Tablets - iPad, Galaxy Tab, Playbook, XOOM & More

[psicodude]

Originally Posted by KTrain

I think the future will be a combined laptop/tablet. You'll be able to remove the laptop screen to use it as a touch screen tablet with all the same functionality.

I agree, and so does Asus: http://www.asus.com/Eee/Eee_Pad/Eee_...sformer_TF101/

I had an opportunity to play with most of the tablets earlier this week, and I am so disappointed by the PlayBook. I just don't know what they were thinking.

[KTrain]

I think they were scared and rushed. Really rushed. Without native business apps like email the Playbook doesn't meet the needs of their core audience.

[psicodude]

Agreed. My guess is they just assumed everyone with a BB will automatically buy a Playbook, which for a company Rim's size is shocking. Just because it works for Apple doesn't mean it will work for you.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by psicodude

I agree, and so does Asus: http://www.asus.com/Eee/Eee_Pad/Eee_...sformer_TF101/

If that's where laptops are headed, I like where they're going. It's like having a docking station for your tablet that increases all the functionalities when you need it.

[chemgear]

I have seen this online but not in person - seems to be pretty nice.

http://www.zagg.com/accessories/zaggmate-ipad-case

And yes, I'd imagine a lot of companies tried to rush products out - I still can't believe the "Haha FU" that Apple sent to Rim earlier this year.

"Oh, you haven't managed to release your FIRST tablet? Well, we will announce our second iteration while you try to start stirring up buzz AND release it in large quantities just a WEEK after our initial announcement. All before you can even put out your first release."

[OilKiller]

Originally Posted by psicodude

I agree, and so does Asus: http://www.asus.com/Eee/Eee_Pad/Eee_...sformer_TF101/

WANT....

[KTrain]

Originally Posted by chemgear

I have seen this online but not in person - seems to be pretty nice.

http://www.zagg.com/accessories/zaggmate-ipad-case

I've always loved the look of this accessory. The only thing I don't like is that I would have to charge the 'keyboard' and the iPad separately. It would be nice if the keyboard acted as a docking station as well that could keep both devices charged.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by psicodude

I agree, and so does Asus: http://www.asus.com/Eee/Eee_Pad/Eee_...sformer_TF101/

It already exists. Dell has one on its website. I won't buy it as I have a laptop, iPhone and iPad already. If not for the iPad, I might consider it.

[psicodude]

I played with the ASUS one last week, and although I don't necessarily trust ASUS, it was really impressive. I wouldn't call it an iPad killer, but it's a legitimate alternative at least.

[sclitheroe]

Reading the reviews of the Playbook makes me sad. The thing has flashing red lights for low memory conditions...really?

on multiple occasions we found upper corners glowing red. Our first thought was that the guns on our CRT had been misaligned by a wayward magnet, but this is just how the PlayBook alerts you to issues, in this case a lack of memory. Memory management seems to be much improved in the most recent build we've received, but you can certainly still kill unwanted apps whenever you want by simply swiping them vertically, off into oblivion.

I realize the reviewer was likely playing with what is probably a debug build of the OS, but we're 1 week away from release and the thing has memory management issues.

Does not bode well.

[browna]

From Crackberry, looks like the Playbook has bluetooth mouse and keyboard support.

Combine that with HDMI out and you could hookup the Playbook to your HDMI big screen TV for movies, browsing, typing, slide shows or anything really and have mouse and keyboard support (a cursor pointer pops up, and some of the swipe gestures are handled by mouse actions, such as the right mouse button)

Seen the negative and then the fairly positive reviews, and clearly some are using old builds, even the one quoted above says that the memory issues were solved. The fact that it will run Andriod apps will be useful, the Blackberry Bridge will be useful. I am sure there will be third party email aps soon enough, until RIM decides what they want to do with the security issues. If you have a Blackberry, won't be as big an issue.

Form factor is interesting though...played with the Xoom and its too big, and even the Ipad gets a little cumbersome for extended periods of time. This will seem small compared to the Ipad, but possible more comfortable for longer periods of usage.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by Slava

I was actually pretty under-whelmed with the iPad. Its not a knock against the iPad in particular, just the one tablet that I could play around with. Its fun and cool...but frankly other than the fact it turns on fast it just doesn't do it for me, and I kind of prefer the laptop.

I wanted to be wowed by it, mostly so that I could "need" a new toy. It could be that I had an iPhone for a couple of years though, and that this is basically the same thing but larger. If the day comes where I can use a tablet for business though, all bets are off!

If I couldn't use it for business, I'd feel the same way.
As a Realtor it's simply awesome. I can complete sales contracts right on it with a stylus pen; have the buyer/seller sign on it and send it off by email or efax without having to print anything. Makes the whole process paperless!

In addition to that I can annotate listings as I tour them for clients, use it for listing/buyer presentations and be updating my social media profiles on the run all day(although my phone did that too)

Simply awesome for my business

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by browna

From Crackberry, looks like the Playbook has bluetooth mouse and keyboard support.

This is interesting

[chemgear]

http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/15/r...el-this-summe/


With interview video.

[CKPThunder]

Looks like flash video for iOS devices using HTML5!

http://www.cultofmac.com/coming-soon...394#more-90394

[anyonebutedmonton]

Originally Posted by CKPThunder

Looks like flash video for iOS devices using HTML5!

http://www.cultofmac.com/coming-soon...394#more-90394

This changes everything.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

If I couldn't use it for business, I'd feel the same way.
As a Realtor it's simply awesome. I can complete sales contracts right on it with a stylus pen; have the buyer/seller sign on it and send it off by email or efax without having to print anything. Makes the whole process paperless!

In addition to that I can annotate listings as I tour them for clients, use it for listing/buyer presentations and be updating my social media profiles on the run all day(although my phone did that too)

Simply awesome for my business

Thats so awesome. I'm actually jealous! We're pushing our securities dealership to go this route, and who knows maybe they will. I'll then jump right onto the bandwagon!

[-TC-]

Originally Posted by KTrain

the iPad is great for me for what I use it for. It's for reading books, magazines and comics. I've gone virtually paperless. I also use it for some games, video and displaying my portfolio and drafts to clients.

I do all my "heavy lifting" with my desktop.

I'm the same. I leave my briefcase at home most days now, and just carry my iPad.

[chemgear]

http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/20...ng-for-ios.ars

In other words, instead of trying in vain to persuade Apple to build Flash into iOS, or losing potential Flash Media Server customers to some other iOS-compatible solution, Adobe seems to be implicitly acknowledging that content publishers need Flash-free video streaming.

[Russic]

Smartest thing adobe could do IMO. I'd say apple showed that they don't need flash to be successful. It was a catch up or be left behind scenario for adobe.