The Big Question Game: Tablet Edition
Now that it’s been a month since all the great June tech conventions have concluded, the dust has begun to settle on the tablet picture. Well it has for the major players at least. Enough of the intro, let’s play the game!
Google: Nexus 7
Questions:
– Is 7″ the sweet spot for all tablets? Just Android tablets?
– Will the lack of tablet specific apps on Android cripple the overall experience?
– does Android tablets need to be on premium hardware in order to overtake iPad?
– What is the most compelling reason to buy this tablet over everything else on the market?
Quirky thing:
The Nexus 7 is the only Nexus device that doesn’t support SD cards.
The Big Question:
– Can Nexus class devices fend off Microsoft’s charge and remain the only viable alternative to the iPad?
Apple: The new iPad
Questions:
– How long will there continue to be feature different iPads due to carrier BS? (Get with the mobile hotspot plans already AT&T)
– When will the front facing camera have higher than VGA resolution?
– Will Apple continue to find great ways to use the increased screen size over the iPhone? (Landscape home screens, the mail app, being able to dock more apps etc).
– If the Surface or the Nexus 7 is successful, what if anything is the first thing to change/upgrade?
– Will NFC be a part of the next new iPad?
Quirky thing:
Without knowing for sure on the Surface, the iPad seems to be the only major tablet that’s not able to Bluetooth pair with it’s phone counterpart.
The Big Question:
In the face of increasing competition from some of Apple’s greatest foes, what lies beyond for the market leader with respect to innovation?
Microsoft: Surface RT; Surface Pro
Questions:
– Complete Specs?
– Given the type of OS that Windows 8/RT is – The sweet spot for apps: is it between PC’s & Tablets or between Phones and Tablets?
– Why no plug-ins for Metro browsers?
– If the Metro app quality is porous, will that end up killing the Surface RT?
Quirky thing:
The port inconsistency between the RT and the Pro versions. With so much thought put in to make the device smart and sleek, it seems silly that you need a dongle in order to attach an HDMI cable on the more expensive version. Even if they are $1. 71 on Amazon.
The Big Question:
If Microsoft prices the Surface RT with the Nook Tablet, Kindle Fire and the 16 GB Nexus 7 tablet at $250 AND the Surface Pro at the 64 GB iPad WiFi-only price for $699, would that be enough to disrupt the tablet market?
Feel free to leave your answers (or additional questions) in the comments below!
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If MS prices the Surface RT or Pro that low, they’ll be destroying their OEM partners’ profit margins and will alienate the entire market. No one will try to make/sell Windows tablets against MS and be successful at it. If they price the devices that low, I’m sure MS will have a considerable lead in market share over the Android tablets nearly instantly.
That being said, iPad is a house hold name. I don’t think that MS will over take iPad sales anytime soon, but I also didn’t initially think there was even a market for the iPad, so who knows what will happen over time.
Android tablet devices.. oh man, I still can’t begin to verbalize how I loathe these things. The Nexus 7 is a cool little toy, but there is literally not a single feature on it that I would look to as a deciding factor in the consideration of buying it or a considerably more expensive iPad. Same considerations for all Samsung tablets, the Amazon Fire, Toshiba, Asus, etc.. My personal recommendation is STILL to save up a bit more ca$h and simply buy the best device that is currently available – either the $400 iPad 2 (which – because of a new smaller processor die – now has an INCREDIBLE battery life) or the $500 to 830 iPad.
@Chris L: Well that first point is kinda moot considering that there will be RT tablets from other manufacturers (and more than one chip maker). The PC market is already a race to the bottom and if Windows RT give manufactures a way to undercut Apple (like Android does with Smartphones), they’re going to take it. With that being said, if they RT tablets are anywhere close to Android tablets in price, Android tablets will face a serious uphill climb. Add to that things like BlueNote App players exists so Android apps will actually be available on RT devices.
I agree with you whole heartedly on that second paragraph. I thought that the iPad was a blown up iPod touch with a slightly tweaked interface. Regardless if that’s the case or not, it’s clear that the people wanted it. I don’t know if there is enough from Google or MS that makes the common person say I want this above the iPad.
That third paragraph is iffy. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, The iPad 2 is probably the best, most cost effective tablet on the market today. That isn’t to say that there are no Android tablets that are worth it. Spec to Spec, there really isn’t an iPad out that can compete with the MediaPad 10 (google it). Personally, I’ve grown fond of the 8.9 tab from Sammy, too. To each their own, of course.
Surface RT – 16GB – $399 / 32GB $499. Surface Pro – 32GB – $649 / 64GB – $749. That’s what my crystal ball said. But my eyes are getting bad, and there was some glare. No reason to lowball anything here. You get what you pay for, right?
@Jim Szymanski: Low ball is the funny word here. Microsoft could go on the lower edge of the pricing spectrum just to get more devices in more hands. If RT is the future of tablets, make the people WANT to buy it, make it the welcome mat to the “PC Plus” era. (Kinda how the Nexus 7 is the Flagholder for Jelly Bean).