9 Upcoming Tablet Alternatives to the Apple iPad

[Cary Preston]

Link: http://mashable.com/2010/01/27/9-upcoming-tablet-alternatives-to-the-apple-ipad/ (sent via Shareaholic)

Apple may have gotten there first, but when these products make it to market I truly think they will eat the iPad's lunch. It really looks like this is what Google's OS was made for (and the Win7 tablet wasn't shabby either). Each had some fantastic ideas (loved the docking station for the ICD Vega). Looks like they ALL are Flash-capable, too. 

[Edward Crosby]

Just like Apple paved the way for the next evolution of MP3 players
several years ago, even though there were already MP3 players in the
market, they are doing the same for tablets. And just like the last decade
was the decade of the advancement of MP3 players, I think the next decade
we will see some major advancements in the tablet and flooding of the
market.
As I have stated before, I see no immediate need for a tablet for myself,
except as a ereader. I plan to wait a couple years or so to see what the
market brings. And I can't wait.
Hopefully, over time, as competition grows we will see affordable tablets
in the $100 to $250 range. Of course, that may be another 3 to 5 years
before we see that.

--
Have a Better One,
Edward Crosby
http://www.edwardcrosby.com
-----
"There are no atheists in foxholes or firmware updates."
Merlin Mann

> Link:
> http://mashable.com/2010/01/27/9-upcoming-tablet-alternatives-to-the-apple-ipad/(sent

> via Shareaholic)
>
> Apple may have gotten there first, but when these products make it to
> market
> I truly think they will eat the iPad's lunch. It really looks like this is
> what Google's OS was made for (and the Win7 tablet wasn't shabby either).
> Each had some fantastic ideas (loved the docking station for the ICD
> Vega).
> Looks like they ALL are Flash-capable, too.
>

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>

[Cary Preston]

The timeline seems to be so much shorter now, though. With MP3 players, the marketing arm of Apple kept them on the top of the heap- the product line was seamless, they had all the cool accessories, and iTunes made it an idiot-proof device (for the most part). Everyone, not just tech aficionados, was listening to digital music. 

The iPad isn't even officially released yet and there's a horde of competitors hot on their tail; most offering value that the iPad can't match. It's still a slick device, and they still have the iTunes media store (wonder if the iPad will help out their sluggish movie rental division?), and they will have a bookstore to rival Amazon; but it really appears that the rest of the industry is on the verge of going from imitation to innovation. As I mentioned in an earlier post, their entire computer line is being surpassed- there are several laptops out there with surprisingly superior components and a lower price tag than the Macbook Pro. Microsoft was first with touch screen functionality, they just couldn't figure out what to do with it. The Android/Chrome OS is still in its infancy yet you see it in tons of soon-to-be-released devices, from tablets to netbooks to the recently announced Google TV.

 I'm really interested to see how this shakes out, but like you I'd rather wait until the new product category solidifies a bit before I spend. 

[Todd Elliott]

I think they are going to have a hard time competing with Apple.  Past tablet's from PC maker's have been clunky devices that try to be too many things.  I actually like the fact that the iPad isn't a full fledged laptop.  It shouldn't be.  It would great more complexity than I would want in a simple portable media device.

Also, having the iTunes store is a huge advantage.  There's nothing comparable to it that's as slick and integrated with a product.  That was a big part of the reason the iPod took off.  It wasn't just better design, sleeker interface, etc.  It was the coupling with the store where you could go and buy your content, and have it sync over to the device easily.

---------------------------------------------
Todd Elliott
thel...@gmail.com
http://www.theuniquegeek.com/
http://www.google.com/profiles/thelliott

[Cary Preston]

I agree that having a slimlined user interface is a plus- but the iPad won't be the only one to offer that. The iPad is definitely sexy; the metal/glass housing is awesome. I agree that iTunes is a big advantage, but it wasn't a reason the iPod took off- the iTunes store didn't really take hold until after the iPod was the industry standard for MP3 players. 

I'm interested to see where this market goes- most thought that netbooks would die off, but it's a booming market (about a third of all laptops I see at UNF are netbooks, at least in the business school). I think the rest of the market has become very adapt at spotting a winner, and adapting to the offering. Look at how fast Android-based phones are catching up to the iPhone (not to mention the Win7 phones). 

[Edward Crosby]

This is a pretty funny post that came out yesterday.
Comics on the iPad.
http://bit.ly/9BrdyZ

>>>> http://mashable.com/2010/01/27/9-upcoming-tablet-alternatives-to-the-apple-ipad/(sent<http://mashable.com/2010/01/27/9-upcoming-tablet-alternatives-to-the-apple-ipad/%28sent>

>>>> > via Shareaholic)
>>>> >
>>>> > Apple may have gotten there first, but when these products make it
>>>> to
>>>> > market
>>>> > I truly think they will eat the iPad's lunch. It really looks like
>>>> this
>>>> is
>>>> > what Google's OS was made for (and the Win7 tablet wasn't shabby
>>>> either).
>>>> > Each had some fantastic ideas (loved the docking station for the ICD
>>>> > Vega).
>>>> > Looks like they ALL are Flash-capable, too.
>>>> >
>>>> > --
>>>> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
>>>> Groups
>>>> > "The Unique Geek" group.
>>>> > To post to this group, send email to theuni...@googlegroups.com.
>>>> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to

>>>> > theuniquegee...@googlegroups.com<theuniquegeek%2Bunsu...@googlegroups.com>

>>>> .
>>>> > For more options, visit this group at
>>>> > http://groups.google.com/group/theuniquegeek?hl=en.
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
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>>>>
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