There is a lot of exciting stuff going on at CES right now. Hosted VoIP PBX is exploding on the business VoIP scene, our own Cory Dzbinski gave a talk about HD Voice, and now Apple, Microsoft-HP and Dell are sparring for the best new tablet solution.
With so much going on I hardly know what to talk about. For now, let’s focus on the tablets, especially since the Microsoft-HP tablet release is brand spanking new.
So what is this whole tablet thing all about? We’ll, tablets have been out for some time now. But the hype really came when Apple leaked plans on producing one – you know how cultish those Apple supporters can be. When Apple’s (supposed) plans hit news outlets it put the spotlight on the tablet products that are currently on the market and a few other hot new releases hitting the streets at this week’s CES Las Vegas.
According to www.news.com.au, “Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer previewed several tablet-style computers at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, but the anticipated launch of an Apple tablet-slayer did not eventuate.”
“Mr Ballmer briefly demonstrated the HP slate prototype, amongst a few other PCs from Pegatron and Archos, which will run the Windows 7 operating system. But he stopped short of announcing a major push into tablet, or slate, computers.”
So Mr Ballmer of Microsoft wouldn’t go as far as to say that Tablets are the future. I wonder why? Maybe because they’re not? I for one have a very hard time envisioning the same functionality on a tablet as I would on a laptop or desktop. But hey, that might just be me. While this may be true, there must be something to them. Otherwise, why would Apple, Microsoft-HP and Dell all be coming out with new tablet releases? Let’s take a quick look at what we know about each of these products then we can discuss.
Apple Tablet
According to compterworld.com, “Apple’s tablet will use Verizon’s wireless data network to connect to the Internet when users are out of range of a Wi-Fi hotspot.”
It has also been speculated that other carriers will support it as well. The tablet is supposed to be a slate-like device which is bigger than an i-Phone but smaller than most laptops. Apple actually hasn’t officially said that a tablet is in the works yet, but the whole industry seems to think it is coming. Check this out for more speculation on the Apple Tablet. The Apple Tablet is expected to come out later this month.
Microsoft-HP Tablet
According to pcworld.com, “The HP tablet is basically a color e-reader running Amazon Kindle software, with few other details besides a sub-$500 price point and an estimated arrival on the market by mid-2010. So disappointing was the release that Microsoft and HP’s shares fell yesterday according to BusinessWeek.”
It’s always sad to hear of a product bombing like this. But I’ll bet it’s cooler than PC World reports.
Dell Tablet
Dell also came prepared with a tablet to CES. But it was just a rough version of what they plan to finalize later.
According to Geek.com, “This was just a showing though, and no details were given about the device other than it has a 5″ display and runs Android. It will also have a built-in SIM card option and from the images looks to have a 5 megapixel camera.”
We really don’t know much about the Dell tablet yet, besides the fact that the “rough” version looks like an i-Phone.
So there we are. Tablets are the new thing! People can’t stop talking about them. But what do you think about this new tablet craze? Are you as excited as the rest of the world? And when the Apple Tablet comes out are you going to be first in line?
