E FUN Nextbook Preview: A Sub-$200 2-in-1

E FUN—which amusingly bills itself as "the fifth largest tablet supplier in the US"—will soon ship an incredibly inexpensive Windows 2-in-1---a tablet with a hardware keyboard base—called the Nextbook. At just $179, the Nextbook won't offer high-end specs, but will provide an affordable productivity solution.

I'll be reviewing this interesting solution as soon as possible. In the meantime, here's a rundown of what to expect.

Form factor. The Nextbook is a 2-in-1 Windows device, meaning it can be a tablet or a laptop-type PC with an attachable POGO keyboard base.

Screen. 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 IPS screen with capacitive multi-touch and expanded viewing angles.

Processor. Quad-Core 1.83 GHz Intel Atom processor.

RAM. 1 GB DDR3L RAM, which may be the weak link here, unless of course you can upgrade it. (Unlikely.)

Storage. 32 GB of internal storage with microSD expansion up to an additional 64 GB.

Wireless. Bluetooth 4.0 and WiFi 802.11 b/g/n connectivity options.

Cameras. Front webcam and 2 megapixel back camera with microphone

Expansion. Micro USB port, mini HDMI port, audio port.

Battery life. Unclear, but E FUN notes that the device has a 6000 mAh internal rechargeable battery.

Software. Windows 8.1, Nook for Windows 8 preloaded, plus a free one-year subscription to Office 365 Personal that includes 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage and 60 Skype world minutes per month.

What's in the Box. Tablet, keyboard, and AC adapter.

Availability. The E FUN Nextbook will be available at Walmart stores nationwide in mid-November and at Walmart.com, with preorders beginning October 23. It will arrive at SamsClub.com in December.

Price. $179.99. This is the first Windows full-sized tablet with a sub-$200 price tag, let alone a 2-in-1.

More information. Check out the E FUN web site for more information.