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Do Android tablets, like the ASUS Eee Pad TF101 Transformer, show enough potential to be a possible contender to overtake the iPad's dominance?
Although i find that android 2.2 or 2.3 already in par or even better than iOS in iPhone, i find honeycomb performance still behind iOS in iPad. I am speaking of the UI, ease of use and responsivenes.
The app, android app still need more apps. E.g. i still cannot find good app for handwriting note taking that let me put down my hand while writing (iOS has noteplus), anyone know, do let me know. No office app yet to be able fully read and write the same layout format of document created in microsoft office.
In terms of hardware, currently there is no swiss knife, ultimate tablet yet. For beauty and lightweight, samsung tab 10 the best but if you want battery and keyboard, asus transformer the best (assume no battery flaw) .
I do still have faith and in waiting for the time where android will fly but now might not be the time yet.
The app, android app still need more apps. E.g. i still cannot find good app for handwriting note taking that let me put down my hand while writing (iOS has noteplus), anyone know, do let me know. No office app yet to be able fully read and write the same layout format of document created in microsoft office.
In terms of hardware, currently there is no swiss knife, ultimate tablet yet. For beauty and lightweight, samsung tab 10 the best but if you want battery and keyboard, asus transformer the best (assume no battery flaw) .
I do still have faith and in waiting for the time where android will fly but now might not be the time yet.
Donovan - I have to agree.
This has been the best thing about my Transformer.
My iPad2 wifi is a great device but has limited flexibility compared to the Transformer.
As a result I find myself using the ASUS for more and more tasks, some that used to do with the iPad.
Sorry to hear about the keyboard drain. Have not seen it with mine.
Keep on plugging and soon yours will be whole again.
This has been the best thing about my Transformer.
My iPad2 wifi is a great device but has limited flexibility compared to the Transformer.
As a result I find myself using the ASUS for more and more tasks, some that used to do with the iPad.
Sorry to hear about the keyboard drain. Have not seen it with mine.
Keep on plugging and soon yours will be whole again.
This
The truth is, most of what our smart-phones do beyond contact management, calendar and scheduling, and e-mail is over-kill for most employees. The truth is we mostly misuse these devices to install Beer Drinking and Light Saber simulators and play Angry Birds. Or we use them to update Facebook (which may or may not be work related). But one way we identify our firms as successful is by the gadgets that our executives, management, and technology staff carry. If a lead IT architect/engineer shows up with an 8-year old dumb-phone on his belt, that sends a message about how his firm regards technology investments.
Isn't generating more discussion in this forum.
James Kendrick, in an act of synchronicity - posted this blog recently:
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/mobile-news/the-dirty-little-secret-about-tablets/3553?tag=nl.e539
Which taps into the same basic idea about these devices.
Generally, when I write something that I think is going to be a controversial opinion, and I don't hear a lot of feedback, it means that hardly anyone disagrees with me.
Certainly there must be readers out there who disagree with me on this?!? Are smart-phones and tablets actually viable productivity enhancers, or are they *simply* prestige devices to show that my firm is doing better than yours and buying me neater gadgets as a perk?
The truth is, most of what our smart-phones do beyond contact management, calendar and scheduling, and e-mail is over-kill for most employees. The truth is we mostly misuse these devices to install Beer Drinking and Light Saber simulators and play Angry Birds. Or we use them to update Facebook (which may or may not be work related). But one way we identify our firms as successful is by the gadgets that our executives, management, and technology staff carry. If a lead IT architect/engineer shows up with an 8-year old dumb-phone on his belt, that sends a message about how his firm regards technology investments.
Isn't generating more discussion in this forum.
James Kendrick, in an act of synchronicity - posted this blog recently:
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/mobile-news/the-dirty-little-secret-about-tablets/3553?tag=nl.e539
Which taps into the same basic idea about these devices.
Generally, when I write something that I think is going to be a controversial opinion, and I don't hear a lot of feedback, it means that hardly anyone disagrees with me.
Certainly there must be readers out there who disagree with me on this?!? Are smart-phones and tablets actually viable productivity enhancers, or are they *simply* prestige devices to show that my firm is doing better than yours and buying me neater gadgets as a perk?
In the main, that's exactly what these devices are... arm candy / bragging rights / (insert phrase here). However, there are a few specific applications where these devices are superior to traditional (or even netbook) laptop alternatives.
In my company's case (rural electrical utility), we have two examples. First, our Linemen need a device to receive their service and tasking orders, perform a minor bit of data entry, and pull maps for various reasons. The second case is our CEO, he requires a compact, Highly portable, lightweight device in order to make presentations and take notes with at the various meetings and forums he attends across the state.
In both cases, you'll note that content CREATION is definitely NOT the focus, consumption is. Tablets are excellent consumption devices, I believe that is almost universally accepted today. What creation is required is extremely lightweight and can be accomplished with either the onscreen or a $50 bluetooth keyboard.
As to our first use case, I can already hear somebody screaming about the fragility of these devices versus a Panasonic Toughbook or it's many competitors. I grant you that, yes, even with an Otterbox or similar protection, there's simply no comparison on durability between the two types of devices. Here's the kicker: I can get 6 tablets for the cost of a single Toughbook. In that case, WHO CARES if they drop one or roll over it with a line truck? Toss it and pull out another. It falls down to this: for the cost of outfitting 2 trucks with Toughbooks, I can put a tablet in EVERY ONE of my lineman's hands!
In my company's case (rural electrical utility), we have two examples. First, our Linemen need a device to receive their service and tasking orders, perform a minor bit of data entry, and pull maps for various reasons. The second case is our CEO, he requires a compact, Highly portable, lightweight device in order to make presentations and take notes with at the various meetings and forums he attends across the state.
In both cases, you'll note that content CREATION is definitely NOT the focus, consumption is. Tablets are excellent consumption devices, I believe that is almost universally accepted today. What creation is required is extremely lightweight and can be accomplished with either the onscreen or a $50 bluetooth keyboard.
As to our first use case, I can already hear somebody screaming about the fragility of these devices versus a Panasonic Toughbook or it's many competitors. I grant you that, yes, even with an Otterbox or similar protection, there's simply no comparison on durability between the two types of devices. Here's the kicker: I can get 6 tablets for the cost of a single Toughbook. In that case, WHO CARES if they drop one or roll over it with a line truck? Toss it and pull out another. It falls down to this: for the cost of outfitting 2 trucks with Toughbooks, I can put a tablet in EVERY ONE of my lineman's hands!
There, I said it. That's what they are. Like most anything, people can force it to fit a particular "box" if they really want to. There are professional Frisbee throwers, but the Frisbee is still a toy. In a similar vein there are people who have turned tablets into serious work tools, but like the Frisbee professionals, they're outliers. The vast majority just use them to play and have fun. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. Just quit trying to sell these things as business devices when they're not. Don't believe it? Try leaving your laptop at home for a week and see how much you get done. Don't get sucked into the trap of bringing both to work either. You've just made your bag heavier and you're not going to get any more work done. Leave the toys at home and do work with the tools designed for the job.
and why I don't have one. But wait a bit; vulpine isn't here yet to defend the productivity value of tablets.
Right now there are still issues supporting Android devices in the enterprise, until these are addressed, it will be harder to overtake iPad... There's also the "cool" factor.. If you don't have an iPad you have one of those "other" tablets and cheaped out...
I think Android tablets will be the PC's (Windows PC to be exact) of the Tablet era of computing. They will be cheap, buggy, ridden with viruses and poorly developed. The only people who will get them are the one's who cannot afford an Apple iPad or some other tablet. I don't think Apple will be the only game in town. I expect HP WebOS to be a solid product.
At the end of the day what will make the difference is Applications and the iPad has a huge lead.
So yes I think you are way off base.
At the end of the day what will make the difference is Applications and the iPad has a huge lead.
So yes I think you are way off base.
Android tablets will are already viewed as a cheap knock off to Apples products. People understand that Google has ripped off Apples and will be paying big time for there actions. HP will also end up as the "Other cheap alternative. I use my iPad as an extension to my Mac. And now with iCloud just around the corner. its going to make this 100% better. Most PC users can't see past there noses and have no clue on the types of iSO apps have other then a game or two. Apple's Pages , (part of the iWork group of programs) will allow a user to edit on the Home/Office computer and continue to finish off the report on there iPhone or iPad on the road. In a year or so, we will see a number of "drod pads come and go. After a short time, the R & D money will dry up and they will disappear from view. Already you can find them sold at very low prices as "lost leaders" from major tech outlets like best buy.
I think the Android market need to get their issues sorted out now while they have some key differentiators in their favor. Android has Flash capability up their sleeve where iOS does not. IMHO, if Android have not made significant enterprise penetration by the time that HTML5 starts taking a firm hold - the battle will be lost and Apple will be the victor. If the current shift to 'cloud' takes the HTML5 standard - Android will quickly lose their major advantage.
Another Android issue is security. Android applications do not have the same degree of control placed on them that iOS apps do. Yes, you can root an iPad to do the same thing but that in itself is inherently breaking the security bubble.
Price is certainly a concern at present with many budget level Android devices well under the iPad. Much like the application situation, there are no controls on who can produce an Android device, some will be good - some will not. Generally, the latter will be the cheapest and most likely to start turning up first. These will be the initial impressions of Android that the enterprise will experience and base future decisions on.
Applicability to purpose and price:reliability will decide the outcome here. Currently, the playing field is balanced though time, technology, and customer experience will be the deciding factors.
Another Android issue is security. Android applications do not have the same degree of control placed on them that iOS apps do. Yes, you can root an iPad to do the same thing but that in itself is inherently breaking the security bubble.
Price is certainly a concern at present with many budget level Android devices well under the iPad. Much like the application situation, there are no controls on who can produce an Android device, some will be good - some will not. Generally, the latter will be the cheapest and most likely to start turning up first. These will be the initial impressions of Android that the enterprise will experience and base future decisions on.
Applicability to purpose and price:reliability will decide the outcome here. Currently, the playing field is balanced though time, technology, and customer experience will be the deciding factors.
The Asus Transformer is a tablet ++ The keyboard and extra battery, plus trackpad/mouse make it good for content production as well. Decent performance expansion capability it's in a different class to tablets.
Just wish my Laptop had a touch screen
Just wish my Laptop had a touch screen
Do not forget that quite a lot of people buy things not only because they are good but because of the BRAND. Apple has really strong brand power and that will be hardly replaced by another company. I am sure that in the next 1-2 years there will be many new tablets better then iPad but it will still hold a large market share.
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