Who Sells Cheap Velocity Micro Cruz Tablet T410 - 10-Inch Android
Tablet with Flash
Product Description
A premium screen size that doesn't break the bank, the sleek and thin 10" Velocity Micro Cruz T410 is perfect for Android fans in search of a more complete gaming or multimedia experience. Capacitive touch screen, front facing camera for video conferencing, Android 2.3 with Flash, 802.11n Wi-Fi, 1GHz Cortex A8 processor, a premium software suite, and content via Amazon Kindle for Android and Amazon Appstore create an amazing feature set at a remarkable value. A fully licensed version of Flash brings the best of the web right in the palm of your hand. Backed by Velocity Micro's expert US-based support.
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Product Feature
- 10" capacitive screen provides more screen area for a more complete tablet experience
- Download from a library of thousands of apps via Amazon Appstore, preinstalled
- Flash enabled, pre-installed
- Quick Office Full version and Angry Birds preinstalled
- Front facing camera for video conferencing
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49 of 56 people found the following review helpful.
About right for the price
By N. Krumpe
UPDATE on 1-7-2012: My parents just started using this tablet. They love it. I helped them get their e-mail accounts set up (I downloaded the free app, K-9 Mail, which seems more feature-rich than the default mail app, especially when it comes to bulk deleting of spam). They surfed the web, watched Law and Order on Netflix, played Angry Birds Rio, found a YouTube video they've been wanting to show me, and checked the weather. It's opened up a whole new world for them! Even though I look at it side-by-side with my iPad 2 and can see the shortcomings of the Cruz, this low-cost tablet perfectly meets their needs (with one possible exception...my dad is wondering how he can easily transfer pictures from his camera to the tablet...haven't figured out the best solution yet for that). But I'm SO happy they are using it. My original review follows...
Putting this tablet in a challenge against an iPad 2 or the Samsung Galaxy Tab is pointless. The typically-top-rated tablets have better screen resolution, better cameras, more memory, and faster processors. But the better tablets also cost quite a bit more than this entry from Velocity. The latest tablet comparisons in PC World magazine put all of the top tablets around the $400-$500 range.
For a below $300 tablet, this seems to me to be a perfectly acceptable purchase. Surf the web, check e-mail, listen to music, watch videos...this will do the trick. As I look at the screen quality on this, I realize immediately that it can't compare with the iPad 2. But I also know that there are many people out there who couldn't care less about such differences.
So, consider this. For under $300, you get:
1) A perfectly capable web browser...one that can handle flash websites. It's not a particularly peppy browser, but it is responsive enough (as is its Android operating system) to not be frustrating.
2) An e-mail application that can handle the typical e-mail account, INCLUDING Exchange e-mail. Exchange is important to me, as my employer uses Exchange for e-mail, scheduling, and address book functionality.
3) Decent enough sound and video quality. Play your own videos or music, or stream something with the Pandora or Netflix apps. (By comparison, I found that the Netflix app on the Kindle Fire is not acceptable, because the video and audio are out of sync.)
4) Decent selection of downloadable apps. I've played around with Angry Birds, a painting app, board games, facebook, Amazon's Kindle app, Words with Friends, the TuneIn Radio app, and more. They've all worked well...no complaints. I should point out, though, that not all Android apps will work on this device, however. For example, even though I have been able to install apps via Amazon's Appstore and the Android Market, I have had no luck installing Google Docs and some other apps.
If price is important, you could consider the $199 Kindle Fire, but that's much more a media "consuming" device...geared more toward reading/watching/listening, than toward day-to-day business. Or, you could spend $500 for a Galaxy Tab 10.1 or iPad 2. But if your price point is "around $300", then this Velocity MIcro Cruz is worth considering. It does a pretty decent job.
38 of 44 people found the following review helpful.
If I could rate "0," I would.
By HRSegovia
[Velocity makes PC's, tablets and many other products. I've had issues, to say the least. All I want from them is acknowledgement and reparation. This is the final letter I posted to Velocity Micro. By this time, I had dealt with them for a week. I was discarded and treated with disinterest and disrespect. I was beyond angry.]
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This is now my problem, and if I am not treated with the dignity I deserve as a human being and respectfully responded to, you will find this letter on every tech-site and forum on the internet. Once it hits the internet, it cannot be undone.
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I didn't know I was difficult to shop for until my wife proved me so. For our anniversary she displayed utter pride in finding the perfect gift - something I've wanted for a while but could never find the right one: a tablet. She found in the Velocity® Cruz T410 familiarity through the Android, easy to read through the 10" screen, and affordability in the low price. It seemed every bell and whistle was tailored to my needs in a tablet and, to top it all off, the representative informed her it was the best available and a very hot-selling item. Often it takes a week to grow complaisant to something new - this tablet took me a week to completely hate, from the item to the company and its employees.
My problems started within a week with the discovery that my icons were disappearing. I found that internet bookmarks and some apps refused to stay on the home-screens or subsequent windows. Shortly after this discovery, my tablet refused to connect to any wireless. I attempted to reach Velocity® to no avail. Velocity's® phone system would place me in queue for approximately half-an-hour and then send me to voicemail - I left a message (to which, to this day, I never received a reply). The following day, I asked Radio Shack® tech support for help (Radio Shack® was phenomenally useful to the best of their ability and have even taken some action to help make things better, but this will become clear later). I explained my shortcut and wireless issues to the RS tech and we worked together for about an hour-and-a-half attempting to resolve the problem. In the end, I was referred to a firmware update (which we walked-through together) which fixed my wireless problem, but not my shortcut problem. There was nothing we could do about the shortcuts. I told her I would try Velocity® again.
The following day, I discovered that my tablet would no longer mount to my PC. In an attempt to troubleshoot, I tested it on my laptop with the same result: would not mount (aka "Turn on USB storage"). My first call was to Radio Shack® tech support. Together we worked for another hour resulting in a complete loss as to what to do about the matter. The rep, then, connected me with Velocity®. Finally in touch with Velocity®, I explained my entire story and the V rep determined that the tablet should be replaced. After another week of waiting for a response from Velocity® on the process to replace the tablet, I am informed that they do not carry new tablets and only supply refurbished ones. Remember: this tablet is only two weeks old by this time, with one of those weeks completely out of service. I had yet to address two additional problems of lock-ups and the action bar flashing in and out of existence.
Again (as I thought these were due to the firmware update), I called Radio Shack® to explain my frustration with this product and Velocity® and, in an utter display of divine patience, they searched neighboring stores for a brand new replacement (and had one within an hour). However, a fear still lingered: the problems I had were inherent in the software and firmware and may be present in the new tablet. With these tablets now in short supply, what do I do if this one is just as defective? I called Velocity® to explain my fears and what could be done about such defects. Miraculously, a tech-rep answered within a few minutes and he explained to me that they do in fact have new tablets but reserve them for repeat issues. If Radio Shack's® new tablet has problems, I may receive one of their new tablets with the new operating software called Ice Cream Sandwich. I felt comfortable with that guarantee as I felt that new operating software should solve the issue should this new one be defective as well.
Now skeptical of Velocity®, the first thing I do is test the shortcut issue. It was present in this tablet as well. The action bar flashed in and out of existence and it locked-up. My new fear is that it will soon refuse to connect to wireless and I will be down that familiar path again. I called Velocity® (and by another miracle they answered in about twenty-five minutes), and explained the (now extended) story to the rep. He grabbed his own Velocity® Cruz T410 and saved a bookmark on the home screen. After a restart, his was gone as well (keep in mind that this is also apparent in some app shortcuts and not only internet bookmarks, but saving a bookmark is indigenous and cannot be blamed on third-party software). Confused, he put me on hold and I gained some hope in that the problem was now completely clear to a tech rep on three identical tablets. When he returned, the real problem became apparent.
"I'm sorry, but I'm being told that this is not a feature available on this tablet."
Befuddled, I was almost at a loss for words, "What do you mean `feature?' The ability to add shortcuts to one of several home screens is the very heart of Android!"
"I don't know what to tell you. I have nothing. I can't... I don't know what I can do."
"What about a new tablet with the Ice Cream Sandwich operating system?"
"That OS is not available on the T410."
"Can I be put on a list so I can receive one when it becomes available?"
"You can go to our website and sign up for our newsletter or call back in a couple of weeks. That's all I got."
"Can I speak to someone in programming so I can make this a known issue?"
"I can't do anything more, I'm sorry?"
Ready to take out my anger by flinging my phone like a rock, I hung up. My wife felt horrible believing that she'd done something wrong. Her pride was crushed and she could do nothing but apologize. I tried profusely to explain to her that I love her, this was not her fault, I appreciate her, and that I would fix it somehow. I don't think she believes any of that right now except that I love her very much.
I called Velocity® once again - this time to speak with the business office. I explained this epic problem to which he responded, "Where did you buy the tablet?"
"Radio Shack®."
"Take it back."
"I did. This is the replacement."
"Take it back and get your money back."
That was the extent of the conversation - measured in seconds.
I do not know where to go from here. It has become clearly apparent to me that this hot-selling item comes with lukewarm software, room temperature tech support and chillingly cold customer service. Maybe this will get their attention and fix the issue.
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[I've received no response. The ticket was closed without an answer. I've returned my Cruz and acquired a Kindle Fire which was $100 cheaper and is significantly more reliable. Radio Shack has since informed me that this has become a known problem which Velocity refuses to acknowledge and there are more calls on the micro than any other device. Please don't waste your money. Spare yourself what I went through.]
35 of 46 people found the following review helpful.
Lightweight 10-inch Android 2.3 tablet with so-so screen
By For Real
UPDATE on 12-23-2011: The Cruz T410's touchscreen became increaseingly difficult to use after the honeymoon period was over, and it's now a royal pain in the butt to use! The screen itself is just too dark, even at the highest brightness setting. I did some research and found that this is just a rebranded Samsung tablet. I have no experience with that brand but at my local Costco store the cell phone lady said stay away from their phones because their touchscreens never worked really well. Anyway, we now rarely use the T410 and will look for a replacement! I lowered the rating to 2 stars - maybe some people will stil find this cheap tablet ok for their purposes. Happy holidays!!
[original review:] Velocity Micro is a specialty PC maker. It also makes a few Android tablets; the Cruz T410 can be considered their "flagship" Android tablet model [update: but it's just a rebranded model from Samgung so it's not OEM.]. It has an elongated shape; indeed, its physical dimensions are 10.75 x 6.75 x 0.4 inches. The 10-inch (measured diagonally) LCD screen has 1024x600 resolution -- the same as the B&N nook tablet and the Amazon Kindle Fire, although those two have smaller screens. Velocity Micro advertises the screen as a 16:9 screen, although its true aspect ratio is 1024/600=1.71, vs. the 16/9 aspect ratio of 1.78.
The T410 feels solid in the hands, and not too heavy. It weighs 1 pound, but because it feels long in the landscape orientation, you need to hold it in both hands, in which case it does not feel heavy. It definitely feels lighter than my Vizio Tablet with an 8-inch screen. The build seems pretty high-quality, with a rubber-feel back that makes the T410 unlikely to slip out of your hands. In the portrait mode, it does look and feel a little weird, because it's really long!
The T410 is packaged in an attractive box which is really way too big for a slim device! But it was completely frustration-free and very easy to open and unpack. Included are a mini-USB cable, a one-piece wall AC adapter, and a 44-page printed "official user's guide." (No other documentation is available on Velocity Micro's website or on the tablet itself.) The user's guide incorrectly refers to the USB port as "micro-USB," whereas in fact it's mini-USB.
One nice touch, probably not intentional but I don't know..., is the T410 has a protective film covering the screen, the type you usually see on LCD-equipped gadgets like this. The nice thing is this film is transparent and works well as a screen protector! I imagine it'll be hard to find a custom-size screen protector for this, so I'll just leave the factory-applied protection on. It probably does not stick very well, but with care I think it'll stay on for a while.
Speaking of the screen... it's a capacitive touch type. Unfortunately, it's not too bright. Even at the highest setting, it does not strike you as very bright. In fact, its highest brightness is about the 30% brightness of my Archos 48 with a 4.8-inch screen. (I do not recommend the Archos at all.) Outdoors the screen is hard to see, whereas the Archos' screen as well as that of my HTC Radar 4G Windows Phone (T-Mobile) are easy to see even under direct sunlight, at the highest setting.
The T410 has a single-core Cortex A8 processor running at 1Ghz. Speedwise it feels somewhat snappier than my Vizio Tablet, which has a slower processor but also runs Android 2.3. There is 512MB of RAM, and the built-in storage is 4GB of SSD, but only 2.5GB is user-accessible. The other 1.5GB is used by the Android 2.3 OS. There is, however, a microSD card slot on the left side, and microSD cards up to 32GB are supposedly supported. I don't have a spare microSD lying around so I haven't tested using a microSD card yet. It's always nice to have extended storage, even if such storage is quite a bit slower than built-in flash storage.
The T410 has 802.11 b/g/n wi-fi; its range seems mediocre, about the same as my nookcolor and Vizio, much better than the Archos 48, but not as good as my HTC Radar or also somewhat worse than my iPod touch 4th-gen. There's a front-facing VGA webcam, and you can use Skype with that. In the sensor department, the T410 has an accelerometer. Screen auto-orientation is not as snappy as my HTC Radar or iPod touch but more responsive than the Vizio or nookcolor.
In terms of adding apps, you're officially restricted to just the Amazon Appstore for Android, which has about 10,000 apps according to my research. There's another web-based app market called GetJar but I had trouble using it, and its app quality seemed much worse. Unfortunately there is no easy access to the Android Market at large. This may not be as bad as it seems because the Amazon Appstore has better-quality Android apps than those in the Android Market.
The T410 comes with a bunch of crapware such as Angry Birds, Soduku, Amazon Kindle, QuickOffice, Napster, etc. This is crapware because you *cannot* uninstall any of these! I'll never play Angry Birds or use Napster, for instance, so I'd have preferred to delete them, but no I can't do that. Kind of disappointing!
The interface is the generic Android 2.3 widget board kind, which is quite clunky and a pain to use, especially for nontechies like me. (The same interface is on Android 3.x, but way more complicated.) There's the home screen with five sub-screens and then there is the separate app screen. Very annoying!
I've installed about 20 apps from my collection of Amazon Appstore apps. They all run fine, no force closes so far (knock on wood). But when you have more than 3 or 4 apps open at the same time the system does slow down. The stock browser is clunky and slow and doing anything requires multiple taps here and there. Also, already, I needed to shut off and restart to make the T410 responsive again. Very typical of my Android experience from ver. 1.x to 3.x!
The widescreen screen and microSD expansion make this a decent video player, but I think the low screen brightness will limit my use of this tablet to inside the house only. In spite of the severe limitations of Android, I give this tablet 4 stars because it feels well-built, not something that would embarass you in front of you girlfriends, and it feels not heavy in the hands.
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