Google Announces $199 Nexus 7 Tablet, $299 Nexus Q Media Streamer

[Renzatic]

Do people care that much for hardware specs like quad core tegra 3? The ipad 2 still runs very fast, has a bigger screen, and better battery life. You are right regarding "bang for buck" though, but in the bang for buck considerations software plays a great deal. Anyway, I do foresee this beeing rather successful. By the time the surface comes to market, almost everyone will already have tablets. I'm concerned for Microsoft.

I don't think hardware is a huge deal for the average buying public. The only thing that matters to them is that it continually runs smoothly. It is a selling point for me, though. A Tegra 3 at that price point is pretty appealing.

Screen size is an entirely different matter. I know quite a few people who think the iPad is a little too big and a little too heavy for what they intend on using it for. For them, a 7" device at nearly half the price would be a much more tempting buy.

 

[daneoni]

So they've essentially released a tablet to compete with Amazon's Fire. I want to like it but the huge bezel is a turn off. I've also been spoilt by Retina resolution which this doesn't have.

 

[samcraig]

Agree. It's just like Apple - a computer company - diversifying into cell phones. What are they thinking?

And soon (reportedly) TV's. INSANITY I tellz ya!

 

[Sensation]

This is why I live Google another killer product running the best mobile is. Ordered 2 thanks google. Ipad in serious trouble

 

[KnightWRX]

It's both, at most Apple is a software company providing their own hardware.

Not even close. Apple is a systems vendor. They sell systems. Integrated hardware and software solutions. They don't just sell hardware, they don't just sell software.

90% of their business is systems. iPad, iPhone, MacBooks, iMac, etc.. All vertically integrated systems.

Come on people, we've been over this.

 

[teknishn]

As for the big three parts to this.... Jelly bean, tablet, and Q:

Jelly bean looks like a big improvement, but let's be real here.... It will hit 5% user base by July of 2013.

The tablet is aimed square at amazon not apple. It's specs are pretty weak at best in what it doesn't have. The big thing for me is storage. I've been a tablet user for 3 years and no matter how hard I try to keep things streamlined, I use every bit of 25gb. 8 is a joke, 16 still not manageable without seriously watching what you do. Again though, apple won't be the least not phased here. This one is between google and amazon.

The Q is a complete 'fail'. It's a joke in basically every conceivable category and they will absolutely not sell. They wouldn't sell at 199 or even 150

 

[AustinIllini]

This is why I live Google another killer product running the best mobile is. Ordered 2 thanks google. Ipad in serious trouble

Yes, clearly the iPad is totally screwed. They only dominate the market.

 

[MacAddict1978]

Do folks think these are for real or are we looking at another Zune-like failure?

8GB? 16GB? Seems a bit skimpy in the storage dept.

I have to think that ultimately Google is no Apple in the hardware department, but let them take a tilt at the windmill.apple. Only time will tell.

Yes, but unlike Apple's products, you can add an SD card. How is this much better than the iPad that comes in that same configuration with NO SD slot?

So what was your argument then? Because if you were trying to go fan boy apple, you just showed a worm.

 

[rmwebs]

What is it with you Britt's and Apple? Not being very Cheeky.
It's like Apple is a Bespoken Enemy?

Blimey, I'd say you were going to drop a Biggie over it Old Boy.

Where exactly in my post did I say anything bad about Apple?

I use Apple products daily.

Also, its 'Brit'.

Your post was just unbelievably inaccurate any not really even well thought out. It'd be like me saying "What is it with you yanks and your hatred of samsung? Is it because its not designed in America?" - see - a pathetic comment

 

[fertilized-egg]

I don't see made in USA as a great selling point either as google isn't associated with luxury products.

To me it's a pretty clear ploy to earn some brownie points from the USA public while discrediting Apple and other hardware makers.

The real main star hardware from today's even, Nexus 7, is made and even designed in China/Taiwan. That's the device that'll designed to sell in millions whereas Nexus Q is an expensive niche device that won't sell all that much. Knowing this, Google deliberately made that niche device in the USA

If you read the New York Times article, Apple is mentioned 5 times, HP and Dell once each. The article - obviously written with heavy input from Google - somehow misses out the ironic point that Google's own reference Nexus hardware products have all been made AND designed by foreign companies, including the one announced just today.

It's a very clever bit of PR work by Google but reminds me why I find Google such a hypocrite.

 

[jamesnajera]

Google has effectively set the bar for other Android manufacturers... some ways great (i.e. hardware specs) but other ways it is really going to kill some of them (mostly price and consumer expectations).

This has now cemented in people's minds that an Android tablet shouldn't cost more than 200 bucks. It is going to be a race to the bottom from here on out.

Makes me wonder if Google is taking a loss on this product or breaking even. If they are making profit still, good for them. I just wonder how much profit.

 

[AustinIllini]

Yes, but unlike Apple's products, you can add an SD card. How is this much better than the iPad that comes in that same configuration with NO SD slot?

So what was your argument then? Because if you were trying to go fan boy apple, you just showed a worm.

I'm pretty sure you can't add an SD card to the Nexus 7.

Edit: There is no SD card slot on the Nexus 7. Your post is a waste.

 

[rjohnstone]

Yes, but unlike Apple's products, you can add an SD card. How is this much better than the iPad that comes in that same configuration with NO SD slot?

So what was your argument then? Because if you were trying to go fan boy apple, you just showed a worm.

There is no SD card slot on the Nexus 7.

 

[MacAddict1978]

Here's the problem. Yeah, yeah Google released their own tablet, but how many apps will be able to support the tablet?

It's all about apps/OS, not the hardware.

Um, probably all of them.

The issue with hardware/app support is more when a developer has to support OLDER hardware, not newer.

A developer makes an app, its to current hardware standards and configurations. The issue is when there are older devices out there with slower processors and less memory, in which the app needs to be coded to compensate. Screen sizes can be a pain too, but most Android apps are prepared for that.

This is a moot point. ICS and Jellybean were also written to make this less an issue with new apps.

 

[JohnDoe98]

So they've essentially released a tablet to compete with Amazon's Fire. I want to like it but the huge bezel is a turn off. I've also been spoilt by Retina resolution which this doesn't have.

While certainly not Retina quality, at 216 ppi, the screen isn't too bad at all.

 

[blackhand1001]

Looks nice. If it runs smooth, I'd say this will be a hit for google. I still prefer my ipad 3 but I can see a bunch of people going for this instead. Impressive screen, decent battery, build quality seem good, and the price is very aggressive.

For the first time, I'll say well done Google. Welcome to the Tablet market.

Engadget posted a short video of there first impressions and it seemed extremely smooth. No lag seen at all. One jellybeans main features is called project butter which is to make the interface as smooth as butter and have zero lag.

 

[DakotaGuy]

I think I'm going to order one as well. The price is great and it will be a nice little device to have around in addition to my iPad2. As long as it has full access to the Google Play store which according to their website it does I think it's a great deal.

 

[Skika]

AAPL is no more no less than an hardware selling company...
iOS is just an anecdote to well serve the previous described purpose!

No. Apple is a software company. Their profits may come with selling hardware. But they are mostly software company. Because of software their hardware sells so well.

iPad is iOS in a beautiful design. Same with iPhone.

 

[zemoleman]

Yes, but unlike Apple's products, you can add an SD card. How is this much better than the iPad that comes in that same configuration with NO SD slot?

So what was your argument then? Because if you were trying to go fan boy apple, you just showed a worm.

Google-brand hardware is mentioned here on MACRUMORS as it relates to the Wonderful World of Apple. What's wrong with questioning it in terms of the competition, i.e., Apple? This is not a game-changer, maybe it is not intended to be, but other than as some have pointed out it competing directly with the Kindle Fire I don't see that Apple has to worry about the iPad being de-throned anytime soon.

 

[Aidan5806]

You got all that from 1 article?

No I'm watching the keynote live. And if its that hard to tell this isn't even in the same class as the iPad, no tablet is and who knows whats going to happen with surface

 

[Geekbabe]

From the looks of it Asus put a nice screen on the Nexus 7. There are a lot of people who'd like a tablet for casual use who aren't comfortable laying out $500 to buy one. I think this is going to be very popular with this segment of the consumer market.

 

[Aidan5806]

Kindle fire didn't even ship with ICS, it went out with 2.3 gingerbread. And Amazon doesn't support the Kindle very well. Do you think Google will support their own hardware better than Amazon's...?

obviously but in terms of the end user experience it will be the same. a couple million units the first quarter, then down to about nothing the next

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ya ... just like a kindle fire... except a quad core cpu and 12 core gpu

You mean a quad core processor with the worlds most inefficient cpu architecture and the gpu that is only a 4th as fast as the a5x graphics. these graphics they're boasting is 12 streams, which is not the same as 12 core. all of this was covered when tegra 3 came out

 

[ristlin]

Shows how clued up you are. Android has zero adverts on it, and doesn't even make its money from adverts. Google profit from Android by licensing the 'GAPPS' package, which is basically the Google apps (Gmail, GCal, Maps (includes an API license), Google Play, etc).

Next time think before making yourself look highly uneducated.

Next time look at the question mark. I never said it was full of advertisements, merely mused that if it had advertisements it may be seen as inferior lol.

 

[Oletros]

Next time look at the question mark. I never said it was full of advertisements, merely mused that if it had advertisements it may be seen as inferior lol.

Ah, backpedaling

 

[verbalhijacker]

WoW

This is amazing, a 7" quad core Nvidia Tegra 3 tablet, with Andriod Jelly Bean, 1Gb Ram, 16gb Flash storage, camera, bluetooth, NFC which should reatila about £170 in the UK, what!!!!!!!. Down with the iPad, Hail the Nexus the 7" Wonder.