Ever since the HP TouchPad firesale put the idea of super-cheap tablets into people’s heads, technophiles the world over have been clamoring for deals on big-screen mobile hardware. The success of the relatively inexpensive Kindle Fire and Nook Color/Nook Tablet are testaments to this. If you’re looking for a tablet deal and don’t mind sticking with Gingerbread, Lenovo is selling the IdeaPad A1 for just $167.20 at its online store – a good 25% lower than any competing model from a large manufacturer.
The A1 is a study in compromises: its 7-inch screen is relatively low-res at 1026×600, the processor is a single-core TI 1Ghz model, and at 11.9 millimeters it can’t touch recent models from Samsung or Asus. And the basic model that’s on sale in the Lenovo store has a rather typical 16GB of on-board storage. All that said, the A1 is probably the lowest entry price that you can find for a Gingerbread tablet that also supports the Android Market without any rooting or hacks – a definite advantage over the Kindle Fire and Nook.
To get this discounted price, follow the link above, or just use the “EMPLOYEEPRICE0119” code at checkout. That code implies that this deal is good for today only, so if you’re tempted, get a move on. While the development community for the A1 isn’t as vibrant as the Kindle Fire or more mainstream tablets, root has already been achieved, and there’s also a version of CyanogenMod 7 (Gingerbread) built for the hardware. No reports of Ice Cream Sandwich ROMs have crossed our desks, but if enough modders get their hands on the cheap tablet, it’s only a matter of time.
UPDATE: Several commenters note that the price has changed back to the normal MSRP on the website, and Lenovo is refusing to lower the standard price when contacted over the phone. Better luck next time.
[via Reddit]
I don’t know where you’re getting the $167 price from, but following that link and/or entering the coupon code sets the price @ $199.20
I don’t know where you’re getting the $167 price from, but following that link and/or entering the coupon code sets the price @ $199.20
Have to talk to a CSR to get the price now.
I just talked with a CSR and he said no??? Darn anyway
I just talked with a CSR and he said no??? Darn anyway
Have to talk to a CSR to get the price now.
No, it is true, this early morning, it was at $167.20. They changed it back to $199 a couple of hours ago.
I agree, this is not the price…$199.20 is as low as it goes.
I agree, this is not the price…$199.20 is as low as it goes.
This was a “bait and switch”. (see my chat with Lenovo below)
Lenovo: Please wait while we connect with you with a Lenovo
Chat Representative.
Lenovo: You have been connected to _Tim F.
Lenovo: Thank you for choosing Lenovo sales chat. I’m Tim,
your sales chat representative. My rep id is RK6. What can I do for you today?
Me: Several web sites show your Lenovo® A1 Tablet for
$167.20 (including shipping) but when I click the link your site puts the price
@ $199. What’s up with that?
Lenovo: 167.20 was a web error that was removed We are still having the intended sale price
of $199 though
Me: It isn’t removed! Shop IdeaPad A1 Tablet w/ 7″
Multi- Touch Screen, 16GB. Starts @ $167
Lenovo: It is no longer on our website
Me: ok, I probably would have bought it @ $199 if you didn’t
waste my time by trying to trick me into visiting your site then doing a “bait
and switch”. No thanks!!!
Me: Lenovo should do the right thing and honor the
“mistake” by selling it to me @ the advertised price.
Lenovo: it is no longer advertised at this price. We were
honoring it as long as it was still advertised
Me: So are you going to sell it to me for @ $167 or not? I
don’t want you to waste any more of my time.
Lenovo: Okay, no, we are not going to sell it at $167
Me: Thanks for nothing. Hope Lenovo gets slammed in the
blogs for pulling a stunt like this.
Lenovo: I apologize for the confusion
This was a “bait and switch”. (see my chat with Lenovo below)
Lenovo: Please wait while we connect with you with a Lenovo
Chat Representative.
Lenovo: You have been connected to _Tim F.
Lenovo: Thank you for choosing Lenovo sales chat. I’m Tim,
your sales chat representative. My rep id is RK6. What can I do for you today?
Me: Several web sites show your Lenovo® A1 Tablet for
$167.20 (including shipping) but when I click the link your site puts the price
@ $199. What’s up with that?
Lenovo: 167.20 was a web error that was removed We are still having the intended sale price
of $199 though
Me: It isn’t removed! Shop IdeaPad A1 Tablet w/ 7″
Multi- Touch Screen, 16GB. Starts @ $167
Lenovo: It is no longer on our website
Me: ok, I probably would have bought it @ $199 if you didn’t
waste my time by trying to trick me into visiting your site then doing a “bait
and switch”. No thanks!!!
Me: Lenovo should do the right thing and honor the
“mistake” by selling it to me @ the advertised price.
Lenovo: it is no longer advertised at this price. We were
honoring it as long as it was still advertised
Me: So are you going to sell it to me for @ $167 or not? I
don’t want you to waste any more of my time.
Lenovo: Okay, no, we are not going to sell it at $167
Me: Thanks for nothing. Hope Lenovo gets slammed in the
blogs for pulling a stunt like this.
Lenovo: I apologize for the confusion
I bought one for RMB 999 at Media Markt in Shanghai last week. That’s about USD 167. I’m very happy with it for that price! I think it’s easily worth another $32 to push it to 199. Lots of cheap PRC tablets have awful, washed out screens and processors so pokey they feel unusable, but the A1 is a little gem. Screen is sharp. For surfing/emailing/most routine, non gaming apps the little single core processor is fine. Cameras are crummy, though. But it is super cheap, quite functional and 7″ a size better to me than a 3″ phone or 10-11″ iPad or it’s imitators . Tablets like this could change the world!