Be wary of phony tablet computers

A large number of tablets running the Android operating system and with iPad-like imitations are being sold publicly on shopping sites like eBay with super cheap prices just under $ 100. This device is also being launched aggressively in Vietnam.

These cheap devices have several different designs, and some look quite similar to the iPad. They have 7-inch touch screens (while the iPad screen is 9.7 inches) and run the old Android 1.7 operating system.

These devices are called Apad and ePad (only the name is imitated by the iPad) and most come from . China.

An eBay seller with the name Goodstore-2010 is currently offering ePad with an iPad-like appearance for $ 99 and free shipping out of Hong Kong. This person is assessed for reliability (on the website) to 98.9%. Another person sold the Apad device for $ 48, but required an additional $ 46 for shipping, bringing the total to $ 94.

The tablets are quite similar to the iPad

Another seller, Ego-2010, offers a 7-inch tablet for $ 80 plus a $ 26 shipping fee. This device is advertised with fine words "perfect, best, super low price, etc.". On another purchase site, the device comes with a detailed guide on how to upgrade the operating system from Android 1.7 to 1.82.

According to public information on eBay, there were sellers who sold nearly 100 Apad devices for $ 96.

Naturally, as with other floating items, these devices do not have a warranty, and the return period if malfunctioning and refunds are only two weeks. Technical support after delivery almost no.

On an overseas Android forum, a person whose nick is Gridwalker said that he had bought an ePad from the Goodstore-2010 online store and it was soon malfunctioning as soon as it arrived. Any technical questions he sent to sellers were ignored. However, the seller has offered to return the money.

Experts' reviews show that these devices are really tablets, and can be used for "popular" things like surfing the Web. However, these devices don't have a huge app store dedicated to "genuine" iPads, and with poor hardware they can hardly do the jobs that the ad compliments.

Aaron Vronko, co-founder of Rapid Repair, a famous company that fixes "Apple" products, said that when he opened a tablet, what struck him was "magnetic technologies. at least three years ago ". Processors are inexpensive to follow Via technology that only runs at 500 - 600 Mhz. 2GB flash memory is even less than the iPod Nano.

From Apple, there is still no move about products that are clearly imitating this iPad.

In Vietnam, currently on many online buying and selling websites are selling Apad tablets, this ePad price ranges from 4.7 to 5 million VND (2 to 2.5 times higher than with prices sold abroad).

Looking at the introduction included on the advertised items, viewers can "stun" the advertised power of these devices. However, consumers should not be cheap but pick up home those "dull apples" that do not have much of this use.