Google Nexus 7 review
The first Android Jelly Bean device is the best budget tablet available on the market. The portability, performance and price are unmatched, but is it cut out for business use?
In terms of value for money, the Nexus 7 is unmatched. The performance provided by the Tegra 3 chipset is excellent, and even though it is not optimised for business use, the Nexus is a valuable all-round device to have, especially if you stock it up with content for the commute.
Nothing else on the market comes close to the Nexus 7. For under 200 you get NVIDIA's quad-core Tegra 3 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 7in IPS display, Android Jelly Bean and excellent build quality. But is it a smart buy for IT pros?
Business use
Despite the beefed up specification, out-of-the-box, the device is configured for personal use, not business use.
The Nexus 7 does not ship with any productivity applications, like Documents to Go or Polaris Office. You do get the core Google apps Gmail, Play, Google+, Maps, Calendar and built-in support for all kinds of email accounts, including Microsoft's Exchange.
The Nexus comes with standard Google apps pre-loaded and 15 credit for the Play Store
The biggest omission is the lack of 3G connectivity. Internal storage is limited too, with either 8GB or 16GB and no SD-support. UK users are also unable to access Google's Music, Magazine and TV services at this time, will also pose a problem for users that demand on-the-go usability.
There's also no rear-facing camera or native camera application, meaning you'll have to make do with the low-grade 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera.
These may seem like major flaws, but they don't detract from the overall value of the Nexus 7. The 3G connectivity has been left out to keep the price down and it is possible to get around connectivity issues via tethering to your smartphone.
Sign up today and you will receive a free copy of our Future Focus 2025 report - the leading guidance on AI, cybersecurity and other IT challenges as per 700+ senior executives
Google is offering 15 credit for use on its Play store. Just sign-in with your Google account and 15 is deposited on your Play account,
We'd recommend checking out Max Payne, GTA III, and Shadow Gun if you want some entertainment for the commute. Failing that, you can always use it stock up on productivity applications and make the Nexus 7 more office-friendly.
-
Salesforce says ‘Microsoft’s anticompetitive tying of Teams' harmed business in triumphant response to EU concessions agreement
News Microsoft has agreed to make versions of its Office solutions suite available without Teams – and at a reduced price
By Ross Kelly Published
-
Healthcare organizations report rampant email security failures – and Microsoft 365 is often the weakest link
News IT leaders say they're drowning in security alerts and missing real threats, thanks to limited resources, expanding attack surfaces, and weak security strategies
By Emma Woollacott Published
-
Is the honeymoon period over for Microsoft and OpenAI? Strained relations and deals with competitors spell trouble for the partnership that transformed the AI industry
Analysis Microsoft and OpenAI are slowly drifting apart as both forge closer ties with respective rivals and reevaluate their long-running partnership.
By Ross Kelly Published