Compal NAZ-10 Hands-On: Android Tablet Has Sleek UI, Might Ship in the U.S.

One of the best parts about attending trade shows is stumbling across a netbook or a tablet or some other gadget that I haven’t seen before. While scouting out Nvidia’s booth, I saw this Tegra 2-powered tablet by Compal, a brand not well known to our U.S. readers (although it might well ship here).

What caught my eye about the tablet was its glossy, deep red build, and the touch sensitive buttons along the right side of the bezel. They’re the same buttons you’ll find on Android handsets, such as the Droid and the Nexus One. I think it’s the fact that Android devices across different categories have a binding look that sells me, which makes sense since I seem to be turning into something of an Android fangirl.

As an Android device, the NAZ-10′s interface is pretty stock, although with a tap you can access Compal’s own interface, which is layered on top of Android. For the most part, the interface is about organization. For instance, if you click on “Utilities” you’ll see the same Alarm Clock icon, among others, that you’d see on any Android phone.

However, Compal did add a couple useful apps of its own, including an eReader and a multimedia library, which organizes folders in a neat, colorful way. Although the 7-inch display looked bright and crisp while it fluidly played back a 1080p clip, it seemed a bit too reflective for reading eBooks. Diehard eBook readers wanting the power of Tegra 2 can wait for the Adam Notion Ink tablet.

The NAZ-10 is set to ship before the second half of the year, although it’s not yet clear which markets will get it (Nvidia says it’s possbile it’ll come Stateside). The tablet is expected to be sold through carriers, which will set the price. However, Nvidia said it expects it to cost no more than $300 (in the U.S., at least, $199 sounds more like it). In the meantime, check out our  hands-on video below.