Google announces $199 the Nexus 7 tablet running Android 4.1 Jellybean

**howard** · 06-27-2012, 01:17 PM

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Google just announced the $199 Nexus 7. It's got a 7" 1280x800 display, Nvidia Tegra 3 Quad-core processor, 1.2MP front-facing camera (no rear facing one), 1GB of RAM and either 8 ($199) or 16GB ($249) of storage. At 340g it's pretty light (the Blackberry Playbook weighs 425g while the original Galaxy Tab, 380g) plus at 198.5 x 120 x 10.45mm it's pretty thin. Other specs include scratch-resistant glass from Corning, a 4325mAh battery (the original Galaxy Tab had a 4000mAh) and WiFi and NFC

It also sports the latest version of Android 4.1 AKA Jellybean.

While a $199 tablet is not news you're getting a lot of hardware for your money.

Another thing to point out is that while Android is doing extremely well on the Phone side it lags a bit on the Tablet side. While Samsung is able to sell a ton of Galaxy S II's at close-to-iPhone prices, for the most part Android tablets sell because they're cheap.

While the Nexus 7's $199 price is very affordable the real story is that it has the potential to really shake things up in the Tablet space. While the iPad is an expensive device it suddenly seems even more expensive when you compare it with the Nexus 7. Sure, they're different sizes but anyone who's going to spend $499 or more on an iPad is going to take a long hard look at the Nexus 7. Apple is still going to sell millions of iPads but the Nexus 7 will really give the Android tablet market some much needed momentum.

Looking elsewhere the Nexus 7 is another nail in RIM's coffin. No one's going to buy a Playbook now unless RIM cuts the price again. The Amazon Kindle Fire's main selling point - it's low price suddenly doesn't seem that low.

Finally things suddenly got a lot more difficult for Microsoft. While the Nexus and Surface occupy 2 different segments of the market they're both still tablets. If you're thinking of buying a Surface you're going to take a long hard look at the Nexus and wonder whether you need to spend the extra money.

All in all the Tablet market suddenly became a lot more interesting.

**migo** · 06-27-2012, 01:59 PM

Having used the PlayBook I wouldn't go for the Nexus 7 - the PlayBook OS is just that much better than Android, and it's going to improve further with BB10. The thing that really appeals to me about the Nexus 7 is not for myself, but for my GF's mom who wants a tablet but is quite ill and can't handle something that's very heavy. The 340g paired with $200 price point is really the selling point, but for me the weight is a non-issue.

It definitely kills the Kindle Fire though, Amazon's going to have to see if they want to do a price drop to $180 or not.

**savbers** · 06-27-2012, 02:35 PM

Poor Galaxy S3, being delayed to a launch with an outdated OS.

**firsttiger** · 06-27-2012, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by migo

Having used the PlayBook I wouldn't go for the Nexus 7 - the PlayBook OS is just that much better than Android, and it's going to improve further with BB10. The thing that really appeals to me about the Nexus 7 is not for myself, but for my GF's mom who wants a tablet but is quite ill and can't handle something that's very heavy. The 340g paired with $200 price point is really the selling point, but for me the weight is a non-issue.

It definitely kills the Kindle Fire though, Amazon's going to have to see if they want to do a price drop to $180 or not.

I have the Playbook as well and I'm mixed about whether or not the Playbook OS is better. For a while, I felt that the Playbook was better because it had better hardware. The one thing that I like much better about my Android tablets - I have the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus at the moment is that there is abundant software that is better than the Playbook.

I'm curious what the launch date of this thing will be. I'd be anxious to return my Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus to pick this up.

Kelvin

**migo** · 06-27-2012, 04:28 PM

While there certainly isn't as much software on the PlayBook, it's more than enough. I don't use a single Android app on it, all Native for me, and I'm happy with the selection.

Of course as far as the OS goes, 4.1 really ups the ante, so in the case of the Nexus 7 the OS and software selection combined could be enough to tip things in the Nexus 7's favour. Storage is still the strong suit of the PlayBook though. 8GB is hardly enough, 16GB is more of a minimum and 32GB is plenty. I'm never going to have to worry about running out of space on my 32GB PlayBook, while at the same price the 16GB Nexus 7 is going to cut it close.

I'm certainly not disappointed that I bought the PlayBook now that the Nexus 7 is out, and after seeing it I might still choose the PlayBook.

**icemasta** · 06-27-2012, 04:39 PM

The $200 price tag is amazing but I wish they included a micro sd slot. I'm sure the idea was to up sell consumers to the 16gb and it works

**lisaco1** · 06-27-2012, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by icemasta

The $200 price tag is amazing but I wish they included a micro sd slot. I'm sure the idea was to up sell consumers to the 16gb and it works

no, the idea is that you use google's cloud services

Sent from my VM670 using HowardForums

**Steveanderson13** · 06-27-2012, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by lisaco1

no, the idea is that you use google's cloud services

Sent from my VM670 using HowardForums

On wifi hopefully.

**Stephen Morris** · 06-27-2012, 11:21 PM

Originally Posted by Steveanderson13

On wifi hopefully.

Only comes with WiFi.

Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using HowardForums

**Steveanderson13** · 06-27-2012, 11:30 PM

Thanks, Steve, I was wrapped up in Verizon's plan changes and wasn't thinking. The wifi only was mentioned on The Verge.

**migo** · 06-28-2012, 01:12 AM

Originally Posted by icemasta

The $200 price tag is amazing but I wish they included a micro sd slot. I'm sure the idea was to up sell consumers to the 16gb and it works

Actually, with ICS onwards they changed the filesystem, I believe for security purposes to be able to support DRM? It's more likely that trying to include microSD support would complicate things, leading to potential problems. No expansion means the experience is controlled, and the problem is just not being able to do something rather than having something go wrong.

**kEiThZ** · 06-30-2012, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by migo

Having used the PlayBook I wouldn't go for the Nexus 7 - the PlayBook OS is just that much better than Android, and it's going to improve further with BB10. The thing that really appeals to me about the Nexus 7 is not for myself, but for my GF's mom who wants a tablet but is quite ill and can't handle something that's very heavy. The 340g paired with $200 price point is really the selling point, but for me the weight is a non-issue.

It definitely kills the Kindle Fire though, Amazon's going to have to see if they want to do a price drop to $180 or not.

Did you watch the Keynote? This thing with Jellybean is on par with the Playbook. Toss in better hardware, support from Google, a significantly better ecosystem and it's no contest.

But if you like Playbooks, I predict that there will be quite a few on eBay in two weeks when this thing starts shipping.

**kEiThZ** · 06-30-2012, 01:53 PM

Originally Posted by icemasta

The $200 price tag is amazing but I wish they included a micro sd slot. I'm sure the idea was to up sell consumers to the 16gb and it works

No Nexus device since the Nexus One has had a MicroSD slot. The Nexus devices are by definition "Google Experience" devices. And part of that experience is using Google's cloud. Heck, if Google could get away with it, I'm sure they would have had even less onboard storage.

If you don't like it, just wait. Other OEMs will fill in the gaps.... This is exactly like the Nexus One situation. OEMs were *****footing around with specs all over the place. Google released the Nexus One which made the right trade-offs. 6 months later OEMs had lots of quality handsets that could compete.

**kEiThZ** · 06-30-2012, 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by migo

Actually, with ICS onwards they changed the filesystem, I believe for security purposes to be able to support DRM? It's more likely that trying to include microSD support would complicate things, leading to potential problems. No expansion means the experience is controlled, and the problem is just not being able to do something rather than having something go wrong.

It's not that. There's microSD on other Android devices. This has nothing to do with it. It's a Nexus device. Nexus devices don't come with microSD slots. Simple as that.

**CGY Guy** · 07-01-2012, 05:19 PM

I'll stay with my PlayBook, tyvm.

To NOT have put a micro sd slot in this device is unforgivable these days. Pure silliness. Or, greed for when the next gen comes out. Pfft. I'll save my money.