(UK) HUDL2 tablet is no more - get one while you can.

[Fraser]

For those in the UK unaware, TESCO have cancelled the HUDL program and the HUDL2 has now been discontinued.

TESCO are having a reorganisation due to financial challenges and the HUDL program is a casualty of this. They say there will be no HUDL3 but support will continue for the HUDL2. For how long ? Nobody knows.

To those outside the UK, a word of explanation on the HUDL.

A large supermarket called TESCO introduced their own brand of Android Tablet at an amazing price. Build quality was good and you got a lot of bang for your buck. The OS was not mangled like that of Amazon tablets and the HUDL has quite a following. IIRC 700,000 HUDL units have been sold.

The HUDL was so successful that TESCO released the HUDL2. It is thinner, faster and has a larger screen. On the matter of the screen, it is very good quality and high resolution, higher than the APPLE Mini 1

The store assistant that I met today was amazed that the HUDL program has come to an end. She said they have been a top seller. Maybe the margins were too low though ? The HUDL2 was released at a price of £129 but this has dropped to £99 since. TESCO are deleting the HUDL program quietly and it is only the probing of the IT press that found out the bad news recently.

The word is out now and TESCO customer services advised me this morning that there is no warehouse stock in the UK and stock in the stores is all that remains. She said that there had been a major run on the HUDL2 in all their stores over the last 2 days.

I went to my local store and they had 7 remaining. I bought myself one as it is a very good value tablet that has received excellent reviews.

If anyone was thinking of buying one of theses, I suggest you get down to your local TESCO store quickly, like today ! Customer Services can only tell you stock levels at midnight as they do not have a live stock system.

Fraser

[Fraser]

Review of the HUDL2 is here

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/tablets/tesco-hudl-2-1267726/review

[Fraser]

The OEM for the HUDL2 is Pegatron.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegatron

[Fraser]

Unboxing my new Hudl2.

It certainly has the look and feel of a quality product as mentioned in the reviews. The box is very Apple like in that its nicely designed. You pull on a ribbon to withdraw the inner carton from the outer shell ! The Hudl is inside a quality sheath to protect it and the screen protector carries all manner of information regarding the port locations etc. This thing has a micro HDMI output on it 

The inner carton also contains the A to Micro B USB cable and the 5V/2A charger, each in their own storage section.

All this makes for a good first impression...... remember, this is a tablet sold under a supermarket banner and at a knock down price. Me thinks the margins may have been an issue and this may have lead to deletion of the project. Tesco wanted to make a big splash with the HUDL, and I believe they did. That does not make it a viable product if the bottom line does not show a healthy profit though.

I am charging the unit now and all looks to be good. Once it is set up I will be checking to see if the FLIR ONE Gen2 thermal camera works with it. The 1.8GHz Quad core Atom microprocessor may, or may not, have enough grunt for that application. It may have to do ARM to X86 translation for the FLIR APP and that could be an issue if it impacts speed too much.

All I can say is that I am glad I have this little tablet. I have an Apple Air2, but I don't like to put that at risk. Use in the bath tub being one 'no go' area  . I currently use an HP Slate 7 for that scenario    The HUDL2 has a nice silicone case covering to protect it from life's knocks as well.

Fraser

[SeanB]

Going to buy a spare one Fraser, just so you have the ability to say "OOPS" once without it being fatal.

Pity it is not available here, the price is right for it, here what you get for that price is not as good, though it does do reasonable as a mobile phone. I can never get the idea of holding a thing the size of an A4 notebook up to my ear and talking on it.

[Fraser]

Another good  review.... this time from Wired.....

http://www.wired.co.uk/reviews/tablets/2014-10/tesco-hudl-2

Fraser

[Fraser]

@SeanB,


I am a Gemini, I always buy 'one and a spare' when affordable

The other is still in the car boot awaiting smuggling past my wife  She does not share my 'one and a spare' philosophy  She has me tidying up and binning my excess inventory at the moment. New inventory is not welcomed.

As an alternative to buying two HUDL2 2 units it is possible to buy an Apple iPad Mini 2 for £219 in the UK. I wanted another Android platform though.

Fraser

[SeanB]

Put excess in a parcel and post it, sea is fine.............. Should be here by Easter.

[Fraser]

@SeanB,

I filled the Nissan X-Trail twice yesterday........ Mostly 19" rack test equipment, RF & AF signal/function generators, frequency counters, bench multimeters and power supplies. All too large and heavy to ship. All went to  the local electrical recycling facility. I just don't have the time or space to sort through stuff for selling or holding for collection. I need space and buying another shed will cost me £1000 which is more than the stuff is worth. A sad state of affairs, but I am still barely scratching the surface of my inventory.   

Fraser

[Deathwish]

now i know why I wish I had a car and could get about