Thoughts on my Planet

I'll admit I'm usually not the earliest adopter when it comes to new technology. I figured a tablet was years into my future, if I'd ever even consider one. And then along came the under-$200 Pandigital Planet. A generous manufacturer rebate sealed the deal and I decided to explore the Planet.

The Pandigital Planet is definitely not an iPad, Acer Iconia, Moto Xoom, or any of the other new tablets seeming to hit the market every week. It's an off-label, stripped down version of the big concepts. If you're looking for 10+ inches of screen space, 3G connectivity, and 16+ GB of storage space, then you probably should stay off this Planet.

In fact, Pandigital describes the Planet as a tablet that specializes in e-reading. Among the apps included with its Android-based operating system is the Barnes and Noble eStore which allows users to browse for books, magazines, and newspapers; make a purchase; and then beam the goods right to their Planet. For reading, it includes useful tools such as a dictionary, notating features, and multiple zoom levels. It's also great for reading lengthy PDF documents rather than printing or viewing on a computer screen. Pages are turned with a quick right-to-left flick of the finger over the touch screen.

An Android app store is available and a slew of nifty widgets are included. Web browsing over the built-in WiFi is acceptable, but is geared toward email, social media, and browsing that isn't graphics-and-memory hungry. Adobe Flash is not available, just like on first-generation iPads, but a YouTube app allows some functionality on that site (gotta expect that on a Google Android-powered device).

Dual front and back cameras take still photos as well as video. All the popular music, video, image, and media formats are supported as well. The seven-inch 800x600 touchscreen, while not huge, is bright and clear and the touch sensor is remarkably accurate. Entering full URLs with the pop-up keyboard is quick and efficient. The screen also automatically orients itself depending on whether the device is held right side up, upside down, or sideways.

The Planet has a built-in speaker and also includes connectivity for stereo headphones. The relatively small 2GB of on-board storage is expandable to 32GB with a MicroSD card. A mini-USB port allows easy syncing with a PC. Battery life is acceptable, and an AC charger is included.

For the budget price I paid (Planets range from $179 - $220 on average), I got a lot of tablet for not a lot of money. Keep in mind that mainstream devices are running around $500 and up. The Planet is definitely not the leader of the pack. Its Android 2.2 is dated, and it certainly lacks the sex appeal of an iPad. But for the light user who wants an intuitive e-reading experience with the ability to browse the web on the same device, the Planet may be a good choice. It's also great for someone who wants to keep up to date on the “there's-an-app-for-that” phenomenon without shelling out big bucks for a smart phone and service plan.

Being a new contender, availability is currently limited on Planets, but I would expect more will hit the market soon. One gripe I have? I can't find a custom-fit protective cover for my Planet, but I assume this oversight will be fixed soon.

Overall, the Planet packs a lot of useful, well thought out features into a small and affordable package. It's an e-reading heavyweight and tablet light. Check out the manufacturer's website for more details.