Sharp Galapagos tablet launches in Japan for $1

If you thought picking up a TouchPad for $99 was a steal, then you’re going to love this: Sharp has launched the 7-inch Galapagos A01SH tablet in Japan, and it’s available for ¥100, or around $1. Not too shabby for a compact Android 3.2-based tablet that runs on a Tegra 2 processor and 1GB RAM, but you’re going to have to sign up for an ISP service if you want the $1 deal.

Okay, so maybe it’s not as awesome as HP’s no-strings-attached fire sale for the TouchPad, and definitely not an option if you don’t live in Japan. But in case you’re in the area and looking for a 7-incher, the A01SH tablet also packs a 5MP rear cam, 2MP front cam, a microHDMI port and microSD card slot, plus access to the Tsutaya store for downloading content.

The Galapagos A01SH retails for ¥44,800 (around $585) in Japan without the subsidies, and is also said to be headed for the US, but Sharp didn’t mention pricing or ship dates.