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Google Unveils Android 'Honeycomb' Tablet
adeelarshad82 writes "Google Mobile Platform VP Andy Rubin unveiled the very first Android 'Honeycomb' tablet. While very few specs were released about the device, it is said to be a sleek, black, Motorola tablet that is roughly 10" and runs a NVidia dual core CPU. The device has a very clean homepage and the app page looked almost Apple iPad-like. In fact, the Gmail app looked almost exactly like Gmail on the iPad. According to Andy Rubin, Honeycomb should release some time next year, and most major OEMs planning on building Android tablets have expressed interest in using this version of the Android platform."
This is excellent news! I love that Google creates these devices that jumpstart the industry to doing their own versions. Great job, Google!
Give me these four things, and I'll buy it in a second:
1. Wireless-N
2. Built-in Bluetooth (think external controller used for emulators and games.)
3. SDHC card slot
4. At least one standard USB slot (preferably USB 3.0, but even 2.0 would be fine...just so long as it's a standard port without any proprietary nonsense.)
For the love of Jim Darkmagic, PLEASE FREAKIN' INCLUDE THESE FOUR THINGS.
Living With a Nerd
Honeycomb's big, yeah, yeah yeah!\
[with apologies to Post cereals and to Hermes from Futurama]
General Relativity: Space-time tells matter where to go; Matter tells space-time what shape to be.
just a large android, too awkward to use as a phone, too big to carry around, what's the point?
Exactly my reaction to iPad when Apple announced it. I was wrong, there are plenty of uses for a tablet form factor. Two in my immediate world: 1) A computer that fits in the flap of my camera back to which I can upload photos for in-the-field high res slideshow. 2) A touchscreen program controller for my synth keyboard.
With a bluetooth keyboard and stand, should be perfectly able to replace a netbook or laptop for road trips. Subject to replacing lame Android interface with a real desktop like KDE of course.
Have you got your LWN subscription yet?
but the app page looked almost Apple iPad-like. Plus, when Rubin brought up the Gmail app, it looked almost exactly like Gmail on the iPad.
Seriously? Gmail app looked a lot like a Gmail app - but on the iPad?
Wow! How does that compare to the likeness to say... Gmail?
Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
So, at roughly ten inches...
Android Honeycomb's big, yeah yeah yeah! It's not small, no no no...!
Honeycomb's got, well, some interesting features.
Engadget has the video.
Except for the fact that netbooks are cheap and not limited. While undoubtedly you are going to be able to do more with the Honeycomb tablet than an iPad and it will be cheaper, netbooks still are the way to go for laptop replacements. I can buy a netbook for a bit less than $300 that can do most of the things a tablet can do for a lot cheaper.
Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
unvieled? WTF, it's unveiled.
In juxtaposition to the new Google tablet featuring "NVidia dual core CPU", just a few /. stories prior is a link to John Carmack opining "In the not-too-distant future, we're going to be seeing multicore on mobiles" in reference to gaming capabilities.
Interesting times.
Can we get a "-1 Wrong" moderation option?
I was also confused, so I did some research. Turns out, most people clean themselves -- soap, showers, shampoo, brushing teeth, trim their hair, etc -- on a regular basis. It helps to avoid looking and smelling like a homeless person.
Do you even lift?
These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.
too big to carry around
Honeycomb's Big!
Yeah yeah yeah!
It's not Small!
No no no!
Yes, please do not use your jaws, everyone knows Honeycombs tear the shit out of the roof of your mouth.
I thought that was Captain Crunch? Err, the cereal, not the phreak...
Anyway, I came to the joke thread to ask whether this new device might start a new trend of hexagonal tablets.
Apple sells a camera kit. Basically it gives you a pair of dongles that connects to the Apple connector for thirty bucks -- one for SD, one for USB. Voila, tablet with SD slot. You can then offload from your camera.
A Micro SD -> SD adapter is an exercise for the reader.
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
Gmail app even uses several letters invented by Apple. And if you squint your eyes enough, Google logo looks exactly like Apple's.
Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
Developers are getting concerned about fragmentation of the Android platform. If users all have different versions, then it makes it hard to gets apps to those users.
I think the solution is to encourage the hardware OEMs to allow people to flash new versions of Android themselves, or Google/OHA needs to work with them to get the newest versions on all the hardware as soon as possible.
At least with my iPhone, I know I'm going to get all the iOS updates. If you buy an Android phone, there is a good chance you aren't going to get updates to the newer versions of Android.
http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
Maybe the Apple IPad camera adapter: http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC531ZM/A?fnode=MTc0MjU4NjE&mco=MTcyMTgxODY Which allows for SD card or USB connection.
For $450 you can buy a decent convertible netbook/tablet that does both.
http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
They are indeed making SOCs which contain a CPU. The one mentioned in the summary is almost certainly a tegra 250. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nvidia_Tegra
-1 overrated isn't the same thing as "I disagree".
Please, do not say "yet another tablet"; finally we have a serious iPad rival.
Do you? I sorta got the impression that this is a prototype and not generally available yet. It's a teaser ...
It sounds like something not ready for production, and, I wonder what kind of battery life it has -- a dual core tablet might not have a great battery life. I think trying to cram a desktop into a tablet just gives you a heavy tablet with crappy battery life.
Anyway, no matter what tablet people end up buying ... consumers simply weren't buying tablets in any meaningful numbers before the iPad. Now that a lot of companies are following suit, I expect it to start to become a very prominent form factor, no matter who makes it.
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
Jeezus! Another useless press release. Wake me up when the thing hits the shelf.
Count how many times the phrase "show off" is used. *GAG!*
For justice, we must go to Don Corleone
Apple sells a camera kit [...] for thirty bucks
Of course if it had a USB socket in the first place -- and some very standard drivers -- you could use a generic MicroSD adapter for $5.
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
MSIE: The world's most standards-complaint web browser.
Well, Android devices are required to have an SDHC card slot: it's part of the spec. Most devices have a micro USB slot for charging, and it can be used to connect the device to a notebook or desktop PC as a USB storage device, a USB camera, and a USB wireless modem, depending on mode. In theory, you probably could use the Micro-B port, which is a standard Micro-B port, on Android devices to power USB peripherals, but Google doesn't ship any USB drivers. In theory, I'm guessing that you could compile a Linux kernel module and get it on a rooted device, but I am uncertain as to how that would work and I doubt you could access it using the Android API. The USB device would have to be self-powering as well, since the port doesn't supply power.
All Android devices I've seen also have built-in Bluetooth, so that shouldn't be a problem in the tablet. WIreless-N is the only thing I'm not sure about. I'm pretty sure my wife's EVO 4G only supports WIreless-G, but I could be wrong about that.
My blog
Maybe you haven't heard, but apple has blocked this feature with ios 4.2.1. Too much power is what they claim....
I have to confess, I find this incredibly amusing.
Sigs are for the weak.
The big advantage to the iPad for me is that it lasts all day on battery with just about constant usage. I know that it is always available if I need it without needing to find an outlet. I sometimes go 2 days without charging it. That nvidia dual core CPU I have a feeling will drain the batteries pretty quickly when something makes heavy use of it. I sure hope they put a big battery in it. If they do I would probably end up getting one. If it only lasts 5 hours on battery under medium use then it will be useless to me.
the app page looked almost Apple iPad-like. Infact the Gmail app looked almost exactly like Gmail on the iPad
Uhh, that means the app looks GOOGLE like, since they MADE both apps... It was their choice - not Apple's - to make it look the way it looks. I guess tech writers have bought in to the whole "the world is Apple is the world" cult mentality after all...
Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
just a large android, too awkward to use as a phone, too big to carry around, what's the point?
Let me guess, 8 months ago saying "just a large ipod, too awkward to use as a phone, too big to carry around, what's the point?", and you still don't get the point. Well, maybe it's time to buck up and accept that not everyone sees the world through your particularly focused tunnel vision. iPads seem to be selling marginally well, so maybe there's a point after all.
That would be quite welcome, but if ditching the display port meant gaining a USB port (or even an additional one) or an SDHC slot, I would gladly trade it away.
My little HSG X5A (a 7" tablet running Eclair) has:
1. One full size USB port
2. One mini-size USB port
3. One mini-size HDMI port
4. One 3.5mm audio jack
5. One SDHC card slot
Items 1 through 4 live on one short end of the device (along with the power jack and the power button); the SDHC slot is on one of the long sides. The other short side and the other long side are empty. There's plenty of room on a 7" - and thus more than enough room on a 10" - for your entire wish list of connectivity.
Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
*laugh* Really? That is kind of funny.
I guess it's not something I've ever cared about trying -- if I fill my 8GB card in my camera, I have a couple of spare 4GB cards, and if I fill those, I can scavenge a couple of 2GB ones from my older camera. If I realistically expected to be taking the 2K + images that implies, I'd make sure to buy another 8+ GB card.
Definitely not defending bad support for USB/SD after the upgrade, but, I use my cameras and my iPad for different things. However, I'm sure for some people, this is a huge pain in the ass.
Personally, I've found the WiFi to be much flakier after the upgrade. Which is a bit of a pain in the ass.
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
Counterpoint: 10" is not ginormous enough! I still want one of the 5 foot high Android display phones they had at their trade show booths in the early days! Until then, I shall never be, uh... satisfied.
Except for the fact that netbooks are cheap and not limited. While undoubtedly you are going to be able to do more with the Honeycomb tablet than an iPad and it will be cheaper, netbooks still are the way to go for laptop replacements. I can buy a netbook for a bit less than $300 that can do most of the things a tablet can do for a lot cheaper.
The netbook/laptop format is most certainly limited. They're nearly unusable while standing or walking, and very awkward to use while sitting but not at a desk. So while you CAN buy a netbook for $300, it can do most of the things an ipad can do, except the things that it can't do or do as well. Those applications are what the slate format excels at, and individuals can decide if those applications are worth the expense.
Pretending the slate form factor is useless because it's not exactly the same as a laptop is just ignoring the obvious.
For $450 you can buy a decent convertible netbook/tablet that does both.
yes, it does both less well than either of each. Convertibles give you all the bulk and weight of a laptop, combined with an OS that wasn't designed for tablet use. What's not to love?
After you spent even more money to get accessories that are already present on every other device in the market. Slashdotters aren't happy with the device because it adds completely unnecessary hurdles to use, a USB port with USB host on it would solve the vast majority of complaints. Of course this is why competitors advertise the fact that they have USB so you can hook any old USB keyboard without the need to buy unnecessary adapters. I give Apple credit for creating an accessory industry out of nothing. Why people keep buying Apple products and the proprietary connectors they use I'll never fully understand when the Archos or APad are far more useful, cost less, and come in a variety of sizes. When the iPad first came out I could understand it, but these day? Hell no
It's not about GNU Hurd, or the latest kernel or old Amiga software. I have no use for those on my tablet.
However, when I buy a piece of hardware .. i'm not buying a lifestyle, or an experience or a free pass into all the latest fashion events.
I'm buying hardware. Just that.
I don't want to change my life to work around this hardware's limitation. I don't want to do things the "apple way". I want to do things just the way I LIKE to do things.
Currently, apple doesn't give me this freedom of choice.
For me, buying an Apple product is just like using GNU Gnome. They might think they know what's good for me, but they don't really.
Regardless, i'm disgusted by the greediness and the closed nature of the company. The hardware and software are brilliant, but they could be so much more had they been open and let users do whatever they want. They could easily take over the market had the iPhone been an open platform that users can change and tweak every aspect of. Wait, you're a granny who doesn't care about these things and want you stuff to "just work"? then don't change them! But give me the choice, because I DO want to customize things!
It all comes down to choice. I like making my choices. You prefer apple to make them for you.
Sigs are for the weak.
If you had a USB socket in the first place, you wouldn't need to buy anything because most cameras come with a cable to plug them right into USB ports. If it came with an SD adapter you could put it on also. But it doesn't come with either and you have to pay $30 (+shipping) for having one OR the other.
It's got WiFi, and I've got Dropbox.
So what do you do when you don't know the WEP key or WPA key of any of the Wi-Fi APs around you? Or when you're riding in a vehicle? That's when USB storage support becomes useful. Perhaps these cases apply to you less often than to me though.
Not necessarily true. You have the bulk/weight of a netbook when using it as a netbook. How is that a disadvantage?
You can load any apps/software you want, have a full keyboard, USB slots, etc.
And many of the convertible netbooks/tablets change the OS interface when in tablet mode. When you remove the screen and tablet you leave the weight of the netbook behind.
You have the best of both worlds. Why is that bad?
http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
There are also the Eyefi SD cards out there that use wifi and will transmit the pics to a storage device. I recently saw a video from a professional photog that used an iPad wirelessly (and a bit of software) to show the client the pics he was taking right as he was taking them. Being a bigger screen you can also see how well the shot was captured and details the small camera screen can't show you easily.
After you spent even more money to get accessories that are already present on every other device in the market. Slashdotters aren't happy with the device because it adds completely unnecessary hurdles to use, a USB port with USB host on it would solve the vast majority of complaints.
The only complaints I have heard are from people trying to do things that they shouldn't expect to be able to do. Honestly, an iPad is a giant iPhone. It's limited. If you really really want a USB/firewire/ability for linux kernel, buy a netbook. Sure, smaller screen size, and usually no touchscreen, but they are also on average about $200-$300 cheaper than an iPad.
IMO if you buy an iPad you should realize that it is limited, and consider that before putting down the cash.
All the world's a CPU, and all the men and women merely AI agents
It's not that I don't want to make choices ... it's that most of the "choices" I see defended here on Slashdot ... well, to be frank, I don't give a damn about them. Exercise the choice to buy it or not ... and then get over what the rest of us do with it.
Like I said, if you want the "freedom" and the "choice" to install Hurd or some other obscure thing, and if you want to obsessively fiddle with kernel parameters and mount your own filesystems in new and creative ways or do any manner of wacky things ... then, you're absolutely right, a device made by Apple isn't for you.
Apple knows that you're not their market. But the big wide consumer market is made up of people who don't have any interest (or, indeed, the knowledge) to do the kinds of things you want to. They don't want to compile a kernel, or change their window manager. They just want to touch the screen and have what they expected to see appear. Having all of those options you want largely increases the odds of messing up the device.
After using computers for almost 30 years ... well, there's just some things I don't care about doing for the most part. I can if I have to, but for a device which is primarily used for entertainment, I have no interest.
However, thanks to Apple, people are now at least making additional tablets that do give you the freedoms you want. While still leaving the rest of us the freedom to buy the one that we don't need to do that with.
Until recently, a tablet was an expensive, niche item which few people could fathom. Google wouldn't be introducing this if Apple hadn't demonstrated that people are willing to buy them.
So, run wild. Buy another tablet that suits your needs. Enjoy it. Fiddle with it. Fuck up the operating system and have to reinstall from scratch. Whatever floats your boat. :-P
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
It requires effort on Apple's part to make these things changeable and tweakable. That's effort on top of the effort to get it to "just work". They appear to have come to the conclusion that they get better results, however they judge that, by spending those resources on different work and features rather than adding reconfigurability to existing features.
Some companies do enough work to get the system working. Others get it working and then spend effort adding the kind of configurability you want. Apple does gets it working and spends extra effort on it's style of polish. I can't think of anyone that does both Apple's type of UI polish and high configurability. Each of these companies is doing what they feel is worth most to them and at least indirectly what it feels it can use to appeal to customers.
Each style offers the companies and customers trades offs between different values and everybody makes different decisions based on their preferences.
We're talking about transferring photos from cameras. It's obviously an attractive use case: go on holiday with your camera and iPad. The existence of the $30 Apple camera dongle demonstrates that it's a use case Apple recognised.
do more with the Honeycomb tablet than an iPad and it will be cheaper
While there are certainly cheaper tablets out there running Android in the 7" form, I'm guessing their utility is much less than the 10" iPad as in, at least reviews I've seen, the closest competitor is the Galaxy Tablet and it is more expensive actually than an iPad.
I think you will find it is the other way around, Apple spends more effort on locking things in than leaving the platform open.
You need to realize, a platform is open when one creates it.. it takes special engineering to make it "locked". It's way more effort to lock it! so surely, it's not a trade-off like you're trying to present it.
As a software and hardware developer, I can assure you, that adding "proprietary" connectors and lock-in security measures is much more difficult than using standard stuff and not bothering with "preventing users from jail-breaking their phone".
Sigs are for the weak.
But, you still need to be connected to a wifi network of some kind, no??
It's not like you could take the iPad and the Eyefi SD card in the middle of nowhere and have them pair, is it? That would be fairly cool if you didn't need to be near an access point.
I can absolutely seeing this being something pros would like.
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
Why? When you can buy an Archos for half as much and achieve all of the same functionality and them some and in the same easy to use interface. People bought iPads because they were really easy to use, much like the iPhone. The Archos has the same strengths. They are computers for people who aren't technical.
My sister is an artist and completely computer illiterate, she can quite easily take the card out of her camera and put it in the Archos or she can even directly attach her camera, she can even print!
There's no reason to make apologies for Apple, they purposefully limited their hardware to force people to buy accessories, it's a great strategy from a business standpoint as there are a great many people who are happy to live with the limitations of the software despite the hardware being capable of much much more.
From what I've seen, most other companies have chosen to offer various sizes rather than forcing everyone into a single mold, all while charging less. Eventually this will hurt Apple as they will have to move fast to keep up and large companies have a bad habit of moving slow.
The Woz?
I drank what? -- Socrates
Been playing with one. 3/4ths as good as an iPad (twice as good in some respects...) at half the price.
Best Slashdot Co
Why? When you can buy an Archos for half as much and achieve all of the same functionality and them some and in the same easy to use interface.
I am wondering if you even read my post... That's exactly what I said in the last line.
My point is that it's ridiculous to complain about the things that the iPad can't do because it's not meant to do those things.
All the world's a CPU, and all the men and women merely AI agents
Net books are clearly better value, but not everyone is looking for the cheapest possible way to get on the Internet. Not everyone needs a laptop while they are travelling either.
Slates can be very pleasant to use for browsing the Internet, reading mail and reading books, they probably do a lot nore a you think, and they're typically lighter and get better battery life than net books. If you have disposable income and those things have value for you, you may find one worth the money. Of course, if you can only afford one computer, or wish to do a lot of writing/typing while you travel, a tablet would at present be a foolish choice. That may change as interfaces and apps improve though and Bluetooth acccessories more widespread.
I guess the lesson is that not everyone has your precise requirements or priorities. This response was typed on a tablet.
lol USB, how quaint.
I think you missed my point, people don't buy an iPad realizing they can't print, they buy it because someone showed it to them and they liked the interface for browsing the web although they didn't realize the lack of Flash so if they are car people they will have a lot of trouble viewing those sites.
People buy Apple products these days and expect to have to pay extra to get adapters when it's completely unnecessary. This is not rational. Of course populations of people usually aren't rational so I guess that's neither here nor there.
Oh, sure, the tablet's here to stay, until they figure out a way to mold a computer onto a flexible display only .25 mm thick. Then where will you be, with your over weight clumsy tablet that you can't even roll up and use as a straw?
I drank what? -- Socrates
The only vehicle I have ever used my iPad in is an airplane.
Let me guess: you drive a car. I use my netbook more often because I ride the bus to and from work and to and from the store.
As a matter of fact, I can't even think of a situation in which I would want to be using a USB stick in a vehicle
So I want to transfer data from a desktop PC to a portable device, but I don't have the time to turn on both my desktop PC and my netbook and set up a shared folder before my ride leaves. In this case, I'd put all the files on a USB flash drive, get on the bus, and then copy the files to my netbook.
They limited the output to 20 mA from the previous 100 mA - this means that unpowered USB devices that could previously work with the power available through the dock connector may not work now. I've heard nothing to indicate any cameras are affected, since they have their own onboard batteries. It's the keyboards, mice, and other USB-powered things which may not work.
Unintended side effect may be that this will prompt manufacturers to find ways to reduce the power requirements of their USB devices, which will mean better battery life for any device that uses them.
I'd like to see this (finalized) OS in a 7" tablet. Anyone know if the Samsung Galaxy Tab will be upgradeable to 'Honeycomb'?
#DeleteChrome
Well, I will still be overweight and clumsy. And, I don't generally drink from straws.
I don't foresee that being a big issue. ;-)
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
Maybe you didn't want to look?
http://store.apple.com/us/reviews/MC531ZM/A?mco=MTc2MTYyMjE
It does not recognize any of my camera's (Canon, Leica)
Won't work on Canon 20D
I have two cameras. A canon Digital Rebel and a Samsung ES55. This camera adaptor didn't work on none of both models.
I plugged in my Canon 7D, it didn't work!!!!
Only thing that worked was my Gf's Sony camera and my iPhone. This thing is useless!!!!
Should I continue or can you read the reviews for yourself?
Stop making excuses for Apple. I wouldn't be making ones for google if they'd screw up!
Sigs are for the weak.
Although they work, using a 7" tablet screen is a lot easier than using a netbook. We have been testing the Galaxy Tab here for a few weeks now and it shows a lot more potential for on the road use than the netbooks we have in the field.
The only problem is the Tab's price point, which is too high. I'm very interested in the new Archos tablets - if only they came with a possible 3G/4G connection in addition to the wifi.
First I've seen about cameras not working - the report I read focused on unpowered USB devices, and didn't mention issues with cameras, though obviously it sounds like some people are seeing issues there as well.
It's not "making excuses" for them to explain what the change was - the decision was to limit the power emitted from the dock connector to 20 mA, where it was previously limited to 100 mA. The behavior being reported is that an error message is now popping up saying "this device requires too much power." Anything trying to draw more than that will be unable to, and will thus not function properly.
Alot of the newer mobile phones can throw up an access point, with or without internet connection. He is probably shooting with his camera and cellular hotspoting it to a webservice (Flickr, Picasa web albums) etc., and then pulling down the pics on the Ipad.
Good-bye
Wow ... nothing but net. :-P
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
I guess if you're road work is surfing the net. If your work requires any kind of typing outside of inputting URLs and doing 2 line responses to e-mails, a netbook is better in every possible way.
Wise men say, "Forgiveness is divine, but never pay full price for late pizza."
Actually no, you don't need a typical wifi spot. Though you do have to have a jailbroke iPad. You load one of the several connection sharing apps like MyWi on it which turns it into a wireless router your EyeFi can connect to.
Not sure all the details but another app allow you to load the received pics directly so you end of having the iPad be a remote viewer for your camera pics.
Have you used a netbook? The keyboard is incredibly small the point that your hands have to fight for position. The screens are oblong and require that you squint to see exactly what is happening on your screen. When is the last time you used one hand to operate a netbook?
A tablet allows you hold it using one hand, it's lightweight, and writing an email is simple using Swype. You can hold it at a comfortable distance and don't require a desk or table to operate it.
Believe it or not, some companies actually develop applications based on their employee needs and the form factor of a 7" tablet is perfect for someone who is mobile.
Found a post that describes it: http://lifehacker.com/5678555/set-up-your-digital-camera-for-wireless-and-router+free-ipad-tethering
Nope, see my lifehacker link above. No web connection is necessary. Though you do need a jailbroken iPad which is dead simple these days.
http://lifehacker.com/5678555/set-up-your-digital-camera-for-wireless-and-router+free-ipad-tethering Tells how to do it either with a wifi connection (say in a studio or at home) our w/o if you are remote with no connection.
When is the last time you used one hand to operate a netbook?
At least twice a day.
APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
motorola has a habit of making android phones and then not keeping their oses up 2 date. not sure how other cell makes are, but this happens. Does it run stock android or does it have motobloat, er motoblur?
Only 'flamers' flame!
Does slashdot hate my posts?
Not necessarily. There are convertibles where the screen just lays down, and there are some where the screen detaches and turns into a tablet.
Hence I said "remove the screen".
Then again, reading is hard.
http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
I thought that was Captain Crunch? Err, the cereal, not the phreak...
In that case you're thinking of Cap'n Crunch. The phone phreak is Captain Crunch.
In general, it is safe and legal to kill your children. -- POSIX Programmer's Guide
Sure you can buy a netbook/tablet for that price .... that runs *Windows*. Been there, done that. It's not that Windows 7 is a bad UI for a netbook, but adding tablet features to a mouse oriented UI doesn't work in almost the worst conceivable way: it works well enough that you're tempted to try it, but not well enough that you don't end up cursing it.
I've got a IdeaPad netbook/tablet convertible. Does it work as a tablet? Well that depends on what you mean by work. It certainly *functions*. For a couple of bundled apps that take over the screen and they work fine, but they aren't useful. For the large number of windows programs that are useful, it is sort of kind of possible to use them with Windows tablet features, but it's not the experience people are imagining when they think, "tablet". That starts right from the Windows shell, which of course is the regular old Windows shell except it's really hard to get at all those windows decorations when they're near a corner, or to read text that's popped under your fat finger.
Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
The Woz?
No, Woz is not Captain Crunch.
In general, it is safe and legal to kill your children. -- POSIX Programmer's Guide
So... calling the pope and pretending to be Henry Kissenger (nicer legs than Hitler and bigger tits than Cher) counts for nuthin'?
I drank what? -- Socrates
So... calling the pope and pretending to be Henry Kissenger (nicer legs than Hitler and bigger tits than Cher) counts for nuthin'?
It's someone's alias, not a merit-based rank.
Even if Woz goes around with perforated sheets of two-dollar bills and a military ID card showing him wearing an eye patch (with the job title "Laser Safety Officer"), that doesn't make him Captain Crunch.
In general, it is safe and legal to kill your children. -- POSIX Programmer's Guide
Well, I absolutely expect USB ports on any tablet I buy. No USB ports = send it back. It would never occur to me anybody would be stupid enough to try to sell this form factor without USB ports. Even my phone has a USB port.
Oh wait, Apple...
Have you got your LWN subscription yet?
Not necessarily. There are convertibles where the screen just lays down, and there are some where the screen detaches and turns into a tablet.
Hence I said "remove the screen".
Then again, reading is hard.
Know what else is hard? buying products that don't exist.
Can you point us to where we can buy one of these detachable screen laptops? Or did you see a picture of a concept mockup someplace and confuse it with a well flushed marketplace of competing devices?
One distinct advantage the iPad has, is that it actually exists.
Moral of the story - tablets just aren't quite there yet.
Yes, obviously the 8 million or so ipads sold so far are indications of a non-existent market niche being served by an unsatisfactory device type.
With a bluetooth keyboard and stand, should be perfectly able to replace a netbook or laptop for road trips. Subject to replacing lame Android interface with a real desktop like KDE of course.
sorry, I really have to question that point...why would you imagine that 3 products could be a suitable replacement for 1 product, particularly when we're talking about going mobile. Wouldn't carrying 1 netbook (a thin one) be much better? obviously the current line of netbooks wont cut it because they lack touchscreens and a touchscreen-friendly OS...so I guess it makes sense if you look at what is currently available.
Ideally, I would prefer a hybrid device which has a touchscreen, and a physical keyboard, and can assume either a clamshell (netbook) or a tablet (screen face-up while covering keyboard) form factor. There are laptops that have exactly this form factor now, but lack the touch screen and appropriate touchscreen-friendly OS.
This seemed like a reasonable sig at the time.
You mean like this one that originally started shipping August 2009
A game has objectives and is competitive, anything else is just play
Honeycomb's big, yeah, yeah, yeah!
~Hermes Conrad
You have the right to remain sentient. If you give up the right to remain sentient, you will be elected to public office
You mean like this one that originally started shipping August 2009
Wow, you got me. that is a truly compelling example you've produced. A site that doesn't have photos of any product, just poor quality icons, vague descriptions, and no promise of ever shipping.
That totally blows the doors off the iPad!
I'll admit that their photoshopping skills aren't as good as Apple, but I think all the product videos are a bit more useful. Also if they haven't started shipping I wonder how it was disassembled during this review
A game has objectives and is competitive, anything else is just play
Also, you didn't ask for a good one. I just directed you to one that does exist and was shipping before your precious iPad.
A game has objectives and is competitive, anything else is just play
..carry in a bag and worry about it being hacked/stolen/damaged/ etc etc....enough with the consumer electronics already....geesh.
Joe Investor