Netbook Market Leader Acer Not Planning to Compete With iPad

[irun5k]

It sounds like a lot of Apple's competitors are concerned and there is an general feeling out in the ether that the iPad is a game changer.

I guess I should be reserved is saying that it isn't. I realize that while I think the iPhone is the best thing going, devil's advocates are still saying that it offers even less than some other phones. Clearly it is more than pure specifications- it has a lot to do with the aggregate experience.

But I'm really fighting the feeling that the iPad is going to be an iFlop. I'm struggling to figure out what it is that I'm missing. On the hardware side, I guess they've basically got it, although I *really* think a front camera should have been offered.

On the software side, I'm just not feeling it. That is what makes it feel like a big iPod touch. I think the size of the iPad screen and the new hardware capabilities (better processor, etc.) calls for a new experience. But the whole experience is literally just the iTouch experience magnified. I look at it this way- the OS X experience (the Dock, spaces, expose, top menu bar, etc.) wouldn't scale from a 20" iMac down to an iPhone. We'd have called them idiots. Is scaling the experience from a palm-held device up to a 10" screen really that much lesser of a jump?

Even the keyboard was totally thoughtless. A split keyboard would have made much more sense.

And I dunno- maybe the fact that my iPhone already does everything (and more) that the iPad can do also makes me not want it.

Sadly, the discussions on this have been so rapid fire and polarized- nothing as of yet has been very thought provoking for me.

 

[Goona]

The problem isn't that the iPad doesn't support Flash, it's that people still use Flash. 99% of the websites that use Flash, don't need to be using Flash. The web developers are just lazy/bad.

We need a push in the right direction to weed out Flash, to truly give the consumers "The best Web Surfing Experience."

To clarify, I'm talking about the current version of flash. Unless Adobe comes out and gives us something that's actually more reliable, and doesn't hog system memory, then Apple needs to pick up and support it.

I know but as of right now you can`t use a lot of websites out there and play a lot of videos on the internet right now without flash. It doesn`t matter if the web developers are lazy, that is the dilemma we face. I think Apple should build in the option for flash and give us a choice to turn it whether on off. The same thing can be done on a mac, you have the option to install flash or not to install it. We should be given a choice.

 

[Goona]

To be more specific, what you'll do is Google for apps that do what you hope for, download one, try it out, decide "no, that's no good", delete it, try another one, decide "this one is cool, but it's pretty awkward to use with only the touch screen", delete it, try another one, ...

It's not specifically the lack of an App Store that makes Windows based tablet PCs awkward, it's the lack of a source of "guaranteed to work well" touchscreen-optimized apps. When I download something for the iPhone or iPad from Apple's app store, I know that I'm download an app that was specifically designed to be used on this device.

I'm definitely going to check out the alternatives to the iPad, including HP's slate and a multitude of tablet-style netbooks. But simply slapping a touchscreen onto a computer running Windows, Linux, or for that matter OS X, is not going to guarantee a good user experience.

Exactly, for a tablet you need an Operating System built from the ground up for it. Instead of slapping Windows on a touchscreen tablets, the likes of HP need to build their own or get Android or something.

 

[MyBrainIsSpeakn]

Could you imagine if Google blocks all Apple devices from viewing YouTube? Oh man... that'd be a heavy attack...

 

[tdmac]

Wait...wait...wait...

A windows OS can't compete because of the [lack of] apps? The multitude of available "programs" are one of the biggest reasons to go Windows in the first place.

I have a Windows PC and Mac at home. Guess which one has more "apps" on it...

You are right........ But at what cost?

This MS apps you tout are full blown versions that need tons of RAM and GB of hard disk space. The beauty of the iPhone OS is the ability to make nice functioning applications requiring small bits or ram and storage space and low cost. Are the Apps comparible? No. But they do solve many users needs without having to purchase full fledged Programs.

 

[iRACK]

Quote: "Lin believes, however, there is likely to be little overlap between the iPad and traditional notebook and netbook markets, suggesting that Acer does not view the iPad as a significant threat to its business."

1. Save the Quote above to your computer.
2. Wait until the end of this year. (10 million iPads sold)
3. Post quote here.
4. Make people laugh.
5. Be happy.

 

[batchtaster]

On the software side, I'm just not feeling it. That is what makes it feel like a big iPod touch. I think the size of the iPad screen and the new hardware capabilities (better processor, etc.) calls for a new experience. But the whole experience is literally just the iTouch experience magnified. I look at it this way- the OS X experience (the Dock, spaces, expose, top menu bar, etc.) wouldn't scale from a 20" iMac down to an iPhone. We'd have called them idiots. Is scaling the experience from a palm-held device up to a 10" screen really that much lesser of a jump?

You need to take a closer look at the supplied applications for iPad. There are very few that are just "big" versions of the iPhone OS version. Mail, calender, address book -- all totally different. It is most definitely not just a magnified iPod touch (Apple does not make an "iTouch"; only Logitech does). While in the short term, third-party apps will be just pixel-enlarged, they will over time be adapted to entirely new UIs for the higher resolution and larger size. The present iPod touch resemblance is only on the surface.

 

[twoodcc]

well at least Acer admits that they can't compete with the app store

 

[OllyW]

well at least Acer admits that they can't compete with the app store

Just like Apple admitted they couldn't compete with cheap computers.

 

[Stella]

For users who want to use their current windows applications, then Acer would be the tablet for them. At the *moment*, PC tablets are more functional than iPad ( no iPad specific applications yet , no web cam etc ).

Any ideas to how many tablets acer sold last year?

 

[Goona]

Could you imagine if Google blocks all Apple devices from viewing YouTube? Oh man... that'd be a heavy attack...

Why would they do that

 

[Goona]

It sounds like a lot of Apple's competitors are concerned and there is an general feeling out in the ether that the iPad is a game changer.

I guess I should be reserved is saying that it isn't. I realize that while I think the iPhone is the best thing going, devil's advocates are still saying that it offers even less than some other phones. Clearly it is more than pure specifications- it has a lot to do with the aggregate experience.

But I'm really fighting the feeling that the iPad is going to be an iFlop. I'm struggling to figure out what it is that I'm missing. On the hardware side, I guess they've basically got it, although I *really* think a front camera should have been offered.

On the software side, I'm just not feeling it. That is what makes it feel like a big iPod touch. I think the size of the iPad screen and the new hardware capabilities (better processor, etc.) calls for a new experience. But the whole experience is literally just the iTouch experience magnified. I look at it this way- the OS X experience (the Dock, spaces, expose, top menu bar, etc.) wouldn't scale from a 20" iMac down to an iPhone. We'd have called them idiots. Is scaling the experience from a palm-held device up to a 10" screen really that much lesser of a jump?

Even the keyboard was totally thoughtless. A split keyboard would have made much more sense.

And I dunno- maybe the fact that my iPhone already does everything (and more) that the iPad can do also makes me not want it.

Sadly, the discussions on this have been so rapid fire and polarized- nothing as of yet has been very thought provoking for me.

We heard the same doubts before the iphone and ipod were released. Apple just needs to suck it and add flash support and multitasking and this thing is a winner. If people are buying netbooks in droves, why won`t they but ipads which are superior to netbooks at least to me. Netbooks are crap, the only reason they are being bought is because most can be had for 300 dollars. They don`t offer anything superior.

 

[batchtaster]

At the *moment*, PC tablets are more functional than iPad ( no iPad specific applications yet , no web cam etc ).

No iPad....

Until it's released, the gum I stepping in this morning is more functional than the iPad.

 

[Eidorian]

So either you steal content, don't consume any content, or just use free content? Which one?

I guess not being part of the consumer cultural must be very distruptive.

 

[nelmat]

It needs a camera! Most netbooks have a video camera for skype etc...
Also without flash I am not sure people will buy into the idea of a video player as well. Hulu! How do we watch netflix will we be able to use silverlight?

Most netbooks have a lot of things. The iPad is not a netbook, how many times does this need to be stated?

Hulu - there's a non-flash alternative on the way, as is already in place with youtube and BBC iPlayer, vimeo and others are following. This does not provide a 'watered-down' or 'mobile' experience, it provides a superior experience with smoother playback, less battery draw, less choppiness and a massive reduction in browser crashes/hangs.

 

[dernhelm]

Just like Apple admitted they wouldn't compete with cheap computers.

Fixed that for you.

 

[Erwin-Br]

It doesn`t matter if the web developers are lazy, that is the dilemma we face.

Don't be so narrow minded. Lazyness has nothing to do with it. Like it or not, but Flash simply is the de-facto standard when you want to play a movie, or add interactivity on the web.

When a web developer gets an assignment to develop such a website, do you think their customer will pay for a html5 solution that doesn't work in all browsers? Or alternatively, do you think their customer will pay double the amount for a solution that works BOTH with Flash and html5?

The same thing applies to Internet Explorer 6. Why do you think so many developers are still supporting this buggy piece of garbage? Because 13% of the 60-something percent of IE users is still browsing with it.

 

[NAG]

I know but as of right now you can`t use a lot of websites out there and play a lot of videos on the internet right now without flash. It doesn`t matter if the web developers are lazy, that is the dilemma we face. I think Apple should build in the option for flash and give us a choice to turn it whether on off. The same thing can be done on a mac, you have the option to install flash or not to install it. We should be given a choice.

Gruber's commentary about how this is like when Firefox first launched is a good one. The only difference here is that this time around the "Firefox" is the only option on quite a few portable devices this time around. I have to say that Firefox had more against it. Instead of an inability to watch videos it was an inability to do things like online banking. That was all fixed quick enough. That same will be true for Flash here. Flash will become irrelevant because content producers won't be able to assume everyone has it. The transition is already starting too (see youtube offering an option for what clicktoflash was already doing anyway).

 

[nelmat]

iPad is superior to netbooks. Netbooks are garbage. I just bought my girl one of the MSI Wind netbooks with Windows XP and the screen is small and the keyboard tiny and its slow as hell. My only gripes with the ipad is the multitasking which on a screen this large is unforgiveable and it is powerful enough to run it. I have a feeling multitasking is coming in 4.0. Other gripe is with flash which a lot of websites I use have it especially for video. Apple needs to add it. I can forgive it on on my iphone but not on a device this powerful. Other things like camera will probably be added on later.

Yes, it does multitask.

It runs the OS, while playing music, while you read your email, all while push notification sits in the background.

You can't interact with two apps at once, so what is the difference between multitasking in this instance and simply instantly switching between applications, each remembering the previous state they were left in?

This isn't a fully functioning computer, As long as you can play with iWork, chat, check your email or browse while you're listening to music, then what more does it need to do simultaneously?

 

[Goona]

Don't be so narrow minded. Lazyness has nothing to do with it. Like it or not, but Flash simply is the de-facto standard when you want to play a movie, or add interactivity on the web.

When a web developer gets an assignment to develop such a website, do you think their customer will pay for a html5 solution that doesn't work in all browsers? Or alternatively, do you think their customer will pay double the amount for a solution that works BOTH with Flash and html5?

The same thing applies to Internet Explorer 6. Why do you think so many developers are still supporting this buggy piece of garbage? Because 13% of the 60-something percent of IE users is still browsing with it.

Dude I`m saying the same thing you are, the majority of the web is using flash hence it needs to be added.

 

[NAG]

The same thing applies to Internet Explorer 6. Why do you think so many developers are still supporting this buggy piece of garbage? Because 13% of the 60-something percent of IE users is still browsing with it.

So lets force everything to render like IE6!

Or how about no.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

We need a new phrase for all the products and services that fail against the iPad, iTunes, and the iBookstore.

Amazon already has backed down on forcing publishers to accept a fixed $9.99 price for e-books. Now Acer is not entering the e-reader or tablet market because on the iPad.

You do understand that by Amazon "backing down"- thanks at least in part to Apple's influence on this industry- that the result is that e-book buyers will now pay MORE for their e-books.

It wasn't Apple fighting for lower (than $9.99) book prices for us- the consumers. It was Apple using it's influence to INCREASE book prices that somewhat forced Amazon to give in (to HIGHER prices for us).

It's funny. When Apple used it's influence on music companies to sell all singles for 99 cents, that was almost universally seen as a positive: Apple fighting for us against the greedy music industry. Now here's a case where Apple is using its influence to increase prices of ebooks (even at Amazon) and this is also seen as a positive. What's up with that?

 

[MyBrainIsSpeakn]

Why would they do that

Youtube has attacked both Google, and Adobe. It would be a perfect... "say what now..." attack.

 

[Stella]

well at least Acer admits that they can't compete with the app store

Why would Acer need to? There plenty of websites to download windows software from - choose your favourite.

microsoft doesn't control 3rd party windows software and other content, where as Apple does for the iPad.

 

[Funball]

Soo...

Lin pointed out that designing an iPad-like device would not pose any technical challenges for Acer, but said such a product does not fit into Acer's business model.

So the iPad doesn't fit into the business model of a company that pumps out cheap, clunky budget-bin pieces of plastic that sell at Wal-Mart. How heartbreaking for Apple.