Google's new tablet wasn't a surprise considering the number of leaks in the lead up to the announcement, but it's still a pretty big occasion.

Whether it's against the Kindle Fire, iPad or the army of Android tabs out there at the moment, the Nexus 7 aims to set the bar in many ways.

Being its first tablet effort, Google has conjured up a device that succeeds in many ways, yet falls short too.

A few killer features

The most important thing about the Nexus 7 is the price-point, tipping the scales at a relatively paltry $199 (between R2000 and R2500 in SA most likely). At that price-point, the Nexus 7 seems less like an investment and more like a steal.

Now, there are cheaper tablets out there, but those devices aren't packing the oomph that the Nexus 7 possesses.

The tablet features a quad-core Tegra 3 processor, 7-inch 1280x800 screen, NFC connectivity as well as a front-facing camera.

In other words, it compares very favourably to even the best tablets released this year.

Things have improved on the software front too, with the Nexus 7 being the first device out of the gate with Android Jelly Bean. Improvements include the Google Now service, a faster user interface and plenty of other tweaks.

A few missteps

The first thing you'll notice about the Nexus 7 is that it lacks a rear-facing camera. So tasks such as QR code scanning and augmented reality apps are pretty much out of the question.

It's a good compromise if ever there were one though, as taking snaps on a tablet is a rather painful experience.

However, arguably the biggest oversight on Asus and Google's part is the lack of an SD card slot.

It's particularly regrettable considering that the Nexus 7 will be available in 8 and 16GB models only. We'd go so far to say that it's inexcusable due to the fact that expansion is one of the Android platform's biggest advantages over other tablets.

The omission is more apparent due to the news that owners of the 8GB model will have just under 6GBs to utilise. Of course, Google would most likely point to its Google Drive service as a reason behind the lack of memory expansion.

Now, the idea of using cloud storage is pretty neat in concept, letting users store their music, movies and other files online. But you'll need a data connection and the tablet lacks cellular connectivity.

The lack of a SIM slot isn't a bad thing on its own, but when you're essentially being forced to use cloud storage, it's a bummer.

The other major downside is the Google Play store, with Books, Movies and Music services yet to land in the country (at least in an official capacity).

Speaking of Google Play, the apps situation is another sore point for Android tablets at this point. Sure, there are hundreds of thousands of apps available, but few are custom-made for the tablet form factor.

Are we looking at a winner?

Whether you're a Fandroid or an Apple Acolyte, you have to admit that Google and Asus have crafted something special with the Nexus 7.

The prevailing question is whether the cut-price device can overcome its limitations and establish a foothold in the crowded tablet market. 

But with its quad-core processor and beautiful screen, we're sure that the Nexus 7 will set the standard for what a cheap tablet should look like.