The Maylong M-150 Universe is a 7-inch Android Tablet that I purchased from Walgreens.com. Yup… that’s right: a 7-inch Android Tablet that I purchased from Walgreen’s and only for $100. Obviously for $100 and without any type of contract, you would assume you’re getting a total hunk of steaming bot grease- but after an initial toying with the Maylong Universe I was pleasantly surprised.
Let’s get some of the obviously bad stuff out of the way:
That being said, my first thoughts of the Maylong Universe were that for only $100 and no strings attached, this thing is impressive. It might not be something I would suggest people buy, but it definitely speaks volumes about the ability for companies to leverage Android in creating ultra-affordable products that more than meet the needs of customers.
One huge downfall here is the lack of Android Market and I would be curious to know the process and licensing issues a company faces when trying to incorporate Android Market into their product. With Android Market, the Maylong Universe would instantly skyrocket in value.
One app I really liked was their built-in eBook reader. The features of it were scarce but it allowed you to download out-of-circulation books and the 7-inch form is a great size for reading.
I don’t want to go TOO in-depth because I’ll probably pursue a more full review of this device after I’ve had a lengthier experience and can provide a more complete opinion.
One thing that did bother/irritate me is that the screen of the device was already scratched and knicked up in a number of ways before I even opened the box. That’s pretty poor, and I’m guessing it’s from testing they’ve done with the stylus. Or maybe they’re just reboxing units that have been in development for quite awhile? Either way I was disappointed in that.
We’ll be giving away one of these Maylong Universe tablets as part of tomorrow’s Phan Giveaway so stay tuned and make sure to get your comment ready for entering!