With the HP Slate looking like a dud (netbook sans keyboard), it seems the most usable tablet not called iPad will be one of this crop:
- Dell Streak 7 & 10 inch versions
- Notion Ink Adam
- WePad
- Unnamed MSI Tegra 2 powered tablet
Votes on which of those will actually turn out to be the most useful device? The WePad looks like it's heading the way of the HP Slate after their Windows-7-video-playing-demo. And, in my opinion, the interface looks like crap.
The Notion Ink Adam has the most promise, but with absolutely no news in a while (since around CES) and its reliance on a very new technology (Pixel Qi), chances don't seem high that Notion Ink will pull it off. If they do deliver everything it promises it will be an amazing, but I'm not holding my breath. Pixel Qi sounds great, but the first-gen iteration may have more problems than it's worth.
Leaving the MSI and Dell pads. I think one of these has the best chance of delivering a very functional AndroidPad, with Dell leading the way having already produced a great prototype of the 5 inch version (Dell Mini 5). But Q1 2011 is a long way away for the 7 and 10 inch versions, way too long in my book.
Which leads to another question: is the best choice at this form factor an an AndroidPad or a ChromePad? The big downside of ChromePads is lack of offline functionality. But if the HTML5 capabilities of interacting with local file stores and allowing for offline operations are fully utilized, then this disadvantage may be neutralized.
The big minus with the Android option is having apps and interfaces that make use of the large screen size. While the Android market is great, I am guessing that the availability of new apps optimized for the larger screens (with dual panels etc.) is not going to be nearly as plentiful as for the iPad, which means you may be faced with mostly regular Android apps at this large size, which don't look great at all. With that possibility, I'd much prefer a ChromeOS pad -- the web will have a bunch of iPad optimized sites that will be great on ChromeOS and this form factor.
Wow, that was longer than I thought when I started out. :) But I'm really interested in these possibilities. Thoughts, gdgt?
Discussion about
Battle of the AndroidPads and ChromePads
The Harmony is probably the unnamed MSI tablet gdgt.com/msi/harmony/ And out of all of them I don't think I choose any of them. Depending on how much the Dell one will cost I am still liking the Archos offering especially with their 3-10" range that they are coming out with this summer. The Archos one will be dependent on if they offer a captive screen but the resistive screen wasn't all that bad when I messed with it. Especially when their $180 7" tablet comes out this summer. Now that may be to big for portable use and to small for home, I actually think it would be perfect for both especially class with apps like thinking space. Although from that list I would definitely say that the Notion Eink looks the most appealing because of all its functionality.
Now Android vs Chrome OS, I am going to have to go with Android if only because of the apps sadly. They can generaly be run off line especially things like Thinking Space in class with no connection. Chrome OS will be nice in netbook form and probably touch form but for functionality I would much rather have Android and a slew of productivity apps that can access the camera ect instead of shoehorning a workaround in.
The one thing Chrome OS will be able to do is be a competitor in price and functionality of a media tablet with access to Silver light and Netflix without having to do transcodes ect. The add ons for Chrome will be its biggest positive IMO and will make the ipad and android look limited.
Now Android vs Chrome OS, I am going to have to go with Android if only because of the apps sadly. They can generaly be run off line especially things like Thinking Space in class with no connection. Chrome OS will be nice in netbook form and probably touch form but for functionality I would much rather have Android and a slew of productivity apps that can access the camera ect instead of shoehorning a workaround in.
The one thing Chrome OS will be able to do is be a competitor in price and functionality of a media tablet with access to Silver light and Netflix without having to do transcodes ect. The add ons for Chrome will be its biggest positive IMO and will make the ipad and android look limited.
Would you be ok with the AndroidPad if the apps weren't optimized to take advantage of the larger screen real estate, as in a bunch of scaled up single-pane Android apps? For me if that were the case then the iPad would be my clear choice. Not that there couldn't be new large screen Android apps, but none of the prototypes are even hinting at that.
Thanks for the link to the MSI Harmony, it looks to be pretty sweet if it delivers. Now about the Archos the thing with those is that they are released without any content partnerships, and even without access to the Android market. Without all that Archos will never be more than a niche product, and also not very useful. Now I know you can hack on Android Market access, and I am quite comfortable with getting my hands dirty, so to speak, but when you hack such access there's no guarantee that future content-based apps that may work with supported Android devices (e.g. Netflix) would work seamlessly with a hacked Archos. You run a risk with that, no? I mean, if hacking Market access is the only way to make it useful, then between that and the iPad it's a no brainer.
Thanks for the link to the MSI Harmony, it looks to be pretty sweet if it delivers. Now about the Archos the thing with those is that they are released without any content partnerships, and even without access to the Android market. Without all that Archos will never be more than a niche product, and also not very useful. Now I know you can hack on Android Market access, and I am quite comfortable with getting my hands dirty, so to speak, but when you hack such access there's no guarantee that future content-based apps that may work with supported Android devices (e.g. Netflix) would work seamlessly with a hacked Archos. You run a risk with that, no? I mean, if hacking Market access is the only way to make it useful, then between that and the iPad it's a no brainer.
If they deliver on the Adam, it's gonna be one hell of a tablet, but I'm afraid it's gonna feel "selfmade". - The iPad sure has the cleanest looking user interface, and that's gonna be a huge selling point.
Still, the Pixel Qi Display is very interesting, this could be the ebook-reader I've been waiting for.
Still, the Pixel Qi Display is very interesting, this could be the ebook-reader I've been waiting for.
Since android is capable of multitasking, I wonder if a kind of "windowing" system could be implemented for apps that are designed for a smaller screen, similar to how ChromeOS is using those mini "panels" for smaller apps like music players. This way you could see multiple apps at once. Maybe even put menus in a thin sidebar on the left or right... I don't know.
Before I commit to buy any tablet, I need one that's able to be read easily in sunlight, so I'm looking forward to the Adam regardless of any big stretched out UIs it might have. I'd be using it for ebooks and the web anyway.
One huge concern I have is the fracturing of the Android platform, what if another company introduces a tablet that does the squash-and-stretch of android apps for tablets in a good way, but it's only available on their devices? One year from now I feel like these problems will be ironed out, once android is a little more mature.
Fingers crossed! Go Adam!
Before I commit to buy any tablet, I need one that's able to be read easily in sunlight, so I'm looking forward to the Adam regardless of any big stretched out UIs it might have. I'd be using it for ebooks and the web anyway.
One huge concern I have is the fracturing of the Android platform, what if another company introduces a tablet that does the squash-and-stretch of android apps for tablets in a good way, but it's only available on their devices? One year from now I feel like these problems will be ironed out, once android is a little more mature.
Fingers crossed! Go Adam!
