iTec November 2012. | Page 3

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Most tablets have followed Apple’s design for thinness and design: make it as light, and perhaps as small, as possible. But Sony entered the tablet market in a completely different way. Their tablet doesn’t follow the traditional norms, today’s industry standards. That is only one of the things that makes the Tablet S unique, and thankfully in a good way.

The 1280×800 display is sharp and comfortable to view, and has very high viewing angles. However, the screen isn’t as impressive to use. The screen itself is slightly abrasive, and isn’t smooth like many of today’s smartphones like the iPhone 4S or Samsung Galaxy Note

Unlike most tablets, the Tablet S is very unique and strange with it’s connectors. It includes upgradeable memory in the form of full SD cards. The Tablet S also connects via microUSB for data, which most tablets today don’t do. The Tablet S is a Wi-Fi only tablet and has no 3G or LTE variant. If you need a connection anywhere, the Tablet S isn’t for you.

The Tablet S has a decent battery lifespan per charge, lasting anywhere from 8-10 hours of continuous use with minimal stress (such as web browsing or email), and 5-7 hours of more stressful applications (Wi-Fi video streaming, gaming).

Sony didn’t go all out with the camera, but did stack a 5MP rear shooter and a VGA (640×480) front-facing camera.

It’s strange that the most stand-out feature of the Tablet S is its design. It’s shaped to fit a single hand, and it does so exceptionally well. Tablet S is a multi-purpose tool. It has all of the traditional tablet utilities, but can also double as a universal remote, a full-screen Chumby alarm clock, a game console, and a digital reader. Unlike most tablet makers, who are just trying to copy Apple’s success, Sony has taken a clear direction and hit its mark. What the Tablet S makes for ingenuity, it lacks in general function. The Tegra 2 processor is too little too late.

The services included are genuinely useful and entertaining, and the overall quality of the device is very good. But what really sets it apart is the combination of those services and the design and a highly intelligent design that’s aimed at real people, and real potential uses for tablets. The Tablet S is the tablet we envisioned for years, and more; it’s the perfect living room companion

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