Just picked up one of these at my local Walmart for $37.00 plus state sales tax. I made this post using the new tablet. So far it seems to be well worth the $37.00.
Just picked up one of these at my local Walmart for $37.00 plus state sales tax. I made this post using the new tablet. So far it seems to be well worth the $37.00.
How can the manufacturer afford to make these? Are they subsidized by the makers of the OS(Google). Google hasn't made a dime off of me since I have had my tablet.
Yikes, this is like a reverse Dutch auction! I better hie me to WM before the price goes up to $50. I "need" one of these to access Chromecast on my TV from from my easy chair, rather than from my laptop (okay, I'm lazy. ), and without Google's tentacles in my Android phone.
I opened mine yesterday and was surprised by two things...
1) The chargers didn't match. While both tablets were purchased at the same time, inside the box was a Intron(?) charger and on the other some generic charger.
2) The chargers didn't connect to the USB port, but instead were micro-barrel plugs. Interesting. First thing everyone here (Parallax) noticed too.
I opened mine yesterday and was surprised by two things...
1) The chargers didn't match. While both tablets were purchased at the same time, inside the box was a Intron(?) charger and on the other some generic charger.
2) The chargers didn't connect to the USB port, but instead were micro-barrel plugs. Interesting. First thing everyone here (Parallax) noticed too.
I don't like the small barrel chargers if they have to be used exclusively, but you can charge these through the USB also.
As for why these are low priced to begin with: These carry the "RCA" brand, which Technicolor licenses to various companies around the world. While "RCA" is considered a US-brand (even though Technicolor is owned by a French firm), it's strictly imported. The tablets are made by a Chinese firm (Alco Electronics) and sold into various markets, including ones we'd call emerging. They make money on sheer volume, and I believe they get a payment from preinstalling apps. The hardware isn't the latest inside these things -- there's no compass that I recall. Still, they get the job done.
Why the price is going up is clear: Wal Mart is monitoring all of Erco's posts, and jacking up prices to take advantaging of the sales trends!
I just got one of the keyboard types for the kids. Per K2, very nice & solid. The tablet mechanically snaps into a rectangular surround to attach to the keyboard via POGO pins, so they are locked together very well. The splash screen is different from the tablet only version, says "Voyager Pro". Will advise if I find other differences.
My 6.0 unit works OK, but it sure seems like the older 5.0 tablet had finer touchscreen response. Maybe it just takes some getting used to.
Now that I have new keyboard and non-keyboard Android 6.0 units for side by side comparison, I'm convinced that the touchscreen response of the keyboard unit (Voyager Pro) is superior, matching my older Android 5.0 unit. I recommend spending the extra $5-7 for the keyboard/Pro version. The keyboard works quite well and adds functionality as a stand, and offers the protection of a case.
@erco:
"The tablet mechanically snaps into a rectangular surround to attach to the keyboard via POGO pins..."
It's almost like you're a mechanical engineer or something.
Your concise description is excellent.
"The keyboard works quite well and adds functionality as a stand, and offers the protection of a case."
Exactly. The stand aspect is uncommonly handy, and the protection the keyboard provides the fragile display is fairly dramatic.
As handy as smart phones and tablets are, the lack of a real keyboard is a significant detriment.
As someone mentioned here before, a contest on Letterman between a telegrapher and the world's fastest texter showed that even Morse code is significantly faster than texting.
With a 7" keyboard I could write a multi-page essay for school if I had to. Without a keyboard, forget it!
Actually, your shenanigans are more in line with James Corden, Conan, or Chris Hardwick. Hardwick's ring bearer for his wedding last year was an R2-D2 provided by my friend John "Lord Hotwing" Boisvert (those are his robots in my avatar).
I received both of those cases today. Both are listed as 7" tablet cases but G210 is bigger and fits my 8" Nextbook perfectly. Lots of rattle space for a 7" tablet, room for plenty more stuff in there. All neoprene, very nicely made. The "magenta" is well, PINK. My twin girls like it more than I do.
The G230 is a much better fit for this RCA 7" tablet, plenty of room even for the keyboard version. The burgundy color (only color left!) is nice and certainly more macho than the big pink G10. The case is nylon material inside & out with foam in between.
Both cases have an outside pocket big enough for charger or powerbank, earbuds & a small folding stand. Both erco-approved!
Back down to $35 now, I ordered another one for a project. These may get discounted further for BF & holiday sales, but I know my local store keeps few if any in stock, so purchasing online may still be easiest. Unlike you like crowds and being trampled to save a buck.
These still work great, but after ~1.5 years of nearly daily use, the battery life is about half of what it used to be. Hope my Leaf battery lasts longer than that!
WM is blowing out these 7" tablets for $30 for Christmas. 16GB, Android 6.0, all 4 colors appear to be in stock and deliverable by Christmas. I just ordered two for the twins. Sale started Friday and it won't last forever!
Comments
Exactly. Four gold-plated POGO pins on kbd frame that match four circular gold-plated discs on side of tablet.
http://forums.parallax.com/discussion/162525/new-cheap-windows-tablet/p6
Edit: Never mind. That's a Cabrio Win 10.
Tablet was $35, or $40 with keyboard on Jan 23. Why the increase? Global warming? Fake news? Meygn Kelly? Solar flares?
Tablet now $38.48
Tablet & keyboard $47.17
How can the manufacturer afford to make these? Are they subsidized by the makers of the OS(Google). Google hasn't made a dime off of me since I have had my tablet.
Now showing at $42.13 and $53.22... "Confusion fall!" cried Lavinia.
Mike, they heard you loud and clear and raised their prices!
-Phil
Sorry, I'll shut up.
But if it has anything to do with supply and demand, maybe your the one.
1) The chargers didn't match. While both tablets were purchased at the same time, inside the box was a Intron(?) charger and on the other some generic charger.
2) The chargers didn't connect to the USB port, but instead were micro-barrel plugs. Interesting. First thing everyone here (Parallax) noticed too.
I don't like the small barrel chargers if they have to be used exclusively, but you can charge these through the USB also.
I got an Intertek with mine. Worked fine.
Intertek...that was it. I remember it made me think of "Office Space". :nerd:
But the other one was generic. Didn't have a brand name and was just marked, "Made in China".
Why the price is going up is clear: Wal Mart is monitoring all of Erco's posts, and jacking up prices to take advantaging of the sales trends!
I wish I could find someone to subsidize my stuff like this so I could sell it so cheap!
-Phil
Now that I have new keyboard and non-keyboard Android 6.0 units for side by side comparison, I'm convinced that the touchscreen response of the keyboard unit (Voyager Pro) is superior, matching my older Android 5.0 unit. I recommend spending the extra $5-7 for the keyboard/Pro version. The keyboard works quite well and adds functionality as a stand, and offers the protection of a case.
"The tablet mechanically snaps into a rectangular surround to attach to the keyboard via POGO pins..."
It's almost like you're a mechanical engineer or something.
Your concise description is excellent.
"The keyboard works quite well and adds functionality as a stand, and offers the protection of a case."
Exactly. The stand aspect is uncommonly handy, and the protection the keyboard provides the fragile display is fairly dramatic.
As handy as smart phones and tablets are, the lack of a real keyboard is a significant detriment.
As someone mentioned here before, a contest on Letterman between a telegrapher and the world's fastest texter showed that even Morse code is significantly faster than texting.
With a 7" keyboard I could write a multi-page essay for school if I had to. Without a keyboard, forget it!
Actually, your shenanigans are more in line with James Corden, Conan, or Chris Hardwick. Hardwick's ring bearer for his wedding last year was an R2-D2 provided by my friend John "Lord Hotwing" Boisvert (those are his robots in my avatar).
http://www.10news.com/entertainment/san-diego-man-builds-replica-r2-d2-gains-fame
https://www.walmart.com/ip/FileMate-Imagine-Series-7-in-G210-Tablet-Carrying-Case/19336623
https://www.walmart.com/ip/FileMate-ECO-7-G230-Tablet-Carrying-Bag-Dark-Red/21983582
The G230 is a much better fit for this RCA 7" tablet, plenty of room even for the keyboard version. The burgundy color (only color left!) is nice and certainly more macho than the big pink G10. The case is nylon material inside & out with foam in between.
Both cases have an outside pocket big enough for charger or powerbank, earbuds & a small folding stand. Both erco-approved!
I don't have a Chromebook for comparison, but won't this do everything a Chromebook does? Reviews generally say yes, even that there are more Android apps than Chromebook apps. http://www.techradar.com/news/why-new-chromebooks-make-android-tablets-completely-irrelevant
Edit: $10 OBO from China: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Polymer-Li-ion-battery-3-7V-2000mah-fr-RCA-Voyager-II-7-RCT6773W22B-RCT6873W42-/172803283528
And wow, FIVE huge 3000 mAH batteries (non-RCA) for $16? http://www.ebay.com/itm/5PCS-3000mAh-Li-Polymer-Battery-PCM-Rechargeable-For-PDA-ipod-Tablet-PC-357095/201758899688
https://www.walmart.com/ip/RCA-Voyager-7-16GB-Tablet-Android-6-0-Marshmallow/53990885
These still work great, but after ~1.5 years of nearly daily use, the battery life is about half of what it used to be. Hope my Leaf battery lasts longer than that!
https://www.walmart.com/ip/RCA-Voyager-7-16GB-Tablet-Android-OS-Charcoal-RCT6873W42/53990885
Been playing with DroidScript recently. It has support for USB-SERIAL and also IOIO-OTG.
The author is a MCU guy.