Before I get into any details let me start with this: If you are reading this because you are toying with the idea of getting a tablet then stop reading right now and go to Google Play, Future Shop, Best Buy or Staples and place your order right now (if there are any in stock) - this $209 tabltet is a complete no-brainer!

As usual these days, the box contents of high tech items are pretty spartan. The Nexus 7 box contents consist of simply a power supply, a USB cable, some meager paperwork (quick start guide and warranty), and the actual unit.

The first thing you'll notice about the unit is its size of 7" (for a reference point the iPad is 9.56"). In North America bigger-is-better usually rules, but sometimes smaller-is-better. While the RIM PlayBook was pretty much a disappointment in sales (and weight) the one thing I instantly liked about it was it's size. It felt good in the hand. You'll notice I said "hand" and not the plural "hands". Unlike the iPad and other 9-10" tablets the Nexus 7 is very easy to hold in one hand both in relation to it's size, thin-ness and weight. It just feels good to hold. I can even put it in my back pocket (not highly recommended) and an inside jacket pocket. While the larger iPad format might appear to be more appealing for watching movies and surfing it's not until you try the Nexus 7 for awhile that you can see it's appeal.

Inside of a jacket pocket

I could post pictures of the display but you really have to see it and navigate it to really see how clear and smooth it is. The one word that keeps coming back to me is "smooth". Google has talked a lot about the "butter project" when developing OS 4.1 (Jelly Bean) and how smooth they made everything in the OS and it's really noticeable. The brightness and clarity are also exceptional.

When it comes to talking about phones or tablets the one topic that always comes up is number of apps. This is a topic that I don't really put much stock into since almost every device has every major app (Netflix, IMDB, Audible, etc) but for those who do care then they will be more than happy with the over 600,000 apps available.

The one really annoying thing I found using the Nexus 7 was that I couldn't rotate the display landscape when viewing websites. I soon realized that rotation was locked, but I couldn't easily find how to unlock it. Basically open an app, like the Chrome browser, and swipe down from the top. You'll see some notifications and a locked symbol. You just need to tap the lock icon to unlock.

Unlocked Locked

There are several questions I've received when people found out I had the Nexus 7.

Does it have a camera? It only has a front facing camera for video chat. There is no rear camera for taking pictures. Most people don't use their tablet to take pictures since they are pretty cumbersome compared to a smartphone or a real camera.

Is it just WiFi? No Cellular? Yes, it's just WiFi.

Is the memory expandable? No. You have a choice of 8 or 16MB. Google's plan here is that everything will be downloaded or streamed on demand. It's all about the Cloud!

Is it fast? Oh yeah! This is a very efficient OS combined with a processor even faster than the current iPad.

Can it replace my laptop? No, this is not replacing a real computer. Like any current table it's a great electronic toy. An easy way to quickly check your email, play a game, surf the Internet, etc. If you want a tablet that can replace your laptop or PC then wait until the fall for the Microsoft Surface PC/Tablet.

The biggest feature of the Nexus 7 (in addition to it being the most up-to-date OS and always will be since it's made by Google) is it's price. For $209 there is no reason not to buy it if you've even causally thought about getting a tablet. I hope you heeded my words at the beginning of this post and placed your order for a Nexus 7.

Update: I forgot to mention that Canadians don't get all the same features that our US cousins do. At this point we don't have access to Google Music or Magazines. We can rent movies, but we cannot buy them. Hopefully this will all change soon.

I don't know if there are specific Canadian hardware or software differences on the device itself, but my invoice shows the item as being "Nexus 7, 8GB, CA Version"