Acer - Iconia Tablet with 16GB Memory - Titanium Gray

I was initially going to purchase the Kindle Fire after I played a little bit with my coworker's device. Once things did not work out in the way I thought they would, I was able to do more research on my purchase. I looked through review sites and even on Best Buy and then stumbled upon this tablet. It was priced nicely and when I tested it out in the store, I was amazed. It was everything I would hope it was and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (Which was in the running for my choices) proved to be too buggy for me (The display unit froze up on me while I was trying it). I made my purchase on the 8th of this month, and much to my delight, it updated to ICS last Wednesday evening. Not only would I recommend this product to a friend, I already have and urged them to make their purchase from Best Buy.

The Acer A200 is my first tablet purchase, and I'm amazed with the capability of this "bargain" tablet. I purchased in February 2012, for $299. A nearby store was offering the tablet at a lower price, and Best Buy called the competitor, confirmed that they had it in stock, and then matched the price. Add to that a $45 Reward Zone certificate that I applied to the purchase, and I walked out the door spending only $267 including tax. I bought the A200 after comparing it with the Apple iPad, iPad 2, the Samsung 10.1, the Motorola Xoom, Kindle Fire, Nook and Blackberry PlayBook. The 3G versions of these tablets weren't even considered because I was searching for value, and not another opportunity for my wireless company to drain more money from my wallet. Besides, if a user really wants 3G/4G connectivity with this tablet, it's as simple as setting up a wireless smartphone as a mobile hotspot and then connecting the tablet through the phone. The cost and monthly allowance is the same as the data plan for the tablet alone in the research I've done, and the phone can serve as a mobile hotspot for up to five devices. I purchased the A200 after my comparison with each of these tablets through reading other user's experiences (limited for the A200, as it is so new), comparison of specifications, and hands-on use of each option. In the case of the more expensive tablets, I couldn't justify spending an additional $200 or more just to have an HDMI port (which the A200 doesn't have), a rear camera or even a higher resolution camera front camera, or 3G service. After using my A200 for a little more than a week, I know I made the right choice. As for the A200 tablet and it's Android operating system, here's what I've found: Positives: - Price, as I mentioned above. If you want a few additional capabilities for an additional $200+, of course that's your choice. For me, I couldn't justify spending the extra money. - MiniSD port. This was a must-have for me, as the built-in 16 GB and 32 GB flash memory most common on tablets isn't enough memory for the way I use my tablet. The MiniSD port is a HUGE benefit, and isn't even an option on many tablets, most notably the Apple and Samsung devices. - Android 4.0, which was conveniently added/updated on my A200 a few days after purchase, is awesome. As a former Apple owner/user/fan (both locked and unlocked devices), I'd been disappointed with several features on the older Android operating systems when compared with the Apple OS. That disappointment is now COMPLETELY GONE. Ice Cream Sandwich is so sweet and has erased all desire for going back to the prison of Apple devices (and the oh-so-picky App Store). In fact, Android 4.0 is so good, it has me wishing for a desktop/laptop PC which uses a variant of the Android phone/tablet OS instead of Windows. The interface is extremely smooth with ZERO QUIRKS that I have been able to find. Apps can be grouped into tidy little folders (circles) on the home screen, or viewed in the "traditional" method. The Android interface for administrative tools (settings, etc.) is very user friendly, and the interface throughout the apps which came on the A200 (browser, video creator, gallery, etc.) is intuitive. - Everything from live wallpapers to HD games, videos and photos are stunning on the A200's bright and beautiful touchscreen. The screen is scratch resistant (mine should already have numerous scuffs and scratches, but doesn't), and I assume made of highly durable Gorilla glass. - The A200 is lightning fast. The 1 GB processor has shown capablility of handling everything I've thrown at it. The only slowdowns I've experienced occurred when I was downloading multiple HD videos via WiFi (five to ten at a time), which was clearly a result of overloading the WiFi, and not the processor itself. - Add the Kindle App, Aldiko Book Reader (free in the Android Market) and other reading apps, and you have a superb reader device. The ability to dim the screen within the reader apps themselves (independent of the screen brightness outside of those apps) makes reading favorite titles much easier on the eyes. As someone who has tried reading on a smartphone (and nearly gone blind doing so ;), reading on the A200 is a very enjoyable experience. - Flash support. Say what you will about Flash, it's still in use all over the web, and there's NOTHING more annoying about an Apple device (to me) than visiting a web page only to find that a device which costs a great deal of money is unable to show me the page. The A200 and its Android OS don't have this issue. - So much more that I simply don't have time to write about -- USB port, quality sound, gadgets, etc. There are so many positives to this A200 tablet. Negatives: - The 2 MP front-facing camera is just a low-quality camera and produces low quality video and pictures. It's functional for video chat, but that's about all. I wasn't concerned about this for the way I use my tablet, but if a quality front- or rear-facing camera is on your list of must haves, this tablet won't meet your needs. - Plastic case. The rear of this tablet is made of plastic, as are some of the other tablets I compared it with. I prefer the durable and slick look of the aluminum cases used on other tablets, but a metal case isn't worth an additional $200 or more to me. - No HDMI port. As a new tablet user, I wasn't really aware of the value of having an HDMI port, and still don't think it adds much capability to a tablet. I can accomplish wirelessly what the HDMI cable would accomplish (as far as I can tell so far), so the HDMI port doesn't really add much value in my opinion. - Lack of accessories. This is related to the tablet being so new, and not being one of the leading contenders in the tablet wars, but Acer and the third-party accessory suppliers are way behind the curve on releasing accessories for this device. At minimum, an A200-specific leather case, external keyboard/stand and other accessories should have been available at the same time as the tablet itself (on the shelves at Best Buy). My tablet case is on order, but it will take three or four weeks to receive it. All in all, I'm EXTREMELY HAPPY with this purchase. The A200 is a super choice, and the positives far outweigh the negatives in my opinion. Buy it, and I think you'll agree.

The thing that stands out to me the most about the new Acer A-200 is that it is absolutely the best built tablet I have held in my hands. I have spent hours testing all of the available tablets at Buy Buy which includes the Ausus transformer, Sony S tablet, Motorola Zoom both models family and original , Galaxy tab 8.9, and 10.1, Toshiba Thrive, Acer A-500 and The I-pad 2. The only one that comes close to the feel of the A-200 is the Motorola Zoom family edition. the Acer A-200 just feels perfect in my hands and while it is a little thicker than others such as the I-pad and the galaxy tab it feels more sturdy than those tablets and the rubberized backing feels awesome. I have tested available 7" tablets also but I am not including them because they are in a different category. I actually own a Nook Color and a Huawei S7 both 7" tablets. I had a Acer A-500 and returned it for the A-200. The A-500 felt to slick and easy to drop and the screen looks better on the A-200. The A-500's screen looked to washed out in certain web browsing situations . I should note that the A-200 does not have hdmi out like the A-500 and also lacks a rear camera. This was done to keep the cost down. Acer is supposed to be releasing two more models in this new form factor the A510 and the A700 both with N-Vidia's new quad-core processor sometime in the second quarter of this year. The A-700 will have a higher resolution screen than the typical 1280 x 800 resolution seen on today's 10.1 inch models. Instead the A-700 will have a 1920 x 1200 display capable of 1080P resolution. That being said while comparing the A-200 to the now available tablets at Best Buy the only tablet that looked as good as far as Android goes was the Sony S. Yes the I-pad has a good screen as does the galaxy tab however the Galaxy tab if you look at it with the white background found on many web pages looks off I believe due to the over saturation of colors on the Tab. The I-Pad is not an Android tablet and is of no interest to me due to it's closed or locked up buy everyhing through Apple ecosystem. Not to mention the IOS interface is boring to someone like me and likes customization and not just a screen full of apps. Remember there is no hdmi out like it says in Best Buy's description and there is one full sized USB port for hooking up things like a mouse or Keyboard and one micro usb like found on most of today's smartphones which is for transferring files. In Best Buys description it states two usb 2.0 ports which is true but also misleading and they should be more specific stating what type of usb 2.0 connections they are. So if you are in the market for a great 10.1 inch tablet and you do not need a quad core processor, hdmi out or a rear camera which I do not really see the need for one on a 10.1 inch tablets in a world where everyone's phone has a camera. Then I would say buy the Acer A-200 I love mine and have had zero problems with it. I like it better than the A-500 I had previously and will not get different tablet until the A-510 or A-700 comes out because it feels just right and is a solid tablet ! I should also mention that the A-200 has the best wi-fi reception of any of the six Android devices in my household which includes the Samsung Epic 4g org., HTC Evo 4g org.,Samsung Moment, Nook Color, Huawei S7 and of course the Acer A-200. The A-200 also has much better stand alone GPS than the A-500 meaning with no internet connection. I locked on to 6 satellites constantly and sometimes 7 where as the A-500 never got more than 3 in the same spot.

I spent a few weeks researching and testing tablets in stores, considering Apple's latest I-pad, the relatively obscure but apparently pretty good Le Pan II, as well as the Asus Transformer Prime, the Samsung Galaxy, and similar comparable models by Sony and Toshiba. What I like about the Acer Iconia A200 is that it pretty much matches or comes very close to the characteristics, looks, and feels of the other new tablets out there, but is considerably more budget-friendly (350 USD for a 16GB model). Here is a breakdown of my initial impressions after spending a full day at home, playing with this impressive device: Pros: -Good wireless connectivity, relatively fast surfing of the web (a very important issue as many users complain of poor wireless reception in other models). -No issues whatsoever with VoIP programs, such as Skype and Voip Raider - particularly good video transmission, while skyping. -Very bright, crisp, and nicely designed interface; no dead pixels or leakage. -Micro-fiber covered back surface, which feels pretty ergonomic and "solid" -SD card slot for additional memory, if needed -Android Honeycomb OS, upgradable to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) - very easy to set up and use; no need for any immediate firmware updates. -Decent battery life (6-8 hours, depending on your settings; the screen is set initially only at about 30-40% of the maximal brightness and that appears absolutely sufficient). -Very good compatibility with Windows 7 and with mobile bluetooth devices. Cons: - Relatively quiet speakers. -The microphone is placed a bit oddly and somewhat complicates using VoiP programs. - Feels a bit heavy at 680 gr. (1.5 lbs.) - No HDMI port. Overall, this new Acer tablet feels right for the price and appears to match the performance and looks of the other more expensive "toys" out there. I have had no signal disruptions, screen freezes, dead pixels, or oil spills, etc., which appear to be the most frequently encountered problems with other similar (and pricier) tablets.

I started out with the Kindle Fire on Christmas, gave that to my girlfriend, bought myself a Galaxy 7" Plus, returned it 10 days later and exchanged it for this A200. Acer has hit a home run with this tablet, my girlfriend liked it so much I gave the Kindle Fire to my niece and bought her the A100 so she can for it in her purse. (She wanted to stick w/the 7") In my opinion this is one of the best tablets available (January 2012) and I have been through alot over the past year. Android released Honeycomb which is better suited for tablets and I love it, I can't wait for the 4.0 update next month. I Googled Honeycomb tips and discovered a tip to prevent the browser from auto directing you to mobile version websites, which really makes this just as good as a laptop or desktop for browsing the web. The only time I have touched my desktop and laptop since I got this was to right click on my computer and enable sharing, which has allowed me to listen to music from my other PC's and allow me to view pics and movies I have on those hard drives. I dont need a rear camera, my phone has a 8 MP, and the lack of mini HDMI doesn't bother me, I bought the mini HDMI cable and used it once with my phone the day I bought it, so no biggie. I would recommend this tablet to anyone wanting a very well made tablet, with a great os, the rubber backing on this tablet makes it feel secure in your hand, the screen is beautiful, the tablet feels very sturdy, I have dropped it twice and no cracks, everything feels just as snug as day 1. I really don't need anything that has an "I" before its name, they are over priced, and don't really seem to perform that well in my opinion. This tablet performs just as good if not better. I've been spending $700-$1000 every 2 years on a laptop, so I believe the tablet market will allow me to get a new tab every year for about the same price. I have 1 small complaint about sound, I've noticed the advertisement before a video will be loud, but the video itself is hard to hear, I believe this is more of an issue with the content provider, I just cup my hand while I'm holding it and the sound is directed towards me, if thats my only issue, I'm extremely happy. I use Google maps when testing a tablet or phone, put it to satellite view and pan around, pinch in and out and see how well it performs. Screen, keyboard, look, and feel are all great. I love being able to plug in my digital camera and transfer pics without booting up my PC, I've got a 16 gb SD card in here now, and have used less than 2 gb, I watched planet earth and the picture is sharp, and amazing, no stutter, it amazing you can hold something in your hand that can do all that this thing does. Definitely try the Google Sky app,

I Bought this tablet from best buy on Jan 7th and after 1 week the only thing i seem to not like about it is that the audio levels in some applications are a bit low especially in skype. i have to use my phone headset to make skype calls or be in a very quite room. but other than that this is an amazing tablet. super fast. all the apps you can imagine. LCD is amazingly bright and vibrant. Super sturdy build, Better than A500 i like the full size usb port for my flash drives and i can even connect my dslr(canon 60D) and use the dslr remote app to take pictures and change camera settings from the tablet. And i can transfer photos. and another downer. hulu is not supported yet. But when you open the app a dislcaimer says that they are working hard on getting it ready for the near future. App recommendations ES file explorer- to browse your sd card and ilnternal memory Dr Battery - for shutting down apps fully. Flash player - to view flash netflix - to blow your mind with unlimited movies Samsung remote - to scare people when they are waching a samsung tv "who's muting the TV" for the kids Kid mode- the best kids app ever . even sends you weekly report cards for each child. and its free. And you can lock the app from exiting. so you don't have to keep starting up the app again . this app can also access other apps on your tablet from within this app so those games get locked as well. all in all great tablet

This is my first tablet, so I can't make any comparisons, but I can say I really like this one. I read a lot of the reviews on it before purchasing it and I was honestly a little concerned--especially about the issues people said they had with the volume. I saw a few places that people felt it was too low, even when they adjusted it all the way up. I didn't have this problem at all, with or without headphones. In fact, I had to turn it way down in order to use my headphones comfortably. (Just a cheap pair. Not anything that would amp up the volume in any way.) Everything sounds fine to me. The screen picked up fingerprints really easily, but assume they all do that and have read it'll stop once I get a screen protector. This will be very helpful at home and at work. I teach classes and sponsor clubs that require a lot of organization. We go on several field trips too, so now I have something smaller than my laptop that I'm more willing to bring along. (Sitting in a hotel lobby using their PC while everyone watches me is always really awkward feeling, even if I am just looking up directions for our bus drivers. Haha!) I've only had this tablet a couple days and have found tons of apps for it that will help with teaching and definitely with stuff around the house. The price was very good in comparison to many of the other tablets out there. From what I've seen on my friends' tablets, this one is comparable to some of the trendier ones that cost $100+ more than the Acer. If you want something that works and aren't just trying to impress people, I would highly suggest this one over others. I didn't give it a perfect 5/5 because I had a hard time trying to figure out some of the stuff and it's kind of awkward trying to get to some of the settings. I've noticed the larger apps take a couple seconds longer than the others to load, but that's no different than if I were using a computer, so no real complaints. It's all totally tolerable once you get used to where everything is located and realize we don't live in a fantasy world where everything magically happens immediately when we want it. :)

I needed something for college for taking notes, reading books, and doing other school related things, as well as something I could have some fun with. On a budget and opposed to lugging around a big laptop between classes (I would've gotten an Asus gaming latptop), I decided to save some money and get an android tablet. When I got the a200, there was a noticeable lag with the default homescreen, but its an easy fix. Just install nova launcher. The tegra 2 does excellent in most games. GTA3, minecraft, and other 3d games run smooth as butter even on high settings. The USB host is excellent. You can easily transfer data between the tablet and other android devices, use keyboards and mice, and even use an XBOX360 controller with supported games. Rooting the device is pretty simple, although theres not many roms for it yet. Grezzaarom is a nice, de-bloated, stock ish rom with gapps, su, and superuser installed. The camera isnt great but it accomplishes what its there for which is video chat. Also, the speakers sound good, but being on the back means its hard to hear when the tablet is lying down. Overall, for what you pay, the a200 is an excellent device.