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- 1. At 10:28am on 01 Nov 2010, PhilT wrote:
This comment has been referred for further consideration. Explain
- 2. At 10:33am on 01 Nov 2010, NickAlexander wrote:
Hi Rory,
As head of technical support in our organisation i've been trialling an iPad with a view to rolling them out to our entire userbase. What really makes the iPad for me is it's size, its big enough to use Microsft Office 2010 from our cloud platform without having to constantly pan around the screen as you do on smaller devices (email me if you would like to try this out on your iPad) but small and portable enough to take on the road to client meetings etc without having to lug around my usual laptop bag and associated cables.
With cloud technology as it is the find the iPad is the perfect anywhere device, and see it fitting into businesses really well.
Nick
- 3. At 10:42am on 01 Nov 2010, Carniphage wrote:
Screen quality? Viewing angle? Weight? Thickness? Build quality? Battery life?
C.
- 4. At 10:47am on 01 Nov 2010, dempsi1997 wrote:
You keep talking about how poor typing is on the Galaxy Tab, did you ever try using the pre-loaded Swype input system?
Even on the Galaxy S with it's 4" screen it's quick and simple to use so on the larger Tab it should work even better.I would strongly recommend that anyone interested in the Galxy Tab should read GSMArena's in-depth review of it.
- 5. At 10:50am on 01 Nov 2010, D Dortman wrote:
It will be interesting to see if tablet PCs still exist in 5 years.
Currently Apple could bring out a yoyo, label it i-yo and it would still sell millions....... but that doesn't necessarily mean it would last.
Personally I can't see there being both tablet PCs and netbooks around in 5 years and I'm not convinced there will be much of a boom per capita in smartphone/table PC/Netbook/laptop ownership over all... more the same people deciding which is more useful to them.
- 6. At 10:50am on 01 Nov 2010, Mike Mc wrote:
Until Android Tablet manufacturers include accelerometers and GPS in the devices I am not interested. Without this functionality a huge percentage of Android apps wont work. I'll keep waiting until these become the norm rather than the exception.
- 7. At 10:52am on 01 Nov 2010, Maltese Mick wrote:
An operating system that any developer can build for without having to go through rigorous checks from Apple is what is desired.
It's all about freedom, if I want Flash, Divx (as well as other formats), Online gambling and indeed Pornographic material I shouldn't have to hope that it's passed Apple's we-know-what's-best-for-you moral test.
I own Apple devices, they are indeed very smooth and very well designed in general. They just have such control over what you can do on the devices that it completely undermines the experience. It's technology for the masses but not for the enthusiast.
- 8. At 10:53am on 01 Nov 2010, brothbeard wrote:
I still don't get the point of the iPad or similar devices. I've used a tablet PC (HP TC1100) for years and it does everything the iPad does and so much more. I can remove the keyboard and apart from being a bit heavier and chunkier than an iPad it looks pretty much the same. Admittedly the interface works with a pen rather than fingers but even that is so much more useful. I can write stuff! Imagine a MacBook Air with the screen turned round to be on the outside and you have a device that it so much more useful. Getting iPhone/iPad apps to work on such a device can hardly be challenging.
- 9. At 11:00am on 01 Nov 2010, dempsi1997 wrote:
@#6 - Mike Mc: the Galaxy Tab has an accelerometer/3-axis gyro combination and GPS.
- 10. At 11:10am on 01 Nov 2010, andie99uk wrote:
Android (once updated to its newer version) should leave the iPad trailing on these devices.
Will wait for the other two before even looking at purchasing one, but I wont be getting an iPad.
I dont want locking into what I can & cant put on MY machine. Apple make you feel like its on loan to you, not that you own it.- 11. At 11:14am on 01 Nov 2010, Christos wrote:
Rory you do realize I hope that Archos is selling tablets like the iPAD for years now(which are probably better aswell)..
- 12. At 11:38am on 01 Nov 2010, fester61 wrote:
Very dissapointing blogg.
It starts as a review of 3 tablets then reduces to a review of the Galaxy Tab it then fails to provide a review of any sort. As usual it simply degenerated into Rory's favorite freebie vs the rest.
Web test, Samsung wins hands down, as it should, by supporting flash.
Movie viewing you had an issue with the Samsung movie download system and decided that was the Tab's fault????? I've had all sorts of issues with iTunes I haven't blamed the device only the system that demands I use itunes and nothing else. There are many ways of getting a movie onto an Android device none of them terribly onerous.
Book retreival and reading is not a worthy test of anything, any device with a readable screen can perform this function. The Kindle book reader is available for a pile of formats and there are plenty of others.
The Android marketplace just recently has been a total nightmare, however prior to this and now it is working well.
The Samsung wins on mobile form factor, I've sat on crowded commuter trains next to people struggling with the size of the iPad, whilst I sit comfortably using my 5" screened Dell Streak (Android powered) to Browse the web, listen to music, read books, edit documents (YES edit documents), send SMS messages, make phone calls etc..... Increasing the screen size to that of the Samsung would perhaps make all of this a little easier but still be miles better than having to cart an underspec'd heavy lump (iPad) around.
Yes it's expensive, probably overly so but Samsung don't need to undercut the iPad's cost when the Galaxy Tab is immensley superior.
- 13. At 11:45am on 01 Nov 2010, nametheguilty wrote:
The key issue is that people use tablets at home - very few use them as mobile devices.
As such, the iPad is about the minimum size you would want to use - anything smaller is too small.
- 14. At 11:50am on 01 Nov 2010, tomaroon wrote:
5.
"Currently Apple could bring out a yoyo, label it i-yo and it would still sell millions....... but that doesn't necessarily mean it would last."Absolutely.
People are like sheep.
Baaaaaaa.- 15. At 11:54am on 01 Nov 2010, WindsofChange wrote:
I've just been into PC World looking at one of these.
First thing I would say is anybody going into this store is going to dismiss the Samsung outright as it is siting all alone beside the iPads which have a fancy display and its price is the same as the most expensive iPad on display.
I was pleasantly surprised by the performance of the unit but it has the same stickiness in scrolling that my sister's Galaxy S has. Nowhere near as fluid as the iPad.
Otherwise I was pretty impressed but, like Rory, am struggling to think who will buy it at this price and what advantage it offers over a good smartphone. For Satnav, its a good size (it has Google maps) but it means you need a 3G connection all the time, for games it is good. For movies the iPad is much nicer, same with browsing and mail.
One of the sales guys was holding it up talking video when I came in and he looked a right jerk - will anybody ever use it in real life?
One last thing is the Flash - as Rory says, you can play Flash Videos but they are slow to load and, if it is anything like on Android phones, it will hammer the battery life. Likewise Flash heavy sites are slow and hard to navigate.- 16. At 12:09pm on 01 Nov 2010, ShinyDavidHowell wrote:
I've owned a Dell Streak for about three months now; for those unaware, that's a five-inch Android device, which Dell have marketed as a 'pocket friendly tablet', but which most reviewers have argued to be more of a smartphone. I purchased it with the recognition that I could use it as a convergence device, fulfilling the roles of both smartphone and netbook.
It's proven a good fit for my life. My main uses for a portable device are web browsing, instant messaging, GPS (for monitoring my running, and for finding my way through cities while on work-related travel), and music playing. The Streak ticks all boxes - and the form factor is perfect, being just small enough to fit into most of my trouser pockets even in its case. For working on a train or similar, it (unlike any other Android device then available) also supports Bluetooth keyboards - and because the Streak is pocketable, I only need to put my Bluetooth keyboard in a bag.
A friend of mine has recently acquired a Streak, having previously owned an Archos 5 tablet - he has commented upon how much lighter and more usable the Streak is in comparison. Despite this lightness - it's only 1cm thick - it survived a fall out of my shirt pocket onto a cobbled street with only cosmetic damage, although I keep it in its case now, to ensure no repeat!
I can't see how the Galaxy Tab can be more useful than the Streak, and the latter is £130 cheaper SIM-free at this point. The only disadvantage the Streak has is being limited to Android 1.6, but that is at least a stable release, and the lack of Flash is a blessing as much as a curse when on a 500MB data tariff...
- 17. At 12:10pm on 01 Nov 2010, Fwd079 wrote:
I agree with the idea of i-Yoyo by someone here, really true.
I do not see iPad as much of a use in current format, I like Samsung putting something cheaper in market, I sure hope it to impact on market. Not everyone can afford an Apple product you know.
- 18. At 12:11pm on 01 Nov 2010, philgreg wrote:
I don't get why everyone is constantly hating on apple about it being a walled garden. What a load of ROT.
If you are remotely technical, which you'd have to be to care about such things, its very easy to get Movies and books, onto your ipod/ipad/iphone for free without any real issue. My devices arent jailbroken but I have EVERYTHING I need on them, and the device looks good and will always be properly supported...unlike these Droid flash in the pan things. Google get bored of everything they make..so expect droid to go the same way as BSB and Betamax
- 19. At 12:14pm on 01 Nov 2010, Kampernaut wrote:
@Carniphage #3
I too wish Rory had written about those things.
@dempsi1997 #4
Thanks for the reference to the better, more in-depth review.
It will be interesting to see how well this thing sells. Not too well I reckon.
- 20. At 12:16pm on 01 Nov 2010, Sean wrote:
I'm a confirmed iPhone user, and expert PC user, not an Apple freak, as I support Windows based systems. The iPad is too big as a mobile device, the Streak is close but for me the 7" devices hold the most interest, anbd yes I want to use my tablet at home, in the car, at work and mobile at work also. So the Galaxy while hitting the spot spec and size wise fails on the price front, I'd need to see a device at the >£350 mark to get even close to buying
- 21. At 12:16pm on 01 Nov 2010, peneverdant wrote:
What about support for printing?
Not often needed, but for some people a potential show-stopper.- 22. At 12:18pm on 01 Nov 2010, ShinyDavidHowell wrote:
And I see that fester61 has similarly good experiences with the Streak. I've yet to use it for document editing, because I only have a free viewing-only app, but I've found it ideal for commuting too (I'll usually listen to music, surf the web, and talk to friends through an IM app).
For what it's worth, I make calls on the Streak through my headphones, holding the device in front of me (allowing me to surf the web or use other apps during the call to get information relevant to the call).
And to give you an idea of how much brand recognition Apple has, people have regularly asked me "is that an iPad?" when I'm using the Streak for web surfing or IMing. That's the sort of recognition any Android phone struggles to compete with.
- 23. At 12:25pm on 01 Nov 2010, iwinter wrote:
"The sales figures for Apple's shiny plaything then proved the sceptics wrong, and every month technology analysts have been raising their forecasts for the tablet market as a whole."
Sorry Rory, this doesn't seem to reflect the facts. Apple's sales figures for the iPad were below expectation at just over 4 million units sold. For a new product type that's less than stellar, compare that to the sales figures of NetBooks in their first 6 months+ and it looks quite abysmal. It's also worth noting that for Apple, who can usually peddle anything to their most loyal fans it's even worse- even the Apple TV which was a massive flop shifted more units than this.
To declare the skeptics wrong seems rather premature, when it seems there's a good chance they might actually be right. The sales so far show all the signs of being a typical quick Apple fad and nothing more. Apple's products only really take off when they start to be adopted amongst those who are not members of the Apple faithful in decent numbers and the iPad is not managing that right now. I know you get a bit carried away with Apple Rory, but maintain some perspective- just because the iPhone and iPod did well doesn't mean the iPad will, and it doesn't mean Apple's products always do well- the MacBook Air, Apple TV, MobileMe, 3rd gen iPod nano have all been abysmal failures. Apple still gets it wrong more often than they get it right, it's just that when they get it right they really get it right- I don't see that in the iPad right now, and especially not in it's below expectations sales figures.
- 24. At 12:29pm on 01 Nov 2010, Mel0dymaker wrote:
Rory will you please stop talking about the Tablet war. It's nearly getting as old as the "war" on "terror". Your blogs are basically reviews and opinions that are similar to the ones found in What(insert technology here) magazines. I am sorry but I have not read this whole Blog. Mainly because it isn't very interesting. Why has no one on the BBC mentioned anything about in CS5 you will be able to convert Flash to HTML5 ???
A, You call yourself a technology blog ?
B, Talk about missing a big one.It will change the way everything will be done. It will open up the world of HTML5 to flash developers. And also stop the market from being so against itself in terms of the flash debate. It will make everything a little more Open source for the developers that can't be bothered.
Some of the comments made are really funny. I think D Dortmans is the best. Do you ever leave your house ??? I love the Mac haters (PC lovers?) talking about sheep. Have you ever tried using an OS not designed by windows ??? If no were you trying to be Ironic.
- 25. At 12:30pm on 01 Nov 2010, Christopher Clarke-Williams wrote:
Not so long ago Microsoft looked at MacOS, made a commercial version called Windows and by stealing apple's idea made a large fortune. With the iPad perhaps its payback time this idea was largely piloted by Microsoft 8 or 10 years ago but was not a commercial success. The iPad whatever its strengths or weaknesses are does seem to be a money maker.
What goes around comes around.
- 26. At 12:31pm on 01 Nov 2010, nahimgsc wrote:
Well what about the Zoostorm SL8? It has the Microsoft Operating System and you can view flash! What more can you ask for? One of my work fellows got on and it look brilliant!
- 27. At 12:35pm on 01 Nov 2010, Paul J Weighell wrote:
ta for this report. pads look nearly ready for the main business market then? we want free choice of apps, flash, java and long long battery life with loads of usb connects and huge storage all at a commodity cost.
apple cannot provide that and if it is not careful it risks losing out as it did when it kept the mac locked up and wintel took the market away from it.
roll on the price war!
- 28. At 12:35pm on 01 Nov 2010, beckysharpe wrote:
A useful link to a collaborative Google doc on the state of Tablet development http://bit.ly/9BsVNB
- 29. At 12:35pm on 01 Nov 2010, Graphis wrote:
A couple of points:
1) Regardless of manufacturer, the tablet is here to stay, and will revolutionise businesses, once the right apps are available. Just think of all the useless documentation that can be prevented: security guards signing people in daily, for example, with a tablet device, they could scan and confirm a person's ID, which would be linked wirelessly to a central database, and would record their time of arrival and departure without having to write everything down and then store the paper for years. Estate agents, with all their endless bits of info for each property, could have their entire office's files held in one portable device. No, there is definitely a very large niche for a portable device that is somewhere between a smartphone and and a laptop, a device that allows a limited amount of content creation, and thus doesn't require the processing power of a laptop or desktop, but also allows connectivity to a central database or the cloud. It's only people who aren't imaginative enough to see their possibilities who are the naysayers.
2) Flash: the only reason that the other tablets are allowing the use of Flash is so that they can hopefully gain an edge over Apple. They are not actually looking at the technology and seeing what's wrong with it, like Apple are. Apple have looked at Flash very closely, and decided it's a faulty technology. It is, it's terrible. I had hoped that Apple's stance would force Adobe to take another look at Flash and iron out its faults (and maybe they are). But the other OS makers stance is merely going to prolong the replacement of Flash with something better. This is to the detriment of the market. What is better: for individual companies to competitively build cars that can cope with terrible road surfaces, or to collectively improve the road surface? Apple's stance is actually forcing people to look at the whole infrastructure and improve it, to the benefit of us all, rather than simply catering to a poor infrastructure for the sake of a quick profit.
- 30. At 12:40pm on 01 Nov 2010, linuxrich wrote:
There's a very good chance that my next mobile device/tablet/smartphone will be an Android device. I've currently got a Nokia N900 which I anticipate will meet all my out and about needs for some time to come.
I just hope that when the time comes for me to get an Android device, the competitors will have stopped trying to undermine it with despicable legal claims to some completely ridiculous patent. If they concentrate on providing their customers with better quality products and compete fairly, hopefully I won't have to pay Apple/Microsoft tax on my Android device!
- 31. At 12:46pm on 01 Nov 2010, JulesLt wrote:
It's an interesting presumption that Samsung could have undercut the iPad with the Galaxy - it's a similar issue with Android phones themselves - the good ones, like the Galaxy, Desire, Droid - are the same price or higher than the iPhone. Flash 10 recommends at least a 1Ghz ARM CPU - the kind you'll only find on those phones, and something that is still pretty much 'state of the art' for mobiles.
The kind of commodity pricing people are expecting doesn't happen immediately - it took a good 10 years before the standard PC became fast / good enough that people stopped wanting to upgrade because their existing one was junk; at that point the market became about price.
We're not at that point yet - you can clearly see the difference between the Galaxy and early Android phones; ditto the iPhone 4 and the original model.
The interesting thing will be what happens when the cost of the technology becomes very cheap - my guess is that this market will be more like radios and TVs than PCs
- 32. At 12:51pm on 01 Nov 2010, Mel0dymaker wrote:
STOP THE FLASH DEBATE PLEASE
READ WHAT I SAID IN POST 24
- 33. At 12:58pm on 01 Nov 2010, Douglas Daniel wrote:
The screen is fine, the quality reasonable, and I can see people watching downloaded movies on a train, but I'm not clear why they would use this at home - and the evidence from iPad users is 80% of them never take the device out.
Could there be a good reason why 80% of iPad users never take their device out with them? Something like, oooh I dunno, the fact it's too big to be truly portable?
I have to question the sanity of anyone watching films on an iPad in their home - after all, these are not going to be people with a wee CRT TV set, they're going to be people with 42" flat-screen TVs. So you buy your expensive big screen TV, and then you sit on you sofa watching films on a wee handheld screen. Err...
I don't think the market has fully formed for tablets quite yet. I see their market as being people who have previously bought laptops which they've only used for internet browsing at home, watching films on trains and storing their music collection on. Is a 7" screen suitable for these tasks? I dunno - I've not tried one. My only experiences with a tablet device so far have been going to my friend's house to see his brand spanking new iPad, putting it to a video on the BBC news site to show him its very basic failure, and then giggling away to myself at the fact that my wee (free) Android phone is better than his over-priced brick. Still, whether or not 7" is big enough for these tasks, choice is (usually) a good thing, so having a variety of sizes on the market will allow people to buy the right tablet for their needs. As a result, I'm not sure this criticism holds much water.
The price is ridiculous though - one of the things I love about my HTC Desire is that a SIM-free one is half the price of a PAYG iPhone and yet has all the functionality I require. When I do eventually venture into the tablet market, it'll be for a device which is significantly cheaper than an iPad - just as a new laptop with Ubuntu pre-installed undercuts the same laptop with Windows pre-installed, I would expect iPad-like devices with the Android OS to significantly undercut the iPad, to the tune of at least £300.
- 34. At 1:05pm on 01 Nov 2010, And God created Celtic wrote:
Out of curiosity, I just searched "Android Tablet" on Amazon and there seem to be some reasonably well specced tablets from China coming in at around the £150 mark. Am I missing something or does this not make the galaxy tab kind of redundant.
- 35. At 1:17pm on 01 Nov 2010, Graphis wrote:
32. At 12:51pm on 01 Nov 2010, Mel0dymaker wrote:
STOP THE FLASH DEBATE PLEASE-------------------------
Stopping the debate is like burying your head in the sand: it won't make the problem go away.
In fact, the biggest issue over Flash that I can see is over this very website: so come on BBC, pull your fingers out, and ditch Flash. Then everyone can see your videos, and we'll all be happy:)
- 36. At 1:28pm on 01 Nov 2010, definitelyashley wrote:
Owning any apple product is like owning a high performance sports car, that you can only drive on sundays on a track moderated and approved by the manufacturer. Whats the point? Its almost as if you loan out products from them; they are never yours.
If people actually shopped around they would see that competitors products are much more sensibly priced and usually offer a lot more for your money (Samsung, Sony etc). People just blindly follow the crowd as apple is more than a social/fashion statement than a device.
Personally, I think android is the way forward. I myself own a samsung galaxy s and love the fact I'm not limited as to what apps/music/videos I can have, and the fact that I don't have to use a stupid excuse for music software (i-tunes). I can just drag and drop, as simple as that. Also, I don't have to pay for sat-nav software thanks to googles new smart navigation app and maps app.
All in all, sooner or later people will eventually twig that apple are not all they are hyped up to be.
- 37. At 1:30pm on 01 Nov 2010, CarpCarp wrote:
#5 said 'It will be interesting to see if tablet PCs still exist in 5 years.'
Oh, we'll definitely see them, but only in very limited quantities.
Let's face it, these devices embody all the disadvantages of a smartphone (awkward data entry, relatively small screen, no accurate pointing device) without the redeeming features that have made smartphones the success they are...
...which is their small size and dual role.
The iPad purchased by our company for evaluation spends its' life sat on various desks, gathering dust, and getting in the way of more important items (such as coffee cups, and free space), whereas we all carry smartphones as a matter of course. Consequently, it doesn't matter that the iPad has technical advantages over either the HTC Legend or iPhone 3GS that currently live on my desk because I can't just shove it in my pocket and go to the pub. It doesn't matter that I could use the iPad to work out why I'm stationary on the M25 again because it'll be sat 40 miles away, whereas whatever smartphone I'm carrying about will be sat in my pocket because it fits there, and because it's a phone and I carry one of those as a matter of course.
These tablets will, I suspect, go much the same way as the majority of tablet PCs (all the rage a few years back) simply because they're to gutless and specialised to take the place of the genuine laptop, and to large to supplant the mobile phone.
- 38. At 1:36pm on 01 Nov 2010, anotherfakename wrote:
I can't see why a tablet from an established and well regarded manufacturer such as Samsung would need to undercut the Apple device in order to establish itself. There are three ways to go when bringing a device to market:
a) Pitch as cheaper solution than your competitor, this may increase sales or devalue your brand...
b) Pitch at similar price, may be too expensive for some of your target audience but indicates a similar level of performance
c) Pitch more expensive, leaving your competitor looking the cheap alternative, but for this you need to demonstrably better or risk gaining no sales at all.Personally the 'walled garden' is too protectionist for me - I want to watch what ever film I choose and to read whatever website I want - and I don't want someone telling me their software is prevented from doing it.
- 39. At 1:57pm on 01 Nov 2010, Laurence wrote:
@25: that would be great, except that Microsoft started developing Windows before MacOS (or System as it was known then) was first released. In fact, both of them (as well as a host of UNIX base systems) took their ideas from Xerox and PARC.
- 40. At 1:57pm on 01 Nov 2010, zebonsoft wrote:
Carp Carp,
I think the popularity of the iPad has already proved you wrong.
The Android tablets will be even more popular as it will be cheaper and more open.
At home, I'd like a tablet that doesnt take 5 minutes to boot up so that I can check email. A phone is Ok if you're on the move, but at home I'd like a larger screen. A tablet fufills this requirement however niche.
And as sales show, it is a larger market than most people think!
- 41. At 2:06pm on 01 Nov 2010, WelshBluebird1 wrote:
@Douglas Daniel, I'd like to see where you can get a sim Free Desire for £250. Especially so a few months ago when it was still quite new. When I checked last, it was £415 sim free. Not that much cheaper than the iPhone. Although granted that was only a couple of months after it came out.
- 42. At 2:09pm on 01 Nov 2010, DevInDigital wrote:
Rory
The consumer market will support a range of Tablets using different OS but I believe 7" Tablets like the Galaxy TAB will become the most popular size for the domestic market.
Within a year, I expect to see Tablets integrated within car dashboards, via a universal docking station. The 7" will be most popular with woman, as they will be able to slip them into their handbag(s). Larger 10" Tablets like the iPad will be too big for dashboards and handbags.
Perhaps the Enterprise market will require the larger 10" Tablet, we'll see them at Hotel Lobbies, Airport Lounges, Pubs, as well as the Workplace.
Android powered Tablets will have the largest share of the Tablet market within 2 years, despite stiff competition from Apple, Microsoft and RIM.
Driving Android sales will be the integration between Chrome, Google Search, GoogleTV, PowerMeter, Google Maps, AdMob, Playstation, etc, giving Google a strategic advantage over the rest. Android will appeal equally to consumers, tech partners and developers and be adopted by the majority of hardware manufacturers.
There's room for the Slate, iPad, Streak, TAB and all, Tablet adoption will be, as always, down to price. Make enough of them cheap enough and the PC and Laptop are under threat.
@DevInDigital
- 43. At 2:11pm on 01 Nov 2010, RuckMe MaulMe MakeMeScrum wrote:
As a business user, unless I can plug a tablet into a projector at a customer's office and run PowerPoint presentations, the netbook is a far more sensible option.
- 44. At 2:15pm on 01 Nov 2010, uk_is_toast wrote:
#36:
"Also, I don't have to pay for sat-nav software thanks to googles new smart navigation app and maps app."
I hope you don't need to use it abroad, where data roaming charges make Google navigation apps much more expensive than the one off £59.99 for the TomTom app. Or at home, where there's no 3G coverage...
- 45. At 2:22pm on 01 Nov 2010, Graphis wrote:
37. At 1:30pm on 01 Nov 2010, CarpCarp wrote:
'The iPad purchased by our company for evaluation spends its' life sat on various desks, gathering dust...'
So, nobody thought to "evaluate" whether or not you actually needed one for your business, or what it was (and was not) capable of BEFORE purchase, then?
What a waste of money. Doesn't say much about the levels of efficiency in your business, does it?
Personally, if I'm thinking of spending more than £100 on my business tools, I look at all the options very carefully, including whether it's something I really need or not. So, for example, I don't have a smartphone, and currently have no plans for a tablet, and even resisted getting an ordinary mobile until a few years ago, as 95% of my job involves being stationary at my desktop, not travelling around. No need to buy something I'd have little or no use for.
- 46. At 2:32pm on 01 Nov 2010, Laurence wrote:
I think the ride in Tablet adoption will be linked to the rise of Cloud Computing adoption. When users can edit the same document on their desktop in the office, on their laptop when at a client meeting, and on their tablet at home without having to copy it around or make sure all devices are using the same version of software; or when they can play a game on their console, then on their tablet when in the car (as a passenger) then I think you'll see the take-up of tablets grow.
- 47. At 2:38pm on 01 Nov 2010, odysseus_nz wrote:
Here's a business-style test suggestion for you Rory, try the 'PDA-replacement' test, i.e. check your calendar, update some appointments, reply to some e-mails, update some contacts.
As for 7" tablets in general, I just don't see the market for them. 10" like the iPad yes, great for use around the house or workplace. 5" like the Dell Streak, yes, great as a mobile device. 7" seems neither fish nor fowl to me, too big to be portable, too small for sofa-surfing.
On the Dell Streak, just a clarification to the above about the Android version it runs. It originally shipped with 1.6, in the US I believe it is now shipping (or soon will) with 2.1 which will be an OTA update in the UK, and a 2.2 version is on the way. Soon as I get paid, I'm off to get me one :-)
I'm a mobile/remote worker, and in 6 months time I can see myself having my 13" Macbook for mobile work / desktop computing when plugged into my 27" monitor, a 10" tablet for sofa-surfing at home without having to unplug the laptop or burn my lap, a 5" tablet in my bag for mobile surfing and media consumption when I'm out and about or commuting on a packed train, and my super-slim dumbphone that doesn't bulge my pockets or get in the way when out for the night. It's all about the right tool and form-factor for the job at hand, but then I'm lucky I can afford it :-)
- 48. At 2:47pm on 01 Nov 2010, Simon wrote:
@Laurence
"@25: that would be great, except that Microsoft started developing Windows before MacOS (or System as it was known then) was first released. In fact, both of them (as well as a host of UNIX base systems) took their ideas from Xerox and PARC."
No, not really. Go and read this article (http://goo.gl/CXvP) at Folklore.org
- 49. At 3:04pm on 01 Nov 2010, James Hall wrote:
This comment is awaiting moderation. Explain.
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Monday, 1 November 2010
BBC - dot.Rory: Android tablets: Big enough, smart enough, cheap enough?
via bbc.co.uk
