A contraption with a 4.3 inch screen isn’t a TABLET. Stop calling that

While I’m eagerly watching the stream go by about the Tech Sparks and Anna Harare’s fight against corruption, a breaking news passed along. Being a Gadget Fan, this news is hard to ignore. A little known company in Bangalore, called LACS, has launched a $99 tablet. The title sure pulled me in. I mean who wouldn’t click on that.

Then source after source was reporting the same stuff. Look it is fine if you want to sensationalize. But calling 4.3 inch contraption a tablet for the sake of sensationalism isn’t sensationalism. It’s stupidity. You know when that stupidity reaches a crescendo? Yes that’s right. When Wall Street Journal jumps in.

A little-known, privately held company Friday launched a tablet computer for $99 in India, adding to competition in a market where local players are bringing in low-cost versions of the device to take on the likes of Apple Inc.’s iPad and Samsung Electronics Co.’s Galaxy Tab. (Wall Street Journal)

Ok. Here’s the deal. When Dell Streak which had a 5-inch screen was launched it was too early in the tablet game and no body knew what qualifies as a tablet. Now we have umpteen tablets launched and not one of them has a 4.3 inch screen. Some gadgets do have 4.3 inch screen and we have a name for them – smartphone or superphone – anything is fine. HTC HD7, HTC Desire HD, HTC Sensation and Samsung Galaxy S2 are four smartphones which have 4.3 inch screens. Have you heard anybody calling the Galaxy S2 a tablet?

These gimmicks were played earlier too. That’s when I have written a very long post on what makes a tablet. A re-read of that post wouldn’t harm.

And while I got your attention, would please stop calling every new tablet as competing with the likes of iPad and Galaxy Tab. Not sure about Galaxy Tab but as for the iPad competition, we will waiting for some more time.

If you are still wondering what LACS stands for, it stands for Lakshmi Access Communication System. And yes LACS did launch a tablet, not one but 13 tablets. At the price of Rs. 6250 LACS has probably the cheapest tablet too. They got some spicy names too. But then I digress.

PS : There is a $99 tablet we came across and it is called NoteSlate.