Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Dell's 7-Inch Tablet Coming Soon, 10-Inch Model Later

Before I got my iPad, I thought 7" would be the sweet spot for tablets. However, I have to say that Apple got it exactly right with the screen size: the iPad gives you enough size without being over-large. 7" screens don't give you any real benefit as they're still not pocket-able so all you are doing is losing screen real-estate for no real benefit (or else you are simply reducing the size of the screen and making it less clear)
 
NebulaClash said:
Remember how very different in style and function Gateway retail stores were? Now notice how very similar Microsoft stores are to Apple stores? That's the copying.

Just saying stores existed before misses the point.
Click to expand...

Exactly my point. Thanks. I was dumbfounded how that flew over the other guy's head :confused:
 
Having a place to touch and feel (i.e. Apple Store) is key for me. Buying a laptop off Dell's website is one thing but buying a tablet is another. I won't buy a tablet unless I can pick it up and see how it functions.

I wonder how well Best Buy does selling cell phones out of their stores since none of them are working models. All of the phones are dummy phones with some graphics printed on the screen.

Would anyone buy a tablet without holding it first??
 
If it weren't for the ipad, this would be a new netbook. Apple created a new market here. I wonder how many of these tablets will be competitive though?

I think there will be better market share for tablets other than ipad than we saw with mp3 players. But I think ipad will be the dominant tablet for the long rune.

Will we see the "zunepad"? Or is the name zune taboo after the failure of that mp3 player?
 
Phil A. said:
Before I got my iPad, I thought 7" would be the sweet spot for tablets. However, I have to say that Apple got it exactly right with the screen size: the iPad gives you enough size without being over-large. 7" screens don't give you any real benefit as they're still not pocket-able so all you are doing is losing screen real-estate for no real benefit (or else you are simply reducing the size of the screen and making it less clear)
Click to expand...

a 7" device can be pocketable. not as easily as the iPhone, but its possible. I used to pocket a 7" archos tablet.

The 10" iPad is great, but I can see some people wanting something smaller and almost pocketable. 7" probably is the sweet spot, we just don't know it yet.
 
addicted44 said:
Why do I have the feeling that most of the customers who buy this thing are going to be the same people who were complaining that the iPad was just an oversized iPod Touch?
Click to expand...

Given my eyesight (now passing 50, age that is, not MPH) the iPod/iPhone are now just undersized iPads. I have a lot of trouble seeing stuff on my phone without reading glasses. The iPad is a pleasure to use in comparison.

Maybe Apple can segment the iPad to the 40+ generation. :D

PS, I think 7" is too small for a screen. It's too big to wear or carry in a pocket like a phone and too small for the correct screen real estate. I think it's a mistake. I like the theory that Apple has purchased up all the 9" lcd screens and the competition is forced to go this way.

PPS What a shame that Google makes no money off of Android. From a business model perspective, the profits for iOS are staggering. Lots of adoption, great for manufacturers, crap for Google. Well, at least it kills Windows 7 off for tablets.
 
To be honest, this just makes Dell look desperate. They clearly didn't do market research, or are grasping at straws.

3,5,7,10"; Windows, Android, maybe Chrome...
That's ridiculous. They're going to essentially be cannibalizing their own sales.

Now RIM's offerings, while probably not a hot-topic, would probably be more interesting. Samsung's Tab is probably going to be worthless.

This is all of course ignoring the fact that they're playing catch up, again, just like the iPod. It never works out well. Not to mention that the strongest competitor, Android, isn't ready for the big screen yet/there's going to be a lot of fragmentation.
 
I wonder if Dell will become the latest company, creating a troika, of those announcing 7" tablet devices that refuse to explicitly state price and availability.

The silence on pricing is just deafening.
 
The Playbook or whatever RIM's tablet is called actually looks pretty awesome.. this one not so much. Though I wish there were different color options rather than just plain old boring black.
 
MacRumors, the competition's friend...

When there were only Macs this web site didn't annouce the release of new Dell desktops and Laptops and pontificate about how they were doing against Macs did it? Nope, we only heard about Mac stuff because that's what we were interested in. These days, however, every iDevice "killer" announcement is given a grandiose splash article by MacRumors, almost as if they are hoping for a real killer to emerge so they can bash Apple over the head, just like the trolls do.

MacRumors is now a haven for the competition and their fawning trolls apparently. When can we get back to Apple/Mac news and information, huh?:(
 
lkrupp said:
MacRumors is now a haven for the competition and their fawning trolls apparently. When can we get back to Apple/Mac news and information, huh?:(
Click to expand...

What Mac news is missing? It's all here too, but now we also get these sorts of stories about direct competition that copies what Apple is doing. In other words, we're getting more stories now than we used to, but every bit of relevant Mac news is still right here. Ignore the stories that don't appeal to you.
 
TheOrioles33 said:
LOL! I agree! Tired of hearing that statement. Especially when this isn't even competition. :)
Click to expand...

Of course this is competition. Just like there are many people who buy Apple products because they are made by Apple, there are also people who won't buy Apple product because they are made by Apple. It's not just a coincidence that Android caught on. Everyone is not an Apple fanboy and people want choices. Just how Android phones are competition for the iPhone, so will these tablets.

NebulaClash said:
What Mac news is missing? It's all here too, but now we also get these sorts of stories about direct competition that copies what Apple is doing. In other words, we're getting more stories now than we used to, but every bit of relevant Mac news is still right here. Ignore the stories that don't appeal to you.
Click to expand...

Plus this is the future of Apple, mobile computing. Like it or leave it.
 
jb1280 said:
I wonder if Dell will become the latest company, creating a troika, of those announcing 7" tablet devices that refuse to explicitly state price and availability.

The silence on pricing is just deafening.
Click to expand...

I've noticed that too... no one wants to toss out a price yet... I wonder if they're all waiting to see who jumps first, or.... could it be they're having trouble getting the costs down on these devices and they are trying to avoid showing their higher priced hand? Apple has gotten good at keeping costs down while keeping quality up. Dell and others may be struggling with this.

It will be interesting to see what happens.
 
Small White Car said:
Apple laptops come in 5 different bodies types and people think that's normal. I think it's odd that with iPad people complained that 2 was too many ("Why do we need an iPad when it's just a big iPod Touch!?") and now the possibility of 3 types (9", 7", and iPod) is bringing out the same types of comments again.

What is it about laptops that makes 5 types ok when (apparently) 3 sizes of iPad/iPods is "crazy?"
Click to expand...

Laptops come in a wide variety of specs. Some people have much greater need for CPU / GPU for games or graphics or whatever. Trying to make just the best laptop, the MacBook Pro, would leave you with only one computer that's much too expensive.

With tablets those, these are all just small, cheap computers.
 
darkplanets said:
To be honest, this just makes Dell look desperate. They clearly didn't do market research, or are grasping at straws.

3,5,7,10"; Windows, Android, maybe Chrome...
That's ridiculous. They're going to essentially be cannibalizing their own sales.

Now RIM's offerings, while probably not a hot-topic, would probably be more interesting. Samsung's Tab is probably going to be worthless.

This is all of course ignoring the fact that they're playing catch up, again, just like the iPod. It never works out well. Not to mention that the strongest competitor, Android, isn't ready for the big screen yet/there's going to be a lot of fragmentation.
Click to expand...

Great post. 3,5,7,10". Just ridiculous. That's basically saying we have no idea what will stick, so we'll make everything. The money that will cost Dell would have been better spent on a little market research.

They originally were going to lead with the 5", as they said a year ago. Now that its well known that the next iPad will enter around 7", that's where Dell will launch, trying to look like they're ahead of something.
 
Small White Car said:
Apple laptops come in 5 different bodies types and people think that's normal. I think it's odd that with iPad people complained that 2 was too many ("Why do we need an iPad when it's just a big iPod Touch!?") and now the possibility of 3 types (9", 7", and iPod) is bringing out the same types of comments again.

What is it about laptops that makes 5 types ok when (apparently) 3 sizes of iPad/iPods is "crazy?"
Click to expand...

Really? It's not obvious to you?

Every different model of notebook has a completely different user in mind. Some people need the basics. Others need the lightest. Others need the biggest. Others need a good compromise. Others have very little money to spend. Some need it for home, others need it for work.

To not have enough different models of notebooks for these users would be to lose sales.


Conversely, portables or mobiles that all have virtually the same specs and capabilities fit a much wider group of users per model. With that as a given, you can keep the product line small and obvious. I want iPhone. I want iPad. Its very easy for the new Apple customer to understand.

If it were possible to have a smaller line of notebooks without compromising the needs of users, Apple would do it (eventually they will).

Fewer options is always preferable. Maybe not to you specifically, but to the company as a whole, yes.
 
Whats the fascination with a 7inch tablet? To large for the pocket and to small to be productive. Basically a glorified web/email machine which most cell phones are good at. I dont see any of these taking off and competing.
We wont see a decent competitor to the ipad until middle of next year.
 
addicted44 said:
There are a few reasons I think the competitors are going for the 7" screen size:
Click to expand...

Another reason is to meet shipping volumes. Apple magically hasn't gotten around that issue with problems.
Samsung is using AMOLED which is stretch to get to 7" let alone 9". Need a high yield on the screen manufacturing process if going to ship in relatively high volumes.



2) They can price it reasonably. Don't forget that the display is the largest cost on these devices. The 7" galaxy tab without carrier subsidy is MORE expensive than the iPad. .
Click to expand...

Which iPad? The galaxy tab comes with a radio. So it is not the $499 "floor" talking about. It is the $629 3G model talking about. The Galaxy price with subsidy is down in the $200-499 range depending upon which rumor believe. (http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/05/samsung-suggests-galaxy-tab-will-cost-between-200-and-400-a/ ). It is unclear that it is more expensive than the iPad 3G.

I know Amazon UK has some crazy high price posted. Not sure where they pulled that one from since even Samsung back away from that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back