Asustek Computer last week introduced its own-brand affordable media tablet, which is designed to secure the company’s share on the rapidly expanding market if inexpensive media slates. The novelty features low-cost hardware and previous-generation display and therefore Asus should be pretty flexible when it comes to final pricing of the MeMo Pad.

Asus MeMo Pad is based on Via Technologies’ WM8950 application processor (dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 with ARM Mali-400 graphics core) and runs Google Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system. The media tablet is equipped with 1GB of RAM, 8GB or 16GB of NAND flash internal storage, which can be supplemented by up to 32GB via the MicroSD card slot. The slate features a 10-point multi-touch LED-backlit display with 1024*600 resolution, 140-degree wide viewing angles, and its 350-nit brightness means images remain clear, even outdoors. The product also features 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, 1MP front-facing camera, microphone, micro-USB port as well as Asus SonicMaster audio and MaxxAudio for high-quality sound.

Asus MeMo Pad features suite of Asus applications are also pre-installed, including SuperNote Lite, BuddyBuzz, Asus WebStorage with 5GB of online storage space, Asus Studio and WebStorage Office for convinient productivity.

Thanks to $149 price-tag, Asustek’s MeMo Pad will not compete against expensive media tablets, such as Apple iPad mini or Samsung Galaxy Tab II 7”, but will offer a good alternative to other inexpensive tablets, namely Amazon Kindle Fire, B&N Nook tablet as well as Google Nexus 7”.

Unlike proprietary platforms like Amazon or B&N, Asus MeMo Pad offers full support for Google Play so customers can choose from over 750 thousand apps and games, browse one of the world's largest e-book store, search millions of songs, watch thousands of the latest and greatest movies and TV shows, and even flip through various magazines.

Asus MeMo Pad sports an elegant, non-slip diamond-patterned finish in a thin and lightweight design and will be available in three colors: sugar white, titanium gray and cherry pink. Asus MeMO Pad will be available starting this January in selected markets from authorized Asus resellers.

Tags: ASUS, MeMo Pad, Google, Android, Nexus