Looks like the ipad is getting some competition

[Balog]

A friend has an ipad, and I have to say it's far more useful than I thought it would be. I'm generally an anti-Apple kind of guy, but playing with that ipad makes me really want one.

So I'm understandably excited at the prospect of the Android-based tablets coming out. Here's one that has especially caught my attention. I love the easily swappable battery!

http://www.tabletpcreview.com/defaul...let+android+os

[MJ5150]

I badly wanted an Android tablet. The only ones I like are from Samsung, and the battery life to me was terrible. I heard rumors of the Toshiba's, but there was no way I could wait that long. So I caved and *gasp* bought me an iPad.

For the record, I now love my iPad and use it extensively everyday. You should check it out if you can't wait.

-Mike

[Selta]

I've played with this one quite a bit, and *almost* bought it. The simple fact that I have no real use for such a device kept me from doing it (damn that voice of reason!):
http://galaxytab.samsungmobile.com/

[MJ5150]

Come on Ray. You don't have to have a use for something to buy it. Just buy it.

-Mike

[Sonic_Death]

I wish companies tried to be more innovative. I feel like once Apple puts out a product, then everyone else tries to mimic it as best they can to try to compete, but really to me, it just detracts from it. I don't want to buy an iPad clone.

Maybe it is just not possible to be creative or original? Who knows.. I am sure someone can come up with a tablet-eqsue item that doesn't look just like an iPad.

[MJ5150]

Why don't you come up with something then?

-Mike

[GregC]

Originally Posted by Sonic_Death

I wish companies tried to be more innovative. I feel like once Apple puts out a product, then everyone else tries to mimic it as best they can to try to compete, but really to me, it just detracts from it. I don't want to buy an iPad clone.

Maybe it is just not possible to be creative or original? Who knows.. I am sure someone can come up with a tablet-eqsue item that doesn't look just like an iPad.

Other than the iPad, I'm hard-pressed to think of a product where Apple was first to market.

The larger point, though, is that most industries have a me-too aspect to them. When a company is first to market with an innovative item, others then try to beat them out by making a better version. Apple did this with MP3 players, IMO, and I'm glad they did.

The only time you'll see a company come out with an new product that no one tries to imitate is when it sucks.

[SoonerMatt]

Until you can show me a tablet that has a full Office suite that's actually effective and efficient, full Flash and Java support, and a precise keypad I'm not sold.

[MakiSupaStar]

Originally Posted by Sonic_Death

I wish companies tried to be more innovative. I feel like once Apple puts out a product, then everyone else tries to mimic it as best they can to try to compete, but really to me, it just detracts from it. I don't want to buy an iPad clone.

Maybe it is just not possible to be creative or original? Who knows.. I am sure someone can come up with a tablet-eqsue item that doesn't look just like an iPad.

But it's very easy to look at an iPad and decide how to make it better to come up with a better product. Look and Homer's Canyonero for example.

[MakiSupaStar]

Originally Posted by SoonerMatt

Until you can show me a tablet that has a full Office suite that's actually effective and efficient, full Flash and Java support, and a precise keypad I'm not sold.

FWIW, the same wireless keypad that you would use on your iMac also connects and works seemlessly on an ipad.

[warnergt]

Competition is good but I'm still skeptical that it can compete. The
Apple iPad has two items that I believe keep it far in front of the pack:
1) Multi-touch technology. Once you get to know this, you can't stand
working with a device that does not have it. Apple has this well locked
up with patents. This Toshiba features a "Multi-touch" display but that
doesn't mean it does what the iPad does because of patent hurdles.
2) An incredible number of apps. No other platform provides a
programming environment that half as consistent or compelling. And
Apple's App Store makes it easy to deliver any programmer's
applications to customers. Apple has an incredible setup here that
keeps it growing faster and faster.

Interestingly, I received an email from a techie friend today with a link
to a new Motorola tablet which they are calling "the iPad killer." They
were able to say this without even seeing a working model.
Toshiba will have to compete with other tablets like this. Consequently,
programmers making applications will have to choose. "Do I support
the Toshiba or do I support the Motorola?" This is an example of the
#2 problem I noted. It is virtually impossible for any new tablet
manufacturer to get the critical mass for success that Apple already enjoys.

[MJ5150]

For point #1, can you explain why the Apple's multi-touch is better? I thought Android had it first, and then Apple came along with it. Are there any touch based devices on the market that do not support multi-touch anyways?

In regards to point #2, this one gets debated all the time, and it's all a matter of opinion. Also, please explain what is so difficult about getting an app to the Android Market over the ease of getting one to the Apple App Store? Here at TalkBass, the TalkBass app was out for Android before Apple and the explanation was they were waiting for approval from Apple.

As for choosing one of the other, an increasing number of developers are making apps for both platforms.

I'm not trying to pick on you, I just hear these kind of claims all the time, and no one seems to provide any evidence that they are factual.

-Mike

[unclekebm]

speech to text ~ Android has it, Ipad doesn't

[DigMe]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

For point #1, can you explain why the Apple's multi-touch is better? I thought Android had it first, and then Apple came along with it.

Really?

The iPhone came out in 2007 before any Android phones and they've had multitouch since the beginning. If I have my facts straight I want to say that it was like a year and a half after the iPhone before and Android phones hit the market.

bc

[MJ5150]

Maybe I am thinking of some other touch feature that Apple just started with. Perhaps multi-tasking then, but I could have swore it was something like multi-touch or pinch to zoom, or something like that.

-Mike

[DigMe]

Originally Posted by GregC

Other than the iPad, I'm hard-pressed to think of a product where Apple was first to market.

IPhone. You could argue that smartphones were around already but when the iPhone came out there was NOTHING like it on the market. Nothing. A year later when the 3G came out there were still no really great competitors. I know this because I had been waiting for a really good competitor and I still wasn't seeing any a year after the fact. That is what drove me to finally buy an Apple product. Look at the mobile device market today. EVERY company has their smartphone that is an iPhone competitor and this whole phenomenon has revolutionized so many things and caused so many people and companies to change the way they do things.

They were absolutely the first to market with THIS type of device that we still call a smartphone but that is unlike anything that came before it.

bc

[DigMe]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Maybe I am thinking of some other touch feature that Apple just started with. Perhaps multi-tasking then, but I could have swore it was something like multi-touch or pinch to zoom, or something like that.

-Mike

Nope. It always had pinch-to-zoom from the very beginning. You may be thinking of copy-and-paste. That was a basic thing it should have had from the beginning.

bc

[Selta]

Multi-touch displays have been around since the 70s... Apple was just the first one to bring it to the masses. Pierre Wellner is actually commonly considered the father of how we use touch displays currently, and his work dates back to 1991...

[NateS]

Originally Posted by SoonerMatt

Until you can show me a tablet that has a full Office suite that's actually effective and efficient, full Flash and Java support, and a precise keypad I'm not sold.

good luck if your looking for Apple. That's why I like Android, my phone has better internet than any iOs device, and I have a form of 4G.

[NateS]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Maybe I am thinking of some other touch feature that Apple just started with. Perhaps multi-tasking then, but I could have swore it was something like multi-touch or pinch to zoom, or something like that.

-Mike

Multitasking? Does iOs even have that yet? I dunno...