Samsung, Dell, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Research In Motion and
other manufacturers are all planning their own consumer tablet offerings
to compete against the Apple iPad. Many of those tablets, such as the
upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab and recently-released Dell Streak, run
Google Android; others could run companies' proprietary operating
systems, such as BlackBerry 6 or Palm WebOS, or use some form of Windows
7. Android seems to have an early lead, with regard to devices either
currently on-sale or about to hit the market. Given Apple's iPad
sales-which totaled 3.27 million units for the third quarter of fiscal
2010-and the crowding of the overall tablet space, it may take a
combination of marketing effort, a little luck, and killer features for
any one of these competitors to produce a game-changing hit. Based on
early devices from the likes of Samsung and Archos, manufacturers
believe those must-have features include video-or even video
conferencing, with front- and rear-facing cameras-along with
Flash-enabled Web surfing, e-reading, and ability to run applications.
Considering the sizable amount of research and advertising dollars being
spent on their respective efforts, the price of consumer tablet-market
failure for these manufacturers is indeed high. Nonetheless, with that
market expanding rapidly-to the tune of billions of dollars-these
companies may have no choice but to plunge in with both feet.
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Samsung, Dell, Microsoft, HP Plan Their Apple iPad Competition
by Nicholas Kolakowski
Samsung Galaxy Tab
The Samsung Galaxy Tab, one of the first Apple iPad competitors onthe market, features a TFT-LCD 7-inch screen and a Cortex A8 1GHzprocessor, and runs Google Android 2.2. It also makes phone calls.
Samsung Galaxy Tab
While the Samsung Galaxy Tab is priced on some European shoppingWebsites at around $1,000, it's an open question as to its U.S. pricingand carrier subsidies. That price-point may well determine how well itsells here.
Apple iPad
For the third quarter of fiscal 2010, Apple reported sales of 3.27million iPads, establishing a sell-through rate of roughly one millionunits per month. If that rate maintains, it could present challenges totablet competitors looking for a beachhead in the marketplace.
Apple iPad
With its competitors trumpeting features such as video conferencingfor their own devices, Apple may be moved to install features such asfront- and rear-facing cameras in future versions of the iPad.
Dell Streak
Another Android-based tablet competitor, the Dell Streak, featuresa 5-inch screen. It sells for either $299 with a two-year AT&T contractor $549.99 unlocked.
Dell Streak
Dell evidently hopes that users will gravitate toward a Streaksmall enough to fit in a (large) pocket and capable of making phonecalls.
RIM and BlackBerry 6
RIM is reportedly working on a tablet that runs its new BlackBerry6 operating system.
HP and webOS
HP also is preparing consumer tablets that leverage the company'srecently acquired Palm webOS. That user interface will likely resemblethe one currently used for smartphones such as the Palm Pre (seen here).
Microsoft and Windows 7
Microsoft has made very public its intentions to port Windows 7onto tablets. Seen here during Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer's January CESkeynote: tablets from Pegatron, Archos and Hewlett-Packard supposedlydue in 2010.
Microsoft and Windows 7
HP will still produce an enterprise-centric Windows 7 tablet,according to reports, but has offered no firm release date. Microsoft issupposedly exploring the possibilities of Windows 7 on a number ofdifferent tablet form-factors.
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Samsung, Dell, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Research In Motion and other manufacturers are all planning their own consumer tablet offerings to compete against the Apple iPad. Many of those tablets, such as the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab and recently-released Dell Streak, run Google Android; others could run companies' proprietary operating systems, such as BlackBerry 6 or Palm WebOS, or use some form of Windows 7. Android seems to have an early lead, with regard to devices either currently on-sale or about to hit the market. Given Apple's iPad sales-which totaled 3.27 million units for the third quarter of fiscal 2010-and the crowding of the overall tablet space, it may take a combination of marketing effort, a little luck, and killer features for any one of these competitors to produce a game-changing hit. Based on early devices from the likes of Samsung and Archos, manufacturers believe those must-have features include video-or even video conferencing, with front- and rear-facing cameras-along with Flash-enabled Web surfing, e-reading, and ability to run applications. Considering the sizable amount of research and advertising dollars being spent on their respective efforts, the price of consumer tablet-market failure for these manufacturers is indeed high. Nonetheless, with that market expanding rapidly-to the tune of billions of dollars-these companies may have no choice but to plunge in with both feet.