Keeping a tab on technology

The other day we were talking about tablets when a colleague pointed out that he preferred the iPad Mini to the iPad, because he could hold it in one hand, a big advantage if one likes to read on the go. While the iPad Mini stays at the pinnacle of one's aspirations, here are a few sub-Rs 10,000 tablets worth checking out in a similar form factor

HCL Me U2

Anyone who has used a tab from HCL before will love the U2 for one simple reason. It supports the Google Play store. This will leave scores of U1 owners seething, because that feature is not available on their more expensive tabs. The tablet looks sturdy and despite a 1GHz processor, doesn't feel sluggish while multitasking. It also supports full HD playback via the mini HDMI port. Now if only the speaker was louder and it offered more internal memory.

Price: Rs 5,999
Screen: 7-inch 800x480 WXGA multi-touch
OS: Android 4.0
RAM: 1GB
Processor: 1 GHz ARM Cortex A9
Memory: 4GB internal, expandable up to 32GB via microSD
Camera (rear/front): NA/0.3MP
Battery: 3000 mAh

Acer Iconia B1

The B1 is Acer's budget option in this segment. Despite the 512 mb of RAM, multitasking happens to be one of its strong points. The tablet is light but does feel flimsy. Unfortunately, it doesn't support 3G, and the Android buttons stay on the screen all the time. However, it is a great device to carry, particularly if you like reading books on the go.

Price: Rs 7,999
Screen: 7-inch 1,024 x 600 WSVGA multi-touch
OS: Android 4.1
RAM: 512 mb
Processor: 1.2 GHz Mediatek dual core Cortex A9
Memory: 8GB internal, expandable up to 32GB via microSD
Camera (rear/front): NA/0.3MP
Battery: 2700 mAh

Videocon VT71

At first glance, the grey plastic body reminds one of the Videocon TVs of yore. The tab makes the cut for casual gaming and multimedia, and the battery goes on and on. While reading on the go shouldn't be a problem, the tab feels heavy for its size. The interface, while it isn't sluggish, could have been better. But for its price, it's a great buy

Price: Rs 4,799
Screen: 7-inch 800x480 multi-touch
OS: Android 4.0
RAM: 512 mb
Processor: 1.2 GHz
Memory: 4GB internal, expandable up to 32GB via microSD
Camera (rear/front): NA/0.3MP
Battery: 3300 mAh

LAVA eTab Xtron

The build quality and finish of the Xtron reminded us of just one tab in the same form factor - Apple. Yes, the build quality is that good. The tab comes packed to the gills with the hardware, and at this price, makes for a bargain. Multi-tasking wasn't a problem nor were games, but if only it had a rear camera. But, one can't ask for more, can we?

Price: Rs 6,499
Screen: 7-inch 1024x600 multi-touch
OS: Android 4.1
RAM: 1 GB
Processor: 1.5 GHz dual core
Memory: 8GB internal, expandable up to 32GB via microSD
Camera (rear/front): NA/2MP
Battery: 3500 mAh

Karbonn Smart Tab 8

The Smart Tab was the biggest tablet we got in the price range. While it may not be as easy to handle as the 7-inch tablets, it makes up for it with a host of features and a blazing fast processor, which is a pleasure to game on. The rear camera is also quite good for outdoor shots, though holding up an 8-inch tab to take photos is not the easiest thing to muster. Overall, a good package if you want the extra width and heft

Price: Rs 7,490
Screen: 8-inch 1024x768 multi-touch
OS: Android 4.1
RAM: 1 GB
Processor: 1.5 GHz dual core
Memory: 1.51 GB internal, expandable up to 32GB via microSD
Camera (rear/front): 3MP/VGA
Battery: 4500 mAh