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Review: Google Nexus 7 Tablet Is Affordable and High-Quality

This KitKat-based Android tablet is vibrant and fast.

Tom Jordan is a solutions architect at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

This sleek and lightweight Android tablet features crisp graphics, long battery life and, to be expected with Google's Nexus line, easy integration with a host of Google services. Users looking for an affordable and high-quality Android tablet should check out the latest release of the Google Nexus 7.

Students in search of a device that can be easily carried, started instantly and ready for note taking as soon as the lecture starts will find the Nexus 7 an affordable option. At less than a half-inch thick and weighing about 12 ounces, the device is easy to use on the go.

Quickoffice provides essential word processing, spreadsheet and presentation capabilities, and Keep provides quick and easy note taking.

Wireless connectivity is provided via 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth and near field communication (Android Beam).

The tablet's high-definition, in-plane switching (IPS) display is more responsive than a traditional thin-film-transistor LCD and provides clear and accurate color representation across a wider variety of viewing angles than active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) displays. Vibrant color, coupled with the responsiveness of the 7-inch IPS display, offers an ideal platform for e-textbooks and rich media, creating a natural and integrated learning space for students.

MPEG4 and H.264 videos play flawlessly at 1080p, and streaming video from Netflix and YouTube is smooth and clear.

Setup is easy but requires a Google account and Wi-Fi connection. Once configured, the Nexus 7 automatically downloads apps associated with the user's Google Play account.

The Nexus 7 ships with a basic installation of Android 4.4.2 (KitKat) and is not cluttered with free apps or trialware. Installation is clean and clutter-free, allowing users to maximize screen and storage space on apps and media of their choice.

KitKat for Class

Google's Nexus 7 tablet and Android's latest OS offer new advantages for higher ed users.

The Google Nexus 7 tablet features the latest Android 4.4 KitKat operating system that higher ed students and staff will find much improved, including an updated voice command system (Ok Google) that makes hands-free operation easier and safer.

Immersive Mode allows users to take advantage of all available 7-inch screen real estate by automatically maximizing content. Printing also is simplified, with the capability to print to Google Cloud Print or any HP ePrint printer.

Several new security features are part of the new OS, including verified boot technology, which works to prevent malware from installing rootkits to compromise devices. The Android Sandbox introduced in 4.3 is now capable of full enforcement mode, blocking potentially malicious apps before they cause harm. Certificate management is improved, and additional controls are added to detect and block fraudulent Google certificates.

While the choice of purchasing a tablet versus a netbook (or Chromebook) usually depends on student preference or a faculty member's preferred method of instruction, the Nexus 7 offers a number of advantages as an instructional tool. Its vibrant, high-definition display and responsiveness make it a capable e-textbook platform, while easy integration with Google services makes it an effective productivity and collaboration tool.

Image courtesy of Google.com