We were actually expecting the Internet tablets' segment to actually boom in the second part of 2010, and it would really seem that this is exactly what's happening right now, the latest company to push such a product on the market being Cherrypal, who's flaunting its sub $200 tablet computer, the CherryPad America.

CherryPad is powered by the fast Samsung ARM11, (CPU + GPU + DSP, OpenGL 2.0) 800 MHz processor and runs Android 2.1 and all Android applications, with an upgrade option to 2.2 being planned for the fourth quarter 2010.

The CherryPad America features a 7-inch resistive touch widescreen display (no stylus needed) at 800x480 resolution with built-in gravity sensor.

Memory, storage and wireless functions include 256 MBs of DDRII RAM, 2 GB NAND Flash, Micro SD reader, and WiFi 802.11 b/g.

Standard I/O ports include USB 2.0 supported by an external adapter, 3.5 mm headphone jack, built-in speakers and microphone, DC port, optional external 3G modem.

The CherryPad America's Polymer 3200 MAH battery has a run time of 6-8 hours.

The device weighs just 1.1 pounds and is housed in a sturdy aluminum case.

For some strange reason, Cherrypal wanted to make it quite clear that their CherryPad America tablet is not poised to take on the iPad.

"The CherryPad America does not compete against the Apple iPad.

The CherryPad addresses the sub-iPad market," said Cherrypal CTO Max Seybold.

"The CherryPad is neither an iPad killer nor an iPad clone, it's a completely different product designed for a different market," Seybold added.

"The screen of the CherryPad is only 7-inches big, the processor is slightly less powerful, and the CherryPad comes with Android 2.1 and not Apple's iOS," Cherrypal's CTO concluded.

At a MSRP of $188, the price for a CherryPad is also less than half of the iPad, which should make it quite interesting for those users who do want to join the ranks of Internet tablet owners, but have a rather limited budget at their disposal.