2010 has been the year of the tablet. Little did Bill Gates know that years back when he introduced the tablet concept to the world, his biggest competitor would come up and steal the show with the same concept almost a decade later. The Apple iPad hit the market (already awash in the iPhone buzz) and sent various hardware companies back to the drawing board to compete in an all-new market segment. And we know the result already — there are more announcements than releases and more promises than products.
But we know that the competition will catch up sooner or later. Giants like HP and Samsung are pouring in all their efforts (and R&D money) to develop competitive products in the mobile market. In fact the recently announced Samsung Galaxy Tab actually blows the iPad out of the water when it comes to features. It's lightweight, open (it's an Android-based device), sports equally good hardware, and adds a camera. But all those comparisons are meaningless unless the price is competitive with the iPad. When Steve Jobs announced the iPad, he proudly claimed that his team has outdone themselves when it comes to the price target. Yes, the iPad lacks a lot of hardware bits that the Galaxy Tab would bring in, but given the hints we have, Samsung is clearly struggling to match the pricing.
In a market that is just emerging and in which people are still speculating if there really is a space for a tablet in their lives (note: I didn't find a tablet relevant and gave up my iPad), can you really sell an expensive luxury to the masses? By June, Apple had sold over two million iPads since its April launch, and merely releasing a better product won't sell. Criticized for making expensive gizmos, for once Apple has pricing on its side.
Article comments
1 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Like I've always said, these tablets, no matter who makes them, are way too expensive considering I could spend $600+ and get a far more powerful laptop that has much more functionality and I can choose where I get my software from. Maybe in a couple years this tech will boast more features, processing power, compatibility & cost efficiency, especially with the current developments made in Linux(Android,Ubuntu,etc),but, until then I have a hard time seeing these tablets replacing what can be done with a smart phone and/or a decent laptop.
Personally, I think the Samsung Epic has a better chance of making it's mark before the Galaxy does.
2 - Alphaman
I have to question the statement "Samsung Galaxy Tab actually blows the iPad out of the water when it comes to features". While some of e features look good, we don't know all of them, and realistically, there are far more questions than answers with this device yet. Pricing guesses range over a factor of 10x, performance is unknown, battery life is unknown, readability is unknown, graphics quality and performance (other than resolution) is unknown. If having a camera and built-in card reader vs a dongle qualifies for such hyperbole, then I can think of many ways the iPad blows the Galaxy out of the water.
I'm waiting for the real product to become available.
3 - Martin Turner
Did Bill Gates really introduce the 'tablet' to the world? Or would we be better looking back to the Apple Newton, introduced in 1993 â€" eight years before Gates announced his Tablet PC. The reality is that the iPad is truer to the original Newton concept than it is to the Gates tablet concept.
In truth, the iPad is only described as a 'tablet' for the sake of demonstrating a false continuity with the Gates project. Gates tablets were laptops with write-on screens. The iPad is not this at all.
4 - Ankur
Thanks for your comments everyone.
1. The samsung tab was unveiled officially and there are some previews out (Sonia the full specifications and battery info). The spec sheet is definitely powerful.
2. Bill Gates might not have been the one to bring a touchscreen slate, but (imo) he visoned a future for it which Apple has now implemented.
Thanks
2.
5 - Ankur
@Martin also checking the newton. Wasn't aware if that.
Thanks