Wootalyzer's Pricing Post! - The price of today's woot item is saved here for future reference
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Vizio 8" Android Tablet with Wi-Fi and Folio Case
$159.99 + $5 Shipping
Condition: Refurbished

*DISCLAIMER* Wootalyzer! is in no way affiliated with Woot!, and this post may not always be here!

Amazon

It does everything I need it to do at reasonable speeds. The 4:3 aspect ratio is ideal for reading and web browsing, less ideal for video playback and gaming but these weren't the features sought after when I was shopping for a tablet. The sound quality is excellent through the onboard speakers, 1024x768 is great resolution for all purposes. Holds all of my heavy college texts in ePub format

Don't expect lightning fast and smooth operating like an iPad2.

What!? I was interested in finding out more about the CrapShoot, so I clicked on the Play Now button and was taken to a big blank, white box. Well, I guess that is crap!


[MOD: Hmmmm, I'll report that. Thanks for letting me know!]

I have used the tablet. I purchased it new from costco for $189.99. I had to purchase the entertainment bundle for $50 to get the folio, which is quite nice. In the end i returned it all because the tablet is quite bulky and i much preferred the kindle fire. However this is a great deal and a great gift for kids.

These are a great Tablet with awesome reviews online!!!!

I imagine this would be used primarily for watching videos and movies. Would it handle games/apps and stuff very well?

You can root it. See:

DooMLoRD's Easy Rooting Toolkit

--Bill

got one for my daughter from Costco ($189 IIRC).

Not the fastest tablet, but it seems to run everything just fine.

She loves it and you can't beat the price.

If you're interesting in a cheap Android tablet, this is a great deal.

does anyone know if I would be able to update the android OS at any point??

I have seen these new at my local Walmart , minus the case , at around $198.

I played with a demo model, and it seemed pretty responsive, plus the camera is decent for the price



If I didn't already have a touchpad, an Evo, and an IPad. I would add this to my collection if I had the money

is this upgradeable to Ice Cream Sandwich?

Newegg overview vid


Newegg prices

can this also be hooked up to an keyboard, mouse, and printer to be used like a desktop? if so who makes them and where do I find them. I think I'd want to have the option to type once in a while instead of using the touch screen all the time.

yeawuteva wrote:can this also be hooked up to an keyboard, mouse, and printer to be used like a desktop? if so who makes them and where do I find them. I think I'd want to have the option to type once in a while instead of using the touch screen all the time.

Buy an Asus Transformer or Acer Iconia, they can both do what you need. They are much better then an iPad, and you don't have to feel dirty about giving your money to the apple devils.

I would recommend this product over any apple tablet with a comparable price ; )

I just set one of these up for a customer last week. The stock interface (skin) is easy to use and it performs fast. I was really impressed, it has all the features of more expensive tablets (I don't consider the lack of rear camera a loss, it does have a front facing one), and look/feels solid. One of the best budget tablets out there! Its shame they won't ship by Christmas.

The specs for this are pretty good; it even has an ambient light sensor. The biggest problem is that it uses Android 2.3, which was the last Android version made specifically for phones. Android 3.0 and above were made with tablets (and phones) in mind. While Android 2.3 is perfectly serviceable, many apps will assume that you're using a phone and ask for phone functions, i.e. ringer, vi.brator, dialer, connectivity, GPS, etc. -- even when there seems to be no reason to do so. Furthermore, many apps are formatted for smartphones so they may not take advantage of the tablet's larger screen. For example, I've seen games that only use a quarter of a tablet's screen.

This tablet is very good and a bargain if you like Android 2.3. But you might want to wait for the post-holiday sales on something using Android 3.0.

PS - I wrote this without knowing if this can be upgraded to Android 3.0. If it can, then much of what I wrote is moot (as opposed to Woot ).

sdc100 wrote:The specs for this are pretty good; it even has an ambient light sensor. The biggest problem is that it uses Android 2.3, which was the last Android version made specifically for phones. Android 3.0 and above were made with tablets (and phones) in mind. While Android 2.3 is perfectly serviceable, many apps will assume that you're using a phone and ask for phone functions, i.e. ringer, vi.brator, dialer, connectivity, GPS, etc. -- even when there seems to be no reason to do so. Furthermore, many apps are formatted for smartphones so they may not take advantage of the tablet's larger screen. For example, I've seen games that only use a quarter of a tablet's screen.

This tablet is very good and a bargain if you like Android 2.3. But you might want to wait for the post-holiday sales on something using Android 3.0.

PS - I wrote this without knowing if this can be upgraded to Android 3.0. If it can, then much of what I wrote is moot (as opposed to Woot ).

I've only ever seen apps not scale all the way with an iPad
All the Android apps I've used (non-hd) were just blown up to fit the screen.

A local TV station did a Tablet 101 segment and they mentioned the Vizio tablets. The Vizio tablets according to the report, comes with a special app and ability to use the tablet as a remote for Vizio TVs and other products.

DisturbedOne wrote:I've only ever seen apps not scale all the way with an iPad
All the Android apps I've used (non-hd) were just blown up to fit the screen.

Chalk one up for the good guys

does this tablet have adobe flash? do all honeycomb OS tablet support adobe flash or just a select big brand tablets that cost $200+?

the newegg vid was helpful. i especially like the keyboard functions and the ability to use as a remote for tv, dvd, etc. plus the amazon review said it connects to Android Market

tempting...

I don't know how Android or if Android works with printers, but you can use any Bluetooth keyboard and mouse with it.

I like how the product shot is showing a low battery indicator.

I am curious what you guys think; given the price point, in general would you choose this vizio over a kindle fire?

iluvu4eternity wrote:does this tablet have adobe flash? do all honeycomb OS tablet support adobe flash or just a select big brand tablets that cost $200+?

It will support flash, even though it's not a Honeycomb tablet (runs Android 2.3 - Gingerbread).

Download link from the Android market, for when you finally do get your tablet:
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.adobe.flashplayer&hl=en

Just the ticket for a kid I don't want to gift with an iPad!

Built-in IR blaster with universal remote control app. Allows you to control your home theater devices with the tablet and setup multiple profiles as you move room to room

So this would make a cool TV remote, a bit big for a remote, but cool.

Does it Hulu+ and Netflix?

Performance wise how does compare to the kindle fire? Or the hp touchpad.
-mostly being used for web browsing, videos and light app use.

i just got my Motorola xoom and i love it and now my husband wants one ahHH so im tempted but woot is known to bust wit deals of similar products after i bought one previously _(

yeawuteva wrote:can this also be hooked up to an keyboard, mouse, and printer to be used like a desktop? if so who makes them and where do I find them. I think I'd want to have the option to type once in a while instead of using the touch screen all the time.

I don't know about a mouse in Android, but keyboard is a definite yes. To print, you'll need an app like PrinterShare and a networked printer. I use this app to print from my Android phone (HTC Thunderbolt) and my Dad's tablet (Toshiba Thrive) all the time.

kilitlik wrote:An interesting point. Now we need a Vizio tv

Guess again! Read their official VTab product page. It mentions in the tech specs that it will control "95% of CE devices in US market". How about them apples?

Uh, still wondering if this thing can be updated to ICS. I highly doubt it, but I really have no idea how the android system works. Tried googling it and got a bunch of non-specific answers. Any help would be appreciated!

Adore that description, Woot staff. <3

BigRedDogATL wrote:A local TV station did a Tablet 101 segment and they mentioned the Vizio tablets. The Vizio tablets according to the report, comes with a special app and ability to use the tablet as a remote for Vizio TVs and other products.

I owned one for a month, and yes, it does have an IR blaster built in, and a universal remote control app. I found that it had a wide range of devices you could program it for, including Windows Media Center (need an IR receiver for your rig to make it work, naturally), but the control options were lacking. No customization of buttons to get ones you want, removes ones you don't (at the time I used it - maybe been updated?) - I think that'd be one of the first things desired on such a device's uni-remote app.

Anyhow, I really liked some things about it, but ended up returning it for a few reasons. Here are some of my main memories of the vTab1008

Pros:
1: Speakers are good - I liked them best in landscape mode, because the two speakers it activates will shoot sound sideways, as opposed to both shooting it up when in portrait mode (it has 3, and changes which it uses with the orientation).

2: Good screen size - I have a 5" tab, and have used several ~10" or so, and just really liked the mid-sized 8" this gives.

3: Most apps worked rather well, including the GPS apps I was tinkering with (Sygic, BeOnRoad)

4: Video calling with front-facing camera - note: at the time I was using it, Skype did not work for video. It could do audio, but when I enabled video in Skype the whole call would deteriorate and then Skype would crash. I used Oovoo, and that worked nicely.

Cons:
1: Poor responsiveness - I often found myself waiting moments for it to catch up to me. My Galaxy Player 5 doesn't have the same problem.

2: One of the touted features is the HDMI out, however the app called "Movies" is completely hidden! I didn't find out that it was even included until using a file browser and clicking on a video file, when it asked if I wanted to play with the app I'd downloaded or with "Movies."

3: I REALLY didn't like the home screen, and the way they changed it. It felt to me that a lot of the lag I got was because it was running Vizio's custom overlay. Perhaps I'm wrong, but it was my impression.

4: Skype functionality - see above.

5: Battery life - it wasn't pessimal, but it wasn't grand. Now, for the price? Not too bad, I guess.

6: The first one I got had a bad microphone. Costco switched it out for me just fine, but 'twas a turn off.

I still haven't decided I don't want one, and they still have them at Costco, but what I really want is a Transformer Prime. So I'm biding my time, thinking, and trying to save up the difference in cash!

megamanax wrote:Uh, still wondering if this thing can be updated to ICS. I highly doubt it, but I really have no idea how the android system works. Tried googling it and got a bunch of non-specific answers. Any help would be appreciated!

Sorry, no luck in my searches either. The best I found was this story on engadget covering a software update for the tablet. Check it out. Dated September 6, 2011.