Specifications

Le Pan TC 970 9.7-Inch Android Tablet PC
Very recently, a new player has joined the tablet market and launched a neat little Android tablet
at a very reasonable price. Although you may not have heard of Le Pan, they have a support
center in California, and online support and FAQ services on their website. They supply a
manufacturer's warranty with their tablets but only sell them through retail outlets such as
Amazon and CompUSA, so you will also benefit from the retailers' refund and return policies.
Features
The Le Pan tablet runs on the Android 2.2 operating speed with 512 MB of RAM, and is a slim
half an inch thick with a 9.7 by 7.4 inch HD touch screen. The LCD screen supports 720PHD
video playback and Adobe Flash Player 10.2 is also supported so you can watch YouTube and
movies in clear high def and the viewing angle of 178 degrees means you can easily share your
viewing with someone sat next to you. TC970 is a very well built tablet, and as a consequence is
a little heavy at 1.6 pounds, but it is certainly a durable tablet. Built into the tablet is a 2 mega
pixel front facing camera, with built in microphone for video conference calls, and high
definition speakers in the back deliver a reasonable quality sound. It is supplied with a 2GB SD
micro memory card that fits into a slot in the side but it can be expanded up to 32 GB and
certainly you will need at least 16GB if you are a movie fan. The Le Pan TC970 comes with full
access to Android apps, and integrated Google technology plus it is GPS enabled so in
combination with Google maps is a great journey planner. There is an integrated virtual
QWERTY keyboard and everything is touch sensitive. Bluetooth for wireless connectivity is also
included and you can stream your music in stereo.
Usability
The battery life is up to six hours in full use, but customers report it lasting to ten hours if not
surfing constantly! The screen resolution is bright, but is tricky in direct sunlight and the
fingerprints do show up on its glossy screen. The viewing angle makes most websites easy to see
without needing to use mobile versions and the apps load quickly and easily. Le Pan will be
releasing an operating system upgrade directly to Android's new OS Ice Cream Sandwich and
there appear to be ongoing updates of apps and other features to respond to customers' needs.
What customers' say
Because of the lower price of this tablet, a few customers have given it quite a rough ride,
dropping it etc, and it has stood up well! A number have contacted customer support regarding
upgrades and queries and have been pleasantly surprised by the responsiveness. Some are
irritated by the positioning and size of the power on/off button but all agree that the screen
resolution is excellent and very high quality for a tablet at this price point. Le Pan seem to be
keen to respond to customer requests and are also improving their features and offering
upgrades. A few customers suggest getting a stylus to avoid the fingerprint issue, and if you want