7-inch Google Tablet Coming From ASUS

First time accepted submitter Sez Zero writes "Google and ASUS have been collaborating on a co-branded 7-inch Android tablet, with a launch as early as May, according to sources, challenging low-cost rivals and the iPad with a $199-249 price tag. The fruits of the partnership, whispered to the runes readers at DigiTimes by industry sources, will take on the NOOK Tablet and the Kindle Fire, with ASUS selected for its willingness to flex to Google's requirements."

Comments

Google is going for low price

[Anonymous Coward]

Which hurts the quality of the product and hardware. This has been a huge problem with Android - customers don't really know if they get a good product or not. When they get iPad or iPhone they know exactly that they will love the experience. Android ecosystem is a complete mess.

Re:Google is going for low price

[Anonymous Coward]

Your stance is exactly why Apple can charge so outrageous prices for their products and get away with it.

Seriously, most Android phones are excellent, are fast enough for their purpose and are well built. How many have you tried?

When people compare Android phones to iPhones they often compare the CHEAPEST model to to the most expensive phone on the market! FAIL - try comparing a midrange price Android to an iPhone... most like 1/3 to 1/2 the price of the iPhone. Believe me, that phone just works.

Go away, Apple fan boy.

Re:Google is going for low price

[BasilBrush]

I don't want something that is seen by some as an essential fashion accessory. I would rather do without.

So, you're allowing your choice to be influenced by what others think of the brand. You might think that's anti-fashion, but actually, that's fashion.

I just to not want to be associated with that group that does.

You are following the fashion, every bit as much as punks who said their choice was about not wanting to be associated with glam rockers.

Your list is just a way of justifying the fashion choice you've made. Just as a punk might have listed everything they found wrong with glam rock.

Re:Google is going for low price

[BasilBrush]

As usual Dilbert has is right.
http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2012-02-23/

Re:Google is going for low price

[oakgrove]

It may not fit your preference for the carefully curated device and I do see advantages to the Apple way but consumers like choice even if it does effect app compatibility which is what this is really all about. People like low prices and some Androids deliver that. People like hardware keyboards and some Androids deliver that. People like huge honking screens (me!) and Android delivers on that as well. Hell, there are even nut balls that like Android on their wristwatch (what? Like you don't think its cool) and yes, judging by the rooted Motorola ACTV sitting on my nightstand, Android has delivered. You can scream fragmentation all day long but its a hollow cry as the consumers have spoke and continue to speak to the tune of 850,000 activations a day. Now that fact may offend your delicate sensibilities but guess what? You are just one person and you don't get to tell anybody else what to think.

Re:Google is going for low price

[visualight]

Anyone who buys a tablet that needs to be jailbroken or rooted is a sucker. What's special about a tablet that makes people think its okay to own only 90% of what you paid for?

That people have to scour forums for how-to instructions and downloads to get really basic shit running on devices they *PAID* for is ridiculous, and watching people drool over the opportunity to do so is depressing. Idiocracy becoming reality right in front of us.

If you can't install *ANY* OS you want natively, don't buy it.

Fanboys and apologists please don't reply to my post, you're fucking up my world and I don't want to talk to you. People like you are why laptops are going to be next and then in a few years high quality, open computers of any form will be a thing of the past.

Yep.

[symbolset]

Count me in for four at least for my own house, and as many for gifts for Christmas.

I'm ot sure where you're going with that 1984 rhetoric though. This stuff works for us, it delivers modern innovation - and yet it lets us do with it what we will. That's not the same thing at all as the dystopian vision you portend.

Have you some credible source, some study or even some analyst to call dire outcomes? Surely you must. Your fear, show me it.

Re:Yep.

[hairyfeet]

Actually it doesn't sound like 1984 to me, more "Brave New World" where we basically drown in info overload. Considering that now one can live their life with all the info tailor made for whatever myopic view they have and you can have damned near anything fed ex to your doorstep so you never even have to leave your cave?

"You sharpen the human appetite to the point where it can split atoms with its desire; you build egos the size of cathedrals; fiber-optically connect the world to every eager impulse; grease even the dullest dreams with these dollar-green, gold-plated fantasies, until every human becomes an aspiring emperor, becomes his own God... and where can you go from there? "

It's about the software

[thegarbz]

Actually it's quite the opposite. Every device Google has had a personal hand in designing has been one perfect experience after the other. It is typically the handset manufacturers who are unable to code decent software, then the carriers who load the devices up with junk that ruin the experience.

I have an ancient phone, yet I run CM9 on it. It is far smoother than phones twice as expensive, rather new, and spouting features like dual core processors depending on who had a hand in making the software.

I for one am excited about what google can come up with in this partnership.