Sony Tablet S, the innovatively designed Android tablet with 9.4inch screen from Sony, made an appearance on UK store shelves on September 16. It is the first of Sony’s tablets to come out. The clamshell shaped, dual screen Sony Tablet P is also expected to release this month but details are still hush-hush.
Sony Tablet S has the folded magazine build that we’ve been talking about since a long time. The form is supposed to help make the tab easier to hold and handle, as per ergonomics. Whether it will actually pan out like that in customers’ eyes should become apparent in the next few days. For the rest, the tablet ships with Android 3.1 and the usual bells and whistles. Sony’s own UI overlays Android and the company offers exclusive software and services such as PlayStation Suite (with Crash Bandicoots and Pinball Heroes thrown in for free), Music Unlimited, Video Unlimited, Reader Store, universal IR remote control capabilities, etc.
Sony has worked hard on a unique design for both its tablets which is just as well seeing how Apple is going crazy over Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, Motorola Xoom, and whoever’s next. No one could mistake Sony Tablet S for any other Android tablet (and there are many now), that’s for sure.
Sony Tablet S 16GB WiFi costs £399 and the 32GB version is for £479. A 3G version should follow soon. Sony has stuck to the iPad pricing, banking on the added value of PlayStation, a TruBlack screen based on BRAVIA technology, cloud services, SD memory card support (up to 2GB) and SDHC support (up to 32GB). You can get it from Currys and PC World.
I believe the pricing of tablets needs to be reworked. Honeycomb tablets haven’t really done well, yet they are priced the same as Apple’s iPad 2, sometimes more. Customers are smart and tablets are not exactly a cheap affair. Let’s see how Sony Tablet S will fare in the demanding market environment. Despite the innovative design, will it become just another Android tablet?
Have you been holding out for Sony Tablet S?
[via CNET]
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I bought the sony tablet yesterday – and I’m very very impressed with the speed, connectivity and functionality of this tablet.
I love it – great to hold and grip, and super configurable – I love it!
So easy to set up, it’s my remote control for 4 devices now – and this was set up in 2 mins.
It feels great quality too.
Well done Sony – truly a tablet to give the i pad a run for it’s money.