The ViewPad 7 follows the dual-camera trend by providing both a front-facing camera and a rear-facing camera, though neither was particularly impressive. The front-facing camera is a skimpy 0.3-megapixel unit, and the back-facing camera is a 3-megapixel version with auto-focus but no flash. Though image quality was marginal, I appreciated the video chat capabilities; you'll need to download an app to take advantage of video chat.

Making phone calls on the ViewPad 7 was a bit awkward due to the tablet's size: It's too large to use as a traditional phone. But for conducting calls via speakerphone or for video chatting, it's comfortable and works well.

The biggest dings against this device are its menu navigation, slow speed, poor battery life, and bulky design. At $430, it's one of the better contract-free Android 2.2 tablets, but that's small consolation given the caveats.