Enso's zenPad finds the funds to become reality

With only 500 units ordered and 30 scheduled to ship on May 8th, it's clear the Enso zenPad won't blow up the world, but it's nice to see a startup make good on its promises. We've yet to receive one of the cheap Android tablets ourselves, but we do finally have proof they're on the way: Enso CEO Alberto Armandi just sent us an official, signed receipt for the purchase of 500 MID-560A tablet computers from OEM SMiT, along with a bank document proving they have been bought and (mostly) paid for. What happens now is threefold: The 250 buyers who held out receive a rebranded SMiT tablet, the 250 who didn't get their money back (anecdotal reports indicate refunds are underway), and the whole mess hopefully fades into obscurity, letting the three young entrepreneurs who brought us this niche Chinese device get on with their lives. See the slightly redacted proof Enso actually purchased these things, right after the break.

[warningabc Posted Apr 27th 2010 6:43PM]

iPad, zenPad, WePad, MaxiPad.

[Lord Vader Posted Apr 27th 2010 6:46PM]

@warningabc. Padme

[Horse Posted Apr 27th 2010 7:47PM]

@warningabc why go with a Chinese brand when you could have pad Thai?

[revolve82 Posted Apr 27th 2010 9:39PM]

@warningabc
here comes the aPad
http://www.shenit.com/moonse-e-7001-7-google-android-1-6-ipad-tablet-slate-pc-umpc-mid-netbook.html

[lesliemcbeal Posted Apr 28th 2010 2:34AM]

@warningabc I MIGHT get one as a novelty.
That goes the same for this enso tablet: http://bit.ly/enzo-zenpad-view

[AlienSix Posted Apr 27th 2010 6:48PM]

So...many...pads..

No need something manlier

THIS...IS...SPARTA!!!!!!!

[staticjethro Posted Apr 27th 2010 6:53PM]

iPad vs. Maxipad
http://thegadgets.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/ipad.jpg

[suicidebob Posted Apr 28th 2010 3:24AM]

@staticjethro

When you posted that did you not sit back and think "right, I'm about to post something on Engadget, I know it has been posted 10 000 times before by 12 year olds, but maybe I shouldn't post it again as it wasn't even funny to begin with"

No? You should have.

[Girish Posted Apr 27th 2010 6:54PM]

The soup thickens

[kevlar Posted Apr 27th 2010 7:04PM]

Aww... I thought this was about the absolutely brillinant Enso*dot Zen being made for iPad...

http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/enso-dot-zen/id300286673?mt=8

[markolic Posted Apr 27th 2010 7:04PM]

I remember back when we didn't have pads , we had chalkboards. Handwriting recognition was pretty good and the drawing ,though limited in color , superb.

[Sunweb Posted Apr 27th 2010 7:45PM]

@markolic
Clipboards or hardcover notebooks were superior.

[TheJon Posted Apr 27th 2010 7:10PM]

Good that they've finally got it. Now let's hope Engadget gets theirs soon.

[Springdaddy Posted Apr 27th 2010 7:23PM]

Stop with the fucking "Pad" names!!!

[SolidSnake Posted Apr 27th 2010 7:28PM]

Thats 410 more than the JooJoo had... Just sayin'.

[jonnyjedi Posted Apr 27th 2010 7:45PM]

I can't decide if this is Engadget further playing along with the joke about this being vapourware, or if you genuinely think this is now real.
If it's still a joke (doesn't sound like it), it's certainly got too sophisticated for me.
If you now believe them, surely they deserve a slightly more apologetic article here given the 1000+ word, 14 bullet point scathing article on why they were vapourware ("Enough promises have now been broken and lies told that if we were you, we'd request refunds ASAP")?
I know the facts of that post still stand and Engadget were rightly being cautious, but surely it might be time to be a bit gracious, cut the guys some slack and say something along the lines of "we thought you were dodgy, turns out you were just chaotic, sorry but hope you can understand". Given the impact a mistaken Engadget post had on Apple's share price you must have scared the crap out of these guys - and they're only little!

[csnoke Posted Apr 27th 2010 8:01PM]

@jonnyjedi They might want to wait until they actually receive a unit before they go issuing apologies, but I think you're right.

[jalandar Posted Apr 27th 2010 8:13PM]

@jonnyjedi
They don't deserve much slack. They mislead their customers by saying the zenpads were already shipping, and continued to mislead by implying that the reason they werent shipping was too much demand (too much demand implies they had any to fill orders with in the first place).

Don't get me wrong, good they are getting their act together, but the only apology owed here is from Enso to their customers.

[antidisestablishment Posted Apr 27th 2010 11:59PM]

@jonnyjedi Hmmm... Yet engadget supports the openpandora...
With threads like the "Shipping Date: guessing game" at
http://www.gp32x.com/board/index.php?/topic/45539-shipping-date-guessing-game/
The length and date of that thread is incredible. The guesses so far have a failure rate of over 99 percent!

[bombastinator Posted Apr 27th 2010 8:42PM]

now that it's out it actually seems like a decent product for a good price. can they be bought?

[rhysmoe Posted Apr 27th 2010 8:43PM]

I received my delivery from zenPad, in the form of a refund via paypal dispute. That whole thing seemed sketchy the second after I clicked send paypal payment. Glad I got a refund.

[candyer09 Posted Apr 27th 2010 9:55PM]

"zenpad" ,another "pad"? The appearance of ipad led to another "pad" era.

[vqro Posted Apr 27th 2010 11:46PM]

What happened to all the folks who said they wanted one or were going to get one in the original Engadget article?

[suicidebob Posted Apr 28th 2010 3:02AM]

@vqro

When a product gets close to being shipped, they mysteriously begin to withdraw, put their purses away, and start promoting some other thing that isn't out for 12 months. Repeat ad nauseum

[Dan Fruzzetti Posted Apr 28th 2010 12:15PM]

LOL at FOB Shenzhen. I guess at least they're honest :P I love not knowing shipping terms so I can laugh at them

[Aaronneyer Posted May 9th 2010 12:39AM]

Has Engadget received one yet? I really want one but don't want to risk it being a crappy product so I'm hoping for a review from someone first.

[albertoarmandi Posted May 9th 2010 6:41AM]

@Aaronneyer Hi, thanks for your interest in our product. You can actually see a video of it in action, just visit our official blog and the announcements. Review unit for Engadget will be shipped within half on the new week. Not later than Thusday 13. So you can just wait for their review for a safer transaction. Thanks.
Alberto Armandi

[Aaronneyer Posted May 9th 2010 12:45PM]

@albertoarmandi

I have a question about this. Is it the exact same as 560 MID Tabletsthat is just re-branded? Or did you actually make changes to it??

[fringy Posted May 23rd 2010 8:06PM]

@albertoarmandi so..... when will you start shipping? I have been waiting since 23rd March for mine........

[fringy Posted May 21st 2010 12:17AM]

I am one of those poor suckers who thought that they would give this looser a chance :( my bag! After repeated emails saying that he appreciated people waiting and blaming Engadget, and then saying that we would recieve tracking numbers on the 15th May, I find myself still waiting for some form of communication. I tracked him down via a post regarding this product and have emailed him via this site http://younoodle.com/people/alberto_armandi but of course no reply.

Dont waste your time or money with this self proclaimed Entrepreneur.

[KJMac Posted May 24th 2010 10:58AM]

I emailed them AGAIN yesterday giving them until today at noon to send me a tracking number. Then I will start emailing every Website that ever posted anything about the Zenpad with the list of failed promises.

[fringy Posted May 24th 2010 3:48PM]

@KJMac I will join you!

[SamanthaHatesComcast Posted May 24th 2010 7:13PM]

I've already started tweeting about the Enso mess because useless tech blogs are still promoting it there. People are sadly still getting sucked in and sending Enso money. It sucks that Engadget isn't following up on the non-existent review unit they were supposed to receive A MONTH AGO. Now Enso's site says they're shipping and it's a complete LIE. With no international consumer protection laws, there's nothing to stop them.

[KJMac Posted May 25th 2010 9:49AM]

I've emailed Sean Hollister at Engadget and contacted the folks at Carrypad. I also emailed [e-mail] again this morning and told them that I won't stop contacting Websites until 1) I get my zenpad tracking number or 2) I get a refund from them.