The tablet market is filled with plenty of gadgets eager for your attention. Whether you’re a business user or just a casual internet browser, there will probably be a tablet for your needs.
Toshiba has attempted to get in on this market with its AT200, a slim device catering to the Android crowd. But with the new iPad on the market, can this gadget compete?
Hardware and Features
The Toshiba AT200 features a 10.1 screen, with 1280×800 resolution, and is powered by the Honeycomb version of Android.
It also features webcam, gyroscope, accelerometer, ambient light sensors, GPS and an e-compass. It also comes with a Micro USB port, a micro SD card slot, along with a micro HDMI port.
Battery life provides eight hours, although some reviewers have said they haven’t reached that point in their experience. It’s also powered by a dual-core 1.2Ghz processor, with 1GB of RAM.
What’s the consensus?
On first appearance, the AT200 is a pretty good looking tablet, with the magnesium alloy body providing a nice, glossy finish. The device itself is only 7.7mm thick, which is incredibly thin, and reviews suggest it’s easy to hold.
Over at Engadget, the publication says it’s actually one of the most comfortable tablets they’ve used for one-handed use. “While it feels incredibly light, it remains solid, with barely any give, presumably due to the metallic backing,” it said.
However, there is a flaw – the outer room has a sharp edge and the frame itself does have some small flaws.
“The sides of the tablet have a metallic piping that both helps make the tablet less anonymous but also help gain purchase when it’s lying on a flat surface. This is interrupted on the right side by a power switch, volume rocker and customizable switch that can mute the tablet or lock the screen orientation.”
Over at T3, the publication said the screen itself has been “eclipsed” by the new iPad, but also said that brightness wasn’t an issue.
“The screen will play full 1080p high definition content and because the bezel isn’t too thick, the experience isn’t interrupted.”
Usability has also been given a tick, with the Honeycomb software left alone without any customisation or skins. T3 noted surfing the web was a “pleasant experience”, especially with Flash integration.
TechRadar also praised the usability, although it said web browsing was a bit slow.
“We weren’t left waiting all day and all the content worked once it had loaded, but the wait time was noticeable enough to become annoying.”
Camera-wise, the publication also said the tablet takes some nice photos, and “more than pulls its weight”. However, it did note that shutter speed was very slow at times.
Battery-wise, Engadget said the tablet used up six hours with 50% brightness, Wi-Fi, and video use. It wasn’t a great conclusion, with the publication saying “more typical use didn’t inspire much confidence either”.
“Perhaps in slimming down to this 0.3 inch frame, the device has generated some power management inefficiencies, or more simply; the battery is simply too small.”
Who’s it for?
There’s no doubt the AT200 is a solid piece of hardware. Reviewers suggest it feels good to use, is light and is fast enough for constant use.
However, there are some flaws. The rough edges, the slow browsing time and some issues with speed can put this device behind the competition. It’s also slightly more expensive than the iPad – and with that competition, you’re probably better off looking past this one.
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
