Manage updates with the Download AppViewSonic G Tablet
Manufacturer: ViewSonic Part number: GTABLET
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The ViewSonic G Tablet carves out a unique niche among Android tablets, breaking away from the smartphone to become a type of domestic dashboard. Unfortunately, many key benefits of the Android OS are lost along the way.
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CNET editors' review
ViewSonic G Tablet price range: $279.88
- Reviewed by: Donald Bell
- Reviewed on: 12/16/2010
- Released on: 12/01/2010
The good: The ViewSonic G Tablet is one of only a handful of Android-based devices offering a 10-inch screen at an iPad-besting price tag.
The bad: Adapting the smartphone OS to such a large screen requires many custom interface tweaks that fall short. The lack of official Google mobile services and Android Market limits potential. Many third-party apps don't work as expected.
The bottom line: The ViewSonic G Tablet carves out a unique niche among Android tablets, breaking away from the smartphone to become a type of domestic dashboard. Unfortunately, many key benefits of the Android OS are lost along the way.
User reviews
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Leap of Faith Pays Dividends! Best Tablet Experience!
by Castleberry_Rss on August 22, 2011
Pros: + Everything you love generally about tablet computing. Portable and convenient
+ Cost! Great value considering the HW package and the price seems to be dropping even more
+ More flexible Android OS
+ Lighting fast operationCons: - Extremely glitchy out of the box
- Few custom cases and accessories available
- Lower Screen resolution (not viewing angle), but not that badSummary: Just a few cleanups after owning gTablet for more than a month now. I actually returned it to buy it again. I gave it 5 stars at the $390 I ...
Summary: Just a few cleanups after owning gTablet for more than a month now. I actually returned it to buy it again. I gave it 5 stars at the $390 I paid for it. If I could give it 6 now that I replaced it at $299, I definitely would. It really does blow my mind what you can get for $299 versus the competitors at $599. The competition may very well be better (XOOM, iPad 2, Galaxy Tab 10) but there's no chance it's $300 worth of better. I also upgraded to TnTLite 4.4.0 ROM and it's a tad slower (but still really quick) than 4.2.0 but much more complete and way more stable. This is an incredible deal.
*** P.S. If you will buy this Tablet I suggest you have compare prices before you decide at: www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B004EPV7TK?ie=UTF8&ref_=dp_olp_new&condition=new#?ie=UTF8&tag=***************&********=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957
I also decided to elaborate on the screen issues since it seems to be a big deal to a lot of people. It's not as good as an iPad screen, which means you can't view it every which way. It's absolutely fine most of the time. The biggest issue you'll run into is with dark screens (likely from video content). This is where the viewing angle becomes most evident. Again it's fine with what I call natural angles but any odd angle and you'll lose the picture. Having said that, I can't for the life of me figure out why so many people are bothered by it. The only time I notice it is when I'm trying to view the tablet when someone else is using it and when the tablet's on the nightstand charging. Neither of which seems like a make or break limitation but to each their own I guess.
About two weeks into the purchase, I love my GTab. So much that I kept it over a Refurbished iPad 1 I got on clearance for nearly the same price.
If you're reading this review, chances are you're a lot like me. You realize a tablet's not an essential purchase but you want one anyway as a nice to have. You're thinking about jumping into the tablet market, perhaps ready to finally get an iPad/iPad2 but you're looking for possible (cheaper) alternatives. You like the reviews you've seen so far on the GTab, but you're exceedingly anxious as to whether you have the tech credentials (or even the patience) to Flash a new ROM.
My advice. Do it. The GTab represents a tablet computer. The iPad is an iPad. While this doesn't have the finished product appeal of the iPad (thin form, slick finished edges, stable SW out of the box), it represents a much better addition to my device arsenal. I also own a 2Gen Kindle and an EEEPc Netbook for class (I know...) and if I wasn't so extremely picky about how I'm using each device, GTab could really replace both.
I tinkered with the GTab a bit out of the box as I was curious to see just how terrible the stock ROM was. While I didn't think it was terrible (I think I had a more up to date version than some of the earlier reviewers), it was a "Force Close" field day. Lots of applications and processes failed, which is not something you expect to see with a brand new product. So I went online for the directions to flash a new ROM and within about an hour I had TNT Lite flashed on it. There are really good, step-by-step directions on how to do it out there!
Having flashed the new ROM, I immediately started to realize it outdid the iPad 1. This thing is FAST. Really fast. It snaps from app to app in a heartbeat. It often feels faster than my i7 desktop without a full Win7 OS slowing it down. Ports! SD Mini and USB! You can upload and download files without a computer, attach a peripheral, etc. File Management Apps that let you handle files like you do on your PC.
Android Market lets you get Apps that seem more flexible than Apple apps (like live wallpaper, widgets, file management, internet browser, etc) then lets you set those as the defaults! You never have to look at the stock internet browser or video player again if you don't like them (but I do).
ADOBE FLASH! You'll miss it more than you think you will. Nothing beats opening up pages like CNN.com and ESPN.com and having video content start up. It's amazing how many Apps you don't need when the browser supports the entire internet. I went through my iPhone to see which apps I should check the Android market for and I realized I didn't need many of them as a weblink on the home screen was the best option when working with a 10inch tablet.
I could go on all day but I won't. In summary, I think the GTab is a great tablet paired with TNT Lite ROM but you've got to be prepared to tinker a bit. TNT Lite helps a ton but the open development environment will mean you can still crash it occasionally if you get carried away (which is easy to do because there's so much to explore out there!). I don't consider myself terribly computer savvy (although definitely a gadget *****) and I was able to figure it out.
Updated on Aug 22, 201121 out of 21 users found this user opinion helpful.
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XDA Dev Forum has the info to update this Tablet.
by bellz252 on December 18, 2010
Pros: Dual Core nVidia Tegra 2 CPU, 512MB RAM, 16GB built-in memory, MicroSD slot, miniUSB & USB ports, webcam, 10.1" capacitive touchscreen, 802.11 g/b/n wireless, and Android 2.2. Thumb drives and usb keyboards work great. $100 cheaper than iPad.
Cons: 1.3MP webcam isn't high quality. No included case. Included OS does suck and needs to be rooted to fully use the hardware.
Summary: I bought a Quantaray 7" tablet from Wolf Camera and took it back a few days later. Awful resistive touchscreen is not worth it. I then found this GTablet at ...
Summary: I bought a Quantaray 7" tablet from Wolf Camera and took it back a few days later. Awful resistive touchscreen is not worth it. I then found this GTablet at Staples (for twice the price), and it's worth every penny. One hundred bucks cheaper than the iPad, with better specs and features. Ignore the Apple fanboys and newbies who can't/won't go the extra mile to root their tablet. If you want it to truly shine, you need to do some research (http://forum.xda-developers.com/) and turn this tablet into the powerhouse it should've been. I've put tnt lite ROM on their, along with flash, android marketplace and a wide assortment of apps. If you're into benchmarks, my GTablet scores 2511 in the Quadrant Benchmark. Spend the time to customize your GTablet and you won't be disappointed. If you don't enjoy tinkering with the OS, go buy an iPad.
8 out of 8 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Really useful in all the sense of usefulness
by omgitszen on December 24, 2010
Pros: Really fast , easy to use and now with the new update you can customize the backgrounds,widget etc... Great for college, now I don't need to carry around my books. The adobe flash that i downloaded for view sonic home page works fine.
Cons: For some reason after I did an update all my pdf files were erased and my app download were gone.
Summary: After the update (12/24/2010 update) It went up to awesomeness for me. It has a new app ( found in the home page of gtablet) were it allows you ...
Summary: After the update (12/24/2010 update) It went up to awesomeness for me. It has a new app ( found in the home page of gtablet) were it allows you to download a good range of apps. The customizable back ground and 3d backgrounds are sweet. In a bunch if your a person that needs to be online, read a lot , play a lot , videos , music etc well this is for you. Great battery life, it last around 7 to 8 hours. Cheaper than the ipad and you can use micro sd up to 64gb and it has a mini usb and a normal usb. :)
7 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Hardware, Software needs replaced on arrival
by hunter505 on February 15, 2011
Pros: Form factor is great, weight and feel are nice. Screen is sharp and clear, easy to view web pages and video
Cons: The out-of-the-box interface is clunky and slow. I replaced it with a custom ROM very easily by following instructions available on Android Forums.net in about 20 minutes. Since then I have full access to the Android Market, flash player, YouTube etc
Summary: Great tablet for the price. The ability to expand it's storage is a iPad killer in my opinion. Don't be afraid to change the software, it is well ...
Summary: Great tablet for the price. The ability to expand it's storage is a iPad killer in my opinion. Don't be afraid to change the software, it is well worth your time and effort.
6 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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An excellent tablet that requires a bit of hacking.
by bblackmoor on February 17, 2011
Pros: Solid hardware, great screen, very easy to customize, and it runs Android, so there is an app for everything. The touch screen is responsive and bright, and there are plenty of ports: HDMI, USB, etc. With TNTLite or Vegan, this is a great tablet.
Cons: The default firmware leaves a few things to be desired - it lacks the standard Google Market and support for Flash, for example. However, this is very easy to remedy using the TNTLite or Vegan firmware, which are both free and very simple to install.
Summary: I bought a number of Android tablets before I purchased the Viewsonic G. I think it is a great tablet that delivers a good value for the money.
Summary: I bought a number of Android tablets before I purchased the Viewsonic G. I think it is a great tablet that delivers a good value for the money.
5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Out of box disappoints, but...
by Ronin916 on December 20, 2010
Pros: Hardware is cutting edge, looks to be able to handle at least Honeycomb. Flash can be side-loaded, supports up to 32 GB MicroSD storage, USB will read FAT32 formatted flash drive, solid out of box apps pre-installed
Cons: TapNTap UI is horrendous out of box, slow and unresponsive until updated to latest firmware. Once updated, better but not great. Viewing angles are off, HD playback limited to encoding.
Summary: I purchased one of these from Staples ($399.00), and out of the box I was really disappointed. While the hardware is cutting edge, the TapNTap UI that Viewsonic puts ...
Summary: I purchased one of these from Staples ($399.00), and out of the box I was really disappointed. While the hardware is cutting edge, the TapNTap UI that Viewsonic puts on the tab bring the thing to a crawl out of the box. Recent updates help, and the latest firmware makes this a usable tablet for those not technology inclined. All the basics are covered, and the default apps are actually pretty solid.
But when you root this thing and load a custom firmware (Bekriebel, Roebeet, Gojimi and Rothnic at XDA-Developers should be commended for their efforts) this tablet is a beast. If you're a little squeamish about rooting and side-loading applications, this makes a decent tablet. But you'll need to root and load to get the most out of it. I did, and it's replaced my laptop for everyday use.
And to Viewsonic, you should hire the guys at XDA to write your UI. Seriously. Pay them whatever they want.4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Supervisor "John" at Viewsonic FAILED at service
by sevenofseven on May 19, 2011
Pros: With deepest regret I do not have any. No more PO's signed for VS products by CSU system. Although most are Dells occasional orders of VS screens will no longer be approved.
Cons: My Viewsonic stopped functioning soon after arrival. I contacted them and after 2hrs obtained an RMA#. The tech stated that an email with instructions would follow. 3 weeks passed I cantacted them again and they again assured that the email would come. Se
Summary: Regardless of value Viewsonic products are not what they used to be. Now having to deal with their service I know why. Stay away!
Summary: Regardless of value Viewsonic products are not what they used to be. Now having to deal with their service I know why. Stay away!
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Speed Meets Function...the ultimate tech toy!
by ibuytechtoys on March 28, 2011
Pros: Fully engaging, anything you can think of you can do. Viewsonic updated the software so you can mod or not mod. Plenty Of OS choices. Hardware 2nd to none currently on the market. You can access. Android. Market or Amazon. Plug and play, flash drives, US
Cons: Doesn't have honeycomb yet.
Summary: Best bang for the buck. Tabs are consumption devices but this one defies that label. Once you get into mods and custom ROMs it becomes a learning device. Therefore the ...
Summary: Best bang for the buck. Tabs are consumption devices but this one defies that label. Once you get into mods and custom ROMs it becomes a learning device. Therefore the ultimate tech toy, doesn't brain drain but encourages learning. Customization of this tablet is endless. It conforms to you, not you to it. Not an ipad killer but an load mass murderer. It kills ipad over and over and over again.
This tablet is at the price point they should all be priced at. Unlike Apple iPad you don't have to compromise your proprietary content uploading data to a site to download on to the device, or employ work-arounds, compromising your copyrights. With this tablet you have the capability to plug a flash drive or cable directly into the device, so your proprietary content isn't bouncing off or resting on servers. Flash drives and sdcards increase your file storage capacity. For business it offers you maximum flexibility,usage & you can access a cpanel securely from GTab. If you have a Google Apps Device Policy application/subcription which you get from Android Market, you will have access to remote wiping you can utilize the feature.
Updated on Apr 15, 2011
G Tablet is more than a consumption device it is a learning tool. Once you start rooting, hacking & testing custom ROMs you are increasing your knowledge of the Android OS making it a great learning tool for getting-under-the-hood of tablet-like gadgets.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great tablet for sales/tech support
by EddieSjr on January 23, 2011
Pros: Can sync notes, contacts, calendar across desktop, phone and laptop
Able to create and edit word, and excel documents, view pdf files
Many applications are free, others are low costCons: screen finger prints
can't remove all icons from "dashboard" home pagesSummary: Since I am a business user, I don't have the same hardware requirements as gamers. I immediately downloaded the viewsonic update, and then started adding the apps that I ...
Summary: Since I am a business user, I don't have the same hardware requirements as gamers. I immediately downloaded the viewsonic update, and then started adding the apps that I needed. Some of the applications are designed for a cell phone, not a tablet, but I only tried one that caused any issues installing. Much of the software was free or low cost.
Loading and using excel and word documents with Office Suite was fine. Editing both was straight forward. Of course Igoogle provided most of the syncing between my desktop, phone and tablet. It is nice to add an entry or contact on one device, and have it updated to the other two.
Wifi connection was fast, and internet browsing was similar to my desktop. I opened multiple sites, and it didn't seem to tax the "g".
Some mentioned the viewing angle, and again it was fine for me. Of course, I don't want a wide viewing angle, and it is highly unlikely I would show any information to another person.
I haven't explored the limitations of printing material yet, but in most cases when I will be using the tablet, a printer will not be available.
Battery life is nice compared to my laptop. At least 8 hrs. I did play a couple of Youtube videos just to be sure that the Flash install was okay. They performed just like my desktop.
The keyboard is okay, but I would love to find a small portable wireless keyboard that I can take with me on the road (for longer documents).
Summary: This tablet, having longer battery life, a charger that can work overseas, great portability without sacrificing a decent screen size, and a quick start up with flash memory, will replace my laptop on business trips and during work in customers manufacturing plants.And I don't have to deal with Verizon or AT&T2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Definitely worth it
by giagejoe on December 20, 2010
Pros: Easy to modify
impressive hardware
impressive battery lifeCons: it was very easy to mod but if you don't think you are up to the challenge then maybe it is not for you
Summary: I was pretty nervous about unboxing the g based on all the reports I had heard about the protective film and the stock software. But, to my surprise, everything went ...
Summary: I was pretty nervous about unboxing the g based on all the reports I had heard about the protective film and the stock software. But, to my surprise, everything went pretty smooth.
First I charged the g. That took about 4 hours for the first full charge.
Next I fixed the protective film. The g comes with one protective layer that you peal off and through away. The second layer is a free screen protector. I like that. My second layer has a few bubbles but was also slightly off in two corners so I had to peal it up and rearrange it. I used a credit card to put it back down. I did end up with a few bubbles in it but I was able to work them out of the viewable area.
Now it was time to bring up the tablet. It started up fine and it was pretty easy to configure the wifi. After an update I set about using it for an hour. To my surprise, I actually thought the stock software was okay. I don't have a lot of android exposure so it didn't seem foreign to me. But after an hour, I was ready to mod the ROM.
I did some research before beginning and I had notes on exactly what I needed to do along with the files I needed to install. I took it slow to make sure I did it right and I found the process fairly painless. Being able to hook the g up to my laptop like a USB harddrive was nice. Once I completed the mod I was able to bring up the g with the new ROM. I probably spent an hour on the ROM updating process (I also applied the Market fix and loaded the adobe flash player while I was at it).
Finally, I spent an hour playing with the new ROM. It felt much more like the LG Ally which I suspect is more of the standard Android look and feel. It was impressively fast and I watched some videos from CNN that played great.
Overall, I am a pretty easy going person as long as things don't get too complicated. For me I liked the stock g and, so far, I'm loving the TnT Lite 2.20 g. The process was well within my comfort level so I never had any moments of fustration. I have noticed with the LG Ally that there is a bunch of junk software on it that can't seem to be removed. But with the g I feel like I have much more control. I'm sure I'll spend time expanding my knowlege of Android and tweeking the software and I think the g is the perfect tool for this.
As for battery life, my first charge took about 4 hours. On that charge I used the g for a few hours a day for several days. It seemed like the battery meter was very slow to go down and I was beginning to wonder how long it would last. But once the meter got around 50% it seemed to run out quickly. Overall, I easy got 8 hours + before the battery ran out.
I completely drained it. The second charge took about 3 hours. If I get 8 hours of use for a 3 hour charge I'll be estatic.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: ViewSonic
- Part number: GTABLET
- Description: The ViewSonic gTablet has a crisp and vibrant 10.1" capacitive touch screen display is plenty of real estate for even the most demanding tablet users. Great for multitasking, viewing multiple apps, and especially browsing the web, viewing pages in their entirety. Sharing entertainment and photos on this gorgeous display is truly a delight. This tablet is so easy to take with you anywhere. It has a super slim and sleek design and feels very comfortable in your hands with it's smooth beveled edges. It's that easy to take with you. Engineered with you in mind, the navigation is practically instinctive. You find the buttons exactly where you would have placed them, which will have you toggling. Searching, going back and moving forward all at lightning speed. Volume rocker is located on top.
Display
- Type 10.1 in,
TFT active matrix - LED backlight - Display Resolution 1024 x 600
- Touchscreen Yes
General
- Operating System Android 2.2
Processor
- Processor ARM,
Tegra 250 - Processor Clock Speed 1 GHz
Memory
- Flash Memory 16 GB
- RAM 512 MB - DDR2 SDRAM
- ROM 512 MB - Flash
- Supported Flash Memory Cards microSD
Communications
- Wireless Connectivity 802.11b/g/n,
Bluetooth 2.1 EDR Camera
- Front-facing Camera 1.3 Megapixel
Multimedia
- 3D APIs OpenGL ES 2.0
- Supported Digital Video Formats H.263,
MPEG-4,
WMV9 (up to 720p),
H.264,
DivX,
VC-1,
MPEG-2 - Audio Speaker
- Supported Digital Audio Formats WMA,
AAC,
AMR,
MP3 Expansion and Connectivity
- Expansion Slot(s) 1 x microSD
- Interfaces 1,
1 x USB 2.0,
1 x Headphones Battery
- Technology / Form Factor Lithium polymer
- Capacity 3650 mAh
Miscellaneous
- Color Black
- Sensors Accelerometer,
Ambient light sensor - Features Full USB ,
Front camera ,
Expandable storage - Included Accessories Power adapter , Cleaning cloth,
Protective cover - Cables Included 1 x USB cable
- Compliant Standards FCC,
RoHS,
UL Dimensions & Weight
- Width 10.5 in
- Depth 0.6 in
- Height 6.8 in
- Weight 1.55 lbs
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 32 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 95 °F
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse ViewSonic products on Shopper.com
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- Manufacturer:ViewSonic
- Address:
381 Brea Canyon Road, Walnut, CA 91789-0708 - Phone: 1-800-688-6688
