Conclusion
Pros
- Great capacitive touchscreen
- Slick design and good build quality
- Great wifi reception
- Loads of free apps to install
Cons
- No 3.5mm headphone jack
- No Android 2.1+
- No multitouch
- Screen orientation problem in apps
- CPU clocked at 299MHz
Comparison with the SmartQ V5
The closest competitor of the Ramos W7 is probably the SmartQ V5 (full review). In comparison, the SmartQ V5 is cheaper, has more connectivity options (USB OTG, Bluetooth, HDMI output, 3.5mm audio output), three operating systems but lacks the larger capacitive touchscreen and 8/16GB internal Flash memory of the W7.
Overall, the Ramos W7 is a slicker and more user friendly device than the SmartQ V5. Android is arguably the best mobile operating system and it works much better on the W7. If you want to read ebooks, easily download apps, browse the web and play some media files and games, the Ramos W7 is the best pick. Everything just works a bit smoother. On the other hand, if you love Linux and like doing more technical stuff, the SmartQ V5 might be the most interesting device with it’s almost endless capabilities. I managed to connect USB drives, control my desktop computer, use decent torrent/FTP applications and even control my camera using the SmartQ V5. The SmartQ V5 basically feels like a somewhat flawed, but very small desktop computer, while the Ramos W7 offers less functionality and is a more polished portable device.
Final conclusion
The Ramos W7 is the first Android MID with a capacitive touchscreen and that feature alone puts it ahead of the competition. The build and screen quality are also very good. Unfortunately, there are a few annoying issues. The most annoying feature is the weird port on the device that’s used for charging, USB and headphone connection. Other downsides are the screen orientation bug, the low clocked CPU and the fact that it runs the older Android 1.5, which lacks multitouch. Nevertheless, when using the device those issues hardly ever ruined the experience. Most tasks were performed smoothly and for browsing, ebook reading and media playback it’s currently the best MID you can buy for this price.
I compared the device to the Motorola Milestone/Droid and while the W7 was a bit slower, it definitely managed hold it’s own. The bigger screen even makes the W7 sometimes more comfortable to use. And that’s a big compliment for a device that’s costs less than half a Milestone.
You can grab the Ramos W7 at HouseOfDAP for $209 with free shipping or at Allpmp for $198.99 with additional shipping costs.
If you still have any questions, feel free to leave a comment!
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