Originally, I was going to write a review of the APAD E600 I'd picked up for about $100. It's a fine device for the price. It's a lot slower than a netbook and has only 256MB of RAM to work with, so don't expect to use those for more than entertaining kids with standard definition YouTube videos at best. The biggest flaw with these devices is something that is actually beyond their control and is damning of Android tablets in general at this time...
Lack of application availability is going to kill Android as an OS. The applications exist, and more are getting written all the time, but between Google's manufacturer's license requirements for their "official" app store (and no means of installing it after the fact), and many Android app makers not providing links to their APK files outside the market, it means those who try out an inexpensive Android tablet are going to be left with this horrible experience and likely a belief that all Android tablets are just that craptastic to use. Say hello to more iPad users at that point. (I, for one, refuse to submit to Apple's walled garden approach to applications. At least even the licensed Android devices that Google has been paid to bless allow you to install applications from outside the market.)
Here's hoping either Google makes the market app available to all or the software developers (at least of the free apps) pull their heads out of their nethers and make their apps available to a wider audience.
Update: Here's something even more insane I've just run across, an app store like site (appbrain.com) that makes you use Google's market app to install their app. It's like a circular firing squad in the software distribution industry.
Update: I should point out that the FDroid app does mostly what I'm hoping for, but only for free *and* open source Android apps. AndAppStore has an app, but it doesn't work on my Apad E600. Neither of these handle market:// links, which is what is really going to matter.
