And... it's not a Norinco weapon! I actually was supposed to get my M38 today, but I ended up buying a gadget that I honestly think everyone should be considering if you're as much a geek and a document/book consumer as I am.

The other day, I was REALLY caught by the interest of a Best Buy sale that touted a "$99 Android ereader". So, I started doing what I always do: Research. It was a Velocity Cruz eReader tablet, and while it had a resistive screen (not an iPod like screen, but the kind with a dual layer plastic screen), it seemed very tempting. I also saw a ton of negative reviews from the average schmuck from QVC and the like who bought it and complained how it wasn't an iPad. But, reading on, I also found more tech savy people stating that after a firmware update, and keeping expectations in mind, it was actually a decent Android tablet and a low cost alternative to the Galaxy Tab for 1/5th the price.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Velocity+Mi ... &cp=1&lp=1

So, I bit. I called around, and finally found a Best Buy who had some in stock. They said they were flying off the shelves, even when the store themselves discourage people from buying it over the 600 to 1000 buck iPad.

Out of the box, it was crappy. It wouldn't connect to my home WiFi and the screen was like typing on an iPad with 20 layers of saran wrap. But, as many net forum users suggested, the first thing I did was update the firmware. Man, what a difference! The screen went from horrible PalmPilot era junk to pretty decent for a resistive screen. and my connection issues went away. But, there were signs that this wasn't perfect: There is no android marketplace access (since Google doesn't support tablets yet unless you pay out the ass for them). So, this means you either have to "sideload" apps from an android phone, or you just dig up the ".apk" files from the net and install them yourself, either from an SD card or directly off the net from the tablet.

Also, this is Android 2.0. This means no built-in flash media support. This isn't bad considering there are aftermarket browsers with flash you can put on, and for the REALLY brave, there are some kits to hack this to put on a newer Android OS (but I only suggest this for the truly geek-minded and brave). But, it did accept all the Android programs I could find. I replaced the Borders ereader with another brand, and replaced the crappy browser-based Facebook app with the legitimate Facebook for Android app (it also means you can get a facebook widget on your homescreen). Added a bunch of utility and note taking apps, and soon I had nearly all the same function as a Galaxy Tab! 8 hour battery life to boot.

It took a while, but with a little work, I'm actually posting this from the tablet itself! The screen isn't super fast since with resistive screen you cannot get multitouch, but at the same time it's durable and everything else works like you would expect. For $100 bucks you can't go wrong, and the weight and build of the device actually feels like it just may hold up.

Just thought I'd share my findings and explain why I didn't get my Mosin-Nagant M38 out of the pawn shop layaway this week.... I was a bad monkey and got distracted by the shiny But, if you can find these for sale locally or online, GET ONE!!! It's worth the extra work to tweak it. I'm very happy for the low price now that I can get a computer that is TRULY portable. And especially it's the cheapest one you can get even compared to the Nook Color (which honestly does have an AWESOME capactive screen, and does well for what it is as well)

And yes, it's a pretty good ereader too.

We tried a mass roll-out of different cheap Chinese android tablets at work (for dedicated tasks like reserving rooms) and did not have much luck. The one you have sounds familiar. I really should pull a couple of those out of storage and see what they can do with a custom rom.

Android is just starting and there's huge stuff going to happen in an open system that will become the leading system for mobile devices. So if you are going to bother learning the technical twists of a system, this is the best one to learn.

As Liberals I think we should all avoid Best Buy as it was one of the first corporations to take advantage of the "free speech" decision of the Supreme Court that allows virtually unlimited contributions to conservative Republicans.

Yeah, both Target and Best Buy gave money to anti-gay bigots:

http://consumerist.com/2010/08/best-buy ... igots.html

From the article:

Tom Emmer is a candidate to be Minnesota's next governor. He's an ultra-conservative with an agenda. Everyone, of course, is entitled to their political views. His include allowing pharmacists to refuse contraception to whomever they want, shuttering the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, and supporting a group that encourages the execution of homosexuals. He thinks taxes are evil and wants them cut them like an emo hipster with a Swiss Army knife.

To my knowledge Best Buy never explained themselves. Target, on the other hand, basically said "we'll do whatever is good for our bottom line."

In my view, we should pay attention to this kind of activity on the part of companies and make our choices accordingly. At the same time, I'm not militant about this: i.e. if you buy something at Best Buy I do NOT think you are anti-gay or something, or a traitor, or "not with us" or an hypocrite or whatever.

lemur wrote:Yeah, both Target and Best Buy gave money to anti-gay bigots:

http://consumerist.com/2010/08/best-buy ... igots.html

From the article:

Tom Emmer is a candidate to be Minnesota's next governor. He's an ultra-conservative with an agenda. Everyone, of course, is entitled to their political views. His include allowing pharmacists to refuse contraception to whomever they want, shuttering the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, and supporting a group that encourages the execution of homosexuals. He thinks taxes are evil and wants them cut them like an emo hipster with a Swiss Army knife.

To my knowledge Best Buy never explained themselves. Target, on the other hand, basically said "we'll do whatever is good for our bottom line."

In my view, we should pay attention to this kind of activity on the part of companies and make our choices accordingly. At the same time, I'm not militant about this: i.e. if you buy something at Best Buy I do NOT think you are anti-gay or something, or a traitor, or "not with us" or an hypocrite or whatever.

don't most big corporations give contributions to everyone they can, just as a CYA policy? I generally try to stick to the ones that are the lesser offenders where possible. the whole political circus is disgusting.

My issue is that every major retailer has a reason to boycott it. I am not 'supposed' to shop at Target because of republican donations. I must avoid Best Buy becase they doate to anti gay organizaions. Wal-mart i verbotten because the are ardcore anti union. At the en of the day, were do I getmy groceries and.basic goods? Also, the very few poducts out there that are acceptable to more progressive views are either priced as ultra luury goods or just poorly made to make corprates more cash (Applecomes directly to mind).

So while I am aware to the need to boycot every company that does not see my way (as is the American liberal way), I need grocries that aren 5x market value And computers that cost 4x what evryone else charges because they come with a cripplee OS and a shiny fruit on the top.

And these days, you have to buy from a tea bagger to get any guns and ammo since they control 100% to the arms mareket in AZ. It's simply a matter to survival.

neotrotsky wrote:My issue is that every major retailer has a reason to boycott it. I am not 'supposed' to shop at Target because of republican donations. I must avoid Best Buy becase they doate to anti gay organizaions. Wal-mart i verbotten because the are ardcore anti union. At the en of the day, were do I getmy groceries and.basic goods? Also, the very few poducts out there that are acceptable to more progressive views are either priced as ultra luury goods or just poorly made to make corprates more cash (Applecomes directly to mind).

So while I am aware to the need to boycot every company that does not see my way (as is the American liberal way), I need grocries that aren 5x market value And computers that cost 4x what evryone else charges because they come with a cripplee OS and a shiny fruit on the top.

And these days, you have to buy from a tea bagger to get any guns and ammo since they control 100% to the arms mareket in AZ. It's simply a matter to survival.

What, you mean there's no guaranteed US made only, vegan, cruelty free, non sweatshop, marriage rights supporting, sustainability minded, socially responsible retail cooperative that stocks firearms in your area? Do you live under a rock?

neotrotsky wrote:My issue is that every major retailer has a reason to boycott it.

I just go by what I know and act on the basis of what I see being most important.

JoelB wrote:As Liberals I think we should all avoid Best Buy as it was one of the first corporations to take advantage of the "free speech" decision of the Supreme Court that allows virtually unlimited contributions to conservative Republicans.

yes too this...........

I buy a good chunk of what I eat from a 99 Cents only store and Aldis.