The CTL 2goPad may be one of the best budget Windows 7 slate PCs on the market today. It hits a sweet spot between features and price, thanks to its relatively affordable $549 price tag.
One of the tablets' closest competitors is probably the Netbook Navigator Nav9 slate, which costs $699 and up if you want a Windows 7 version.Yet the 2goPad has a capacitive multitouch display, an accelerometer and several other features you won't find on the Nav9 including custom buttons built into the side of the case for clicking "OK," scrolling up and down, or launching a settings panel.
That said, being one of the best Windows tablets around might not be good enough for some users. The truth is that Windows still feels clunky on a slate PC with an Intel Atom processor and a relatively low resolution 1024 x 600 pixel display. It can be tough to tap the proper area on the screen at times; using the on-screen keyboard can be a maddening experience; and the computer just feels sluggish at times.
So is the CTL 2goPad worth the money? That depends on what you're looking for. Read on for the details.
CTL sent me a demo unit to review. The 2goPad has a 10 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel capacitive multitouch (2-point) display, a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor, 2GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive. It runs Windows 7 Home Premium and has 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth, stereo speakers, a 4 cell battery, and a 1.3MP camera.
Design
The CTL 2goPad has a pretty sleek design. The front of the device is covered by a single sheet of plastic, with a 10.1 inch display in the center and a glossy black bezel around the edges. On the right side are a few capacitive touch buttons for scrolling, opening a settings menu, and pressing "OK.
Above the screen there's a webcam, and below the display is the 2goPC logo — written in big, cartoony characters. It's probably the weakest point of the tablet's design. While CTL's 2go PC line of computers typically includes netbooks for the education market, based on the Intel Classmate PC reference design, the 2goPad really looks like a device that would make an excellent business or consumer tablet — if it weren't for the cartoony logo.
On the top of the computer there's a microphone, power button, and a single LED that lets you know if the computer is on or the battery is charging. It's a far cry from the half dozen status lights found on most windows laptops, but I really like the subtle design of the single status LED, which lets you know when the computer is active without presenting a distracting, flashing, in-your-face light.
There's also a vent on the top of the computer, and if you place you hand over it, you'll occasionally feel a bit of air flowing out — but it doesn't get very warm, and the vent is placed in a location that you probably won't place your hand over very often — something which I can't say for some other Windows 7 slates.
The left side of the computer has an Ethernet jack, 2 USB ports, mic, headphone, and power jacks, and a special port for a VGA adapter. There's also a plastic door covering the SD card slot.
At 2.6 pounds, the 2goPad SL10 is kind of heavy for a device that's meant to be held in your hands. Sure, it's not as heavy as some hardcover books, particularly textbooks, but if you plan to read eBooks on the tablet, you might be best off reading in bed where you can prop the computer up against your legs… or spending a little time at the gym first. I probably wouldn't make such a big deal of the 2.6 pound weight if it weren't for the fact that the slate essentially weighs just as much as a typical 10 inch netbook, despite the fact that it doesn't have a keyboard or removable battery.
The SL10 measures 10.3″ x 6.6″ x 0.72″ and has a very solid feel to it even though the case is made of plastic.
CTL ships the 2goPad with a synthetic leather protective case, which can also serve as a stand th
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