The PLDT TelPad is a landline/Android tablet/DSL bundle that was launched in 2010. They started offering new tablets as part of the package late last year. There are two variants you can choose from now: the PLDT TelPad S7 SLIM (running Android 2.2 Froyo) and the PLDT TelPad AD-1000A (running Android 2.3 Gingerbread).
We currently have the PLDT TelPad S7 SLIM with us and to be totally honest we were pleasantly surprised with the entire package. The S7 SLIM delivers the core functions of a tablet well like browsing the web, checking social media, playing videos/music, and playing casual games. It also looks ridiculously cool on your table or desk and makes for a great conversation piece when you have visitors over, hehe.
Check out the unboxing as well as our initial impressions below. Don’t forget to read the captions!
Packaging
It comes in a pretty big box. That's because the TelPad is composed of two components: the tablet and the handset with the tablet dock.
Here's the photo of the box from a different angle just to give you guys a better idea of the size.
As you can see there are two boxes inside. One for the tablet and the other for the handset with the tablet dock.
The TelPad Handset and Tablet Dock
Let's start with the handset with tablet dock. Both the handset and the base unit are made from hard white plastic with black accents. The handset is connected to the handset via a cable. The tablet dock is in the base unit. When docked the tablet's battery gets charged.
Here's what the handset with the dock looks like out of the box.
The Tablet
The tablet is actually a rebranded and modified Huawei Ideos S7 Slim Tablet. It has a 7-inch screen, weighs 500g, and measures 15.5 mm (thickness). At the bottom you will find the Android controls.
The S7 Slim out of the box. It looks nice. Definitely not as suave as an iPad or a Galaxy Tab but it's just a noch lower (so it's not that bad).
At the back you'll find a 3.2MP camera and the PLDT branding.
HDMI and other ports at the side
Here's a photo from the side so you guys get a feel for the size.
Let’s volt in!
Setting the TelPad up is effortless. All you have to do is plug the power to the base unit and connect the phone/DSL line to it. After that connect the wire of the handset to the base unit. Lastly turn on the tablet and dock it. Ta-daa~! That’s it.
Note that you don’t need to dock the tablet in the station to be able to use it. On it’s own the S7 Slim is a complete Android 2.2 tablet. You can download apps from the Android Market like Angry Birds, Tweet Deck, etc. You can customize the home screens with widgets and shortcuts. It doesn’t have a slot for a sim card though so you’ll have to rely on WiFi for internet connection.
Here are a few photos:
When docked the tablet shows a custom dialer screen. You can dial and control the landline unit using the tablet! Cool.
Here's the home screen. As with any Android device you can put widgets and shortcuts in the other screens. You can customize this as much as you want.
Angry Birds!
Full Review Coming Soon
Our initial impression of the entire package though is pretty positive. Like what we said above it’s not a high-end tablet but it delivers all the core functions well. One thing I like about the TelPad the most though is that it looks awesome in our living room, hehe. It never fails to get comments and questions when we have visitors over. In a way it kinda sells itself.
It’s also quite affordable. Check out the plans below.
If you already have a PLDT DSL plan you can request for an upgrade to any of the plans above.
By the way the TelPad comes with preloaded PLDT/Meralco apps. We’re going to be playing around with these apps and include them in our full review which should be out by the end of this week.
For more information on the PLDT TelPad, visit their official website.
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