Do we need another device to add to our smartphone and laptop arsenal? Maybe, maybe not, but there are now a gazillion gadgets trying to squeeze into that middle window. Chip-maker ARM predicts that more than 50 “tablet PC devices” will launch this year trying to ride the wave of the Apple iPad. Certainly there are small’ish tablet PCs on the market already, but the “middle” market has also been hit by the eBook tsunami, and new concept devices and even software are appearing from sources ranging from Microsoft to Time Inc.
I don’t really think tablet is the best descriptive term here because I’m not convinced most people will use a device like this primarily for writing or drawing. However, I do think there is a growing desire for something portable to read and otherwise consume stuff on. Not just books, but magazines, newspapers, movies, TV shows, etc. My smartphone does ok for catching up on RSS reading on a flight, but it’s not great. And if I take out my netbook, well I might as well just do work. On the other hand, I still find myself buying a magazine or a paperback to get through a long flight. And over lunch, or at home in the evenings, I’d love to be able to scan articles without opening my computer.
So here we are in the middle. We don’t know exactly what we need, but we think we want something. And for the rest of this year at least, gadget makers are going to give us a lot of options to fill that hole.
I find I use my iphone when I do not want to boot up my netbook. I think an important aspect of any tablet should be “instant on.” I might stop using my netbook around the house then.
I just found about the modbook, which is basically what the iPad should have been. take the mac book and slap a pen interface on it. they are also working on a pen/touch version using mac book pro. pricey but powerful.
http://www.axiotron.com/index.php?id=modbook
Kevin, I agree completely. We’ll probably end up with an iPad for that reason. Also why I prefer Mac laptops over Windows – wake from sleep is QUICK.
Completely agree with the sentiment, “My smartphone does ok for catching up on RSS reading on a flight, but it’s not great. And if I take out my netbook, well I might as well just do work. On the other hand, I still find myself buying a magazine or a paperback to get through a long flight. And over lunch, or at home in the evenings, I’d love to be able to scan articles without opening my computer.”
I see four distinct way in which I will use the Ipad.
– Movies (vice on an iPhone) and magazines such as Wired while traveling
– Scan news and sports headlines in the morning with coffee vice firing up desktop or laptop
– quick browsing when wife is on main desktop
– Relevant Apps such as DVPRemote (Roku) and Remote (AppleTV)
If you don’t own a computer and don’t have internet, these would be great.
If you work out at a health club or take public transportation these would be great.
If you travel these would be great.
For everyone else it would be occasionally preferable to using other devices you already own.
I am very happy with my iPhone and my notebook. I do not see a reason why one needs an item like iPad.
First of all, it is too big to carry around everywhere.
Secondly, it is very delicate and prone to accidental damage easily.
Lastly, the price is too high.
The iPhone has several add-ons available that serve multiple purposes.
The iPhone has a mini projector attachment available which serves the need for watching movies on a large screen. A small lens is also available for iPhone which converts the iPhone into a complete digital camera. You can play a wide variety of games and use awesome applications.
All in all, iPad is something I do not need. My iPhone serves my needs. :)
I’ll preorder the iPad and see if fits my needs. If it doesn’t I’m sure it won’t last very long on eBay. Last summer my iPhone 3G sold in 22 minutes for the Buy It Now price of $325.
I think the iPad is interesting. I’ll probably get one. Probably going to wait a while and let the marketplace develop, magazines/magazine apps show up, etc. Probably just the WiFi version though since its a marginal purchase.
My plan:
– Its a photo viewer when I’m not using it
– Its a big remote control with application buttons for when my wife is in trouble or when I’m showing off
– Its a video viewer for airplanes
– Its a book reader
– Its a web browser when reclining, either on the couch or in bed
– It plays a few games
– It’ll run the logmein app to let me remotely control my computer downstairs when I need to
– It’ll run the sling player app for when I want to watch DVR’d video someplace I don’t have a TV, like outside
The only real problem with it is it won’t work with Hulu, or really any of the online video streaming sites (no Move Networks support either btw, which means no ABC or Comcast Xfinity). I do wish that could be worked out.
But anyway, if I’ve got some money lying around at some point, I’ll pick one up.
Obviously based on the emotionally charged trash being thrown around on Engadget these days, a lot of people feel otherwise. Seems like they’ll have a few models to choose from–the new JooJoo design looks interesting, and of course the HP Slate will eventually come out. And of course things like the Dell Mini 5 or Streak for those who want something in the middle. I have issues with all of these myself, and I think Apple’s marketing machine will crush all of them, but we’ll see how it plays out…
I actually like the fact that more companies are now experimenting with tablet/slate form factor, so I don’t mind fun items like upcoming NotionInk’s Adam (Android) or Hanvon’s TouchPad (full Windows 7).
What IS mind-boggling is every single CE company doing an eBook reader and 97% of them are exactly the same.
P.S. Don’t have any delays coming out of sleep on my Win7 machine, but it’s new… that, and I just put in Crucial’s RealSSD ;)