Android is the only potential competitor for iPad
Summary: HP's Slate computer, while still not available, is the closest thing to market so far that could be pitted head to head against the iPad. Despite some bumps for early adopters, though, the iPad has the potential to be mighty successful, especially with a new smaller version already in the works and a large ecosystem of apps and developers who cut their teeth on the enormously successful iPhone.
HP's Slate computer, while still not available, is the closest thing to market so far that could be pitted head to head against the iPad. Despite some bumps for early adopters, though, the iPad has the potential to be mighty successful, especially with a new smaller version already in the works and a large ecosystem of apps and developers who cut their teeth on the enormously successful iPhone. The Slate? It looks like it will have some compelling features, but it's still very unclear as use cases emerge for tablet-like devices who will come out ahead. My bet, however, is on the iPad, given that iPod has now become synonymous with MP3 player and the iPhone remains the smartphone to beat.
There just happens to be one platform that is giving the iPhone a run for its money and is also slated for inclusion on a number of upcoming tablets: Android. Perhaps the use of Android on the Dell Mini 5 is the best indicator of its potential in this market. Dell, after all, has a penchant for letting other companies innovate and then sweeping into a market and finding real success with aggressive pricing and corporate features.
Android also gives us the best chance to compare apples to apples (no pun intended). Like the iPhone OS, it runs on ARM processors, integrates Apps functionality, and has quite a large user base in the smartphone market. Devices like the Slate run Windows, Atom processors, etc., making them more like netbooks without keyboards instead of purpose-built mobile computing devices.
Android, as in the smartphone market, has the potential to compete very seriously in the tablet market with the iPad because of the sheer number of device makers who can adopt and customize the open source platform. If you want an Apple tablet, you're buying an iPad. If you want an Android tablet, you'll be able to get it on everything from a Dell to an Archos to a WePad.
Will the HP Slate take off? Maybe, or it may be the harbinger of cool Windows 7-things-to-come, but I'm inclined to believe that as Android matures and penetrates new mobile devices spaces, Windows-based devices will become far less relevant. Windows may rule on the desktop for some time to come, but in the mobile market, it's an Android-Apple horse race (or at least it will be soon).
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Talkback
Aside from MeeGo you mean.
...and the Archos 9...
Archos 9 is even worse than the iPad and Slate.
Sad to say
case, I have to tell ya... Archos sux. I've
tried. Really hard. But I can't find any way to
justify the three things they do wrong:
- their hardware is second rate (they need to
get over resistive screens and get on board)
- their interface stinks (really)
- their support is awful (and they are always
out with a new platform abandoning the old).
*sigh* I'd like them to succeed but after so
many years of being burned, I just can't make a
commitment to them.
Oh look, yet another obvious flame blog!
(but worry not: we in the know will keep your secret ;) )
Did you expect anything different?
yes!
I Agree. It's been a fast turn around
They've even teamed him with Garett Rogers, the ultimate in "Google is all that is wonderful and pure in this universe".
So yeah, I can see your point.
Chris also found Garrett's and Dana's secret
Nice try Chris. I don't think Android Tablet from Dell can beat iPad, definately, because the size of it is entirely different.
My Raon Everun would definately beat your Android anyday. I know it has slow processor, but for the things that an Android Tablet user would use his/her tablet, I could easily do that. BTW, I can install full Linux on it if I am bored with Windows XP on it and easily use it. But I can use good software that is already available for Windows Platform.
--Ram--
You are joking, right?
with Android) comparable to a 10 inch device?
Besides, you can already get a Dell Mini 10
starting at $249 US...plus it already has the
keyboard attached!!! Your choice of OS as well
(WinXP SP3 or Ubuntu Linux).
OK, Chris...turn off your iPad, let the battery
charge...step out of your cubicle, walk down
the hall, see the "Exit" sign? Follow the
arrow and walk outside...Inhale deeply...
that is fresh air!! You've been neglecting
that feature of late!!
Wiz <{;-)
ps...Your welcome!
RE: Android is the only potential competitor for iPad
I Want REAL Computing Power
Load a tablet up with a real OS and lets do serious work.
Agreed. I want a pad that will do it all
You'll be able to create apps that will do everything the apps from iTunes or Android marketplace do, while also being able to run full scale programs if that's your wish.
Why limit yourself?
huh.. REAL computing on a 1.6GHz single core Atom..
slate will play ONE MOVIE before it dies..
and if you think you're going to be able to
anything or any more significants on that
hardware that your not going to be able to do
on an iPad or android tablet you seriously need
to come back and join us on the planet earth..
you're going to be able to to the same sort of
things given the hardware limitation.. do you
really think you're going to be able to fire up
photoshop on an HP Slate?
c'mon ALL tablets.. ALL of them are for
consuming content mostly and some light content
creation.. at least the app that are created
for iPad or Android are going to be done such
that they are optimized and take into account
the hardware they will be run on.. both
performance wise and usability wise.. not so
for Win7 tables..
the argument you guys are presenting is
ridiculous..
1/4 the life?
I've got a Win7-64 convertible tablet and I get about 10 hours of battery life from it - 256 GB SSD, 8 GB RAM, SU7300 processor, etc.
Heavier and larger footprint than slate because it's a convertible and pumped to do more heavy lifting - but slate looks pretty attractive
Win7 runs OK in 1GB (unlike Vista) but I wish HP had put at least 2GB in (for god's sake - RAM is dirt cheap).
We're talking Slate...
The leaked specs on the HP Slate say "up to 5 hours" of battery life.
We all know that means "maybe a little more than 4 if you're lucky and
are being really gentle on the workload" in commodity PC market-
speak. The iPad, on the other hand, does anywhere from 10 (worst
case heavy workload) to 140 (music playback) hours of continuous
duty, depending on the workload.
To HP: Nice try, but I hope you can improve the specs before you
release it. You've only got a few more months to get it right! Really,
you should do like Apple did with their tablet design a couple years
ago -- throw it away and go back to the drawing board! Coming out
with a slower, hotter, heavier, low-res & smaller screen, power-
hungry, no 3G/802.11n, piece of hardware now will only make you
the laughingstock of the industry, and immediately lump you into the
"also-rans" category. Or maybe "coulda-rans", like Origami, Courier,
and Surface.
Well said
Enough of this "app" silliness.
you want to do REAL work on a 9 inch screen tablet??
these things are for..
REAL computing power comes from a 1.6GHz single
core Atom processor?? what are you smoking man?
? even the windows tablets have 1-1.6GHz Atom
processor.. you really think you're going to be
able to fire up photoshop or some video editing
software on there? or run some complex games
etc.. think again!
lets get real ALL these tablets, ALL of them
are for consuming content mostly and some low
level content creation.. even the Win7 tablets
(i.e. HP Slate) just don't have the power to do
anything to complex.. lets be REAL now..
Yes, lets get real !
whose primary use for a computer is IMing their
friends or checking FaceBook but here goes:
I want a tablet that allows me to interface
with:
Plotters,
Cameras,
Scanning devices (mobile and desktop),
Printer (mobile and desktop),
Z-wave Home automation hardware,
ANY internet standard!,
Phone (mobile and home),
my car,
my computers - MS, MAC, Linix, Chrome OS - ALL!
any devise I care to hook up to it.
I want to get my software from where I want to!
I want to develop (or have developed) software
and business solutions for my business that do
not involve stroking a CEOs fragile metro-
sexual ego.
I want it NOW !
If your device can't do ALL that - then it
isn't worth SQUAT to ME !
Now Hop to it Code Boys and Industrial Design
Tweekers !
Time's a' wastin' !
Oxymoron anyone?
Half of the tablet PC's available memory would be taken up by Windows 7
and the bloated crap that comes with it.
LOL.