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5" Android Tablet $155

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Re: 5" Android Tablet $155

#41
post #17
post #12

And this is why Steve Jobs sees Android as a direct attack against Apple: these devices (which Apple would like to sell at a high margin) can be made really cheap in a world of commoditized hardware (thanks, Microsoft!) and free software (thanks, Google!). Edit-reply: while Apple can try to split off a premium market as it did with PC's, this is going to be a lot harder (and the premium market will be lot smaller) wh…

From the specs, it's not multitouch (a significant feature). From the video, it was stuttering on just scrolling the application lists. It may be a competitor to the iPad / iPod Touch, but it's not a serious competitor. Apple still has the "premium" edge on it, their market doesn't seem likely to be overly affected. An Android tablet definitely appeals to me more than an iPad, for software purposes, but I'm not one o…

More than not multitouch, it's a resistive (rather than capacitive) touch screen, so you can only reliably use it with a stylus (which is included.)

Which is a bit of a downer, cos I was thinking of getting one to mount one in my car. Also, AFAIK, there isn't any good free handwriting recognition on Android yet, so you may be stuck tapping an on-screen keyboard with a stylus.

Re: 5" Android Tablet $155

#42
post #28
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No accelerometer either. I'm not sure how it knows whether to display in landscape or portrait. Says that it's "controlled by software".

Might just have a button that you have to press, which after trying to use my iphone while laying on a couch might be nice.

As a note to that, the iPad has a hardware rotation lock switch.

Re: 5" Android Tablet $155

#43
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a 7" screen sized one as well: http://hott.net.cn/EN/Channels/Products/showDetail.asp?objID... video of the device: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXmWFn2m4Rk (bad video, but it still gives a good idea of what it can do) That's $92 without flash, import duty and so on, so the price will go up considerably by the time you have one in your hands.

So how well can you type on these things, is it possible to do some coding?

I figure for a small email, you could probably use the screen.

Anything beyond that and you'll have to find a way to graft on a keyboard. Usb or bluetooth ?

For real coding I'd do it with a cross development kit, which is how most phone software development is done.

Re: 5" Android Tablet $155

#44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think a free operating system in the mainstream is going to make it any harder for Apple to keep their premium market. Yes, it allows manufacturers to cut their prices even lower, but, just like in the PC market, Apple isn't competing at the volume end. It won't be hard for other manufacturers to enter the tablet space. Competing with the iPad's integration, build quality, and usability, though, will be.

Oh yes it will. Apple nearly went bankrupted, mostly because even if the hardware was good, their Mac OS was a piece of shit that started paling in comparison to Windows NT, OS/2 or even newcomers like BeOS, while Win 95 gave you approximately the same value but with increased compatibility with older / current apps. They can't keep their premium market if you can get the same quality for a lower price and a lot more…

"same quality" would be the key word there. Google has yet to show that they can deliver anywhere near the quality of the iPhone OS as far as user experience is concerned.

Re: 5" Android Tablet $155

#45
post #28
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No accelerometer either. I'm not sure how it knows whether to display in landscape or portrait. Says that it's "controlled by software".

Might just have a button that you have to press, which after trying to use my iphone while laying on a couch might be nice.

I read (I think on DaringFireball) that the iPad will have an orientation lock switch, which will prevent it from rotating.

Re: 5" Android Tablet $155

#46
Apple products are about experience, that's what they really sell. Hardware and software are perfectly tailored to works seamlessly with each other. And for sure it isn't a free OS that let other companies undercut Apple's price.

Re: 5" Android Tablet $155

#47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think a free operating system in the mainstream is going to make it any harder for Apple to keep their premium market. Yes, it allows manufacturers to cut their prices even lower, but, just like in the PC market, Apple isn't competing at the volume end. It won't be hard for other manufacturers to enter the tablet space. Competing with the iPad's integration, build quality, and usability, though, will be.

Oh yes it will. Apple nearly went bankrupted, mostly because even if the hardware was good, their Mac OS was a piece of shit that started paling in comparison to Windows NT, OS/2 or even newcomers like BeOS, while Win 95 gave you approximately the same value but with increased compatibility with older / current apps. They can't keep their premium market if you can get the same quality for a lower price and a lot more…

What on earth are you talking about?

Apple nearly went bankrupt until Steve Jobs came on board again.

Yes Steve Jobs will eventually quit and yes that might be a challenge that might even lead to their demise.

But Steve Jobs will be leaving something very valuable behind.

A rock solid digital ecosystem that is only starting to show it's strength.

Re: 5" Android Tablet $155

#48
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh yes it will. Apple nearly went bankrupted, mostly because even if the hardware was good, their Mac OS was a piece of shit that started paling in comparison to Windows NT, OS/2 or even newcomers like BeOS, while Win 95 gave you approximately the same value but with increased compatibility with older / current apps. They can't keep their premium market if you can get the same quality for a lower price and a lot more…

"same quality" would be the key word there. Google has yet to show that they can deliver anywhere near the quality of the iPhone OS as far as user experience is concerned.

Yeah, but Google is not know for poor quality of its software. And as far as hardware quality goes ... there are mobile manufacturers that can deliver it (HTC, Motorola, Samsung, Nokia).

Surely Apple has control of the full stack, but it's not like history isn't repeating itself :-)

Re: 5" Android Tablet $155

#49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're wrong. Apple does care and does want to sell the most products in the world. If it didn't, it wouldn't challenge technology that another company develops that's similar to their own; they'd let it go because they build the better product anyway.

If it wanted to sell most products it would not only lower it's prices significantly it would also produce much more products. Challenging competitors is among some of the things companies do. That doesn't mean they fear them.

[deleted]

Re: 5" Android Tablet $155

#50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh yes it will. Apple nearly went bankrupted, mostly because even if the hardware was good, their Mac OS was a piece of shit that started paling in comparison to Windows NT, OS/2 or even newcomers like BeOS, while Win 95 gave you approximately the same value but with increased compatibility with older / current apps. They can't keep their premium market if you can get the same quality for a lower price and a lot more…

What on earth are you talking about? Apple nearly went bankrupt until Steve Jobs came on board again. Yes Steve Jobs will eventually quit and yes that might be a challenge that might even lead to their demise. But Steve Jobs will be leaving something very valuable behind. A rock solid digital ecosystem that is only starting to show it's strength.

This is getting ridiculous.

Apple was quite successful in the late eighties / early nineties, when Jobs wasn't even on board. Notable product from that time is the Macintosh portable (a friend got a hold of one, and it's pretty sweet :)). Later, their strategy on licensing Mac OS to third parties was actually profitable, but it wasn't enough (too little, too late).

I know you love Steve, he was a part of the rebirth. But let's focus on facts, shall we? ... I see far fewer appraisals for the engineers behind their miracle ;)

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