Creative ZiiO 7

“The Creative ZiiO 7 definitely doesn't belong to the verified iPad Killers. But it's not trying to, either. All the same, you can get two Creative ZiiO 7s with an 8 GB memory for the price of one iPad. In return, the Creative ZiiO 7 is rather more multimedia center. Considering the tablets possibilities of being connected to a TV via HDMI or wireless with the according audio speaker, it's still looking for its equals. Merely the resistive touchscreen and the old Android version dim the picture a bit. You get what you can expect for 249 euros from the case – namely plastic. However, it's been well-manufactured and is pleasant to hold thanks to its design. We can recommend the Creative ZiiO 7 multimedia tablet to those who find a smartphone too small and a 10 tablet too big. The tablet is simply more portable in view of its 7 inches, and handier than a 10 model in many situations. Also, if you put a lot of value on audio and video, you could be happy with the Creative ZiiO 7. Nevertheless, the lack of compatibility with Apps clouds the total impression to a great extent.”

“The Creative Ziio's screen's colours look washed-out, its built-in app store is horrible and it uses an outmoded resistive touchscreen, but it's still one of the best sub-£200 tablets money can buy. Video playback is decent, it's a good-looking device and with a bit of know-how and an hour or two's tinkering you can seriously boost its functionality.”

“It's a long way behind the iPad and the Galaxy Tab in terms of overall usability. But at just £199, the Creative Ziio does offer great value for money. If you've got £200 to spend, you won't find a better tablet than the Creative Ziio.”

“Google have repeatedly said that Android 2.x builds are not designed for tablets, with Android 3.0 specifically designed for the larger screen and offering a more complete experience. We’ve been in contact with Creative who have again confirmed that an Android 2.2 update is coming, but they wouldn’t commit to 3.0 – we suspect the resistive screen would be a barrier.Android 2.2, if it does deliver the Android Market as promised, will certainly make life easier and improve the experience out of the box, although there is no guarantee it will bring the other Google applications with it. It’s also difficult to ignore that fact that many higher-specd Android 3.0 devices are just around the corner, so the ZiiO 7 has to sell itself on media credentials and affordability alone.If you stick to the remit of a large screen media player, then the Creative ZiiO 7 is worth considering. If you have a selection of videos and music you want to take on your travels, then this will offer you entertainment for half the price you’d pay for an iPad or some rival Android tablets. However, the resistive display will always be a limiting factor, regardless of what updates (official or unofficial) find their way to the device.”