One thing I both do and don't understand is all this fidgeting around with the form factor. I think the Xoom is the closest to an iPad in form factor, but the rest are all over the map.
While I do understand the desire to test out different sizes/weights/features etc. to see if Apple was close but not quite spot on with their first shot out of the gate (who knows? an 8" $1000 tablet could wipe the floor with everybody), it overlooks the simple fact that in the mind of consumers the iPad represents what a tablet looks and feels like.
If you are going to make a tablet then, you must fit the consumer's expectations, not try and carve a niche somewhere else.
Make a tablet, the exact shape and size and weight of an iPad, make it $50-100 cheaper all around, toss in a regular 'ol USB slot and an SD card and you'll probably have a hit. none of the present, weirdly shaped and overly priced Android tablets have any appeal to me whatsoever.
Better to credibly compete in the market, then when you own some part of it, fiddle around with the form factor and see what else sells.
"Make a tablet, the exact shape and size and weight of an iPad, make it $50-100 cheaper all around, toss in a regular 'ol USB slot and an SD card and you'll probably have a hit. none of the present, weirdly shaped and overly priced Android tablets have any appeal to me whatsoever."
If it were that simple, somebody would have already done it.
I think this article is pretty spot on—Apple has made it almost impossible to compete at the prices they've set at the level of quality the iPad represents. Maybe you can get to the iPad pricing, but you'll have to cut corners and it just won't feel like that solid slab of aluminum.
Apple has made it almost impossible to compete at the prices they've set at the level of quality the iPad represents.
I totally agree, nobody can lock down all of the supply of a given part in some absolutely necessary, but short supplied, channel better than Apple. It's really one of their most amazing business strategies.
"Make a tablet, the exact shape and size and weight of an iPad, make it $50-100 cheaper all around, toss in a regular 'ol USB slot and an SD card and you'll probably have a hit. none of the present, weirdly shaped and overly priced Android tablets have any appeal to me whatsoever"
Spot on. The touchPad has the potential to come closest to this (no SD card but I think it's got a micro USB slot). If this was priced at, say, $349, or even better, $299 - wifi only - there'd be a small stampede. Make it developer friendly - easy to install custom apps on - this would be a massive hit. Sadly, this will likely never happen.
At this point, I bet even hitting $400 would be great, cheaper than the competition, and could still yield a handsome profit if the parts ran $250-300.
I frankly just don't understand the weird form factor bit (or the right form factor and no marketplace, or some other bizarre combination of factors that are just "not quite right")
While I do understand the desire to test out different sizes/weights/features etc. to see if Apple was close but not quite spot on with their first shot out of the gate (who knows? an 8" $1000 tablet could wipe the floor with everybody), it overlooks the simple fact that in the mind of consumers the iPad represents what a tablet looks and feels like.
If you are going to make a tablet then, you must fit the consumer's expectations, not try and carve a niche somewhere else.
Make a tablet, the exact shape and size and weight of an iPad, make it $50-100 cheaper all around, toss in a regular 'ol USB slot and an SD card and you'll probably have a hit. none of the present, weirdly shaped and overly priced Android tablets have any appeal to me whatsoever.
Better to credibly compete in the market, then when you own some part of it, fiddle around with the form factor and see what else sells.