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Croma 1177 [year] Review: A Tablet With a Twist

Croma 1177 2026 Review: A Tablet With a Twist

September 12, 2018 Richard Gomez 0

Croma has been selling house-brand products for a while now, with varying degrees of success. There's definitely a risk involved when a company puts its brand on products sourced from outside; more so in categories that already have their fair share of cheap made-in-China OEM/ODM products.
The large-format retailer has now decided to put its stamp on tablets in addition to home appliances. Two models have been launched; the Croma 1179 with an 8-inch screen and the Croma 1177 with a 10.1-inch screen and a detachable keyboard case. We have the latter, which the company refers to as a “2-in-1”, with us for review today.
While the device is sold exclusively by Croma, it does not carry the Croma brand in the same way that its appliances do. The box and device itself clearly state that it is manufactured for and imported by Datamini. If you were following the branded PC market in the late 90s and early 2000s, that name might ring a bell – the company was well-known for its Festiva range..

BSNL Penta T-Pad WS802C review 2026

January 16, 2017 Richard Gomez 0

It's a season of tablets and there seems to be a new budget tablet being launched every other day. However, even in the midst of all these tablets, BSNL's Penta T-Pad WS802C looks like an interesting option for a number of reasons.
Most tablets that have launched in India so far are either 7-inch tablets or 10-inch options, with the only exception being Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9, which has 8.9-inch screen. BSNL's Penta T-Pad WS802C is a bit different in this regards as it sports an 8-inch screen. Also, this tablet comes at a very interesting price point. Priced at Rs. 14,699 Penta T-Pad is placed exactly in between the entry level tablets and high-end tablets. So let's explore whether this tablet is a good buying option or yet another also-ran?
Design/ Hardware
BSNL's Penta T-Pad is an ivory white tablet 8-inch tablet, which looks an interesting tablet on first glance. However, the moment you hold the tablet in your hands, the first thing that one notices is its ..

Milagrow M2 Pro 3G 2026 Review

September 17, 2018 Richard Gomez 0

Milagrow rose to prominence a few years ago for selling tablets it called “TabTops” with crossover features such as USB host connectivity, but has since then been better known for its pioneering line of domestic and commercial robots. The company currently sells an impressive variety of vacuum cleaners (including one that doubles as a cloud-connected home security device), window washers, massagers, air purifiers and much more.
The tablet vision is still alive alongside, and we have with us today the Milagrow M2Pro, a compact 7.9-inch tablet with features that the company hopes will give it an advantage over bigger brands including Apple, Dell and Samsung. It isn't aimed at the very lowest end of the market, which makes it all the more interesting.
Domestic brands haven't made inroads into the tablet market in the way that they've taken over the low-end and mid-range smartphone space, so it will be interesting to see whether Milagrow can counter its competition with abun..

Samsung Galaxy Note 800: 2026

January 16, 2017 Richard Gomez 0

After launching Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 in UK and USA, the company has now introduced it in India as the Samsung Galaxy Note 800. On the specs side, this tablet packs in the new 1.4GHz quad-core Exnyos processor, 2GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal flash storage, and one can expand the memory via microSD cards of up to 32GB.
The 10.1-inch display comes with 1280x800p resolution, and there is a 7000 mAh battery on board. Just like the 5.3-inch Galaxy Note, Galaxy Note 800 is also S-Pen optimised. It will retail at Rs. 39,990.
We were very excited when we saw the specifications of the tablet, and really looking forward to laying our hands on it. We have been playing around this tablet for a few hours now since Samsung had provided a unit pre-launch. However, the actual experience with the tablet has been bit of a disappointment.
Of late, there have been quite a few ivory white tablets in entry and high end tablet segments and Galaxy Note 800 is the latest to join the bandwagon. At just 0.35 i..

Asus PadFone X 2026

August 12, 2018 Richard Gomez 2

Companies often blend old products to give you something new.
This summer, AsusTek Computer Inc. claims you don't need both a phone and a tablet – as long as you get its new PadFone X. The PadFone works like any other phone and has a screen that measures 5 inches diagonally. When you want a tablet experience, you simply slip the phone into a slot on the back of the tablet display, which is included. All the apps on the phone now work on the 9-inch tablet. The phone is what runs the tablet. Asus is bringing this concept to the U.S. for the first time.
In some cases, apps switch to the tablet screen automatically, so you don't have to restart the video or reopen the mail app. In other cases, you'll have to close the app and reopen it after attaching the phone to the tablet screen.
For apps that have been optimized for tablets, the layout on the PadFone rearranges automatically to use the extra space. Yet it's fundamentally a phone. You can make calls in tablet mode, u..

Zync Z999 Plus review 2026

June 21, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

Similar to the sudden rise in the number of mobile phone manufacturers a few years ago, tablet makers are raining these days. It seems everyone is making tablets or just importing a few from China and pasting their stickers.
There is suddenly a lot of choice for budget tablets, but if you are looking to find quality budget tablets, the options are very limited.
One such company that appeared along with the recent tablet tide was Noida-based Zync, which has launched various tablets in different segments in a very short period of time. The company recently released its Z999 Plus tablet in the country with voice-calling and Ice Cream Sandwich. We put it through the paces to find out if it offers any value or is just a part of the herd.
Design/ Hardware
When you go to buy a budget tablet, the expectations aren't much and often the not-so-good looks are also ignored if the performance is decent. The Zync Z999 Plus is a tablet in the not-so-good looks category, we will find out about ..

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 2026

August 30, 2018 Richard Gomez 0

Samsung, the market leader in Android smartphones, on Tuesday launched a new range of tablets, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S, in India. Two models with different screen sizes are available – the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 and the Galaxy Tab S 10.5 – with prices starting at Rs. 37,800 and Rs. 44,800 respectively. Both tablets mark Samsung's re-entry into the OLED space. The last tablet by the company with an OLED screen was the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7, in 2011.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 and Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 were first launched by the South Korean giant at its Samsung Galaxy Premiere 2014 'Tab in to colour' event in New York City on June 12. Now, at the launch in India, Samsung has revealed that it will be selling the 3G Exynos-based versions of the tablets here in the second week of July. LTE versions with Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoCs will follow shortly.
We at NDTV Gadgets got a chance to play with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 at its India launch event, and these are our fir..

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 310 - [year] review

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 310 – 2026 review

November 25, 2018 Richard Gomez 0

Samsung is probably trying to apply its smartphones strategy on tablets, as the company is launching Android tablets of varied specification in the Indian market. Starting from 7-inch, the Korean manufacture has a tablet for you in almost every possible size – 7.7-inch, 8.9-inch, and 10.1-inch.
The recently launched Galaxy Tab 2 310 is company's first Ice Cream Sandwich tablet to reach India and it is also a device that marks a big shift in company's target market. Instead of going after the iPad buyers, Samsung has realised that it is better to target buyers that don't have the budget to opt for iPad and can compromise a bit on features.
The Galaxy Tab 2 310 comes at almost half the price at which original Galaxy Tab was launched in India and has similar features, but has the reduction in price impacted the overall performance of the device? We find out in this review.
Hardware
Apart from the original 7-inch Galaxy Tab, all the Samsung tablets look identical, with just..

Microsoft Surface Pro 3 2026

August 28, 2018 Richard Gomez 0

To appreciate Microsoft's latest tablet computer, you need to accept the notion that one device can do it all.
The Surface Pro 3 works as a tablet when you want to watch video or read e-books. It works as a laptop when you need to get serious work done. The Surface delivers on both, though it falls short of meeting Microsoft's claim to do so without compromising on either.
(Also see: Microsoft Unveils Surface Pro 3 With 12-Inch 2160×1440 Pixel Display)
The Pro 3 runs a full version of Microsoft's Windows 8 system, the same as you get on a traditional desktop or laptop computer. That means that, unlike other tablets, it can run just about any program designed for Windows: Microsoft Office, Photoshop and more.
The Surface has a touch screen like other tablets, but it also has an optional cover that opens to reveal a physical keyboard and touchpad. It has a USB port and one for external displays, both of which are rare on tablets.
It also matches laptops in price. Although ..

Nexus 7 2026 review

November 19, 2018 Richard Gomez 0

In the 1982 sci-fi movie “Blade Runner,” there are hints that the hero, played by Harrison Ford, is an artificial human – an “android” or “replicant.” His job is to go out and kill other, rogue androids.
If he's an android, he's of the latest model, Nexus 7. That's also the name Google Inc. has picked for the first tablet to bear the Google brand. Clearly, its mission is to go out and kill rogue tablets running Google's Android software.
Specifically, the Nexus 7 seems to have been designed to give anyone who bought a Kindle Fire from Amazon.com Inc. or a Nook Tablet from Barnes & Noble Inc. a lethal case of buyer's remorse.
The Nexus 7 costs $199, the same that Amazon and Barnes & Noble charge for their tablets. But it's better than theirs in significant ways, as it became clear to me after a couple of days of use. Google announced the tablet last week and is taking pre-orders for delivery in mid-July.
Why is Google targeting the Kindle Fire and the Nook ..

Acer Iconia W4 2026

July 25, 2018 Richard Gomez 0

Windows 8 has an identity problem. The Modern UI, with its big, bright tiles and touch-friendly apps still isn't useful for anything more than the occasional game. Microsoft's most recent updates seem to have been designed to make life easier for non-touch laptop and desktop users, making the traditional Windows desktop more prominent and consigning the Start Screen to the background.
We like Windows 8.1 on desktops and laptops, and like many users, we have adjusted to the lack of a Start menu. Once we're in the desktop, there's almost no need to ever deal with the Modern UI, but we don't mind dipping into it occasionally. On most laptops and hybrid ultrabooks, we often forget that the screens are touch-capable, and frankly, that isn't a problem at all.
Perhaps that's why Windows-powered tablets have all but disappeared from the market. Sure, we've got plenty of ultrabooks and hybrids with keyboards that either detach or fold away – but pure tabl..

Microsoft Surface 2026

July 30, 2016 Richard Gomez 0

Microsoft seems to have gotten the design and form factor right with its new Surface tablet computer. But the user interface, not so much. That's an odd conclusion to make about a device from a software company that usually lets others do the manufacturing.
Still, that's how I felt after feeling the heft of the device, examining it from all sides and making a few swipes at the screen. The Surface has a touch keyboard cover that feels great and, to me, is a big step forward for tablets. The tablet's software interface, however, seems non-intuitive and sluggish.
Microsoft is clearly straddling the uncomfortable divide between the old world of mice and keyboards, where it dominates, and a future ruled by touch screens, where Apple and Android devices prevail.
Although the Surface won't go on sale until this fall, I had the chance to spend a few minutes with some devices in a group demonstration after Microsoft unveiled them in Los Angeles on Monday.
The removable cover..