Dell to launch 7-inch tablet in 'next few weeks' to challenge iPad

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Comments

  • Reply 101 of 129
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by solipsism View Post


    People might move back to a 1 ?PC? home again, but this time with multiple satellite computing devices for general use.



    There you go again...



    I just upgraded my Daughter's iPad to iOS 4.2. Now she can WiFi print, Stream Audio, Stream Video (when the New AppeTV arrives)...



    There are several VNC apps that allow you to manipulate your Mac or PC from the iPad...



    I am waiting for the iPad-ready BackToMyMac: where the Mac's desktop is transformed when manipulated from an iPad-- something like a special MultiTouch Accessibility Option that cuts in when the Mac is being remotely manipulated by a touch device.



    After all, the Mac desktop isn't a real desktop -- it's just a familiar flavor of a virtual desktop.



    One of the Macs I want to manipulate is a headless (mouse-less, kb-less) mini that holds the MultiMedia library-- so, in effect, the iPad becomes the only UI accessory.



    When we're, out and about, the attached camera acts as a security cam (with sound and motion detection) that pushes notifications to the iPhone and iPad.



    ...but, you've identified the real potential-- a single computer with distributed UI to multiple users.



    .
  • Reply 102 of 129
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by anonymouse View Post


    Too many choices can often be problematic. However, it is also true that if you ask people if they'd rather have more or less choice, typically, they will respond in favor of more. It's kind of an interesting example of what people say they want not being what actually always works well for them.



    Of course, it's not like we really have free will, anyway.



    People want the option of more choice... and the convenience of no choice!



    .
  • Reply 103 of 129
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Robin Huber View Post


    Just to f*** with competitors' minds, Apple should sell iPads at cost for a year. What would that be, $47? They have enough cash on hand to subsidize the loss in income. Stock price might take a brief hit, but increased user base when everyone in the world buys an iPad would more than make up for it in the long run.



    Spare me any lectures realists. I'm just having some speculative fun.



    Actually, an opportunity something like that should present itself early next year, when the iPad rollout is complete and supply has caught up with demand.



    The key is to avoid the Feds -- Justice in particular.



    .
  • Reply 104 of 129
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by anonymouse View Post


    Well, according to this article,



    http://venturebeat.com/2010/09/29/hp...or-early-2011/



    HP have not shutdown the Windows slate, they have no interest in Android, and they will be introducing a webOS tablet in early 2011, after the Windows slate is released.



    Odd that, especially since they don't attribute the Windows assertion to any HP officer or other source. The previous "not using Windows on the Slate" announcement was likewise unatrributed by TechCrunch to "someone informed" at least.



    I wonder which is correct?
  • Reply 105 of 129
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by LewysBlackmore View Post


    Odd that, especially since they don't attribute the Windows assertion to any HP officer or other source. The previous "not using Windows on the Slate" announcement was likewise unatrributed by TechCrunch to "someone informed" at least.



    I wonder which is correct?



    http://www.nytimes.com/external/giga...dup-18525.html



    Quote:

    ... Rubinstein confirmed that a tablet using Windows 7, most likely the HP Slate, will appear this year in advance of a webOS tablet slated for early next year. A slate has recently appeared in photos that?s believed to be the HP Slate, and likely the tablet that HP will release later this year.



  • Reply 106 of 129
    alfiejralfiejr Posts: 1,524member
    Almost all the new tablets being announced these days have a 7" screen. IMHO this is not going to be very popular with consumers no matter what OS or features are added, because:



    - it's too big for your pocket, so requires a carry bag or case of some kind, just like an iPad. if you want pocket size, you will still need to get a smartphone, or iPod touch.

    - but it is a LOT smaller than the iPad screen - and for media, games and most things, size really matters.



    regarding the second point, the big failure in all the reporting to date has been ignoring the simple geometry of the total screen areas.



    with almost 10" diagonal, the 4:3 aspect iPad offers nearly 48 squre inches of screen area with about 8" x 6" actual dimensions.



    a 7" diagonal screen sounds like it is about 2/3 the size of the iPad, but that is really stupid math in fact. since most of these tabs have an approximate 16:9 aspect ratio, like an HDTV, their actual screen dimensions are only about 6" x 3.5", a total of just 21 square inches in area. this is less than even 1/2 the iPad's screen area.



    yes, for watching 16:9 video that size reduction is actually less - a 6" wide picture on a 7" tablet vs. an 8" wide picture on the iPad. so three-quareters of the iPad image, maybe not so big a deal. but for web pages and games and everything else, you have far less screen area to work with.



    so consumers are being asked to pay 2/3 or 3/4 the price of an iPad for these 7" tablets, but will get less than 1/2 of the iPad's viewable/usable screen area for that price. that is a tough sell.



    i have been wondering why, given these real negative marketability issues, we are seeing so many 7" tablets being announced. is it because Android cannot easily be scaled up any further? is it because Apple has corned all the 10" screen supplies? is it to keep the price down? is it to about battery life? or what?



    except for diehard Android fans and gadget lovers, i don't know who is going to want such a 7" tablet for any reason. presumably a generation of larger models will be released next year, so they will wait. or buy an iPad.
  • Reply 107 of 129
    A fundamental difference between Apple and, well, everyone else is, Apple has taken the time to actually do R&D on their products. Apple spent about 4 years on the original iPod before it was released?and iTunes was already well-developed. I believe Apple spent 7 years developing the iPhone, and they spent even longer developing the iPad. They didn't simply slap a bunch of components together to try and "beat' someone else. They've had the patience to evolve their products. They've developed a robust ecosystem. That's the key to Apple's success.

    The best way for other companies to actually compete against Apple is to not try to compete against them. They just need to motivate their people to create the best products they can, rather than some kinda knee-jerk reaction against Apple's long evolved strategy.
  • Reply 108 of 129
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Suddenly Newton View Post


    Actually, studies have shown that "Lots of choices" may cause analysis paralysis in humans. In other words there is a diminishing return beyond a certain number of choices. Google the book Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely for more details about the study.



    hence the old joke telling someone in a round room from (insert region to make fun of here) to go pee in the corner.
  • Reply 109 of 129
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Alfiejr View Post


    Almost all the new tablets being announced these days have a 7" screen. IMHO this is not going to be very popular with consumers no matter what OS or features are added, because:



    - it's too big for your pocket, so requires a carry bag or case of some kind, just like an iPad. if you want pocket size, you will still need to get a smartphone, or iPod touch.

    - but it is a LOT smaller than the iPad screen - and for media, games and most things, size really matters.



    regarding the second point, the big failure in all the reporting to date has been ignoring the simple geometry of the total screen areas.



    with almost 10" diagonal, the 4:3 aspect iPad offers nearly 48 squre inches of screen area with about 8" x 6" actual dimensions.



    a 7" diagonal screen sounds like it is about 2/3 the size of the iPad, but that is really stupid math in fact. since most of these tabs have an approximate 16:9 aspect ratio, like an HDTV, their actual screen dimensions are only about 6" x 3.5", a total of just 21 square inches in area. this is less than even 1/2 the iPad's screen area.



    yes, for watching 16:9 video that size reduction is actually less - a 6" wide picture on a 7" tablet vs. an 8" wide picture on the iPad. so three-quareters of the iPad image, maybe not so big a deal. but for web pages and games and everything else, you have far less screen area to work with.



    so consumers are being asked to pay 2/3 or 3/4 the price of an iPad for these 7" tablets, but will get less than 1/2 of the iPad's viewable/usable screen area for that price. that is a tough sell.



    i have been wondering why, given these real negative marketability issues, we are seeing so many 7" tablets being announced. is it because Android cannot easily be scaled up any further? is it because Apple has corned all the 10" screen supplies? is it to keep the price down? is it to about battery life? or what?



    except for diehard Android fans and gadget lovers, i don't know who is going to want such a 7" tablet for any reason. presumably a generation of larger models will be released next year, so they will wait. or buy an iPad.



    I tend to agree. The smaller the tablet, the more you trade off portability for battery life and useful screen real estate. I am however undecided about whether a 7" tablet is too small. It's certainly small enough that typing on a virtual keyboard in landscape mode becomes less than natural. You theoretically gain portability over a 9.7" iPad, but I didn't think the iPad was "not portable" -- in fact, I find it very portable, compared to the MacBook. Any smaller, and you might as well make it a smart phone.
  • Reply 110 of 129
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by knwbuddy View Post


    If that were true, I can't imagine a company like Dell putting so much capital into the project. So I guess that your statement is untrue, based on what huge industrial companies generally do.



    Do you have better information? I would guess that many will be sold which are neither company policy nor intended as a gift.



    Good point, It wold be foolish not to get into this field and be left behind in the tablet war, this does not mean the dell tablet will be sold in masses, you just have to look around in your community, town, nationally and internationally that apple products are in immense demand and there is certain amount of "mass hysteria". I have not seen another product other than a roar when blu-ray players were in short supply that command such presence.



    btw: my main computer is a dell vostro and i am a dell man (soon to change to imac with office 2011), but i stand with the view that dell tablet will not be bought by the normal user masses. i await v2 iPad, but in no hurry yet.
  • Reply 111 of 129
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Chris_CA View Post


    The same place the others come from. Your fingers.

    There are 11 different multi touch gestures in iOS 4. It's not that it recognizes 11 different points being touched.



    IT IS! iOS 4 can recognize and track 11 simultaneous touches. One developer made the demo to see how many simultaneous touches can be recognized, and the result is 11.
  • Reply 112 of 129
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Suddenly Newton View Post


    ... I am however undecided about whether a 7" tablet is too small. It's certainly small enough that typing on a virtual keyboard in landscape mode becomes less than natural. ...



    Yeah, especially on a 16:9 screen. These 7", 16:9 tablets will totally suck for typing, both in landscape and in portrait.
  • Reply 113 of 129
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by fuwafuwa View Post


    IT IS! iOS 4 can recognize and track 11 simultaneous touches. One developer made the demo to see how many simultaneous touches can be recognized, and the result is 11.



    It's ready for the day man evolves an eleventh finger... Or perhaps masters the use of an extra appendage (ahem)
  • Reply 114 of 129
    nealgnealg Posts: 132member
    The big appeal for this device is that it is not an Apple iPad. Everybody is trying to be first to market with something that is not an iPad to appeal to the anti Apple crowd.



    Neal
  • Reply 115 of 129
    alfiejralfiejr Posts: 1,524member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by nealg View Post


    The big appeal for this device is that it is not an Apple iPad. Everybody is trying to be first to market with something that is not an iPad to appeal to the anti Apple crowd.



    Neal



    yes, i think so. but also i think all these OEM's see the tablet train leaving the station and are desperately throwing out into the market the first product they can engineer, afraid that otherwise they will be left too far behind in the tablet "branding" battle. hence we are seeing a lot of 7" screens even tho they are not going to be big sellers. next year we will see more mature products from them all.



    and there is the "announcement game" too. RIM had to announce its 2011 Playbook yesterday, not because of the iPad as all the stupid "pundits" are pontificating, but because it was afraid its essential base of Blackberry customers might otherwise go for one of these new Android tablets first. RIM knows it has to hold on to its base or die.



    a lot of market tactics going on here.
  • Reply 116 of 129
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by nealg View Post


    The big appeal for this device is that it is not an Apple iPad. Everybody is trying to be first to market with something that is not an iPad to appeal to the anti Apple crowd.



    Neal



    I can't say I grasp the rationale behind an anti Apple stance. Most of the people that I know personally who hate Apple aren't speaking from experience because they've never owned an Apple product. They're convinced Apple is <insert-negative-affectation>. For example, one friend says he doesn't agree with the "closed nature" of the App Store, and I'll ask for how that specifically negatively affects him, and he can't say because he doesn't own any Apple products, but he's opposed to it in principle. He doesn't "want Steve Jobs to choose which Apps I can install". OK, I say, are you against having Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft approving games produced for their completely closed console platforms? Are you against Wal-Mart, Netflix or Blockbuster not selling porn? No, he doesn't oppose it when other companies restrict his choices, just when Apple does. Another friend of mine was dissing iPods as closed: he believed that iPods only worked with iTunes Music Store purchases and therefore could not playback unencrypted MP3 files. Jeez, if one is going to be anti-Apple, at least take the time to get the facts straight! Anyway, I don't think Apple has done anything to deserve the kind of hate they get, particularly those who just repeat the negative press they hear but aren't speaking from personal experience. That kind of rubs me the wrong way, because it isn't a fair judgment, IMO.



    Let them own Dells, if That's what they want.
  • Reply 117 of 129
    hill60hill60 Posts: 6,992member
    The one thing not mentioned so far.



    Android is not ready for tablets.



    The 7" form factor is the largest that they can make a PHONE.



    To enable Google services these Android tablets HAVE to have a cellphone radio, this drives up the cost.



    There is no comparable model to the $499 iPad base model.



    This is what will doom these to failure, meeting this price point while fulfilling Google's requirements that these things have to function as a phone, requiring additional phone network costs.
  • Reply 118 of 129
    nealgnealg Posts: 132member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Suddenly Newton View Post


    I can't say I grasp the rationale behind an anti Apple stance. Most of the people that I know personally who hate Apple aren't speaking from experience because they've never owned an Apple product



    I think there are some who treat the platform wars like religious differences. Their ideas have to be right so everybody else, no matter what the evidence, is wrong. Pretty silly whether you are an Apple nut or a Msft nut. Ignoring the best tools for the job without good reason comes at a price.



    If people have an Android device and have a good number of apps purchased, it may not make sense to try to go with an iPad if the android tablet does what you

    want it to do. To not buy an iPad because Apple makes it, I would agree, doesn't make alot of sense.
  • Reply 119 of 129
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by zindako View Post


    Poor guys, Dell and RIM are both going to fail miserably in the tablet market space, and all this will be a good thing, because it will continue to cannibalize microsofts efforts in the mobile sector, as no one will be striving to put Winmo on their devices.





    why do so many folks on here seem to be pulling for these non apple companies to fail in their efforts? i'm an apple consumer as well. but even mighty apple needs competition. i don't pull for any single company, though i AM partial to apple. i pull for myself to be able to buy neat products at prices i like!
  • Reply 120 of 129
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by nealg View Post


    I think there are some who treat the platform wars like religious differences. Their ideas have to be right so everybody else, no matter what the evidence, is wrong. Pretty silly whether you are an Apple nut or a Msft nut. Ignoring the best tools for the job without good reason comes at a price.



    If people have an Android device and have a good number of apps purchased, it may not make sense to try to go with an iPad if the android tablet does what you

    want it to do. To not buy an iPad because Apple makes it, I would agree, doesn't make alot of sense.



    I suppose so. I personally don't benefit if they buy an iPad, but they made the decision to not like Apple for some ideological reason, then everything Apple does seems to be interpreted through the lens of their prejudice. Ironically, my friend who complained about the App Store being "closed" just got the Samsung Captivate, which (surprise!) doesn't allow sideloading of apps. And AT&T duplicates many of Google's apps with their own inferior versions. Saying he doesn't like Apple's control over Apps and then buying an Android phone that requires rooting to free it from AT&T's control...maybe they should call it the Samsung Ironic
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