The Kindle Fire and the Google Nexus 7 -- tablets able to gain ground against the market-leading iPad -- are just priced at $200, less than half the $499 tag of Apple's tablets. The maker of the Wikipad, however, justify the tablet's iPad-like pricing, pointing out that the 10.1-inch Android-running tablet has powerful innards, has gaming controls and a removable gamepad. Wikipad CEO James Bower says that if gamers are ready to spend $249 for the PS Vita and $499 for the iPad, they should instead a Wikipad for $499, which has audio, graphics, gameplay and controls optimized for hardcore gaming.
What Else You Need To Know
- WikiPad features include 10.1-inch display with a 1280 x 800 resolution, Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich, 1.4GHz NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor, 2 GB of RAM, 8 GB of storage, microSD card slot, optional 3G, HDMI port, and 8-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, and a 2-MP front cam.
- The device will be available at GameStop beginning October 31st.
Other sources
Defying all logic, however, the Wikipad feels like a surprisingly solid piece of equipment (regardless of the fact that the prototype model we used was hand-built).- Ben Gilbert, engadget
There’s a general stigma that tablets can’t and will never do “hardcore” gaming justice because they just don’t have actual buttons, analog sticks and shoulder triggers.- Raymond Wong, BGR
- Phone Scoop
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Hands-on with Wikipad, the $500 Android gaming tablet (video)
Apps load quickly and smoothly, and it's got extra loud speakers for gaming without headphones.
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Hands-on with the $499 Wikipad gaming tablet
There’s a general stigma that tablets can’t and will never do “hardcore” gaming justice because they just don’t have actual buttons, analog sticks and shoulder triggers.
- Phone Scoop
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Wikipad CEO James Bower defends his gaming tablet's $500 pricing, why one device beats two
That said, despite our positive hands-on time with the Wikipad (even in its prototype state), $500 is a heck of a lot of money to plunk down on an unproven device from an unproven company.
- TN
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Wikipad CEO James Bower Justifies $500 Gaming Tablet Pricing
The idea here is that you get a powerful Android 10.1 inch tablet with a gaming controls attached to it, a proprietary and removable gamepad.