Before I start my review on Micromax FUNBOOK, it is important to understand why anyone would want to own a tablet first of all. If it is just another gadget, just for the heck of it, my review may not make any sense. A tablet, like other gadgets has specific “advantages” and “disadvantages”. If you decide to get one, you should be very clear on why you require a tablet and evaluate tablets accordingly and not by what the Ad on TV says! Well, I had a specific need in mind and FUNBOOK has been an excellent answer to my needs. I wanted a tablet that can be hand-held, portable for reading e-books and navigation (Maps). A laptop or a smart phone cannot serve to be a very efficient alternative here. Now you know why I wanted a tablet.
Price - In my quest for the best fit, my first priority was price. I did not want to spend a fortune for something that I could also manage with my laptop or my smart phone and especially something that is bound to get out-dated in less than a year! If I had to research on the tablets, I would sort the list by price and evaluate one by one. Obviously the Samsungs and Apples would be in the other end of the list so was not even a point of my consideration. Sorting by price, I started with Aakash, an obvious No No, then a few unfamiliar brands and then went on to FUNBOOK, HCL Me etc. FUNBOOK made the most sense to me probably because of the other two points below.
Size – I had previously visited electronics stores like Chroma, Reliance digital to check out some tabs and only returned back saddened. The word “cheap” was very obvious by the way they looked and weighed. I forget the actual brand, but I remember lifting up something that looked like it had a wooden case!!! Definitely not what I wanted. The FUNBOOK is a clear winner in the size. Very appropriate for the palm, clean finish and a sleek design.
Performance – Definitely not the best but good for what it promises. Micromax wants to position this tab as an e-learning tool and so has dumped a lot of study material which is an important reason for the performance issues. If you are part of the “impatient” generation then you would have think twice before buying this one. I had evaluated the iPad and nothing could ever beat its responsiveness and the FUNBOOK is nowhere comparable. But if you are wise enough to keep a watch on the memory and keep the apps currently open to two or three, the FUNBOOK could also perform fairly well with a few glitches here and there. Remember its 1/6 the price of an iPad.
Features - Android 4.0 does it all for you. It is extensible and has millions of apps to suit your needs. HDMI, USB support, 3G - all icing on the cake!
Verdict – Well my justification is clear. The FUNBOOK seems to satisfy me on what I wanted in a tab. It is a pretty cool thing to hold and navigate and does its job. I would certainly recommend the FUNBOOK if you are NOT a brand freak, current Apple user, avid gamer or a filthy rich guy. Else, its game!