Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)3 Stars: Great Wi-Fi eReader Tablet -- Questionable Manufacturer Reliability & Customer Service
This is a very nice tablet for the money for what this souped up 7" eReader can do. For $150, I was impressed with the nice variety of features - including built in wi-fi internet access, a built in Borders Books eReader, internet web browser, email service, a photo book, MP3 player, video file display capabilities, 3rd party Android app store with tons of cool downloads, both right & left side paging buttons, a black leatherette cover with magnetic clip (which you won't have to buy separately), & a durable portable size for the person on the go. I really like the Nextbook design & format.
This said - I highly recommend considering moving up to the Next3 model of Nextbook, vs. buying the Next2. The Next3 O/S comes with Android 2.1 (instead of 1.2 in the Next2), the screen sensitivity is a lot better, & there are an expanded variety of functions available in the Next3, vs. the Next2. Also, you can read some of your Kindle for PC account's books (but NOT all, due to Kindle for Android incompatibility issues) in the Next3, thanks to it's Android 2.1 O/S. You will NOT be able to read any Kindle books in the Next2, which only comes with Android 1.2
Moreover, the Next3's 8.4" screen is far less *claustrophobic* than the 7" Next2 display when trying to read an ebook, viewing internet web pages, using the virtual keyboard, tablet menus, & many other features - compared to this smaller model, the Next2. I really wanted to be able to use a wider variety of open source eReader apps, & a larger screen, so I returned my Next2, put $38 more to it, & got the larger Next3 instead. Which unlike so many tablets, also comes with a soft black nicely made leatherette cover.
Although I really liked the Next2, which offers a lot of bang for the buck... I *love* the Next3. It is a far more versatile, expandable, & electronically "roomy" tablet compared to this Next2. The advantage of the Next2 however, is it is a smaller, lighter, less fragile, & more portable device in purses & briefcases than the Next3.
As for cons...
Nextbooks have a "resistive screen", that you have to press & apply pressure to, to navigate. Kind of like most GPS devices. Some people do not like this. The limited LiON battery life is not fabulous, & could have been much better. Although you can easily run it forever from the included AC adapter. Neither model has the often sought after microphone or web cam. Also, the negligible stylus in these Nextbooks is laughable & barely usable - but I find a Nintendo DSi XL stylus works perfectly, & stores just as easily in the cover.
Furthermore, I am hearing that most Next2s charge up fine & operate reliably & flawlessly, including the one I bought. Unlike the Next3 line of Nextbooks - which has been plagued by an astronomical number of power issues (ie. failure to charge, random error charging problems, complete failure to start, intermittent failure to start, & O/S freezing issues) at the time of its release in December, 2010.
An *incredible* amount (hundreds, & likely thousands...) of DOA & otherwise defective Next3s were shipped out to customers by the manufacturer over the 2010 Christmas holiday. According to HSN customer reviews, the myriad number of Christmas mornings crashed by DOA Next3s was truly *daunting* - & unlike anything I have ever seen concerning any 1 electronic device. I have never seen anything like it. Mine was one of them. I myself was initially shipped a DOA Next3 unit, had to pay out of pocket to return it to the manufacturer, in order to receive my working Next3 unit. I expect the angry mob of disappointed buyers & lost sales that deluged E Fun will encourage this manufacturer to clamp down on quality control, & focus on shipping out working & fully functional Nextbook tablets.
But so far as I know, this model, the Next2 - does not have the rampantly epidemic widespread technical issues that arrived with the Next3. If I had kept my Next2 Nextbook - chances are good that I would never have had to deal with the manufacturer. Some of whose CS Representatives were openly, brazenly deceptive with me, blatantly snotty, smug in their denial that there ever was a problem with the Next3's release, & clearly oriented toward damage control & image management for E Fun following their DOA disaster with Next3 - vs. customer satisfaction. But in the end, after following their warranty RMA procedure - I did receive a working Next3, & it is a great tablet.
Furthermore, I also believe that if I could have bought my Next3 through Amazon - instead of HSN, who will make no direct exchanges for defective items, & revoked their pre-paid returns mid-swing - I would have experienced *far* less hassle getting a working unit. Because when Amazon ships you a DOA item, they make good on offering a prepaid return, & will simply send you a new one. And you won't be forced to deal directly with this manufacturer's amateurish & at times snarky warranty service.
To wrap this up... Before you purchase, keep in mind there are serious pros & cons to weigh out concerning buying a Nextbook. But when they do work - the Nextbook really is an excellent wi-fi ready eReader tablet. And for what it does for the money, this Next2 really is a nice tablet, & fun to use.
For these reasons... I give the Next2 "5 Stars" for doing what it can do...& it's distributor, E Fun, "1 Star" for their at times ugly lack of professionalism. Which averages out to the "3 Stars" I've given it. Choose wisely. And if you decide to buy a Nextbook, buy it through Amazon.
.
.
.
.
1/20/10 Update: A few days after leaving my review, things took a turn for the worse for my Nextbook...
The built in (Borders) eReader began to consistently crash every time I tried to use the program. It used to work & now crashes occur whenever I use its menu system, or try to open ebooks. So I downloaded a "Borders for Android" eReader app to use instead, to see if I could work around these problems - & the app will not open any free books I download. Neither program will process any purchases from the store. Today, the built-in eReader actually began to start crashing the entire Android O/S when it crashed. The "reset" button in the back will restart the unit, but the same program issues continue afterward. I later reformatted the Nextbook & set it back to its original default installations with its factory reset feature - & it did nothing to resolve these problems. Identical program crashes, purchase problems, & error messages continue to occur. Borders' tech support for eReaders does not know why these problems are occurring, & could not resolve any of the issues after 1 hour on the phone, & eventually suggested I send it back. This time, it will be for a refund vs. an exchange. Which is a real pity, after paying to exchange it & finally receiving a physically working Nextbook.
Both the Next2 & Next3 were released within a few months of one another last Fall, by a brand new manufacturer on the market - & I suspect they don't have all of the problems worked out of their tablets. I would suggest buying a tablet made by a more reliable, trustworthy manufacturer.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Nextbook Next2 7-Inch Color TFT Multifunctional E-book Reader
Click here for more information about Nextbook Next2 7-Inch Color TFT Multifunctional E-book Reader
0 comments:
Post a Comment