It seems like one lesson to be learned from the HP Touchpad debacle is that making a tablet that looks like the iPad and does many of the same functions for roughly the same price isn't a good strategy. Tablet makers need to define their products differently than Apple.
So far the major differences being tackled are memory expansion (SD card slots), extra ports, and differing screen sizes/resolutions. I'm not impressed.
One device that does seem to be selling well is the Asus Transformer which adds the ability to dock with a keyboard in case you want to type a lot of text.
Personally I think a high-end artist-focused tablet with a high resolution Wacom tablet built in and a pressure sensitive pen for drawing could find a niche.
How about a tablet with a kindle-like or blackberry like approach--some kind of hardware keyboard built in to the lower part of say a 7" tablet so you could at least thumb type? Seems like the attempts to make sliders and such haven't been successful so far.
Obviously price is another differentiator that works, given the near hysteria we're seeing over the Touchpad at $99. I think we're all assuming Amazon is going to price their 7" tablet well under Apples, based on the assumption that they can make up the money they might lose/leave on the table through media sales, Android market fees, etc.
Other options?
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How can other companies create products that are differentiated from the iPad in such a way that they might be successful?
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At this point, it appears that Apple has the mindset of the consumer when it comes to tablets. The best chance at differentiation seems to be going after a niche market potentially outside of the consumer market. Slots and ports are not going to do it. Apple does a great job at showing how their devices fit into your lives as opposed to the others who still try to wow you with their specs (which by the way becomes outdated within a couple of months or so). Amazon has a shot at being successful assuming they produce a low cost tablet that works great for shopping and perhaps reading because they can subsidize the price with the promise of future sales being driven to their site. I will be interesting to see how it works out for them.
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Get better at marketing. That's mostly what apple does well. As for the the Wacom thing, I am a professional artist and I would love that but there aren't apps that can support it, regardless of ios or Android. Apps are too simple for that. If I really wanted to create things on a tablet I'd Pick up an Asus ep121 Slate, which does have a Wacom stylus and runs full professional programs like Photoshop and 3D-Coat.
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Focus on one thing and try to get it right first before expanding the product line. E.g. iPod basically just did music when it first came out and the Kindle just does books. The iPod opened the door to iPhone & iPad and Amazon is rumored to be doing all sorts of things with Kindle.
I like your idea about an artist-focused tablet. I actually think companies are close to doing just that seeing how HTC and now Samsung have pads w/ styli. Similarly, I was one of many interested in the NoteSlate. Unfortunately it's pretty much vaporware right now but I think it'd be very successful if it were to actually launch.
I like your idea about an artist-focused tablet. I actually think companies are close to doing just that seeing how HTC and now Samsung have pads w/ styli. Similarly, I was one of many interested in the NoteSlate. Unfortunately it's pretty much vaporware right now but I think it'd be very successful if it were to actually launch.
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An improved version of Android for tablets may help. On phones Android improved rapidly so hopefully it can in the tablet space.
This should help improve the many cheap android tablets that exist and in a few years better hardware will be at the lower price point.
This should help improve the many cheap android tablets that exist and in a few years better hardware will be at the lower price point.
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