Pioneer Computers (not to be confused with Pioneer Electronics of car stereo fame) has had its hat in the Android ring for some time now, though you might not now it. Their latest entrie is a doozie: the DreamBook Z97, yet another high-end tablet with Nvidia’s quad-core Tegra 3 processor and a full gigabyte of RAM powering it. Combine that with Ice Cream Sandwich, and you’ve got yourself a contender – at least if you live in Australia.
The tablet comes in storage capacities from 8GB to an incredible 128GB, thanks to an SSD drive you can configure on the company’s website. The base model starts at $499 AUD, with the 128GB version running an extra $229 – not bad, all things considered. Externally the tablet has a 9.7-inch display with an unfortunate 4:3 1024×768 resolution, essentially mirroring the iPad for size and DPI. Communications options include the standard Bluetooth and WiFi, plus an optional 3G radio. You get HDMI, USB 2.0 (with host capability) and MicroSD card slots, though the proprietary DC-in jack is a bit of a let down.
While Pioneer isn’t a household name, it’s trying awfully hard to make itself one. The combination of a relatively low-resolution screen with Tegra 3 is puzzling, but no doubt someone will find the 4:3 aspect ration appealing. Their PR says nothing about Google apps, so we’re forced to assume that the DreamBook Z97 does not include native access to the Android Market. If you’d like one delivered to your neck of the Outback, you can check out their ordering page here for storage, wireless and accessory options.
