Samsung Galaxy 10.1 copies the iPad...and blows it away!

[vrDrew]

When will people stop buying based on specs?

Actually, there seems to be little evidence that most modern consumers DO buy on specs. Witness all the previous iPod and iPad-killers that tried playing the "our specs are better" game.

One thing did jump out of the CNET review:

No word yet on when we'll see cellular versions or a price just yet.

I don't think Samsung gets it. They've done all the engineering work to put this thing together. They gave away FIVE THOUSAND of the things at a tech event. And they can't figure out how much to charge for it? Or that *some* people might like to have a 3G version?

One thing Apple knows is how to PRICE things properly. And that seems to be one "spec" that a) consumers really care about and b) the cretins at Samsung, Motorola, et al, haven't been able to figure out.

 

[rworne]

What turns me off of this, would be:

-Samsung's lack of updates of their products once they're released.

This.

Give it a few months and a patch or two. Once the next product comes out you will never see any update for any remaining bugs or flaws in the device. And those "coming soon" features? Forget it.

Hell, they may even remove what updates already exist.

How do I know this?

I'm the proud owner of a LNXXB750 TV set. A great set, but 6 months after purchase, the next year's models were announced and Samsung could not be arsed to work out any remaining issues and obsoleted it, as well as making the near-worthless Internet features totally worthless. I'm still waiting for the promised Netflix client.

At least the set works fine, though it never got the last firmware update before Samsung removed it from their servers.

 

[spinedoc77]

Competitors are making the mistake of thinking they can win by playing the speeds and feeds game of the PC-era.

As Apple says, the magic is the tablet getting out of the way. Until Samsung and others make a better software experience (OS, app store, etc.), they will learn the hard way that consumers today could give a rip about the specs.

Keep this in mind as well, Google and Microsoft have to bribe developers with free crap to get them to develop for their platforms. Meanwhile, Apple had developers breaking in to develop before there were official means. Now they pay to develop. Until competitors get developers on their side, they will lose the app wars.

I don't think that's it anymore. Apple gets the credit for being the one who understood what Microsoft didn't in 10+ years of failed tablet marketing, that you need a tablet OS that even a moron could utilize. But now that this is understood it's not necessarily what is keeping Apple on top, if anything iOS is getting in the way of many things that Android OS can do with much greater ease. Both Android and Mobile Windows or whatever it's called are pretty easy to use and are only getting easier and easier as it's refined. iOS while being dead easy to use, is not really getting refined, although I'd like to have faith in Apple that they will prove me wrong with iOS5. Then again who is buying more tablets, us tech geeks or all the grandmothers who really just want to consume content?

I think the momentum of being a "cool" product to have and a "cool" company to support will continue to buoy Apple for a loooooong time, they have been nothing but genius in marketing their products like this. While power users such as myself may be seriously considering the Galaxy 10.1 because it does so much more than the ipad2 in the same (better) hardware package, this may not be so much a powerful draw for the grandmothers of the world. Android can't be discounted as a "cool" company though, and just as they caught up and surpassed Apple in the smartphone segment I think it's going to be a very interesting race where the consumers can only win due to the competition.

 

[spinedoc77]

This.

Give it a few months and a patch or two. Once the next product comes out you will never see any update for any remaining bugs or flaws in the device. And those "coming soon" features? Forget it.

Hell, they may even remove what updates already exist.

How do I know this?

I'm the proud owner of a LNXXB750 TV set. A great set, but 6 months after purchase, the next year's models were announced and Samsung could not be arsed to work out any remaining issues and obsoleted it, as well as making the near-worthless Internet features totally worthless. I'm still waiting for the promised Netflix client.

At least the set works fine, though it never got the last firmware update before Samsung removed it from their servers.

Not only Samsung but the rest of them. I consider switching to Android frequently, but one of the things I love about iOS is that once an update comes out, EVERYONE gets it. I don't have to deal with Samsung, Verizion, etc., I just go to Apple and get my update. This is where Google IMO made a HUGE mistake, in letting other companies overlay their UI and making the process of updating Android very fragmented. Really Google be perfecting it's OS and manufacturers can license it like Windows, but it should be uniform. When Android gets an update every android device can go straight to google and download and install that update.

I have a Samsung captivate at home that they are just NOW talking about releasing Android 2.2, I rooted it and put 2.3 on it a LONG time ago, that to me is completely unacceptable.

 

[Mac.World]

Waiting for some real reviews, battery life times and pricing. Got my eye on getting one. This is going to be my Google version of the iPad.

As for updates, I've read you can root it and get OTA updates of the OS. Don't know if that is true or not? Maybe an Android user can help me out with that question?

 

[NebulaClash]

ICS will supposedly run on any current hardware running Android, so you will probably be able to do an update (or more likely an os overwrite) if you buy a current Android device. It will probably be a mess, but you won't be left behind with old software.

In theory you are correct. In practice for the vast majority of tablet users who wouldn't know how to do this themselves no matter what, they will have to depend on Samsung or their phone service provider to send them an update the OS. Given the history of Android updates, that won't necessarily come quickly. One of the key disadvantages Android has compared to Apple which rolls out updates to everyone and quickly.

 

[henchman]

Is it me, or does the Galaxy 10.1 look rather "user un-friendly"? The home screen does not look all that well thought out.

You obviously have never used an Android device.
Unlike iOS , the Android desktop is 100% user customizable.
That's the one thing I absolutely hate about my iPad 2. The UI and desktop.
Oh, and the lack of widgets for todo lists, appointments and calendars.

I really hate having every app puked ont the desktop.
But I can't have a widget showing today's appointments.

Lame.

 

[NebulaClash]

Android can't be discounted as a "cool" company though, and just as they caught up and surpassed Apple in the smartphone segment I think it's going to be a very interesting race where the consumers can only win due to the competition.

What is this "Android" company you speak of that is cool? And which company surpassed Apple in the smartphone segment? Samsung? HTC? Motorola? Which of those companies sells more smart phones than Apple?

If you mean all of the companies put together, hundreds of different models lumped into a single bucket, sell more smart phones than the iPhone, then yes, they finally managed to do that.

As for "Galaxy 10.1 because it does so much more than the ipad2," what specifically would I want to do with an iPad 2 that I would be unable to do that the Galaxy 10.1 can do? What is this "so much more" functionality that Apple users are missing? I know about widgets (which only the geeks care about). Is there anything else?

 

[spinedoc77]

What is this "Android" company you speak of that is cool? And which company surpassed Apple in the smartphone segment? Samsung? HTC? Motorola? Which of those companies sells more smart phones than Apple?

If you mean all of the companies put together, hundreds of different models lumped into a single bucket, sell more smart phones than the iPhone, then yes, they finally managed to do that.

As for "Galaxy 10.1 because it does so much more than the ipad2," what specifically would I want to do with an iPad 2 that I would be unable to do that the Galaxy 10.1 can do? What is this "so much more" functionality that Apple users are missing? I know about widgets (which only the geeks care about). Is there anything else?

Well I can only speak for myself but I find my "magical" tablet device is painfully broken every time I hit a Flash site for example, once again that is MY own experience and how iOS is severely lacking, I hit this wall a dozen or more times each and every day on my ipad, while I'm sure as others have stated they never ever hit any flash sites in their internet consumption. Customizable UI is also a huge thing that I would LOVE to have, along with yes widgets. Some hardware things will be nice too, like having a microSD slot, a better management system for multiple apps, etc etc I can go on. I hate to have to feel like I have to say once again these are things that would make MY tablet experience better, but unfortunately someone will jump up and say that these things don't matter to them.

As for Android vs Apple to me it's like comparing Microsoft versus Apple, people routinely do because Apple manufactures it's own hardware for both OSx and iOS and there are no other manufacturers, where Google makes the OS and produces virtually no hardware similar to Microsoft, to me it's a valid comparison. Look at it in number of iOS devices sold versus number of Android devices sold.

I'm 99.9% sure I'm going to go ahead and buy the 10.1 and keep it alongside my ipad2 for a couple of months and see which one I like better. The only thing I don't understand is why they delayed the 3g version!?!?

 

[kdarling]

It looks like a complete copy of the iPad but specs wise…it blows the iPad 2 away.

It's not even close to looking like a "complete copy."

There's no home button, and the bezel looks like the tablet concept in that 1993 AT&T ad. Not to mention the homescreen UI is totally different.

I consider switching to Android frequently, but one of the things I love about iOS is that once an update comes out, EVERYONE gets it.

Well, not always. We've had updates that didn't target the iPad (e.g 4.0) right away.

And even when updates target more than just the latest device, they often leave out critical features on the older ones.

 

[Mac.World]

Well I can only speak for myself but I find my "magical" tablet device is painfully broken every time I hit a Flash site for example, once again that is MY own experience and how iOS is severely lacking. Customizable UI is also a huge thing that I would LOVE to have, along with yes widgets. Some hardware things will be nice too, like having a microSD slot.

I'm 99.9% sure I'm going to go ahead and buy the 10.1 and keep it alongside my ipad2 for a couple of months and see which one I like better. The only thing I don't understand is why they delayed the 3g version!?!?

These are some of the same reason I have for wanting this tablet. If this gets good reviews and battery life similar to the iPad AND identical pricing plans, Apple will have it's first legitimate competitor.

 

[kalsta]

A few years back, I wished Apple would make a 2 screen iBook with no physical keyboard.

Ha… Me too. I remember sketching such a concept maybe 10 years ago. I imagined both sides being touch screen, and you could read it like a book when you held it like a book, or turn it up the other way like a laptop and have a virtual keyboard appear. I think there might actually be devices with that kind of design now.

Love the iPad though.

 

[NebulaClash]

OK, thanks for replying with a detailed answer about what you feel is missing in iOS. For you those are valid concerns. Nothing you mentioned affects me other than improving the way multiple apps are handled, and I'm sure Apple will continue to improve in that area. I like the way iOS keeps growing. I remember how the iPod improved from the original 2001 iPod with very limited functionality, to the 2010 iPod touch with far much functionality. I look forward to iOS continuing such a growth path.

I think Apple has decided to target the big middle of the market, and let the geeks grab the other stuff that appeals to the spec-heads. Apple figures if they create something that pleases the largest group of consumers, they will be fine. Look at how the iPhone is the biggest selling smart phone on the market. Geeks complain night and day about how limited the iPhone is, and the big middle keeps lining up to get iPhones.

So yes, if you want to compare "Android" versus iPhone, go ahead. I prefer to compare Android with iOS (by the way, Android is not beating iOS yet).

 

[kdoug]

You obviously have never used an Android device.
Unlike iOS , the Android desktop is 100% user customizable.
That's the one thing I absolutely hate about my iPad 2. The UI and desktop.
Oh, and the lack of widgets for todo lists, appointments and calendars.

I really hate having every app puked ont the desktop.
But I can't have a widget showing today's appointments.

Lame.

Totally agree. Apple really needs to overhaul their OS. I'm really hoping iOS 5 is all that and a bag of potato chips.

 

[steviem]

Well, not always. We've had updates that didn't target the iPad (e.g 4.0) right away.

And even when updates target more than just the latest device, they often leave out critical features on the older ones.

But Apple has a proven history of supporting devices of one generation or older.

More often than not, if the hardware to support certain features is there, then it will get the update. The original Galaxy smartphone came out with Android 1.6 at about the same time as 2.0. Months went by, no update - despite the fact the hardware was more than capable. Samsung made their hardware harder to hack, they didn't publish open source components of their android build and had a RIL which made using AOSP or cyanogenmod on it impossible. Eventually the community and a guy called Drakaz found a way, but seriously?!

I think all iOS really needs is (in order of importance):
1: Improved notification system a la WebOS
2: Multitasking a la WebOS (kill the home button and put in gestures with exposé)
3: iTunes independence or for iTunes to become either a service you can run from an airport extreme or for Apple to release their cloud service. (I'd much prefer a new airport extreme with iTunes running on it though.)

 

[Janet1]

How sad. Just as with the iPod, competitors think spec sheets are what matter. Perhaps to the tiny subsection of the consumer market made up of tech geeks, but the tablet market is much larger than that. Specs do not matter nearly as much as the entire experience of using a tablet: software availability, integration with your other devices, OS completeness, etc.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

You couldn't pay most people to ride my bicycle. The seat is as hard as a rock, zero shock absorption and with ultra skinny tires, every pebble in the road goes right through your bones. Without padded shorts, blisters are guaranteed, and highly probably even with them. Padded gloves can get pretty sweaty, but it's the only way to keep down the blisters on the palms of your hands. Only thing my bike's designed to carry is the seat bag for the repair kit, which is an absolute necessity because flat tires are also guaranteed! Sometimes I'm lucky, but I've gotten as many as 3 flats on a single ride.

I can't turn my back on it for a second because it WILL be stolen, and no lock on the planet could prevent that. So when I stop to eat, I wheel it through the drive-up window. I would never even think of leaving it outside the stall of a public restroom.

Most people couldn't ride my bike anyway. Special shoes with clips are required, a skill which takes practice to perfect, and even then, if you have to come to an abrupt stop, you might not have time to twist your foot fast enough to clip out, and not only will you fall over, but the bike and the rest of your body is going to fall on your leg, and that's pretty painful, but I'm usually just grateful I managed to avoid falling into traffic.

But if all you want is a bike you can hop right on and enjoy a nice, relaxing ride, well, you can pick up one of those bikes at Target, and for under $100.

But the specs on my $6,000 professional racing bike blow that $100 Target bike right out of the water too.

 

[spinedoc77]

Took the words right out of my mouth.

You couldn't pay most people to ride my bicycle. The seat is as hard as a rock, zero shock absorption and with ultra skinny tires, every pebble in the road goes right through your bones. Without padded shorts, blisters are guaranteed, and highly probably even with them. Padded gloves can get pretty sweaty, but it's the only way to keep down the blisters on the palms of your hands. Only thing my bike's designed to carry is the seat bag for the repair kit, which is an absolute necessity because flat tires are also guaranteed! Sometimes I'm lucky, but I've gotten as many as 3 flats on a single ride.

I can't turn my back on it for a second because it WILL be stolen, and no lock on the planet could prevent that. So when I stop to eat, I wheel it through the drive-up window. I would never even think of leaving it outside the stall of a public restroom.

Most people couldn't ride my bike anyway. Special shoes with clips are required, a skill which takes practice to perfect, and even then, if you have to come to an abrupt stop, you might not have time to twist your foot fast enough to clip out, and not only will you fall over, but the bike and the rest of your body is going to fall on your leg, and that's pretty painful, but I'm usually just grateful I managed to avoid falling into traffic.

But if all you want is a bike you can hop right on and enjoy a nice, relaxing ride, well, you can pick up one of those bikes at Target, and for under $100.

But the specs on my $6,000 professional racing bike blow that $100 Target bike right out of the water too.

Lol, wow I can't tell if you are being sarcastic or if you really do love to torture yourself like that. I'd guess sarcasm, but you just made it sound so realistic.

 

[jonhcox]

These are some of the same reason I have for wanting this tablet. If this gets good reviews and battery life similar to the iPad AND identical pricing plans, Apple will have it's first legitimate competitor.

You could be right and the gamble that Samsung made by doing the 11th hour redesign may pay off. From what I have seen posted on other tech blogs, the purported price of the 10.1 16GB is $499. Whether that sticks or not is the question. I don't see why not as they make a lot of the internals in-house. I do think that most of the iPad competition have realized that pricing is key. Play innocent consumer (which is mainstream) for a second: Jon has $500-$600 to spend and wants a tablet. He doesn't know much about the tech but knows that on it he can surf the internet, watch movies and play a few games. Does he choose the 16GB iPad 2 for $500 from a company he is familiar with as far as they market to him, or does he get an unfamiliar OS on a hardware profile that is also good but from Motorola, which he used to carry a Star Tac a while back and hasn't really heard from since? Simple, Jon gets the iPad 2. But that pricing point is key- look at them now- Asus EeePad Transformer starts at $399, Samsung tablets are rumored to start at $469. $500 is key. At least for an intro device.

Also, that's why Xoom won't largely sell in high numbers and Samsung could really do well. Samsung is pretty much everywhere. Jon may have a camera, TV, Blu-Ray player and a cheap flip phone made by Samsung and sees the Galaxy Tab as a neat device that would suit his needs. Also, his buddy is rocking an OG Droid and he thinks Android is the bees knees.

What would be nice is to see Samsung not urinate TouchWiz all over their tablets. That said, I think Samsung has a great chance at putting a dent in Apple but it won't be a big one, not yet.

 

[jonhcox]

Smartest post yet jon (sorry to be a kiss-ass). Thumbs up. iPad 2 wins..for now. But the Android tablets are getting better every month. The Android app store gains every month. This in turn will push Apple to make even better products.

Like I said....competition is good. We (the consumers) win.

Thanks, and you are right- we are the winners because the development loop has to keep spinning in order to sell product. Which spurns innovation.

 

[Kupp]

One thing Apple knows is how to PRICE things properly. And that seems to be one "spec" that a) consumers really care about and b) the cretins at Samsung, Motorola, et al, haven't been able to figure out.

Yes, forgive me if I am wrong but Apple's game seems be holding price points constant, and updating what you can get for that price. They design products with a price in mind and have extensive data based on sales to allow them to target a margin based on sales at a particular price point.

I seems other companies with less product movement don't have this luxury, they are either competing directl against other users of windows, android, ect...

Apple controls the hardware, the software, the cost, price, margin, and sales numbers as a result. Apple dominates in consumer experience because of all the controls it has in place.

I am by no means an apple fanboy, I am just someone who has come to prefer Job's walled garden on my mobile devices.

That said, I am sure android can be more appealing for those who wish to get into the guts of things. Specs are not everything, it is easy to make a windows PC that can beat the he'll out of a PC due to more product support, but that versatile comes at the cost of a less elegant out of the box experience. I feel the same way about android.

 

[radiohead14]

PLS screen seems nice. no weird blotches or yellow tints

 

[NebulaClash]

Yes, forgive me if I am wrong but Apple's game seems be holding price points constant, and updating what you can get for that price. They design products with a price in mind and have extensive data based on sales to allow them to target a margin based on sales at a particular price point.

I think Apple learned a lot with the iPod market how to market to and set price levels for consumers. Eventually they had every price level covered, from $49 up to $399. Whatever you wanted, Apple had a product to sell to you, and whatever your budget was, Apple could find a level you could afford. Apple left no room for competitors to undercut their devices.

With the iPad, back when it was just a rumor, people said it would probably cost $800 or $900 or even $1000. People were griping about the price right here on MacRumors even before they knew what the price would be. I think Apple shocked the world by coming out at $499 on the low end model. Certainly the competitors were surprised, and many of them immediately went back to the drawing board and then found that no matter how they drew it up they just couldn't beat Apple on price and still make profit.

I think we will eventually (just as with the iPod) have a whole family of iPads, from an iPad mini to a souped-up large version, with prices that run the gamut from $299 up to $999. Whatever tablet you want, Apple will have a product to sell to you, and whatever your budet for a tablet it, Apple will find a level you can afford. Competitors will find no room to undercut Apple.

 

[Janet1]

Lol, wow I can't tell if you are being sarcastic or if you really do love to torture yourself like that. I'd guess sarcasm, but you just made it sound so realistic.

No, it wasn't sarcasm, I'm dead serious, and my description sounded realistic because it was totally accurate.

Racing bikes are designed for pure speed, not comfort or pleasure. But unless your name is Lance Armstrong, trying to beat my bike on a Target bike, would be as ridiculous as a 3 year old trying to race me on a tricycle.

But I would never advise anyone buy a professional racing bike, who wasn't looking to make a serious commitment to the time, money and training involved in pursuing this particular sport. Unless they are, it wouldn't fit their needs, and for them, not only would it be a waste of money, but one that would only end up causing them pain, frustration and misery to boot.

Just in case anyone missed the point of my analogy, iPads are like nice, simple, worry-free comfort bikes. Built, designed, and intended for those who just want to be able to jump right on and go. To relax, and unwind, while enjoying the beauty of the countryside along the way.

As long as it accomplishes that purpose, the specs are irrelevant.

 

[NateJamesMeyers]

imo no tablet will beat the ipad until their app store closes the gap with quality tablet specific apps. I think in 3-4 years android tablets will be a serous competitor to the ipad.

people said this about android phones vs the iphone last december. two months later android was ruling the market and its still flying.

 

[spinedoc77]

No, it wasn't sarcasm, I'm dead serious, and my description sounded realistic because it was totally accurate.

Racing bikes are designed for pure speed, not comfort or pleasure. But unless your name is Lance Armstrong, trying to beat my bike on a Target bike, would be as ridiculous as a 3 year old trying to race me on a tricycle.

But I would never advise anyone buy a professional racing bike, who wasn't looking to make a serious commitment to the time, money and training involved in pursuing this particular sport. Unless they are, it wouldn't fit their needs, and for them, not only would it be a waste of money, but one that would only end up causing them pain, frustration and misery to boot.

Just in case anyone missed the point of my analogy, iPads are like nice, simple, worry-free comfort bikes. Built, designed, and intended for those who just want to be able to jump right on and go. To relax, and unwind, while enjoying the beauty of the countryside along the way.

As long as it accomplishes that purpose, the specs are irrelevant.

Ahh thanks for the explanation. It kinda made sense with the sarcasm but if you are serious then you kinda lost me on such an extreme comparison. Happy riding, err I mean happy agonizing torturous riding.