It’s the day after Thanksgiving which is also… Black Friday. I had heard news there would be sub-$100 tablets and ebook readers making their way into the market this weekend but I am quite surprised at the number of stores offering them. You’ll find these iPad looking tablets and Kindle/Nook knock offs in all kinds of stores from the local drug store to chains. Very interesting. Many of them will be powered by Android too.
Well, as an Android tablet owner, (I’m blogging from the tablet now). I feel I’ve a need to share some information with you before you put your money down on one of these tablets. $100 or not, you need to know this.
First of all, just because it is Android does not automatically mean you will have access to the Android Market – the app store. This is because Market has to be programmed in by the manufacturers. So if you purchase an unheard of brand tablet that mostly comes directly out of China and you don’t know if they will support it, then you may never get Market.
Why is Market so crucial?
Because it is the main way to get the most popular apps for Android. This is not like your computer where you can go to the app site and download a file to install. You can and I’ll explain it shortly but many – far too many app developers or companies offering apps do not have a download link for the app. They will link to Market. For example the Kindle and Nook, you can only get it via Market.
Now this is not to say it is impossible to get it. You can search the Internet for the app’s APK file. There are some kind souls who upload these apps outside Market so you can download and install it manually to your tablet – this is called sideloading. But these are quite hard to come by. Also, you would be wise to be a little wary of the apps you receive – who knows what they include? And if you can’t find that app outside, you’re out of luck and your experience as well as enjoyment of the tablet is severely limited.
Trust me on that one because originally our tablet didn’t have Market either and I was beginning to seriously doubt my purchase. But once we got Market on there it is like a whole new world opened up and now I TOTALLY love this tablet, quirks and all.
The other thing you want to know is don’t get a tablet if it still says Android 1.6. The latest Android is 2.2 unless you are quite sure the manufacturers will support it.
If you don’t really care about everything I wrote and don’t mind getting your hands dirty, you can rely on fantastic forums online to guide and perhaps get OS upgrades. The forum I wholly recommend is SlateDroid.com. However, you better put your geek hat on, this is not for the faint hearted because it could mean you have to flash your tablet – which could brick it. Touch wood I’ve flashed mine 3 times and still going well.
Hopefully this helps someone 
