I’m going to try writing longer form stuff for the weekends, sort of to stretch the old mental legs a bit and share a bit of the stuff that is floating through my transom, man, about tech and especially mobile and portable electronics.
Come back with me to 2001. A young man got up on stage one afternoon in November to announce something new and amazing: an operating system dedicated to tablet computing. That young man was Microsoft’s Bill Gates and that operating system was Windows XP Tablet PC edition.
Chances are that is the first and last time you saw a working tablet computer. Laptops, then, were monsters. They were heavy – 10 pounds or more – had small, bad batteries, and WiFi was just a dream for most people. It seemed, in those dark years, that laptop manufacturers could shave off pounds and complexity by removing the keyboard and offer a pen-based OS. After all, this was a post-PalmOS era when handwriting recognition was an input option we all knew and understood.
The thinking was this: if you can streamline applications – data entry applications being the target here – you could sell smaller, more expensive computers to medical and business clients. It didn’t work and Windows Tablet PC has been little more than a clever solution to a nonexistent problem.
So what’s with all the tablet talk lately?
We have entered an era of the thin and light computer and, rather than worrying about power we’ve become obsessed with the concept of thinness. This is why Apple, in their wisdom, created the MacBook Air and the iPod Touch. This is the same reason we are all salivating over the thought of tablets thinner than an issue of BusinessWeek and this is why laptop manufacturers – and Michael Arrington – are rushing to make them.
The Apple Tablet (or iPad or Tapplet) is real. It will have a capacitive touch screen and manufacturing difficulties are slowing down the tablet’s release to a crawl, thereby preventing us all from having one. It will be thin and, like the abhorrent HP DreamScreen, will focus on media. The extant tablet verticals – mostly in the medical industry – will still exist.
Note this new focus. Rather than trying to create a business machine, manufacturers understand people want bigger screens on which to consume web and media content.
So what can we expect in the next year? Well, first we have the CrunchPad. When all the bugs are worked out, it will be an amazing device – I’ve seen it. And I’m not just saying that because I’ve been intimately involved in the design process, because I wasn’t – that gives me a bit of perspective. Expect the CrunchPad to be a excellent device for blogging – that’s what Mike made it for – and for web apps. Don’t Expect much in the way of media. [I was wrong.]
Then there’s the iPad. This will eclipse the industry and for the rest of the year that’s all you’ll hear about. Trust me. Apple could require you to give this device three drops of blood every morning in order to satisfy the demonic hell-beast soul trapped inside it and we would, gladly. The release will be on par with the iPhone release and they’ll sell a million of them.
Then you have Microsoft’s Courier. It’s impressive, but it’s Microsoft; don’t expect that thing to take shape for two years and don’t expect it to take off until the second generation. Like the Zune, Microsoft will make a product but they won’t make it good until they have a little time to mull it over. I don’t think the Courier will be a player in 2010.
As for the rest of the devices, expect slow uptake by price conscious consumers and folks who don’t think it’s “cool” to own “name brand” technology and are real “hackers” (read: teenagers and European students). Archos, 
for example, is doing a lot of good work in the tablet space but they’re an also-ran. They are going the Tablet OS route, which is no good. Creative has some devices planned and it’s also clear that ChromeOS could power a nice device – provided HTC makes it.
As for connectivity most of these will have a 3G option – although I doubt the iPad will have 3G built-in. WiFi is an obvious second-best.
As for size, tablets, at least with capacitive screens, are weighed down by a huge hunk of metal that shields the electronics from the screen. This hunk of metal – and the glass – prevents us from getting a bigger iPod Touch and is what is keeping the iPad from coming out sooner. Once the world’s (i.e. China’s) scientists solve this problem we’ll get what we want. Until then it’s resistive all the way.
So prepare yourselves for the coming tablet wars and sock away a little cash because things are going to get interesting in 2010.
long live the newton! it’s baaaaacccckkk!
My friend’s brother’s wife’s uncle’s stepson’s friend’s girlfriend’s teacher’s husband has one of those.
Your friend’s brother’s wifes’ uncle’s stepson is technically just the wife’s step cousin.
What he didn’t tell you is that while the teacher is getting it on with his friend’s brother, his wife is actually sleeping with the uncle’s stepson, who also has a non-compromising friendship with his freind’s girlfriend, who is in fact the teacher’s husband’s secret daughter. Go figure.
When I hear Newton, I always have to think of this: http://tr.im/AppleNewton :)
LOL. The Newton huh? I love Apple, but we’re a little past that aren’t we?
Are you comming on to me?
The Newton? Wasn’t that about 15 years ago? It just goes to show you that wayyyy back then Apple knew what we wanted, and should have… but the technology just wasn’t there yet.
I would be interested in knowing how Google’s ChromeOS will be put on their other manufacturers laptop and support maybe one of the http://www.project10tothe100.com/ initiatives.
There can be no confusion who is going to win that war – My vote is for apple.
What always bugs me about the argument that Microsoft failed with the original tablet PC (XP and Vista) is that … they sold 10 MILLION of them.
Granted, the original function of medical and stuff didn’t take off. But it did for students, business folk, etc. Not in a huge way, but bigger than … well, almost any Apple product.
Personally I’m glad we’re seeing the second generation of tablets. But the reason we’re seeing a second generation is because the first did work, and advances in technology (and UI, like the iPhone) are allowing usage of the tablet concept in ways we only dreamed of in the early tablet days.
Apple people live in Silicon valley and they think that is the world. If you ever go further away from there — Apple is simply non-existent. It is too pricey for too many people to think about buying. Given that it is almost assumed you upgrade computer every 4 years at minimum, for individuals it is not affordable for corporations — it is bleedingly expensive. Either Apple learns to satisfy itself with lower margins or will always be in the second place. Pricey shiny products are not for everyone!
Um… I’m in L.A. and constantly travel to New York, Houston, Brazil and London… and Apple is all I see anymore. If by “further away from there”, you mean India… then yes sir… you have a point.
“Apple people live in Silicon valley and they think that is the world. If you ever go further away from there — Apple is simply non-existent.”
Yeah.
In France, Apple is now the 1st mobile phone seller (in terms of revenues, not units sold).
But in France, the exclusivity with Orange has been broken and all operators can sell the iPhone.
It’s a huge, huge hit here.
I’d have to agree. A lot of people who read these types of blogs seem to think “Apple is everywhere”. It’s not. I know tons of people with phones but only one has an iPhone the rest of the smartphone owners I know all have Blackberries. Same with PCs, let’s face it Apple is still under 5% global market share. The only market that Apple dominates is MP3 players and who know how long that market will be around. The tech blog world is very insular and seems to ignore the reality that most of the world is rolling with Nokia and Microsoft.
“I know tons of people with phones”
Good for you!
“”The tech blog world is very insular and seems to ignore the reality that most of the world is rolling with Nokia and Microsoft.”
Agreed on this one, though.
You’re right. Those second-place iPods and iPhones truly prove your point.
Two-thirds of all computers sold that cost more than $1,000 dollars = Macs. That’s HUGE. And do you have any cousins or nephews/nieces in high school or just entering college? Macs, especially the notebooks, are far more popular than I had ever realized. Apple puts out deals like… “free iPod touch with MacBook orders – oh, did we mention you get an educational discount, too?” As you can imagine, that’s pretty hard to pass up.
Apple is no longer “that other brand” in the eyes of youth. Instead, they’ve made themselves look like the Porsche or Aston Martin of computers: you get one when you’re ready to buy a real computer. And no, PC’s rigged for gaming will – despite what gamers think – always be considered a boyish hobby. Macs run *more* software (given that they run both operating systems, giving them 100% of Windows apps and 100% of Mac apps too – and there are a ton of the latter, thanks to Cocoa), have amazing integration with their phones and music devices, and have that elusive “cool” factor.
We need to stop acting like Apple still only owns a tiny share of the market. The number is closer to 10% now, and once you exclude purchases made for businesses and focus on sales instead of % of the existing market, it’s even higher.
I wholeheartedly agree that Apple needs to lower their damn prices, offer a mid-range tower, more upgrade options, open up their OS to run on more hardware, and so on, but they’re doing things right on the visibility front. The iPhone was the ultimate gateway drug.
Um, Jeremy, Microsoft didn’t make any tablets. They made a “tablet PC” version of Windows. They made software, others made hardware. Huge difference.
You’re right. They still sold 10 million XP licences though. You know, about the total number of Macs that are sold in a year?
Was there anything else?
Too long to wait !!! Want it !
I am heavily leaning towards the little man (CrunchPad). Hope it materializes soon.
Me2. It’s the only product I put some money away for at the moment.
tablet pc’s are dead… if u have ever used one you’d know. Same with the crunch pad
I have to disagree. I used a chaep ($300/eBay) Toshiba Portégé M200 while in grad school and now use it when at meetings and conferences. Granted, it is a convertible–so it flips and you have laptop functionality–but the ability to draw graphs, charts and record everything on the fly with what amounts to a throw-away computer with 802.11g is very nice.
I would be less productive at meetings without it as a traditional laptop would have my head in it, rather than in the meeting. It is like having a smart notebook of paper on the table in front of me. The advent of OneNote makes this tool indispensable for the business I do (and for lectures when I was in grad school).
It runs standard vanilla XP Tablet Edition and it rocks. I can not wait to replace it with the M$ Courier after seeing the write-up Gizmodo did.
We’ll probably be purchasing one for every member of our bizdev team and all of our engineers… so there are about 20 sales right there from just a tiny company.
Ah, the M200. I use one of those too, but mine runs Windows 7. :P
They really are incredibly useful. People seem to think they’re trying to replace all our standard PCs. They’re not. They have a specialized purpose.
(We actually got a lot of 5 of those M200s off eBay, so they were only around $130 each. They make good audio recording machines as well.)
Tablets run amazingly on Windows7. Ive been using one for about 4 months and love it. I don’t agree that apple will dominate if they are just running a larger version of the iPhone software l don’t even think it will be the courier. I think it will be the army of tablet P.C.s waiting for windows 7 to launch that will dominate the market.
No one can say for sure as no one has seen the apple tablet or the courier, but I have seen 7 for Tablets and its a thing of beauty.
I have Win7 on Hp tablet, it works wonder. Sometime it get hot and heavy, that’s annoying, but software works smoothly. What we need is processor that is faster yet require less power so that battery can last longer and produce less heat.
Apple does produce superior hardware. My Air is fantastic. so is my Touch. But productive works are done mainly on Windows PC and HTC winMob. MS is less flashy, but more substance.
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One thing you at TC should know, the TC douchePad is already dead. No sales projected past fanyboy wannabes. Give up now. I’ll look for it in the bargain bin at walmart. LOL
I’m glad you made a quick rundown of the players.
I wonder if the term “iPad” will have legs.
I also wonder how, by the end of 2010, the design for the Crunchpad, iPad and Courier will have matured. At least one should be in the market by then! The iPod and Kindle have shown how much better second versions can be.
P.S. I think you meant applications in the fourth paragraph, not “appellations.”
It is hard to say iPad with a straight face.
Agreed. iPad sounds like the name of a new-age feminine hygiene product with an RFID chip in it.
+1 LOL!
Out of all devices, Courier is the most impressive by far. We know nothing about the Apple tablet, but one thing is known, Microsoft is on their way up again (Zune, Windows 7, and now possibly Courier). I’m still not sure if they’ll compete though, Courier looks like an entirely different product — which I think will help.
As for the rest, I think Crunchpad will compete with Windows 7 tablets, and as a user of a multi-touch convertible Win 7 tablet, it has to really deliver because Windows 7 is amazing as a generic tablet OS. Personally, I don’t think Crunchpad will be able to surpass the range and quality of Windows 7.
I’m with you, but the Crunchpad will be cheaper and simpler than Win7 tablets. I expect them to be around 500 at least, and run Win 7 only acceptably.
As for the Courier, I’m pumped too. I’m running all my Microsoft people to ground to get a look at it but so far no go.
How much cheaper? 400 is still expensive. Not too expensive, but it is not like 300.
Does not the idea with the Courier look a lot like the OLPC 2? Dual screens, foldable and with touch.
It is clear that Apple will have a great device and will be the “it” device when it comes out. But one of the things that blocked the acceptance of tablet computers in the past has been the price point. A good tablet (one that had the right hardware, screen quality, and ease of use) was extremely expensive. They are still expensive when you consider how low laptop prices have gone in the past couple of years.
Something that is guaranteed is that the price point of the Apple tablet will be in the $800-$1200 price range (if the iPhone itself is $599 – without contract – figure that a tablet will be much more expensive). That is just out of the price range of most people for one reason. It does not replace a laptop or a computer. It is just a bigger version of the iPod touch and will concentrate on media and gaming.
Regardless of the feature set and ease of use, how many people do you really see paying $800 for a glorified video player (especially when you can get really thin and nice portable dvd players for under $200). The same goes for a gaming device. How many people are going to pay $800 for a gaming device when other devices cost around $250. One could say that this combines all of those devices together, and that is a good argument, but we also have to look at the consumers of those devices. Most of these consumers already have a portable gaming machine (PSP, DS, iPod Touch, iPhone, etc…) and most (with the exception of the DS) can also act as a video player (smaller, but still a video player).
One thing is certain, the Apple tablet will be the coolest and most full featured table out there. The rest all seem to be very much specialized for specific functions. But the problem is that the tablet will not replace the basic need of a laptop. To do so, Apple will need to make sure that the hardware that complements it makes it ready for that. For example, make sure that there are hardware partners that will allow the tablet to connect to a projector (I know that there are a couple of the iPhone), or provide functionality that would allow an external keyboard to be connected to it.
Microsoft was right in their thinking that a tablet needs to be a replacement for a laptop, but they did not execute correctly. Apple has the ability to take a proven platform (iPhone, iPod Touch) and extend it to make it a true laptop replacement. Given the right power, memory, internal storage, and extendibility options, it could be a great device.
I personally do not think, however, that Apple is going that route. Afterall, a good tablet will hurt sales of the MacBook Air (especially when you consider that many people are going the Google Docs route and do not need software installed on their laptops). It is my belief that it will remain a Video and Gaming device with a bigger screen.
I agree. If the Apple tablet consensus (it being media oriented device) is correct, then I don’t see it becoming a laptop replacement. Apple has to really reach out of the identity of the iPod/iTouch/iPhone to make it work.
Courier, IMO, has done this. It’s different and makes sense, and it’s not even a laptop replacement. A laptop is a portable desktop, Courier identifies more with those old school Palm devices – a device to get tasks done on the go. It’s a really innovative evolution of that type of device.
As far as media centric tablets, you’re right, it makes no sense when you can just have a iTouch, Zune, or even any of the latest smart phones. Playing with a Windows 7 tablet makes me believe that if your REALLY looking for something like that, then that’s good enough. It provides a really elegant and touch friendly media UI (Windows Media Center) and it has a touch friendly UI (panning, zooming, large icons, gestures). I use a panning plugin for Firefox and it really completes the experience. This type of devices does all the media you’d need, plus eveything else you’d expect from a computer (Photoshop, Word, etc). But that’s not what this tablet war should be about.
at beginning of courier description: “It’s impressive, but it’s Microsoft; ”
gist of the article: you hate anything that comes from microsoft, even if you havent even used it or seen it in action. But if its from apple or google, you will automatically like it because of your fanboy tendencies.
article devoted 2 sentences to courier and says “it wont be a big player” only because its from Microsoft.
No substance or facts to back it up, only blind fanboy hatred. Amazing.
Why did you leave out the part after the semi-colon? “don’t expect that thing to take shape for two years and don’t expect it to take off until the second generation.” – Can you argue with that? This has been the story of Microsoft products for decades – granted, this “Courier” thing could be an exception, but it seems fairly safe to assume that it will follow the same history of other MS products. Conceivably one could argue that this isn’t fair because it isn’t their first foray into tablets (especially as the tablet features have matured from XP to Vista to Windows 7), but one could have made that argument about the Zune too (that the first gen Zune should have taken off since MS already had past experience with PMP’s, etc.).
Ditto. Microsoft loves to show off technology demos, then when the show’s over they stuff everything back into the closet.
By the time anythings hits the streets (if ever), it’s sort of like the difference between the GM Volt concept car and the Volt production car: nice idea, but all of the edges have been shaved off to the point where vanilla pudding has more bite to it.
And you don’t get consumers excited over bland…
You know, that sounds like a really reasonable argument, until you stop and think about the fact that Microsoft has been working on tablet machines since the early ’90s.
I realize that the press made a unanimous decision to completely ignore tablets until the instant Apple was rumored to be working on one, but the various iterations of Microsoft’s tablet projects have really been making steady strides over the past decade. 90% of what is being shown in the Courier prototype has been on the market for years now between Microsoft OneNote, InkSeine, Autodesk Sketchbook, and Vista’s inking tools. The only things really new are building it all into the OS by default, and throwing a second screen on it.
I mean in reality, as opposed to the skewed view of the Apple-loving tech journalist, Windows for Pen Computing came out back in the 3.11 days, then Windows for Pen Computing 2.0 with Win ‘95, Tablet PC for XP being the third release, the whole Origami push and Vista having all the tablet features built-in was the fourth release, and Courier looks to be the fifth iteration of the concept.
This whole “maybe they’ll get it right on their second or third try” nonsense is just the typical idiocy of pretending that something never existed before Apple got interested in it, and then pretending everyone is playing catch-up to Apple.
I agree….
This is what happens when people know a portion of the facts. Apple “folk” love to think that they are the only ones able to be innovative or bring products that are “game changing”.
With Courier being the fifth generation of the Tablet coming out, I expect it to do well — especially since they have more experience with this platform and others have essentially none. MS will target this device properly in its place (or niche), and Apple will try to bring to market a “game changing device” – which will be hard as they already have hurt this effort by their success in releasing a very capable iTouch.
As for the CrunchPad — they had better get the product messaging PERFECT and their target market EXACT, or it will be game over before it starts…especially since Apple or MS could make up for any “V.1″ flaws with millions of marketing dollars.
@ Tomhandy: Ok, so the Courier is a prototype. At least MS has a prototype. Remind me, aside from all the rumours about an Apple tablet, what evidence is there of one? Oh… that’s right… none. So on one hand you have a company that has already built an OS for over 10 million tablet computers and that has a working prototype of a new model, and on the other hand, you have Apple who made the Newton. Yup… Apple is definitely going to win the tablet wars. If they actually make one.
Its not a ‘protoype’… its an animated video.
Its FUD.
Its what the wish they could accomplish, but what Apple will.
When will you guys get that monopoly-based marketshare of a dead technology (desktops) does not mean dominance of any other field.
MS is about to be left in the rear-view mirror.
“The Apple Tablet (or iPad or Tapplet) is real. It will have a capacitive touch screen and manufacturing difficulties are slowing down the tablet’s release to a crawl, thereby preventing us all from having one”
how is it real? nothing has been confirmed, youre riding completely on rumors. what a sh*t article
The CrunchPad was designed to be a blogging device? I thought it was focused on consuming information from around the web. If it’s focusing more on blogging, I’m interested to see what the final input is going to look like.
blogging is increasingly micro – reblogging and tweeting things you find, drag-and-drop tumblr stuff, that sort of thing. Content sharing is probably a better word for it.
So, Arrington is going to carry two devices with him all the time – a laptop to write for Techcrunch, and a CrunchPad to tweet that TC post on Twitter?
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I’ve got a ThinkPad X200 tablet, flips between tablet and laptop. Had an OQO before.
While the basic functionality is nice: use pen on screen to draw, write, etc. The fact of the matter is that the software is lacking. Despite trying quite a few things, including MS OneNote, I feel straight-jacketed b/c being in tablet mode excludes the keyboard immediately.
However, can give me pen/tactile drawing WITHOUT EXCLUDING the keyboard wins. If the Apple tablet can allow me to draw with hands+pen and gives me an iphone-like keyboard I could be sold. Especially if the software isn’t just toy software, but actually allows me to do professional work.
When will the crunchpad be released? I want one already… with pen input support so I can take notes in meetings
I wouldn’t trust it, with Arrington’s sweaty palms all over the it, it’s bound to crash.
Laptops in 2001 were heavy 10 pound monsters with bad batteries? Huh?
I had a Dell Inspiron around 2001. It was 8 pounds and it’s battery barely lasted an hour.
I had a Micron Millenium. 13″ screen, around 5-6 pounds. Many, not all, laptops back then were thick.
When the TabletPC came out I wanted one because it was small and something I could carry around easily, but reviews and price made me not get one.
If it hasn’t happened by now, it’s not going to happen. Mobile phones and laptops – especially cheap netbooks – will ensure tablets always remain niche products.
Yeah… until Apple does it.
It’s an interesting era for tablet computing. The Apple device will no doubt look great and have an amazing touch system but alas it’s price will eclipse anything most ordinary bods will be willing to spend. If, and I wouldn’t be surprised, it was in the same price bracket as a Mac Book then it’s going to be tough to opt for a “couch surfing” tablet over a full laptop system.
The CrunchPad is basically VapourWare at this point. The teasing and promises have lead to nothing and I think this was disappointing for people who were enthusiastic about this. It will be interesting to see what, if anything, comes out from TechCrunch. Personally I was looking forward to this decvice based on it’s price, the decision to have a decent display but I think Mike’s lack of communication and the announcements by some big players have blunted the original idea by Mike.
I think the recent moves will also see the big laptop vendors start to create a new tablet breed, emulating the netbook saga of the last few years. Samsung, Asus and such are perfectly placed to transition from the atom based netbook to a non-keyboard edition maybe running the ION chip to allow for decent video performance.
how is the crunchpad vapourware? particularly when comparing to a probable apple tablet you speak quite fondly of.
When you look at the stream of updates from TechCrunch then nothing you wonder what’s happening. There’s a fair bit of chatter about what’s happening with the CrunchPad and there has been no comment. When you go from lots of officially posts to absolute quiet you have to wonder.
Even if I weren’t part of this network, I would say that the CrunchPad is the least vaporware item on this list, excepting the Archos. You’ve seen it in video and motion, the creator has said it’s going into production, there’s packaging and price… if I were reporting on it from the outside I’d say it’s a safe bet.
So Archos is an also-ran even though they are the first to release an actual tablet this size, weight, performance?
You just don’t like the idea that a little French company is so much better than all your favorite giant silicon valley companies.
The only thing certain is that the Crunchpad is gonna be DOA thanks to MSFT and Apple. Thank god.
Yeah, because less choice is always good!
I’d rather have less choice of solid products than something that’s half baked thrown into the mix. It’s been a weak ploy and vaporware, lets be honest here.
“So what can we expect in the next year?”
Is this code for another Crunchpad delay? I thought it was due in summer of this year, then pushed back…
I love my MacBook, the operating system and form factor largely improve my productivity. I really like the iPhone too, but the price, including service, is f-ing ridiculous. As far as tablets, I am sure Apple will over f-ing price it, and for now I do not consider it a necessity, it is more of a novelty. With that in mind I would probably opt for the CrunchPad, due to its relatively low price point. That said, neither the CrunchPad or the iPad are out yet so who knows.
The first tablet software introduced by Microsoft was in 1991, not 2001. Windows For Pen Computing was a set of extensions to Windows 3.1.
GO Computers had just introduced the amazing PenPoint pen-centric OS, and Microsoft was scared. As a pre-emptive measure, they introduced Windows for Pen Computing, which (combined with only a few devices running PenPoint) managed to kill off PenPoint and other pen-enabled rivals from Motorola, etc.
Newton was the third pen OS of the early 1990s, which flopped because of price and poorly-managed expectations.
At most the HP tablet is an expensive pandigital lcd photo frame w/ slightly more features.
Courier, crunchpad, ipad, Peek2 (if this exists), a transformed kindle, updated sony reader could be the ones to grab market share. Strategic pricing and native killer software would be key to success, not just a web browser and simple productivity tools. Everyone will have web browsers and standard tools. The key differentiators would be native killer apps that make the device useful.
I’ve been wondering, why not have a ‘tablet’ which is just a monitor and touchscreen, and communicates with your home pc over bluetooth or wifi? No processor, memory, etc. behind it. The device would be for home use, and would act as a second monitor.
Sure it would require the pc to be on, but it would be cheaper to make and could do more. Just wondering.
more likely is for these tablets to ditch the new data account. who is gonna buy one that doesnt already have a phone to (bluetooth or wifi) tether to when mobile, or wifi at home/office ?
also, makers should add a right-click to mail/istore to make it easy to push attachements/media/downloads from pc or phone to the tablet
Biggs, I think you contradicted Arrington in terms of what the CrunchPad was made for.
Big M says:
“The key uses: Internet consumption. The virtual keyboard will make data entry a pain other than for entering credentials, quick searches and maybe light emails. This machine isn’t for data entry. But it is for reading emails and the news, watching videos on Hulu, YouTube, etc., listening to streaming music on MySpace Music and imeem, and doing video chat via tokbox.”
How about this tablet?
http://endoflifecycle.blogspot.com/2009/09/look-into-future.html
LOL!! Ha! That is right up there with the Pomegranate Smart Phone: http://www.pomegranatephone.com/
talk about vaporware–it seems like it is only a demo of AR concepts, not a tablet. My Android has AR apps that can do a lot of that–though it isn’t a paper-thin screen with interpretive super-doooper camera API. Much like the Android just can’t keep up with the Pomegranate when it comes to making coffee :-)
I’m probably going to either go with the Courier or the Crunchpad. You know how I will decide? I’m going to buy whichever is cheapest.
I don’t need an “all-powerful god of tablets”. I just want a cheap, attractive, good battery life and functional tablet. Web browsing, documents, maybe some music or movies from time to time, you know, the basic stuff. In other words, I want basically a netbook in tablet form.
On another note: Is that the final design of the CrunchPad? That’s quite a sexy looking tablet, very well designed..
Good post Biggs, I always enjoy your articles.
Firstly, I use Linux and haven’t touched a Microsoft product in years, but the coverage you gave to the Courier was just downright amateur.
You started with saying you were “writing longer form stuff.”
Then you give two sentences to Courier, which is clearly the most impressive and best designed tablet coming to market. It even has me thinking of switching back to M$ (hurhur m-dollar).
I read TechCrunch daily and expect better coverage than what we get from the Engadget-Apple partnership.
PS – The rest of the article was smashing. :P
These are of course the “proper” tablets, but there is a whole class of sub-tablet, if you will, that will emerge as competition heats up in the e-reader space. This actually already seems to be kicking off:
http://www.changeist.com/changeism/2009/8/31/e-readers-the-new-tablet.html
With the addition of VoIP and a few other lightweight apps to these e-readers, by next year you could see them competing with full-power tablets the way netbooks are competing with full-sized notebooks, only more application- or function-specific (education, mobile service sector, etc.).
Watch this space for PixelQi’s new display technology, for what the wireless operators will order up white label, and for e-readers targeted at verticals.
“The key uses: Internet consumption. The virtual keyboard will make data entry a pain other than for entering credentials, quick searches and maybe light emails. This machine isn’t for data entry. But it is for reading emails and the news, watching videos on Hulu, YouTube, etc., listening to streaming music on MySpace Music and imeem, and doing video chat via tokbox.” — borrowed quote describing the purpose of the CrunchPad.
This is exactly what I want. Would you also please ask Arrington to do a deal with Logitech so I can download an app to control my TV, amp, etc..? Logitech have that capability nailed but if I’m lying on the couch stuffing myself full of saturated fats, watching TV, and surfing the Web on my CrunchPad, I’ll be far too lazy to reach over and pick up my Harmony remote. I’d much rather pull up the Harmony widget on my CrunchPad. Ok?
From the bit I’ve seen of the Crunchpad, it looks very cool. I’d love to have a nice lightweight web device. Now what I’ve not read is whether or not the device will be hackable. Can I put new apps on it? Or is it really just the web? And I mean supported hackability. Not some guy that figures out how to root it.
Why? Because right now today, my wife can control the music in our house with a shared iPod touch. Any room of the house, she can stream music and control what’s playing. She can use the iPod touch to buy a movie off iTunes. I just wish the app would control my TV, stereo, volume, etc. :)
I can use SlingBox, Sonos, etc. but the experience isn’t as nice as with the iPod touch remote, iTunes, AirPort express, etc.
I’m hoping that a tablet becomes the controls to my house – lights, volume, which music to play, etc. I’m not expecting one vendor to do it all, but the vendor that will get my money is the one that allows me to do it the easiest.
Crunchpad, Apple Table, MS Courier? I don’t care. I just want to easy access to the web, my media, and my physical appliances.
I want the CrunchPad so that I can read PDF ebooks on it without all the distractions of the web. I hope it can support some offline stuff otherwise it would be useless for me.
Bill Gates was 46 in 2001. I’m sure he appreciates the compliment though.
See here:
http://en.wikipedia.org.wiki/Pandora_(console)
I’m holding out for one of THOSE!
Honestly, I’m not really sure if there will be a ‘tablet war’, but it sure won’t be as fun as the console wars… or as epic as the operating system wars!
Linux wins, BTW.
I have the new Levono X200 with the capacitive touch screen on order.
It’s true that there is problem as software for this type of device is virtually nada.
However, there are plenty of applications that could benefit.
The most important spec for me will be the quality of the capacitive interface (sensitivity, speed, control, etc.). If these meet my specifications then it will be a success.
The iphone’s interface is very good and it has probably set the standard.
We shall see.
for all those debating touch screen toy vs. laptop replacement, if the macbook air was reconfigured to be convertible like the lenovo x200 with a touch screen, wouldn’t you be in line right now?
Many tablets yet to launch: MSI, HP, and Dell all have tablet netbooks coming next year running Intel Pintetrail and Windows 7. Asus already has their T91 and the T101H should be launching soon. HP also has their TM2 tablet coming soon.
Asus make the Eee -T91 convertible netbook which, to my mind, is an awesome little machine. How hard would it be for them to ditch the keyboard altogether and revolutionise the upcoming ‘tablet wars’ the way they have shaken up the notebook market with netbooks?
For now, I’m settling for a Tylenol tablet. Whole lot cheaper and a lot less headache. Forget ‘internet consumption’, you can consume the entire tablet.
Like in Europe if you get access to #vodafone or #tmobile you grab 50% of the market.
And tablets without internet will not work !
One work around: operate as MVNO like virgin mobile…
The winner in The tablet battle will be the brand with the Best set and Solution
Doesn’t Asus also have a tablet coming out?
Here are a few more players that weren’t mentioned in the post (didn’t read all the responses so maybe someone already mentioned some of them).
Asus: they invented the netbook category and i suspect that category also inspired Arrington to think of the CrunchPad. Asus leaders have specifically mentioned they plan some touch-enabled devices. They have a history of thinking different and their industrial design, ergonomics and build quality keep improving. I’m betting they would produce a Win7 or maybe Android/ChromeOS device (or both) for around 300$ with good battery life and a decent resistive screen.
Nokia- the Maemo platform was not mentioned here for some reason, but with the N900 coming soon, the possibility that it’s Linux based OS will gain popularity seems realistic enough. The phone could lead the way for the tablet. Once people get to know it and it’s apps they might want a bigger one.
Palm- they did say that the WebOS will be the OS for a whole family of products. It seems logical for them to go this way. The WebOS seems like a perfect candidate (with some tweaks to the UI) to run in a productivity/amusement/communications tablet. They even tried something like it in the past, but with their old OS. Don’t remember the name.
Gygabyte- They have made several interesting devices in the past and have proven they can get the ergonomics and design right. They also make some of the hardware so they could get everything to play nice together nicely.
If you look at the abundance of operating systems that are emerging (Android, Chrome, Intel’s Mobline, Win7, Maemo) plus the abundance of hardware (new chips from Intel but also Nvidia, Via, ARM and others) you’d probably see that this is going to be an interesting market. It’s not necessarily going to be all Apple’s game again.
I think the time for a tablet is about right for a lot of reasons. People have more needs today for computing on-the-go. A younger, more internet-hooked generation is becoming independent to buy stuff. Battery life improves. Internet (3G, WiFi) is everywhere…
The fact that a concept (sort of) failed in the past does not mean it’s a bad concept. It could have been too early, or it could have been badly implemented.
Personally, I’ve been waiting for such a device for so long and am excited the finally see one in the horizon.
And personally, I’m cheering for Asus.
Oh, how could i forget the Always Innovating thingy! That’s a nice one! too bad they don’t do shippments to Israel :(
This upcoming tablet wars is very much interesting and I want to become one of the soldiers on this war!
Tablet computers were introduced in 1991 with the Go PenPoint. Unfortunately they had showed early prototypes to Microsoft who promptly lifted the ideas and did PenWindows.
I think Go finally won some lawsuit against Microsoft in 2005 or so.
I still have my Apple Newton around here somewhere.
I have a SmartQ 7 tablet right now that runs linux and a webkit browser over WiFi. It’s light and works well for just $200. The internal pictures I’ve seen show the motherboard is amazingly small and the majority of the weight is the battery that runs for eight hours.
I want one right now!
Not providing any updates on the on the Crunchpad and then releasing an article on the ‘tablet wars’ is a big mistake.
Shame on you Mike
own up and give us an update already
I remember whean I saw the Apple Edison for the first time…
It was something incredible…
Yaay, there will be a “tablet war”. The mainstream market doesn’t really exist and you anticipate a “war”. I’m just waiting for the biggest flop of the industry. gl anyway…
Tablet War ?
There will be non, Crunchpad will be beaten and anyone else as soon as Apple comes in.
Of course there is business but Apple do it better (Design) even if they are over protective with the hardware.
If they are smart they will just use a pseudo iphone OS.
So, the Crunchpad will have 3G besides Wifi?
“As for connectivity most of these will have a 3G option – although I doubt the iPad will have 3G built-in. WiFi is an obvious second-best.”
Pretty please.?
Has Arrington given up on the crunchpad?
I’d think with Apple (likely) getting in the game, he’d resign himself to being satisfied with fanning the flame if not actually bringing a product to market.