Google Nexus 7 Offers a Tablet at an Affordable Price
The Google Nexus 7 has arrived on the scene as one of the premier tablets in the marketplace. However, it is not without competition, and it is beneficial to take a closer look at what the Nexus 7 has to offer in comparison to the other premier tablets that are in store or upcoming.
The entry-level price point has been set by Google at $199, and the Nexus 7 can be bought directly from the Google store. That $199 is for the 8GB version. There is a 16GB version that will provide double the space for only $249. That base price puts the Nexus 7 right in line with the Kindle Fire HD and other tablets with similar feature sets. For a limited time, one can get $25 in Google credit for content to load onto the tablet.
The 1.3 GHz CPU is running Android 4.1.1 aka Jelly Bean. It incorporates a 7″ display that is also the same size as the Kindle Fire HD or Samsung Galaxy Tab 2. The build quality of the Nexus 7 is very high quality and has received much praise from early reviewers. It is definitely a device that feels good in the hand and would be easy to use for long bouts of reading or game playing.
Despite all of its great features, the Nexus 7 is not without its flaws. The device does not have a rear facing camera for photo taking as many smartphones and tablets have incorporated. Also, there is no support for expandable storage which means users will be limited to the maximum 16GB that the system provides. Finally, there is no cellular connectivity support for 3g/4g as many of the competing devices provide by default. These were all calculated compromises that the device builders decided to make in order to keep prices competitive. After all, it is not really fair to compare the tablet to higher end models such as the Kindle Fire HD 4G which is $499 at the low end of configurations.
Overall, the Samsung Google Nexus 7 is a solid device that should be plenty for most casual tablet users. Touchscreen gaming, internet surfing, book reading and movie playback can all be achieved with ease. It is a fun device at a budget-conscious price point that deserves all of the positive criticism that it has received. It is definitely a worthy competitor in the crowded tablet marketplace.
