Samsung Galaxy Tablet

[Bryancd]

iSuppli came out with research this morning stating the iPad will be the dominate tablet until 2012 before it faces any meaningful competition based on the knopw planned releases by otyher manufacturers as well as the superiority of Apple's touch screen OS. Apparently that has been problametic for other companies.

[Rico]

Huh?!?!  How in the world can they predict that?  In the end it doesn't matter what people predict or say.  Again, I'm just happy we will have more choices.

[Bryancd]

Huh?!?!  How in the world can they predict that?  In the end it doesn't matter what people predict or say. 

Well, actually it does. That's what the entire sell side research analayst of Wall Street firms are paid a LOT of $ to do, be predictive. They look for access to a companies, learn thier business units and future plans, watch their suppliers to see what they are buying, ect. It's Wall Street, baby!
Their conclusion are very sober and reasonable. Based on the number of tablet products in the developnebt stage which could be released in the next 18 months put against the iPad and it's enitre ecosystme, they conclude that Apple will continue to dominate the market through 2012, which isn't that far away. Having lived and grown up in a community where Wall Street had such a huge influence , I grew up with kids who'e fathers were CEO's and VP's at places like Goldman, Merrill, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, ect., I take all of this for granted. I forget that the rest of the country might have a different perspective.

[Jobydrone]

I've heard the rumor before but I find it dubious that Apple would be releasing a smaller iPad with a 7" screen.  Why would they cannibalize the sales of their hugely successful 10" iPad by releasing a smaller, less functional model with the only benefit (perhaps) being a slightly lower price point?  

[Bryancd]

It's actually a bit more substantive than a rumor. It's been feartured a number of times in research and on CNBC. It's a similar approach to how they make their PowerBook laptops with different screen sizes for different users and their needs.

Ah. here's that artcile from iSuppli.

Apple's iPad to remain king of tablets -researcher


12:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time Aug 25, 2010
* Viable iPad rivals won't emerge until 2011 or 2012

* iPad has 74 percent of tablet shipments this year


By Liana B. Baker

NEW YORK, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Apple Inc's <AAPL.O> iPad will not face a serious competitor until next year, and when tablet rivals do emerge, they will have a hard time matching iPad's customized applications, according to a report from market research firm iSuppli.

The iPad, which likely will account for nearly three quarters of worldwide tablet shipments this year, will hold at least 70 percent of the market in 2011 and 62 percent by 2012, iSuppli said in its report on Wednesday.

Apple sold 3.3 million iPads last quarter, which is one of the best starts for a consumer electronic device.

Apple competitors like Hewlett Packard Co <HPQ.N>, Dell Inc <DELL.O> and Lenovo Group <0992.HK> are rolling out Android and Windows 7-based tablet devices to rival the 9.7-inch iPad, but they will struggle to compete with iPad's mix of hardware, software, operating system and applications, the firm said.

"It's still unlikely that any of the competitors will be able to equal the overall performance experience of the iPad," said Rhoda Alexander, the firm's director of monitor research.

Among other possible rivals, iSuppli cited rumors that Canada's Research in Motion <RIM.TO> is trying to enter the tablet market with its recent purchase of the domain name "BlackPad."

It dismissed reports that Google will release a Chrome OS tablet on Nov 26, saying "any touch-enabled Chrome based device would be more likely to appear in 2011 or beyond."

(Reporting by Liana B. Baker. Editing by Robert MacMillan)

[Jobydrone]

Maybe, but it doesn't make sense.  All it would do is piss off app designers who would have to substantially update their existing iPad apps to account for the smaller screen, and offer people a lower priced alternative who would otherwise have spent more on the ten inch model. 

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Actually, we do now with some certainty, it ends next year.

It ends 2011 huh.  What ticks me off about Verizon (and yes, same rant from Twitter basically) is that Verizon has the worst choice of Phones in the market right now.  The newest RIM device went straight to AT&T, the iPhone is on AT&T, we don't have the HTC Desire idk where that is available and all verizon has is the Droid X which has numerous issues that has scared it away from me and very meh phones below that.  And why does AT&T have all the nice phones?  Because they have global access, forget the fact that their data plan annoys me and their reception is meh at best.  

WHY?!  Just, super irritating as I look for my next phone.  I can't change to AT&T due to the high costs of switching networks and the reception on the West Coast is bad for AT&T.  So I'm forced to stick to Verizon.  This really irritates me as much as being forced to stay with Century Link because no one else will support our area.  

* Kingisaaclinksr ends rant

And

We don't need a smaller screen, that's why we have the iPod touch.  Now rivals sure, go right ahead, but Apple?  Save yourself some embarrassment and don't make the smaller iPad.  

Sorry for the rant, but it's been difficult to settle on an upgrade this next two years. 

King

[billybob476]

It's not in the best interest of manufacturers to build CDMA handsets that they can only sell in the US and few other markets. GSM is everywhere.

[beer]

saw this and thought I'd append:

Samsung: Galaxy Tab has leg up on Apple iPad

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/gaming.gadgets/09/02/cnet.samsung.galaxy.tab/

[KingIsaacLinksr]

At this point, I think the Galaxy lost VS the iPad.  To me, the Galaxy looks like a giant phone.  A meh camera/video device recorder, (really, 3 Megapixel is all you could put in that thing?  The iPhone has 5 Megapixels, the Droid X has 8.), a much smaller screen which cramps the ability to type on it, the  lackluster Android App Store when this thing comes out and etc.  Sure, one would hope that the Droid store would compensate for that by adding in apps for the Galaxy, but this will depend on how well it sells.  One of the weaknesses of the Droid area is adapting apps to every single device.  I very much dislike that it's forcing you to get a 3G plan.  Sorry, but the iPad does win me in appeal because I could go for the pure-wifi one simply because that would be less costly.  

In comparison, the iPad still holds my interest because it has a lot of application power, the screen is the right size in my opinion and it has a lot of developer support behind it.  I don't think the Galaxy will beat the iPad.  There is nothing that special about it in comparison.  The forward facing camera of the Galaxy does give it an advantage over the iPad, but if I had to wager a guess, the 2nd Gen iPad will have Facetime.  It came to the iPhone, it is coming to the iPod touch, so there is almost no doubt it will come to the iPad.  Apple seems behind that tech.  So this advantage will soon no longer exist.  The battery life of the Galaxy is questionable on this device and for a device that is almost half the size of an iPad, this seems strange that they can't crank out more juice.  Adobe Flash, ok, you have it, good for you, wish I didn't have to deal with Flash period.  (Not a fan ;) )  

I will grant that the Galaxy does hold appeal as a single-handed device and that this may appeal to more people.  The USB port, Camera and HDMI output do add something that the iPad does not have.  Yet.  Although it looks like the iPad is going to one-up everyone by adding streaming wirelessly.  ;)  

But really, if I want a truly mobile device like how they showcase it in the commercial, I'll get a smartphone.  Smaller and a little harder to drop and harder to break.  

A good try, but I think there could be more done.  I am looking at this from the perspective of a student too so granted, this may appeal to those in business more.  I'm not sure.   :2cents

Thoughts?

King

[Bryancd]

Yeah, the iPad is going to dominate this space for a number of years, as much due to features as with the whole Apple/iTunes Eco system. nothing will come close. How many times do I have to say it? Trust me.

[Rico]

And I still say plenty of room for competition.  Especially if they can come in at a lower price point.