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10 most intriguing tablets of 2012

From the inevitable iPad 3 to the mysterious Google Nexus tablet, here are the 10 tablets to watch in 2012.

10. OLPC XO 3.0

One Laptop Per Child
One Laptop Per Child, a non-profit organization that gives laptops to child in developing countries, unveiled a prototype for their first tablet, the XO 3.0. While it doesn't have near the capabilities of an iPad, it is one of the first very inexpensive tablets to be sold.

  • By Megan Riesz

This is definitely a tablet to watch, but not for the same reason as the others on this list. The non-profit organization One Laptop Per Child has crafted a child-friendly tablet that costs a mere $100. However, it’s not designed for consumers. The OLPC XO 3.0 is designed for students in the developing world.

The XO 3.0 is innovative and practical. Since many countries cannot rely on a stable power grid, the tablet comes with a hand crank (1 minute of cranking provides enough power for 10 minutes of computer use) and a solar panel cover (1 minute in the sun equal 2 minutes of use). The green-trimmed XO 3.0 is compatible with Android or its own operating system, Sugar OS.

Past OLPC projects have offered a buy-one-get-one program, where people who donate an XO computer will receive their own copy in the mail.

Screen size: 9”

Price: $100

Connectivity: Wi-Fi

Release date: Late 2012

The hook: It’s the future of low-price tablets as we know it.

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Mark Sappenfield
Editor

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