Slashdot Mirror
Computex 2010 Tablet PC Round-Up With Video
MojoKid writes "At Computex 2010, devices like the Eee Pad and Eee Tablet were all the rage. Of course the bulk of these were Intel Atom-based systems, but there were a number of NVIDIA Tegra 2-based models in the mix as well. What is glaringly apparent on all of these tablets — and absent on the iPad — are the multitude of connectivity options built into them, like USB ports, flash card readers, and video output ports. Obviously, from a hardware perspective, the iPad is a sexy device; but Apple's true mastery is that of the user interface. The first big player that steps up with something competitive to Apple in that regard will have the pole position in 2010's race for the hot re-emergent tablet market." Reader Raikus adds an opinionated
summary of winners and losers at "Tabletpalooza," i.e. Computex 2010.
I think it would be more accurate to say that Apple already has the pole position (no pun intended), and that any new competitors would be the runner up until proven otherwise.
"The first big player that steps up with something competitive to Apple in that regard will have the pole position in 2010's race for the hot re-emergent tablet market."
Obviously, from a shiny perspective, the iPad is a sexy device; but Apple's true mastery is that of the lack of a user interface.
Fixed that for ya.
1. There is nothing sexy about a crippled CPU with no connectivity.
2. People can't handle choices. If you give them a device with only a few buttons, then it's like a microwave and they're happy.
The first big player that steps up with something competitive to Apple in that regard
Haven't prognosticators been saying this exact same thing for years about the iPod and the iTunes store?
The song goes something like this: "We've got hardware! It's got MIPS and ports and pixels and gigabytes! All we need now is easy to use software. See that word 'easy'? That must mean it's EASY to build."
As a geek, I'm not interested in an iPad because it's missing hardware options, but to the regular consumer the shiny, easy, hip user experience is everything.
Why are you letting these clowns ruin our country?
Seems to come back to a view of the world at this time.
Apples sees it as a pure content delivery device with lock down and photo usb as an afterthought.
Windows was the same with sound, video drm ect.
Your just renting time and buying products on their devices.
I hope other devices have real computer like support.
Webcam to flash to a webpage in real time, tethering, telco options, real software and media options to fit your life, not just fill Apples coffers.
Someone needs to do I am a "Ipad" and I am a Table pc" parody.
Have some fun with how limited, expensive and locked down push-centric devices are.
Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
Considering its only June, its hard to do a comprehensive 2010 roundup.
Read what I mean, not what I wrote.
You must have one of those special iPads, then - the ones Steve Jobs is selling have a Dock Connector Port, though you can hang a cable with a USB connector off of that, or plug into a dock. It's not part of the tablet itself, it's an external device, so it's annoying at best if you're trying to connect things to a tablet as opposed to a desktop-mounted thing. Also, I can't tell from the documentation how many of those things you can use simultaneously - obviously you can't use the Dock-to-VGA cable and the Dock-to-USB cable at the same time, but if you've got the Dock or Keyboard Dock, can you use both the VGA and the USB at once? It doesn't look like it.
With USB, if the device only has one port (boring), you can hang a powered hub off it to support keyboard, mouse, Ethernet adapter, etc, but AFAIK there's no equivalent fanout for Dock ports. So your iPad battery had better be charged up before you use it with an external screen, and you'd better have a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse and Wifi.
It's one thing for Apple to try to use proprietary connectors to keep you locked in to Apple's world. But it's another thing entirely to be Not User Friendly as a result, or to be Ugly and Klunky instead of Insanely Cool-Looking.
Bill Stewart
New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
I'm probably going to get modded down by fan boys for my blasphemy, but...
Lack of USB ports, card readers, and video outputs and the like are features? Seriously!?
You do realize that the reason that there are compatibility issues that exist within the PC world is not simply because of hardware options, but because of the fact that every single piece of the system is customizable. Every piece of hardware, every piece of software, and even the OS can be picked by a user. The more variables there are, the more possibility that there can be unexpected interactions.
However, if you have a locked down platform where you control the OS and the hardware that is present, then the chances of random compatibilities goes down incredibly. That's without even taking into account having control of the software too.
My XBox 360 has more hardware features than my Wii does, and amazingly I haven't had a single compatibility problem with it. My friend has no issues with his DSi, even though it has more hardware features than his old DS. I'm going to take a stab in the dark and guess that if Apple had added additional hardware features to their iPad, then the chances are they'd work without compatibility issues.
I think that one could argue legitimate reasons for exclusion of certain hardware exclusions. I might disagree, but reasonable arguments could be made. However this one just seems silly. I might have a lot of criticisms for Apple, but they seem to do well in quality control; I have faith that they could pull off hardware features that work.
What is glaringly apparent on all of these tablets — and absent on the iPad — are the multitude of connectivity options built into them, like USB ports, flash card readers, and video output ports.
Christ, whats wrong with these people? Make it *NICE TO USE*, and THEN worry about slowly trickling out new features!
Are you really going to take X over Y because it has an IR transmitter? Maybe the Slashdot audience, but certainly not the majority of consumers, you know those people whos money is just as worthy as the tech elite?
Make it nice! Make it lovely, a pleasure to use! I actually imported an iPad, without even seeing one in the metal, and ended up paying EXTRA. And yet, I am wildly happy with my iPad, cannot imagine living without it. Would I want "Tablet Y" even if it were cheaper and had a Serial port? NO! Because every other tablet SUCKS!
I actually fear for the other manufacturers, who have clung to Android. I think its bad to build Google into this all important Super-Company in every market. It means we get locked down into Android...or nothing...because theres no third option.
I hope HP does well with WebOS, the big thing with getting ANY portable computer essential is that its NICE to use! Not some hacked together lump of plastic and ports.
A man with a Netbook came into my work today, he was measuring furniture and entering it onto the HP Netbook. He was pushing a pram, AND holding this open screened Netbook down each aisle, incredibly awkward looking! I couldnt help but imagine how much better using my iPad would be for the task. I could easily hold my iPad in one hand, and tap-type with the other, instead of walking about with this big (it looked huge and flimsy) Netbook with a crappy screen. For each entry, he had to place it on something, and crouch over to type a few numbers into the spreadsheet. I'm sure I can type many times faster on a physical keyboard than my iPads software keyboard, but not in that scenario! How fast are you when crouched over, pecking out keys in a public space? Holding with one hand, tap typing with the other, I would be much more efficient using my iPad in this situation. Of course, a smartphone would have been better yet.
For the love of god Hardware Companies, make NICE products, dont just worry about what never to be used port you can slap on the ugly sides!
What an appropriate Slashdot quote "The truth of a thing is the feel of it, not the think of it. -- Stanley Kubrick"
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"iPad also works with many iPod accessories, such as credit card readers, which is something other tablets can't say."
Yeah, they're stuck with standard USB credit card readers, like you'd use with a PC or even *gasp* a Mac desk/laptop. I bet they cry at night because they can't use the cool proprietary bus.
Anyone who wants bonjour can install it on Windows machines along with quicktimes/itunes/safari, courtesy of Apple's all-in-one installer. Anyone who wants zeroconf in Maemo, at least, just installs avahi. I don't have an Android or WebOS device, but no reason avahi shouldn't work there, too; if nobody's packaged it up, it's because nobody cares, more's the pity.
"There's no shortage of connectivity." only because you spin every bit of missing connectivity as a MOTHERFRAKKING FEATURE! No, making your device too thin for standard ports is NOT a feature -- especially since that thinness does absolutely no good, you can't put it in your pants pocket or anything. And you brag about its "Bluetooth keyboards, audio, and controls.", blithely ignoring it doesn't do bluetooth file transfer? Oh, that's right, because we don't let users play with the filesystem from on the device; that would just confuse them. You have to use iTunes for that; it's a FEATURE!
Forgive me if I find it a wee bit disingenuous to call it a "feature" every time you tell me I can't do something. If Steve Jobs thinks a shiny (or style, or ease-of-use, or whatever) vs. functionality tradeoff is the right thing to do, stand up and say it, but don't pretend that killing functionality is adding functionality. If it's really the right way, YOU DON'T NEED TO LIE ABOUT IT.