LOL if apple can't make a good tablet then no one will. do you guys get that apple made the touch screen popular before the iphone people where happy with blackberries and sidekicks. don't even bring up android because it another linux. But it is not about features it about contnent. the ps3 has better features then the xbx360 but xbox 360 has more games.
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Ipad competitors: Which one is most dangerous?
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Yeah - but the problem with your analogy is that more doesn't necc. mean better.
Some people have iPhones and don't download a single app. They just like the iPhone vs whatever phone they might have chosen.
Not to discount iTunes. But not everyone is choosing their technology or has a need for more. They are choosing technology based on their needs and usage.
This is in reference to your xbox/ps3 analogy. IE - I bought the PS3 primarily as a blu-ray player. I didn't care one iota what or how many games came on the platform.
Some people won't care one iota whether or not the iPad has 150,000 apps for it. If they want to use it for class, for example and note taking - they might be buying it with their usage only being iWork.
But of someone ONLY wants Word or Powerpoint - it's possible they would go for another technology because THAT is what is important to them.
Hankster
macrumors 68020
The HP Slate will outsell the iPad within a year.
/begin the flames from Apple fanbois!
What you're saying is I have to change the way I browse to conform to the iPad. That's the problem with the iPad. Go to your local news site, most of their videos are in Flash. Go to Hulu or ESPN or the thousands of popular sites, all their video is in Flash. It's great that HTML5 is out there...BUT I'm not web surfing the FUTURE! I'm web surfing NOW. So, if the majority of video content is in Flash NOW I expect to view it now.
The problem with the iPad is it's trying to remove support for an app that decreases their profit margins.
Also, if streaming Flash is a battery drain...that is my option. It shouldn't be Apple's option. Their reasoning to not support Flash will be their worse enemy.
/begin the flames from Apple fanbois!
What you're saying is I have to change the way I browse to conform to the iPad. That's the problem with the iPad. Go to your local news site, most of their videos are in Flash. Go to Hulu or ESPN or the thousands of popular sites, all their video is in Flash. It's great that HTML5 is out there...BUT I'm not web surfing the FUTURE! I'm web surfing NOW. So, if the majority of video content is in Flash NOW I expect to view it now.
The problem with the iPad is it's trying to remove support for an app that decreases their profit margins.
Also, if streaming Flash is a battery drain...that is my option. It shouldn't be Apple's option. Their reasoning to not support Flash will be their worse enemy.
.Andy
macrumors 68030
How about putting some money where you mouth is? How about $US20 to a charity of my choice if you're wrong. And vice versa if I am wrong?
michael.lauden
macrumors 68020
.Andy
macrumors 68030
No flame, but that seems unlikely in the extreme.
Right now we have no detail on what an HP slate will contain and what it will cost.
So we can only guess. But my guess is that HP Slate will be another sluggish Atom tablet similar in most ways to the Archos 9/Asus T91MT. Watch some of the usage videos of either. They are sluggish and the tablet "abilities" windows 7 are marginal at best. Hunting and pecking at tiny interface elements. They look so frustrating to use that I can barely watch the hands on. 😀
Now HP will likely be better than Archos and outsell them, but I don't expect it to offer any where near the sales numbers or quality experience of Apples tablet.
See where I stopped quoting you? That's pretty much where you should have stopped. Look - I know you're an Apple enthusiast - and that's great. Enjoy your iPad and every other device you buy. But your hypothesizing and basing a faux statistic on your hypothesis is in the realm of sci-fi.
But I do enjoy reading how any other device won't measure up or isn't competition for the iPad as if the iPad can do no wrong (even before it's released) and as if the iPad doesn't have any shortcomings whatsoever.
It is your option. You don't need to buy an iPad if that is a deal breaker for you.
What i am saying is content is what sales the product not the features. I have always got my moneys worth with apple.
So why aren't you calling out Hank for predicting the HP success? You are being a bit one side in this criticism.
He opened the door I am merely attempt to answer his claim while at least acknowledging that it is a bit hard to predict due to the lack of info, but I base my prediction on likely assumptions. I think the odds are pretty damn high it will be another sluggish Atom processor. Do you disagree?
BTW what kind of Apple enthusiast never buys Apple products. I have none and never have. I may not buy an iPad either. As stated in another post. I am a programmer and would prefer a device I can program for on my PC. I would much rather have someone clone Apples HW, put in an SD slot and use customized Android OS.
You are extremely quick to attack anyone and everyone you perceive as defending the iPad.
Whoa there. Easy there. My response to you is in direct response to your several posts on here which seem to indicate (highly) that you are in love with the iPad and everything it promises. If that's not your intention, then I'm just letting you know that that's how a lot of your posts are being read. At least by me and a few others.
As to your comment - there's no response I could give the OP of the comment you're replying to because the comment itself is without merit. What's to comment on.
It's like saying that chocolate is better than vanilla.
Hankster states HP Slate will outsell iPad. Crickets.
I suggest the opposite and point missing info and get another Sam Craig diatribe.
It looks a lot more like you are much more easily ignore commentators that tend have a view more congruent with your own, and are ready to pounce on those who you disagree with.
On the contrary - and I was "complimenting" you on posting something worthy of commenting back on. Hankster's comment wasn't worth commenting on (in my opinion). And my "objection" or comment to your post was that you should have just quit while you were ahead 😉 The additional information you posted was as "silly" and Hankster's post as it's 100 percent speculation on two devices no one owns yet.
Shall we speculate and argue now about two products that might exist in 2020? I think Panasonic with OWN 3DHD Holographic televisions because no one can come close to their technology and UI. The fact that Toshiba is even entertaining the holographic tv market is absurd and they won't sell even remotely what Panasonic will. There ya go.
You seem to attack me repeatedly for making perfectly reasonable assumptions. If it weren't for speculation and assumptions these forums shouldn't exist at all. We have thousands of messages discussing something none of us have used.
It is hardly Science fiction to assume an HP tablet (shown by HP an announced as available this year), will contain an Atom process likely all other windows tablets so far.
The most likely processor powering the HP Windows 7 Slate will be an Atom. Do disagree with that statement? Or are you yet again, just attacking me for making a perfectly reasonable assumption?
I'm sorry you feel attacked. I thought we were having a conversation. A conversation that I really don't feel the need to further. We have different opinions as to what to even consider speculating... that's fine.
I found the new HP Slate demo to be pretty impressive. They actually seem to "get it", in that they agree that simply slapping Windows 7 on and calling it done doesn't really work. The TouchSmart browser does look like it will work with touch pretty well.
However it then brings up other questions in my mind. How deep does the TouchSmart interface go? Is it just a veneer that you keep on having to go beneath to anything apart from the basics? Can third-party apps integrate with it?
More fundamentally is Windows 7 the right platform to put TouchSmart on top of? Windows obviously has a huge range of existing applications that you can use. However I think that most of these will be difficult or annoying to use on a pure touch screen. Plus you'll have to cope with the day-to-day maintenance problems of using a full computer.
To illustrate the last point I'll use a problem that happened to my Mum & Dad. They phoned me up saying that the web browser was crashing all the time. After a bit of experimentation and reading of Firefox crash reports I eventually figured out that AVG was causing the problem. An AVG update had broken their browser plugin which was causing the crash. It took me a while to figure all this out and I'm a professional software developer; without help my Mum and Dad wouldn't have had a chance.
Now this is just one example but I'm sure that there a huge amount more out there and I suppose my thought is, is this the best experience that we can provide? Especially on a casual, home user type of device? An iPad definitely has limitations, however some of those limitations remove entire classes of these sort of maintenance problems.
However it then brings up other questions in my mind. How deep does the TouchSmart interface go? Is it just a veneer that you keep on having to go beneath to anything apart from the basics? Can third-party apps integrate with it?
More fundamentally is Windows 7 the right platform to put TouchSmart on top of? Windows obviously has a huge range of existing applications that you can use. However I think that most of these will be difficult or annoying to use on a pure touch screen. Plus you'll have to cope with the day-to-day maintenance problems of using a full computer.
To illustrate the last point I'll use a problem that happened to my Mum & Dad. They phoned me up saying that the web browser was crashing all the time. After a bit of experimentation and reading of Firefox crash reports I eventually figured out that AVG was causing the problem. An AVG update had broken their browser plugin which was causing the crash. It took me a while to figure all this out and I'm a professional software developer; without help my Mum and Dad wouldn't have had a chance.
Now this is just one example but I'm sure that there a huge amount more out there and I suppose my thought is, is this the best experience that we can provide? Especially on a casual, home user type of device? An iPad definitely has limitations, however some of those limitations remove entire classes of these sort of maintenance problems.
Apple will lead the way. think about it the hp slate would not even be talked about if apple would have not made the ipad. Now what is going to happen is people will put out the same junk they put out for years but this time it will be compared to the ipad. the other tablets will sale off the hype of it being better then the ipad. and people will get them just to say to ipad owners my device can do this yours can't then a year later first gen ipads will still be getting updates and the hp slate will be outdated and unsuppoterd
After viewing the video about Slate, I thing iPad and Slate may have different market target. Some people who are tired of using computer at their office (I am one of them) will not want to buy a real tablet PC like Slate, but they may consider about iPad for doing some interesting things when they are go home on train, for example. If iPad pricing @499 and Slate @ 699 (for example) there will be more and more chance for iPad.
Alchematron
macrumors 65816
macduke
macrumors G5
Multitasking - jury is still out until 4.0 is unveiled. I still tend to think it is coming.
USB - I believe only truly useful for copying over files from a flash drive. Hopefully the camera connection kit will allow this, but it seems unlikely. If the iPad had a USB port, people would expect it to work with every USB device. Not gonna happen.
Thin vs Thick Bezel - The iPad bezel thickness is good because this is a large device and you will need to get a good grip on it. If the bezel was too thin, your fingers would always be pushing buttons and zooming the screen. It would get really annoying. I'm sure Apple had multiple prototypes - thin bezel, thick, widescreen, regular, square, some 7 inches, some 12 inches, some TN panels, MVA panels, IPS panels, e-ink hybrid. Then they probably went through internal usability trials using different orientations, apps, seating positions, body postures, etc--and settled on the design of the iPad. This is how industrial engineering works. It looks good and is really functional. Bam! Johnny Ive FTW.
USB - I believe only truly useful for copying over files from a flash drive. Hopefully the camera connection kit will allow this, but it seems unlikely. If the iPad had a USB port, people would expect it to work with every USB device. Not gonna happen.
Thin vs Thick Bezel - The iPad bezel thickness is good because this is a large device and you will need to get a good grip on it. If the bezel was too thin, your fingers would always be pushing buttons and zooming the screen. It would get really annoying. I'm sure Apple had multiple prototypes - thin bezel, thick, widescreen, regular, square, some 7 inches, some 12 inches, some TN panels, MVA panels, IPS panels, e-ink hybrid. Then they probably went through internal usability trials using different orientations, apps, seating positions, body postures, etc--and settled on the design of the iPad. This is how industrial engineering works. It looks good and is really functional. Bam! Johnny Ive FTW.
I think the clue to the answer of this is suggested in the question itself.
When people talk about other tablets they talk about competition for the iPad, or the "iPad Killer". It's like the iPad and the tablet computer industry are totally separate entities.. Apple vs the rest, who all want to knock Apple off their perch before their device has even made the light of day. It's still the same with the iPhone 3 years after that launched. In that regard, Apple have nothing to fear. Arguably, the iPad has no competition on this basis and before it has even launched.
From a technical stand point there will be a number of tablets released this year that will trump Apple with things like cameras, USB support, HDMI out etc etc. No doubt about that. But they'll all miss the point of why Apple are successful with this sort of device. The iPad will slot into my life and into my existing eco-system of hardware and software, my mobile apps and my music, video etc, completely seamlessly. It'll be easy to use and FUN to use.. and even the missus will love it.
When people talk about other tablets they talk about competition for the iPad, or the "iPad Killer". It's like the iPad and the tablet computer industry are totally separate entities.. Apple vs the rest, who all want to knock Apple off their perch before their device has even made the light of day. It's still the same with the iPhone 3 years after that launched. In that regard, Apple have nothing to fear. Arguably, the iPad has no competition on this basis and before it has even launched.
From a technical stand point there will be a number of tablets released this year that will trump Apple with things like cameras, USB support, HDMI out etc etc. No doubt about that. But they'll all miss the point of why Apple are successful with this sort of device. The iPad will slot into my life and into my existing eco-system of hardware and software, my mobile apps and my music, video etc, completely seamlessly. It'll be easy to use and FUN to use.. and even the missus will love it.
Fraaaa
macrumors 65816
There are no "dangerous" competitor and that's why:
Other competitors rely on what the iPad doensn't have;
They have dual-cores or Desktop oriented hardware - Will they cope with battery life to have more processing power that you may not use on a mobile device?
Camera - It's silly have a camera on a mobile device of that size to take picture, it could maybe useful for video conferencing. iPad it's made for a mobile purpose, how many of you will video-chat while you are by the street on in a cafe? Hardly people use video-call, and definitely at home we all have something to use instead. And definitely already you have a camera, iPod nano with camera or a phone with camera.
Flash - For web graphic animation, videos and games. PLUS lots of banners around which we don't care. Flash games have competition with the AppStore. And hulu here and there, hulu you have it in America, half of Europe and Asia don't even care. Beside is in hulu.com and other streaming company interest of making their own app, youtube as one, is not so hard for other make their own too, in fact there are rumors that they will provide it.
eBooks - I give a point to Kindle for the eInk which the iPad or other tablets don't have. But Kindle is only an eReader, that's it. And amazon is making an app for their books on the iPad too.
THIRD PARTY APPLICATION : ONLY APPLE HAS IT.
No third party application - No competition.
Other competitors rely on what the iPad doensn't have;
They have dual-cores or Desktop oriented hardware - Will they cope with battery life to have more processing power that you may not use on a mobile device?
Camera - It's silly have a camera on a mobile device of that size to take picture, it could maybe useful for video conferencing. iPad it's made for a mobile purpose, how many of you will video-chat while you are by the street on in a cafe? Hardly people use video-call, and definitely at home we all have something to use instead. And definitely already you have a camera, iPod nano with camera or a phone with camera.
Flash - For web graphic animation, videos and games. PLUS lots of banners around which we don't care. Flash games have competition with the AppStore. And hulu here and there, hulu you have it in America, half of Europe and Asia don't even care. Beside is in hulu.com and other streaming company interest of making their own app, youtube as one, is not so hard for other make their own too, in fact there are rumors that they will provide it.
eBooks - I give a point to Kindle for the eInk which the iPad or other tablets don't have. But Kindle is only an eReader, that's it. And amazon is making an app for their books on the iPad too.
THIRD PARTY APPLICATION : ONLY APPLE HAS IT.
No third party application - No competition.
I think we all know by now that it is not about the hardware. The user interface and app availability is what sells it. When you can come and show us that then you will have something worth discussing. Until then not so much.
not everybody uses Hulu and there was a rumor that even the mighty Hulu would be getting an app. I have an ipod touch and yeah it is sad, but i would rather have an iPad and have it for years. Why does that matter? I want to have it for a long time. It should be where the technology is going. Lets say that I would buy one when it comes out, I will not be using it just as a web browser. Flash will not be as highly used in the near future, because of severe issues with slowing down firefox if you have several websites running Flash.
I dont care if NOW it is hampered with the web, i have an iPod touch and it doesn't get me bothered. My opinion. But more importantly again i will buy iBooks and use it as a gaming device as well as replacement for my ipod touch which i use more for full length movies and music. I have no netbook or notebook, I have a iMac so this iPad looks like a decent portable device for me.
And there is very little out there as competition and most ones that look like they could compete are probably vaporware. MS courier, how long has that been rumored? there has even been 2 separate versions "leaked" The only one is the HP tablet, but that is on a ported Windows with all teh viruses and very little to no apps. The google one might not even be made.
But yet it hasnt bothered people with iPhones and iPod touch users......actual usage by actual people say so. Unlike peoples opinions which are a dime a dozen. Once HTML5 becomes standard, Flash wont matter. It wont be a way in the future thing like Adobe wants you to think. I would rather have a product that goes to strive for being compatible in the future, not be outdated in the future, in need of patches and updates or even needing to buy a whole new one. I want to have the iPad for years. I am sure MOST users want their INVESTMENT to last for years and to be still WANT to use it and HAVE to look at newer technologies. People don't have unlimited $$ to spend, just because their tablet is outdated.
Also it is funny how you go onto a apple message board with anti Apple sentiments. What are you really trying to do? Your points are the same old ones that have already been proven wrong, but yet you try to continue and profess them. Why? I was a PC user up to a year ago, for 25 years.