Cruz Reader is Really an Android Tablet

[Chris Gohlke]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/13/velocity-micro-shows-off-199-cruz-reader/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/13/...99-cruz-reader/</a><br /><br /></div><p><object width="600" height="360" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/Znry0q_yo3M&amp;feature=player_embedded&amp;ap=%26fmt=18" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Znry0q_yo3M&amp;feature=player_embedded&amp;ap=%26fmt=18" /></object></p><p>Now this looks pretty interesting. &nbsp;They mention a partnership with Borders and Kobo for ebooks, but if it is running Android with access to the Marketplace, it should be able to also access the Kindle store. &nbsp;So for $199, this looks like quite the bargain. &nbsp;I'll be curious what version of Android this runs. &nbsp;Also curious about the Cruz Tablet, which adds flash support among other things, but ups the price to $299. &nbsp;</p>

[Michael Knutson]

Impressive, especially for the price! It did appear to lag at times during the demo, but I'm guessing that this is/was a prototype device, and not a finished product. I love my iPad, but I'm excited to see some competition finally emerging ... it'll force Apple to "raise their game." Some choices in the market, and, again the consumer benefits!

[Chris Gohlke]

Did a little more reading at their web site.

I think the lag (where he appears to go back and click again) might be due to the resistive touchscreen. The upgraded model is capacitive.

On the downside, it appears that the marketplace is locked down to just their apps, so no Kindle or other goodies.

Still, at $299 for the upgraded model, I'll probably bite unless something better has been announced by then.

I'm guessing this will be hacked pretty quick.