Disgo Tablet 6000 Touch Screen Tablet (1GHz, Android 2.2)

Some information you should know before buying this:

- the Android OS version is 2.1 and, according to the manufacturer,won't get updated to 2.2. What does that imply? Well it means that you won't get the advantage of the 2.2 update, including the Flash support. Of course you can view some videos (mobile version of You Tube), but don't expect to watch the BBC iPlayer for example.

- there is no way to access the Android Market, the Android Market app isn't installed, instead there is SlideMe, which doesn't rely on the Android Market. And any direct links to the Android Market downloads will fail (you will either get a 404 error or a "you don't have the permission"). You think you can get the Android Market app somehow? The answer is: legally, no. The manufacturer either didn't choose to let you access, or most likely didn't have the option to (Android on tablets is quite a new thing). If you search on the internet you won't find anywhere to either register or download the app, and if you manage to contact Google, then you get a "you will be unable to add Android market on your phone if its not support by your device manufacturer".
Why should you care? Because most of the apps are available only from the Android Market, you might not find them in the SlideME Market. Fortunately there are website where you can download apps that are not on SlideMe, or even the developers websites might have a link to the .apk that doesn't require the Android Market. But be ready to spend hours searching the web!

- the 7" screen makes it a good pdf reader (in my view), as long as you can find the right app for it (I would personally recommend VuDroid).

- the battery doesn't last long.

Overall this little machine is all right for its price, even though finding apps for it is a nightmare. A good introduction to the Android OS, but if you're looking forward to 2.2 wait a little longer.

PS: There is a hidden "System Update" app which updates the kernel (not the OS version), which seemed to improve the performance a little after I tried it. You can access it by sliding your panel to get "icons" panel, then press "menu", then "add application" and select the "System Update" app, which will now appear among your icons. Click on it and start the update.

Well I looked and looked for info on this tablet to find absolutely nothing. Even the web reviews were carbon copy from one site to the next.

So I took the plunge, was a little upset that the first one I received from Amazon was an opened, used and returned tablet. However I used the online call me page and immediately received a call, the service operator was very apologetic, polite and without question arranged an immediate RMA and replacement on the phone I got the email with details for return, and he had a new one dispatched at the same time. Luckily both new pad arrived and old one were returned on the same day.

The new pad I received was just that a "New" pad. Instruction manual was exceedingly slim and unhelpful, but much of the function was easy to pick up with a little messing about.

The Disgo website is not very informative either, but they do have a nice link to use from the pad that links to an android app store which isn't the Android Marketplace but is still very good. I managed to grab all the apps I needed but one from there and a google search got me the last one.

Be noted that the battery will discharge slowly while turned off and not on charge. However while on battery life is not bad giving about 2.5 - 3 hours even while watching video. Not sure for other items but it stays up for longer than I need while using it to play music or read ebooks. As an ebook reader thumbs up I am using the FBReader app instead of the pre installed iReader and it is great the screen is not too reflective to stop you from seeing the text also option ti change from black on white to night mode white on black.

I would recommend earphones or plug in speakers for music or video as the built in speaker can be a little low on quality.

However summing up for the price it is a good little tablet. I like it and will tide me over until the tablet marketplace levels out.

Getting this tablet is a hell of a lot cheaper than the others (You'll pay around £150-£200 compared to £500-600 for others). Of course that's what attracted me to it. I also have an android phone so I know how much fun android can be, and I have a big chunky laptop which as much as I love, is too bulky to be carrying around with me.

This tablet feels like it hasn't been fully thought through. Bless Disgo they have tried to fix some of the problems by having an update and being able to download more apps but it's not good enough. Don't get me wrong, I was not expecting an Ipad. I was expecting a few bugs and it not to be a smooth ride like it would be with more expensive tablets, but I kept coming up against problems like the charging, and the apps but some features had me impressed like the internet on wifi was quite quick. But with every new plus there were huge minuses. No matter how optimistic I tried to be it just got so frustrating that I returned it after a day and got a refund.
It's is so annoying because it could be such a fantastic piece of kit if it didn't feel so rushed and unfinished.

I thought I'd list the main problems I found. I'm not gonna be hugely picky, some things like the sound being tinny are to be expected because it is essentially a very cheap machine (The price)

First I have to mention that mine was very scuffed on the back!? Confusing. It did make me wonder if it was a used one, but I see a few other people having this problem.

Charging- No indication light to tell you when it's charging other than having it on and looking at the charging bar...but on mine I was charging for 3 or 4 hours and the charge never changed until I turned it off and on again. Sometimes it wouldn't even recognize as charging. Then I got it to charge to 54% and five minutes after I had taken out the charger it was down to 15% where it turns off! Also if you run out of battery even if it's charging you have to press the little reset button to be able to get it to turn on again

Android- Android 2.1.- Remember this is not the android version that allows you to save apps to sd card. That's 2.2. So all the apps go to the disgo tablets internal memory.

Touch screen- The tablet comes with a plastic stylus. Without this the keyboard is unusable.

No tilt- I didn't even think of this as I just presumed it would have tilt in it. So if you were to have a game like the cow abduction one that requires tilting, forget it.

Apps- They have the slideme which is like android market but it's very limited. I couldn't find angry birds and a few other much loved apps. But fear not for Disgo has linked two other sites to download apk files! Yay!...or not. Because you can't download straight to the disgo. You have to take the mini sd out put it in an adapter (You'll have to purchase separately) On to your computer, download the apk's save to card then put the card back in to the disgo and install the apps. The sd slot is also very awkward and a few times I was worried that the card would break.

I also have to mention the jumpyness of the interface. It's not smooth at all and freezes for a second or two a lot.