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Tablet wars: The Samsung strikes back

Looks good. This'll be the best tablet that isn't an iPad 2, to be released this year.
The tablet wars will the same as the phone wars - iOS: The most polished and consumer-friendly vs Honeycomb: Technically the best and more featured.
 
monaarts said:
This is it... Apple has FINALLY seen their only real competitor, Samsung!

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and 8.9
Thinner than the iPad 2, probably about the same memory, about the same processor, slightly larger screen, and starting at $30 cheaper than the iPad 2.

This is it, guys! This is going to be the set of devices that makes Apple think hard about what needs to be new. :) Thank you, Samsung!



- Joe
Click to expand...


Steve Jobs is laughing and also there is already a thread on this topic: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1122595/
 
hcho3 said:
1. The processor is not the same...
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Yes, they are. For all intents and purposes.

Both are dual-core 1GHz ARM Cortex A9s. Apple's A5 is just a Cortex A9 with different system components attached to it. Keep in mind Samsung actually makes the A5 as well.

2. It won't sell well. iPad is selling so well because it has strong 3rd party app support with apple's best customer service experience at apple store. Do these guys offer that? No.
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Let's be real, here. This was the exact same argument used against Android on smartphones not too long ago.

The iPad is a fantastic piece of hardware, but the software is too limiting for many people (myself included). The multitasking and tabbed-browsing implementation on iPad just isn't acceptable for my use.

The Tab 10.1 is supposed to have 1GB of RAM (not 512MB). And amazingly, even its screen will be of a higher quality. It uses new PLS technology, which is an evolution over IPS (10% brighter, even better viewing angles). There were rumours Apple was going to launch the iPad 2 with a PLS display, but it looks like Samsung wanted the parts all to themselves (they hold 30 patents on PLS tech).
 
You guys do realise that the tablets that are being displayed wont even turn on.
I wouldn't be surprised if june is a little too optimistic.
 
mcdj said:
yeah sweet! those specs are awesome. can't wait to plug it in to STunes and rent some movies, buy some SBooks, sync it to SCal and SPhoto. And of course if I have any problems with it, I can just take it to the SBar and get fixed right up.
Click to expand...

Ignorance, sarcasm or both? I can't tell...
 
Asherian said:
The best part about the Tab 10.1 is the display. As far as I know, it's the first consumer electronics implementation of Samsung's new PLS tech, which is an evolution over the IPS displays used in the iPad 2s. 10% brighter with better viewing angles.

There were rumors Apple was trying to get the PLS in the iPad 2, but it looks like Samsung wanted the supply all to themselves: https://www.macrumors.com/2011/02/12/apple-considering-samsung-super-pls-display-for-future-ipad/
Click to expand...

PLS is amazing...well until SAMOLED can scale to these sizes.
 
eawmp1 said:
2) Why, exactly, do you dislike Apple?
Click to expand...

I hate their walled garden approach. I want to customize my devices, put whatever apps I want on it, have a user accessible file and folder system with drag and drop via usb. I find their simplified approach counter intuitive and limiting as a life long PC user.

I hate how they strong arm developers and content providers. There is NO reason they should be forcing in-app purchasing and taking 30% of e-book sales subscriptions etc. It's fine taking a cut of app sales themselves as they provide the store front. But the in app content isn't theres and they should not be getting a cut of things like e-book sales etc. If they don't want competition for the crappy iBooks store, then just don't allow other e-book apps instead of doing this BS policy. It's going to hurt consumers if major apps like Kindle or Netflix get pulled over it, or if the apps get watered down or moved to web based and require internet connections etc.

I hate the hipster cult around the company and the way people are so damn loyal to them. It's lame as hell to be loyal to ANY corporation as they all care about nothing but getting as much of your money as possible.

I hate the Apple tax. The iPad is the first hardware they've made that's not way overpriced, but they make up for it with absurdly priced accessories.

I like my iPad 2--it's a nice piece of hardware and the app store is unparalleled currently. But I don't like the iOS and dislike Apple's practices and policies in general, so I really hope there's some true competition in a couple years when I'm ready to move on to another tablet device.

Ideally for me MS will do a good job on the Tablet OS they're working on and I can finally get a decent Tablet PC optimized for touch use and having full MS Office, a full and accessible file system, USB ports etc. so I can finally travel and do work on a tablet rather than lugging a laptop.

I like the iPad, but I feel a bit "dirty" giving in and supporting Apple.
 
Last edited:
Blakjack said:
I dont think Apple is feeling any serious heat...
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I'm in no way an Apple "fanboy," but even I know the above is true. In fact, as long as Apple has Steve Jobs as its head, I don't think Apple ever feels "heat" from anybody. They are one step (if not more) ahead of everybody else (just note the long lines and the the ridiculous prices people are paying to get an iPad 2). In the minds of the consumers, there are iPads, and then there are tablets (ie every other tablet device not made by Apple), and until Apple missteps and falls back into the pack with the others, no one will truly compete with them. Everybody can make tablets, some maybe even better devices than Apple's. But as long as Apple is the only one who makes the device called iPad, they win by default.

The best thing other manufacturers can do is to stop trying to compete with iPad, and start trying to make an innovative device that will force Apple to compete with them. Make Apple play your game, because you'll never beat them at theirs.
 
Asherian said:
Let's be real, here. This was the exact same argument used against Android on smartphones not too long ago.
Click to expand...

And it's still true.
the iPhone outsells every single Android smartphone there is.

Also, the iPad never was restricted to a single or even two carriers, doesn't get heavily subsidized by them either. the 'Tablet market' was pretty much born last year, compared to the smartphone market having already existed before the iPhone. It's an entirely different playing field, you see.

ofcourse, Android tablets will gain and gain more market share, because there's gonna be a new one every 3 Months. That's a good thing.
But no single tablet will EVER beat the same season's iPad sales for years to come.
 
FFR said:
You guys do realise that the tablets that are being displayed wont even turn on.
I wouldn't be surprised if june is a little too optimistic.
Click to expand...
The HW inside has been running for a while. There are videos of people using the Tab 10.1 (in the old form factor) on YouTube.

The chassis itself doesn't really worry me. No need to spread FUD.
 
Never mention specs at the start of your post.... means very little. By the time these tablets hit market, the iPad 2 will be running iOS 5. You know full well Apple is going to come out with something that will once again send them back to the drawing board. I love it to, right as they start to feel good about themselves.
 
Fliesen said:
And it's still true.
the iPhone outsells every single Android smartphone there is.
Click to expand...
Heh. Yeah, if this is going to be the calibre of the arguments here, I don't know why I bothered.

Android isn't about single devices, iOS is. It's folly to compare them on that metric. The whole point of Android is diversity of devices, that's not something to hold against it.

The argument was bunk then and it's bunk now. Where the market goes, the developers will follow. Virtually every worthwhile iOS app has an equivalent on Android, and you probably know very well that the rate of Android app development is ramping up considerably. It's the majority smartphone OS now, why wouldn't it?

It's reasonable to believe the same thing will happen with tablets.
 
Asherian said:
Heh. Yeah, if this is going to be the calibre of the arguments here, I don't know why I bothered.

Android isn't about single devices, iOS is. It's folly to compare them on that metric. The whole point of Android is diversity of devices, that's not something to hold against it.

The argument was bunk then and it's bunk now. Where the market goes, the developers will follow. Virtually every worthwhile iOS app has an equivalent on Android, and you probably know very well that the rate of Android app development is ramping up considerably. It's the majority smartphone OS now, why wouldn't it?

It's reasonable to believe the same thing will happen with tablets.
Click to expand...

and i still think that the 'tablet market' is quite different to the mobile phone market.
 
nomik2 said:
Ignorance, sarcasm or both? I can't tell...
Click to expand...

I'll go for Satire. He was illustrating the lack of the full ecosystem surrounding the device at this time.

Device specs are great things, and something the geeks focus on (perhaps for bragging rights), but what sells John and Jane Q. Public is the overall ease of use and overall ecosystem surrounding the device.
 
BergerFan said:
Looks good. This'll be the best tablet that isn't an iPad 2, to be released this year.
Click to expand...

Same thing is said about every Android tablet. Over and over again. And guess what. They all turn out to be has beens. But this ones different... Yea right.

BergerFan said:
The tablet wars will the same as the phone wars
Click to expand...
No, they won't, phone wars were different, and Android is fixing to loose. Both.

BergerFan said:
- iOS: The most polished conconsumer and corporate-friendly vs Honeycomb: Technically the best and more featured.
Click to expand...

Fixed part of it for you. And how is Honeycomb the best ? (And that's most corporate friendly of the two.)

nomik2 said:
Ignorance, sarcasm or both? I can't tell...
Click to expand...

Then maybe you should stay off the forums.
 
I love Apple and do buy Android tablets. I'm saving up for a Xoom (definitely so innovative) in fact. :cool:

iPad 2 = iPad 1 + cameras + faster processor... which isn't much to me.
 
dmaul1114 said:
I hate their walled garden approach. I want to customize my devices, put whatever apps I want on it, have a user accessible file and folder system with drag and drop via usb. I find their simplified approach counter intuitive and limiting as a life long PC user.

I hate how they strong arm developers and content providers. There is NO reason they should be forcing in-app purchasing and taking 30% of e-book sales subscriptions etc. It's fine taking a cut of app sales themselves as they provide the store front. But the in app content isn't theres and they should not be getting a cut of things like e-book sales etc. If they don't want competition for the crappy iBooks store, then just don't allow other e-book apps instead of doing this BS policy. It's going to hurt consumers if major apps like Kindle or Netflix get pulled over it, or if the apps get watered down or moved to web based and require internet connections etc.

I hate the hipster cult around the company and the way people are so damn loyal to them. It's lame as hell to be loyal to ANY corporation as they all care about nothing but getting as much of your money as possible.

I hate the Apple tax. The iPad is the first hardware they've made that it's way overpriced, but they make up for it with absurdly priced accessories.

I like my iPad 2--it's a nice piece of hardware and the app store is unparalleled currently. But I don't like the iOS and dislike Apple's practices and policies in general, so I really hope there's some true competition in a couple years when I'm ready to move on to another tablet device.

Ideally for me MS will do a good job on the Tablet OS they're working on and I can finally get a decent Tablet PC optimized for touch use and having full MS Office, a full and accessible file system, USB ports etc. so I can finally travel and do work on a tablet rather than lugging a laptop.

I like the iPad, but I feel a bit "dirty" giving in and supporting Apple.
Click to expand...

I know if I felt that strongly about a company I certainly wouldn't give them my hard earned money. I for darn sure wouldn't be on a fan forum either. ;)
 
How do you not think that apple is feeling the heat? Didn't they make specific mention of 'copycats' at their last ipad event?

Seems to me like they are paying plenty of attention to their competitors. You don't really think that they released the ipad2 early for no reason, do you?

They wanted to make sure they were the first to the market for the current generation.
 
Asherian said:
The HW inside has been running for a while. There are videos of people using the Tab 10.1 (in the old form factor) on YouTube.

The chassis itself doesn't really worry me. No need to spread FUD.
Click to expand...

FUD?
Sorry to burst your bubble but if their prototype can't even turn on at this point in time, you really believe that they will ship in 2 months.
At this point in time 10.1 and 8.9 are noting more than vapourware.
 
BadMoon said:
I know if I felt that strongly about a company I certainly wouldn't give them my hard earned money. I for darn sure wouldn't be on a fan forum either. ;)
Click to expand...

Touche!

Like I say, I feel dirty giving them my money. But I gave the worthless competitors a year to come up with a better tablet and they failed.

So I gave in and got an iPad 2. Hopefully when I'm ready to upgrade in a couple years I can move on--I won't be buying many paid apps as I don't want to feel tied to the iOS.

Forum wise, I just joined for the shipping tracking thread and I'm sticking around for a bit as I figure out my new gadget etc. But I won't be a regular for sure in the long run. But fan forums can use some critics to break up the fanboy circle jerk every once in a while! :D
 
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