Manufacturers are really trying to find ways to bring the prices of tablets down. Rumors spread just recently that Google was planning to release a $99 Nexus tablet. Not to be outdone though is Acer which is reportedly already working on a model called the Acer Iconia B1 which will only cost $99 and has already been submitted to the FCC.
Several Taiwanese supply chain manufacturers reported that Acer will be releasing a 7 inch tablet in the U.S. for $99. For that price point you get a device with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels at 170 ppi. These are the same supply chain manufacturers who reported that Asus was also planning a $99 tablet but decided to back out since they might be cannibalizing the Nexus 7 market.
Here’s a preliminary on its specifications which are still unofficial.
•OS: Android 4.1
•Processor: 1.2 GHz dual core
•Memory: 512 MB RAM
•Storage: 8 GB internal
•Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0, GPS
The specifications point to a low to mid-range device that should be sufficient to handle basic tasks. The skimpy 512 MB of RAM is a letdown though as I’m sure it’s going to slow down the system when lots of applications are running. At its selling price point though I’d say it’s a fair trade.
It’s great to see tablet prices going down so more people can enjoy using them. Once the demand for budget tablets increases we are going to see more manufacturers dropping their prices as well. Just don’t expect to see premium features at this price range though. This is targeted at consumers who want a portable device to check on their emails, read some books and probably update their social networks.
Asus has not officially released a statement yet regarding this upcoming model but chances are they will be making the announcement at CES 2013 at Las Vegas which will be held a few weeks from now. It is also likely that it will debut this February at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
VIA : THE DROID GUY
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