Viewsonic ViewPad 10

“So all in all the ViewPad 10 is a very confused li'l device.Neither of the operating systems really do the responsive hardware justice. Windows 7 Home Premium simply isn't an OS designed to work well on these machines.I'm happily running it on my flip-screen Acer because that laptop will effortlessly switch between tablet and notebook modes in a trice, not because it's the best system to marry with a touchscreen.Likewise the rapidly ageing Android 1.6 OS is at best an abortive attempt to be relevant and at worst a horrifically frustrating experience that's likely to be responsible for turning more people away from Android than the iPad.And that is the problem right there. Every tablet is now going to be compared, rightly or wrongly, to the iPad. That machine is a perfect example of computing designed for the optimal end-user experience. The ViewPad may as well come with an irreplaceable desktop wallpaper with the words screw you standing out in high contrast for all the effort ViewSonic seems to have made ensuring the usability of its device.Given the ViewPad 10 costs the same as a 16GB Wi-Fi iPad, the comparisons are going to continue to be made, and never made favourably.It's a shame because, battery-life aside, the hardware propping up the two failing operating systems actually works pretty well. I'm not sold on the too-widescreen aspect ratio, and the viewing angle is fairly poor, but the Atom and 1GB RAM are as responsive as the touchscreen is.The build quality too is generally good, there's no creaking and no flexing of the frame when you pick it up one-handed. It's a little on the heavy side, but nothing too serious.The ViewPad 10 then is an ideal example of why the likes of Asus and MSI are steering clear of the tablet game for now, or putting their prototypes out there for OEMs to pick up and furnish themselves.The long-awaited EeePad and WindPad from the Taiwanese twosome are unlikely to come before there is a functional OS ready and waiting to look after the capable componentry that's already on offer.So, in terms of the iPad-beater, we are still waiting.”

“The ViewPad 10 is unlikely to dent the iPad's dominance of the touch-screen tablet market. But, like the Airpanel before it, the problem is not so much with the hardware as with Microsoft: although Windows 7 is a much better proposition for touch-screens than its predecessors, it still can't compete with operating systems designed from the ground up to work with fingers rather than keyboards. That said, if you need the familiarity and compatibility of Windows 7, there are currently few alternatives to the ViewPad 10.”

“Nowhere close to being in the forefront of the tablet space, the outdated and non-optimized Android experience with the ViewSonic ViewPad 10 is an appalling step backwards in the opposite direction that Google is taking their beloved platform. Though, it’s nice to see that you literally have the full advantage of a mobile laptop thanks to Windows 7 – even more when you’ve got various ports at your disposal to enhance the experience. However, the poor implementation of Android, plus the mediocre screen and insufficient battery life leave an overall bitter taste after using the tablet more extensively. It makes us think if the device wouldn't have been better off if designed solely as a Windows tablet, since we don't quite see the point in having such an inadequate Android experience. If you're intent on using the ViewSonic ViewPad 10 exclusively as a Windows device, then we presume it might fit the bill. But even then its other drawbacks prevent it from becoming a desirable product.”

“We're left frustrated by the ViewPad 10. At its core, it's an excellent idea: a blisteringly fast Android-based tablet with the ability to add a keyboard and mouse to create a flexible computing device. The fact it runs Windows means it could even become a fully functioning PC when you reach your destination.But this first incarnation has too many flaws to walk away with a recommendation. ViewSonic's interface isn't usable enough, and it has failed to tie the hardware to the software properly. The fact it runs Android 1.6 rather than 2.2 is again a big hurdle, you can't assume a seamless transition in the future. And the lack of 3G support is yet another body blow.”