VIZIO’s 8-inch Android tablet hit select retailers nationwide at just under $300. The hardware was average: a single-core 1GHz processor, 512MB RAM, 4GB onboard storage (2GB user-accessible) with microSD expandable to 32GB, an 8-inch 1024×768 capacitive multitouch display, and Android 2.3. Most current smartphones outperformed it on specs, but that wasn’t really the pitch.
The more compelling angle was home entertainment integration. The tablet included a built-in infrared blaster for controlling a home setup, a mini-HDMI port with HDCP support for HD content playback, three speakers with SRS TrueMedia Sound, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a front-facing VGA camera, a Micro USB connector, and VIZIO’s V.I.A. Plus interface for a unified experience across future VIZIO HDTVs, Blu-ray players, and other devices. A Honeycomb upgrade was also possible down the road.
At under $300, the VIZIO tablet made a reasonable case as a home entertainment companion and universal remote, particularly for anyone already in the VIZIO ecosystem. Available at Sam’s Club, Walmart, Costco, and Amazon.
