Jobs savages 7-inch tablet competition If you've been putting off buying an iPad because you're waiting for a more-affordable seven-inch version, or if you've been considering getting an upcoming seven-incher from a non-Cupertinian source, Apple CEO Steve Jobs would like to set you straight. "We think the current crop of seven-inch tablets are going to be DOA — …
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Obviously self serving twaddle. It depends on what you want to do with the device, 10" is too big to be truly portable, 7" too small for extended multimedia browsing. 7" probably quite good as a book reader (The deivice would be roughly the size of a paperback).
In addition to the 7" tablets already mentioned you also have a choice of a lot of cheap (sub £100) 7" Android devices. Archos's 7" and 10" Android tablets, (for under £300). Noefonie's 11" Meego Tablet (that also runs android apps.)(€449) etc
They are all cheaper than the iPad, they all allow you to use Flash and thus access the rest of the internet. ( The Meego tablet also won't tie you to a monopoly app store.)
So if you want a really portable tablet gat a 7" one, if you want one for surfing on the Sofa get a 10" one. If you want to pay a premium price, be restricted in only buying software through one vendor and not being allowed full internet access, get an iPad.
... look at the wookie!
(The South Park quote seemed appropriate.)
As an owner of a 7in 16:10 ratio Android tablet, I can say it is massively more practical than a 9in 4:3 ratio tablet. Yes, it is about half the size of an iPad, but this is an advantage in most cases. For example, the one I got for my girlfriend was based on the requirements she listed:
1) Must fit in my handbags. This mandated a 7in size.
2) Must have a resistive screen because capacitive screens are awkward with long fingernails.
And unlike a £600 iPad, the Anroid pad was £70!
iPad 1024x786 @ 9.7", Galaxy Tab 1024x600 @ 7"
iPhone 4 960x640 @ 3.5", Galaxy S 800x480 @ 4"
Does he say the same about the Galaxy S and the forthcoming HTC Desire HD but instead accuse them of being too big?
It would be so much smarter of Jobs to consider how stupid he makes himself sound when saying such things. Granted I've seen a size comparison of the iPad and the Galaxy Tab and it does look a lot smaller, surprisingly so, but saying you need to sand your fingers down to use it? That's idiocy.
This must be the reason why Apple had to swap out hundreds of thousands of batteries in Japan, and the cause of batteries exploding in Europe.
They also have unique requirements ... must not be left out in sunlight!
The REAL reason for using custom parts is to ensure a continuing flow of revenue from spare parts and repairs.
I think Mr Jobs is always very careful about what he says and what he doesn't; and it's the latter that is most important! He chose to rubbish 7" tablets NOT smaller tablets!
Let's do some maths ...
the original iPhone display was 480x320 pixels giving 163dpi
the latest iPhone display is 960x640 pixels giving 326dpi but the UI is drawn double the size (in pixels) to keep the buttons etc the same physical size.
The iPad display is 1024x768 giving 132ppi
A 7" iPad would be 132 * 9.7 / 7 = 183 dpi; as Mr Jobs says, a bit high!
But an 8" iPad would be 132 * 9.7 / 8 = 160 dpi; pretty close to the iPhone!
Could it be he is deflecting speculation away from a smaller iPad by focussing on the 7" option so he can spring an 8" one?
Just a thought!
.is starting to fall apart after about 4 years and is tending to useless as the web gets more bloated.
However, it's got wifi, bluetooth, skype, video camera, audio and video player, FM radio, maps (with external dongle) GPS.
You tube doesn't seem to work anymore. Other codecs also out of date :(
I'm wondering does anyone here know if hacking it is a possibility? Stuff I've found out there not too impressive.
There is a Maemo community out there still adding stuff to the older Maemo devices. Garage projects to update the OS even to MeeGo that sort of stuff. Since it runs a version of Debian Linux there is scope for future use if enough people still want to tinker with it.
No sign of Nokia producing another tablet, (the N900 is smaller and a phone.) Meego is the direct successor OS, and I've seen a couple of other companies announcing tablets for that. Looks like Meego will be able to run both Flash and Android apps asd well as Nokia's QT based apps. Intel also has a demo of a nice looking Meego tablet but it will only be a reference design.
"We create our own A4 chip, our own software, our own battery chemistry, our own enclosure, our own everything. And this results in an incredible product at a great price."
And I guess then Asus does not build apple's laptops for them, or foxconn the ip*ds.
Are they arranging each individual molecule in a way that they naturally want to form into the perfect form of an iPod and its larger cousin? Sounds like something only Steve would say..
I've had the pleasure (and displeasure) of using and trying out virtually every tablet ever been made -- plus some of which are only two or three months away -- and I have to say that personally the 7 inch hi-res (not 800x480) 16:9 form factor has the most going for it, not only from a practical standpoint, but in terms of usability as well. Yes, the ipad is a great device and deserves all the plaudits, but I think Samsung have a machine in the Tab that could easily outsell the ipad, as long as the price is right, that is £399.
I had the pleasure of spending the day using an iPad at an Apple event and have to say for me it was too big and too heavy. Also the iOS on a tablet seemed a bit crap to be honest. I don't mind it on a phone but for some reason I didn't take to it on a tablet. I would actually like to see Windows 7 phone OS on a 7 inch tablet, the icons on a home screen model of iOS and Android feels a bit dated to me.
I have for the last 10 years been using palm devices, now I've unfortunately moved on to Android, but I love using the stylus instead of my butterfingers. I would have loved seeing more stylus apps on the android, and also a place to put it on the device.
7inch is like heaven with a stylus.
And where is that grafitti1
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