iiView Vpad enters today's tablet fray with yesterday's netbook specs
By Donald Melanson 
posted February 18th 2010 12:41AM
posted February 18th 2010 12:41AM
iiView's already shown that it's not one to avoid a trend, and it's now hopped on the biggest one going with its new 10.2-inch Vpad tablet. Unfortunately, it seems that the company isn't as quick to update the specs as the form factor, as this one only packs some of the most basic, netbook-like internals, including an Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and Windows 7 Starter Edition for an OS. That will set you back $499, while $699 will buy you a slightly upgraded model with built-in 3G, an extra gig of RAM, and a 320GB hard drive. A bit of a tough sell in today's tablet market, to be sure, but you can place your order for one right now if it happens to strike your fancy.
Hmmmmm
the iiview laptop is actually quite excellent and makes a good hackintosh, I wonder if this has the same internals :D
@Onetrack
Hey, at least you get the removable stickers at the top
iiFail
@nerd Stop saying fail it isn't funny anymore.
False marketing. The screen resolution in the image is much higher than claimed. They're that desperate I guess.
G-A-R-B-A-G-E
@rand0
Hey, it has a lot more hard drive space than the iPad has at least.
@Abe
+1
I'd take this over an iPad any day, for no other reason than I can run 3 apps at a time opposed to 1. And when you're running on such limited hardware, you hardly need more than 3 at a time. Not to mention you can install Windows XP (Or Windows 7 full) if you really need more than 3 apps at a time. iPad is restricted to one OS.
@Abe
that's why it'll have a lot less battery life than the ipad.
@Gamecheater
The 3 app limit for Starter editions was removed in the RTM version of Windows 7.
@rand0 T-h-e- -w-o-r-l-d- -i-s- -n-o-t- -e-n-o-u-g-h
@Abe
Whilst the specs are low for a netbook (just) they are not that low for a tablet. I mean, the iPad's processor was described as 'blisteringly fast' but it isn't even as fast as the N270.
I'll just get one from my nearest Chinatown location.
Consumers don't need another product with 'i" in front of a verb or noun unless it's from Apple. Doing so makes your product look like a knockoff.
iiiiiiThis iiiiiiTHING iiiiiiis iiiiiireally iiiiiigettting iiiiiiout iiiiiiof iiiiiihand
Will all products with I be tested like this one?
http://www.machovideo.com/video/Tosh_destroys_test_iPad_17884/
@drakie
I wish I had money to waste like that. It'd be fun to destroy an iPad, or any tablet for that matter.
Looks like this tablet's is just one of the many devices that'll be coming out soon just to bank on the attention the iPad will be receiving and not actually add anything new to tablet computing. Also, is the extra "i" supposed to convince be that it'll be twice as good as the iPad?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gA16Fq4SAo
@ Guy Poz
Are you the Ispammer?
There's an existing tablet market?
iGuess.
@Reisa yes. believe it or not there was a market for tablet PCs before Apple unveiled the iPad. believe it or not they did not actually invent the tablet form factor. i would really like it if people could wrap their brain around that.
@kojo87 Im sure people realise that, Apple didn't invent the market, just like they didn't invent the touchscreen smartphone, or the mp3 player.
What Apple DID do, was to reinvigorate each of those markets.
Why do these use windows starter? Can we install a regular ultimate version inside it? Is the hardware not able to handle the load?
@questionexclamation If it runs starter, there is no reason that it won't support the ultimate version.
That was funny at some point?
Vpad is iiView killer.
@(Unverified)
No it's an HP Slate killer. The announced VPad price is a ripoff, but they'll drop it to $249 soon enough.
Wait, wait wait. "Three USB ports, VGA Jack, 802.11n 10/100 Ethernet" is yesterday's hardware??? To be certain, every netbook in history seems to fit this bill, so perhaps you are right, but the tablet that is supposed to revolutionize the marketplace without multitasking is current gen because it decides to just omit these all together? (dock VGA connector)...How cheap a trick by Apple.
Why does a low-spec netbook without a keyboard have to cost $500?
Seems like a much better buy than the iPad. Haha.
Yesterday's specs...
...which are still better than the iPad's.
What the Hell???
Some Hole-In-The-Wall comapny comes along with a product better in every way then the Ipad who have how many people working in it's DEV team? 3? probably in some garage.. Apple, what the hell?
Wow, a tablet with a spinning platter (hard-drive) in it. Talk about guaranteed failure.
@pika2000
ya cuz mechanical harddrives have proven totally useless for other portable computing devices like laptops and netbooks.
@guroth How would you use a tablet? Put it on a table? No, you will carry it with you. So the whole unit will be more likely in constant motion at all times.
And yes, I also think having spinning platters on laptops and netbooks are not wise, unless you love troubleshooting/replacing the hard-drive.
On the bright side, Steve Gibson won't be out of business anytime soon.
Whoa. Talk about missing the point...
Just sticking a desktop OS on to a tablet is not going to drive the format into the average consumer's gaze.
They would simply opt for a regular laptop instead.
@BergerFan Glad someone else gets it!
Needs a Pinetrail N470 and a 16GB SSD instead.
Otherwise, this is exactly what I want. There is no need for a 10" device to have no more performance or capabilities than a 3.5" cellphone.
I can see their marketing guys now...
"Why has Apple made so much money and why do people keep buying their products?"
"I know! It is because they name their products with an i... imac, iphone, ipod, ipad..."
"How can we tap into that energy? "
"How about we use two i's.... I bet they haven't trademarked that.... I see a whole new product line.... iipad... iipod.... iiphone...."
"WAIT! We already have two i's in our name..."
"Now that we have tapped the "i energy", it is time to start with a whole new consonant.... vpad, vpod, vphone..."
it should be illegal to take a netbook rip off the keyboard and track pad hinge and probably most of the i/o and charge more for it. i know the touch panel costs money but not that much. anything with an atom should never cost more that 400 preferably 300
Actually, this is close to what I'm looking for: a keyboardless netbook. Only, quit slapping Win7 Starter on tablets, manufacturer geniuses. It loses most of the touch skills.
If it really is Windows 7 Starter...how can Windows Aero be enabled???
@dreamerkm
Photoshop?
Multi-Tasking!
Hey it's a start! I wouldn't buy one of course, but it's still more useful than iPad. No mentioning of the resolution, but I guess it's same as current Netbooks. Windows 7 starter is a fail. For this price it should include at least home edition.