KNC ‘ULTRA-THIN’ MD710
this week’s review covers the knc md710, which many of you may have noticed at the anything.lk store and various other places. this tablet pc is designed to be simple and user-friendly and while it is not exactly an ipad, it doesn’t pretend to be either. instead, it is designed primarily for average consumers with a need for a more portable computing option.
Interface
The MD710 does feature Android 4.0.1 ICS, which is pretty impressive and according to the manufacturer's, tests are currently underway to determine if the device is compatible with Android 4.1 Jell Bean. Unlike other manufacturers, I was under the impression that the KNC tablet had left the interface virtually untouched by avoiding any serious customisations. This in itself can be very appealing to a certain class of users.
Is this for you?
If you are a typical user with a computer and smartphone, looking for an affordable tablet PC, then the MD710 is a pretty decent choice. For those who are not intense tablet users (i.e. using only a tablet to play games, watch movies ,etc.) then this is indeed very appealing. This is also great for students and children, who hardly qualify for expensive gadgets. However, for those interested in more high-end variants (with highend prices), then the Nexus 7 or the rumoured 7” iPad is the perfect choice.
Hardware Specs
The KNC MD710, features a 7” 800x480 HD capacitive touchscreen. This is not exactly stunning but is still satisfactory for those who want to get some decent work done. The front-side of the MD710 does not feature any physical buttons, instead it uses soft keys for simple navigation. The left-hand side features the sleep/power button and a physical ‘home' button. The right hand side features the volume control button. The top side, features the USB port, SD card slot and 3.5mm headphone jack. The MD710 also features a 3.5 MP front-facing camera.
Beneath the surface runs a 1.2Ghz processor, which is further supported by a 1GB RAM. This isn't the most powerful combination available and the apps themselves didn't respond lightening-fast, but it was still more than enough to ensure that common apps such as office, games and other features functioned smoothly. Something that will really excite those who value the memory capability of their devices is the fact that the MD710 features 8GB of internal memory and an expandable memory slot that allows users to add an additional 128GB. This makes it great for moving around all your documents, music and movies.
The MD710 also features a 3200 mAh battery, which can provide about 3.5 hours on 3G and 4.5 hours on Wi-Fi. In comparison the Nexus 7 and the Amazon Kindle Fire boast 4325 mAh and 4500mAh batteries respectively. Nevertheless, a single recharge in-between, allows users to use the MD710 during a work day.
One of the biggest disadvantages of this tablet is the lack of Bluetooth and other standard sensors that many of us take for granted. The tablet does features a gyroscope but lacks a magnetometer, GPS and accelerometer. This shouldn't be a problem for those who use their smartphones for navigation but for those who are entirely dependent on their tablets, this is a problem.