Demand for Google’s 7-inch Nexus 7 tablet seems to have well exceeded the tech giant’s expectations.
Last week, Google posted a message to its online store saying that shipments of the 16GB model were delayed one to two weeks. Now, the store has stopped taking orders altogether.
Those who want to purchase the $249 version of the tablet are told to sign up to be notified by e-mail when it is back in stock.
The 16GB version is also sold out at GameStop, Kmart, Sam’s Club, Office Depot, Staples, B&H, Best Buy in Canada and, according to The Guardian, Tesco in te UK. The only place to get the device online at this point may be eBay.
Google is still accepting orders for the 8GB version however, which costs $199.
The 7-inch, Asus-built tablet, which began shipping earlier this month, is the first to run the latest version of Android, codename Jelly Bean. It has a 1280×800 HD display (216 ppi) and a quad-core processor. It has received widely positive reviews from the press — our own Peter Pachal called it “the Android media tablet the Kindle Fire was supposed to be.”
I received the 8GB version on Tuesday, the speaker(s) blown out on arrival. Spent an hour on the phone waiting for someone to pick up before giving up. Used the contact form to ask for instructions on how to get a replacement unit on Wednesday night, received automated ‘we got your email’ few minutes later, nothing since then.
Feels very much in line with the usual ‘perpetual communally supported beta’ Google culture.
Sorry to hear about your experience craptcha. Hopefully your device issues are remedied quickly.
I received the 16g version last week, and absolutely love my Nexus 7. There were a couple of software upgrades since I received. The UI responsiveness is amazing, and is nice to hold. My one negative comment would be about the lack of headphones. Not sure if tablets in general include a headset.
Would be great to find out your favorite apps for Nexus 7. Any suggestions?
[quote=craptcha]I received the 8GB version on Tuesday, the speaker(s) blown out on arrival. Spent an hour on the phone waiting for someone to pick up before giving up. Used the contact form to ask for instructions on how to get a replacement unit on Wednesday night, received automated ‘we got your email’ few minutes later, nothing since then.
Feels very much in line with the usual ‘perpetual communally supported beta’ Google culture.[/quote]
Update: Received an email Monday evening, replacement unit shipped on Tuesday morning, arrived Wednesday evening (yesterday).
The speaker(s) on the new unit are fine. Unfortunately, the gyro is not. Laying flat it shows 8° roll, -2° pitch. The old device (broken speakers) shows 0° roll, -1° pitch.
I’m keeping this one since none of my apps use gyro or accelerometer and it does not affect testing, but it is a cheap device (not just affordable) compared to my xoom or ipads. Feels like Reabok shoes, Roleks watch or Cola Cola soda. Also like the final episode of “Lost” where you are supposed to ignore all the crap because they are in heaven (or in this case it costs $200).
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