> It really says something when some of your customers ask the Internet whether they got the right thing when they received your product, or whether it got switched out with some joke Chinese knockoff that’s not really supposed to work.
>
> The [Maylong M-150](http://www.maylonggroup.com/M-150_MID.htm) TabletPC is an Android-based device sold by Walgreens for a mere $99 a pop. The obvious purpose for this tablet’s existence is to appeal to bargain basement shoppers—grandmas, poor college kids, those on a tight budget—by claiming to offer a full tablet experience for cheap. I mean, it runs Android, right? That’s a legit operating system nowadays. Unfortunately, the Maylong M-150 is the very epitome of “race to the bottom,” and anyone looking to buy one would get more bang for the buck by setting it on fire for warmth.
via [arstechnica.com](http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/reviews/2010/11/worst-gadget-ever-ars-reviews-a-99-android-tablet.ars)
I have no words that can improve upon the review Jacqui Cheng gave of the Maylong M-150. She may just be right that this is the worst gadget ever made.
And it runs Android.
That’s actually a key element to point out. Not because all Android devices suck; not because Android itself sucks. But the fact that this complete and utter failure has an Android logo slapped on it demonstrates exactly what’s wrong with the notion of “Open” being better. It also demonstrates that the Android brand, and Google’s along with it, is in serious jeopardy for being associated with this sort of junk.
Some people who have never seen an Android device might just buy one of these at Wal Mart, after all, and end up thinking that this is what all the Android hype is about. And then they’ll go buy an iPad next time.
I mentioned last week that Google would sell its grandmother to make one more Android sale to win the numbers game. I think this product is proof of that.
