the device's docking station (Ethernet 10/100 and 802.11b/g). The device also features a built-in 1.3MP camera, and will also support an external hard drive of up to 16 GB in capacity.

Unfortunately, Shanzai wasn't thrilled about the battery. "If they can improve the battery life on the next revision of this, the M001 is going to be a very attractive device at this price point," the site said. There seems to be some hope that Android-based tablets will give the iPad "a real run for its money" in the performance arena by the end of the year.

To see a video demonstration, check out Shanzai's video below.

EKEN M001

There are 25 Comments. B
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  • 6
    mavanhel , April 27, 2010 6:16 AM
    7 inches is an awkward size. It's too big to be a phone, but it's to small to be a valuable tablet...
  • 6
    house70 , April 27, 2010 6:20 AM
    NO, no, no. Give us android 2.1 or even 2.2 Froyo, then will consider.
  • 1
    simple_inhibition , April 27, 2010 6:22 AM
    if they can get a community based app store behind this device, this could definitely give apple something to worry about. i mean you could buy 4 or 5 of these for the price of 1 ipad. i hope that this device works out with a good support infrastructure. competition is always good for the consumer!
  • -5
    qwoz , April 27, 2010 6:38 AM
    What is the point of these stupid new android devices? They're like Mp3 players that want to be PCs. They don't do anything new, and everything they do, they do poorly compared to net-books and phones/ music players. I'll stick to my Ipod touch and laptop, thanks.
  • 2
    industrial_zman , April 27, 2010 6:54 AM
    Finally a device that blurs the line between PDA and Tablet... back in 2000 that concept was called "Jupiter Class PDA". I have no real gripes with this machine since it is a first generation. HOWEVER, I did notice that the WiFi is not onboard but on a dock? That's useless. For $100, I may pick one up for fun and play with it for a bit.
  • 2
    Kelavarus , April 27, 2010 7:28 AM
    mavanhel7 inches is an awkward size. It's too big to be a phone, but it's to small to be a valuable tablet...


    This. Also, it doesn't go online without its dock? That's very weird. I imagine people would pay ~20 to 50 USD more to have an onboard wireless solution, though, that would take a hit to the apparently already meager battery life.
  • 3
    spoofedpacket , April 27, 2010 7:31 AM
    qwozI'll stick to my Ipod touch and laptop, thanks.


    You are welcome?
  • 1
    nforce4max , April 27, 2010 7:32 AM
    o.O

    Small screen -
    Short battery life -
    Doesn't cost a weeks to two weeks pay ++
    Slow -

    Looks interesting so please make a bigger ons with better specks like 512mb ram, larger screen, and better cpu then the iPad will have a hard time competing.
  • 2
    proxy711 , April 27, 2010 7:35 AM
    IDK where this no internet without a dock keeps coming from. in the video he says he doesn't have a docking unit yet he is browsing the net and says "...mixture of the unit and slow wireless in the room". Sounds like he has wifi without a dock to me.
  • 0
    nukemaster , April 27, 2010 7:41 AM
    It looks kind of cool.
  • 3
    ricin , April 27, 2010 9:15 AM
    Android 1.6? Get real, folks. That's like deploying a new PC with Windows XP on it.
  • 1
    crinky , April 27, 2010 11:13 AM
    i think it looks better then an ipad personally and i like to play around on android. Plus it makes a a cool clock :D  !!!
  • 0
    jecastej , April 27, 2010 12:29 PM
    Welcome to the NetPad category and not even there yet!!! Ok it does a lot for a $100, impressive.

    But, make it more powerful, with more memory, faster, with better battery, better builded, with an app store full of clever applications, the most recent OS and so on... The idea to compete with the iPad is not to create a super cheap tablet but to create a true contender feature by feature at a lower price. A $100 is to much "if" you are wasting your money. This is a toy to play with for a few hours or a very entry level tablet. That is also positive because not everyone needs the same device or is willing to pay more, etc. But you need to consider if this is going to be a smart investment because with a $100 you could buy maybe a better phone.
  • 0
    archange , April 27, 2010 1:13 PM
    They may be on to something with this. I like it. Plus, the price is right.
    Sure, add higher resolution, more RAM (DDR3 takes up less voltage, btw), faster processing, newer OS, GPS and better battery, then you may end up at $ 500+ :( 

    Personally, I think that you can't really surf the net with less than 1024 horizontal resolution anymore. But hey, you have to draw the line at some point, I guess.
  • 0
    beayn , April 27, 2010 2:06 PM
    I would pay $100 for this. It's a reasonable price while $500 for an ipad is ridiculous.
  • 0
    anonymous@guest , April 27, 2010 3:18 PM
    this website is asking for $149, what do you guys think?
    http://www.shenit.com/moonse-e-7001-7-google-android-1-6-ipad-tablet-slate-pc-umpc-mid-netbook.html
  • 0
    gwolfman , April 27, 2010 9:42 PM
    house70NO, no, no. Give us android 2.1 or even 2.2 Froyo, then will consider.


    Well put. :)  I like the price though!
  • 0
    crinky , April 28, 2010 10:58 AM
    I think that you can't really surf the net with less than 1024 horizontal resolution anymore. But hey, you have to draw the line at some point, I guess
    My PS3 sucks for going on the internet, it's like half normal pages half mobile pages and can't load half of the stuff.
  • 0
    anonymous@guest , May 5, 2010 3:12 PM
    where can I buy this stuff?
  • 0
    anonymous@guest , May 7, 2010 8:55 PM
    I don't understund you guys... it's ONLY 130 bucks on ebay. yes,the battery life is funny,yes,it's not that fast ,yes,it has Android 1.6. When i'll get one (aleady paid for) ,i'll dissaseble it, because the voltage of the unit shows that it definitely will be possible to use more capable battery.Speed of working?-who cares? i just need to a)read books and pdf's, b)sometime check an email and c)some casual card-based games. And the last-android 1.6. Someone told earkier than that it is like pc with windowsxp. it looks like this guy doesn't understand anything in computer sience at all. Can you please find a DISADVANTAGES of using 1.6 on this particullar device? свистоперделки?
    And again-in fact , it's goddamned cheap, so if I'll broke it in some way after two weeks of using it-i'll just throw it to garbage.You want an ipad for 100-200 usd? -it is not possible.
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