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If you're shopping for an inexpensive Android tablet, here are some tips from CNET's Donald Bell to avoid buying a lemon. ZDNet's Jason Perlow should know - he bought one! And Larry Dignan hasn't had much luck either.

Screen quality

When it comes to tablets, the screen is everything--your display, your user interface, your keyboard.

By sight alone, it's difficult to distinguish a good screen from a bad one. A lot of the critical technology is out of sight. Check the specs. Is the touch screen capacitive (like an iPad or Galaxy Tab) or resistive (like a supermarket credit card reader)? Does the screen support multitouch input for zooming photos, maps, and Web pages with a pinch? What's the resolution? If the tablet's specs don't call out these details, assume the news isn't good.

Some details are cosmetic. For this Maylong M-150 (aka, the Walgreens tablet), the warped, uneven surface of the screen is a telltale sign that cheap plastic was used. Premium tablets, such as the iPad, Galaxy Tab, and Dell Streak, typically use glass to cover their displays, or Dow Corning's extremely durable Gorilla Glass.

Not all plastic screens are bad, but the cheaper ones are more prone to wear and warping.

ZDnet has the details HERE!