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

[Bernard SG]

Too bad Apple got in first,

Apple did not get in first, they got in at the right time with the right product and vision.
That's always what Apple does and they're amazing at doing it.

 

[cryingrobot]

Corporations are testing it...I agree...but the product has been available for about 5 months...it may be in a handful of businesses deployed (and deployed as what?...a cool toy for the CEO? A laptop replacement for the Marketing person that surfs the web/blogs all day?) but mostly it is being tested. And there's nothing wrong with my examples...no shame.

You may technically able to say that because 1 business owns it, it's "in the business world" but in reality, it's not. In 1-3 years we will know how often they are deployed and WHAT BUSINESS CASE the iPads are being used.

Desktops and laptops do a LOT more in the business world than let Frank surf the internet...there are thick client apps (that I assume in some shape may be converted to iPad apps), network share drives, network printing, local software demos, thick-client email (Outlook, Notes) that web-based email just can't provide all the features needed, and lastly, pure storage (all your MS Office docs for example), corporate chat, Camtasia/Youtube/video creation, an industry adopted browser (IE or Firefox), projector output, etc. Those are some examples. And let's not forget that IT in all businesses likes to have control over pushing security patches to machines...in an easy and user-friendly manner to both IT and end users.

For instance, in my role, I work with all day long:

Camtasia
VMWare Workstation
Remote desktop
FTP
Chat
Thick client email application due to complex calendaring
VPN when not in office
Need to use both IE and Firefox
WinRAR/Winzip to compress things
MS Office
Screen capture ability
Printing

Ibanks have already started integrating OSX for iphones as an alternative to blackberries. I know 2 big banks that have started this.

 

[Hraggleblarg]

Whoo, I can't wait for some flimsy, poorly made, flaky dell product to try and compete with the ipad. Come on, Dell, surprise me (or don't).

 

[Mabus51]

It's just a giant Zune.

 

[JAT]

What I see, however, is that the tablet industry is far larger than a personal mp3 player...the vendors are not going to go down without a big fight. This means better pricing, features, and competitiveness for all and pure win for the consumer. Back to my point, however, is that if Apple doesn't quickly get into the corporate market, the iPad is going to be just for consumers (which may be perfectly fine for Apple)...and unfortunately for Apple it will be yet another 1% marketshare for business (like the Macs) and 95% marketshare for Wintel units.

This touch tablet market is going to explode and I, for one, am super excited for the years to come.

It's going to take some vision. The iPad can be many things, in its current state, but it's still missing some things that might help. This Dell looks pointless for real work, and no future seems evident.

Most people are looking at how a tablet can replace their laptop. Pfft, who cares. You can replace that with another laptop next year, too. So what.

A tablet can replace your briefcase.
It can replace your home automation system's $4000 control center.
It can replace your cash register.
It can replace the basket of business cards and the pile of brochures on your trade show counter.
It can replace the pile of papers you bring to a business meeting.
It can take over the public kiosk world.
It can be the interface of any size security system.

Any business should be looking into uses like these. My company has 2 iPads for one of those uses. For $500, the current iPad is ridiculously cheap for many, many possibilities. And most of those can happen right now, with apps and extras (like additional hardware) that already exist.

You know who should be scared ********? These guys:
www.kiosk.com
www.crestron.com
Their multi-thousand dollar systems based on expensive, proprietary touchscreens got completely undercut this spring. Time to write some software.

 

[charlituna]

Yes, if Apple plays its cards right and gets the iPad (a tablet) into the business world,

IF. It's already there. Businesses and Schools.

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jul2010/tc2010076_193868.htm
http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-04-03/business/20833856_1_hyundai-executives-ipad-hyundai-motor-america
http://www.imedicalapps.com/2010/07/stanford-school-of-medicine-ipad-incoming-class/

google around and you'll find many more articles. Colleges, private schools giving students ipads, tons of small businesses using ipads, and so on.

 

[MacKeeperFanMod]

If I get a tablet, it w/b a Blackberry Playbook. My Info Security folks laughed at me for asking about an iphone or android product. Apple's OS is broke; made for leisure. Same for Android. RIMM has a stranglehold on the business user due to having the most secure platform for telecom. Despite all the hype we've heard, I'm still not aware of any S&P 500 company switching off the Blackberry platform.

 

[res1233]

It is, is it not? In terms of function (not viewing pleasure/ease) what does the iPad do that the iPod can't? However, ironically, this is no longer a valid argument since the iPod can do a bunch more than the iPad now. That said, I don't really think it is complaining per se, just pointing out a fact.

More Screen real-estate = more funcionality
I get very tired of people with little imagination. Let's talk dimensions. Say you have a 10x10 piece of wood. Well, naturally you could fit 4 5x5 stickers on it and have it fit just right.
Let's say you have a 25x25 piece of wood. Well now, that sure gives you extra room for more stickers now doesn't it? There's a reason we don't run Mac OS on iPads, and it's all about the screen being too small. Same reason iPad-specific apps don't run on iPhones.

 

[TuckBodi]

I've seen it!

 

[emjaymert]

tablet size/shape

I have carpal tunnel. I have discovered that the size/shape of the current Ipad is wrong for me. I for one would love a somewhat smaller one.