Tablets: I Don't Even
Lately I have had something of a pet peeve. Its name is... tablet.
Remember when the iPad was released?
"Guys! I squished an iPhone!"
It was regarded as stupid, and was the butt (and other nether regions) of a ton of jokes. So... what changed? How did it become revolutionary and useful enough to make other manufacturers produce Android tablets, and even a Windows 7 tablet. Some people are even saying it's the beginning of the end of desktop PCs and laptops! This is madness!
THIS IS INCREDIBLY SILLY.
Maybe it isn't madness, and this is Sparta. Maybe I can spot a reason tablets will replace laptops. I won't even dignify the replacement of PCs with tablets, because if anything they are being replaced by laptops. So, let's do a comparison, my laptop against an Android tablet of a similar price:
| Category | Asus Eee PC 1001PX | Archos 70 | Thoughts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $250 | $250 | |
| Processor | Intel Atom 1.66 GHz Hyperthreaded | ARM Cortex A8 1 GHz | Tablets really can't compete in processing power. |
| Screen | 1024x600 10.1" LCD | 800x480 7" LCD | Guess what's pointless? The Archos's 720p video support! |
| Memory | 2 GB RAM | What's RAM? | No seriously, what is it? Archos uses much slower flash memory as RAM. |
| Battery | 4 hours or so | 10 hours | I'll give it this one. |
| Weight | 1270 g | 400 g | This one too |
| USB Host | 2 ports | 1 port | <insert iPad joke here> |
| Actual Keyboard | Yes | No | Big turn-off for anyone who wants to do work on this |
I make no pretense of being unbiased, but doesn't the tablet just sound like it's making you trade usability for shininess for the same price? I mean, I fully expect that from Apple products (read: Macs), but all companies jumping onto this dumb bandwagon is really a bit nuts.
But you know what really baffles me? This.
You know what it reminds me of?
If you want a laptop with a touchscreen, those have already existed for years! Under the name of tablet PC. And they're unpopular as heck. So, maybe someone can enlighten me? What is it about tablets that proves so... popular?
Is it just the "we're in the future" factor of having an interactive notebook?
I don't care how cool that interface is, gimme a keyboard!
Until then, to the 0.28% of my readership that uses iPads, ಠ_ಠ.
Well yes, whatever happens, tablets will either fade from the current vogue, or become ubiquitous, or both. Even so, I still do not get their point given the price and availability of netbooks and tablet PCs.
So, what you're saying is, it is just because of the stupid novelty of "hey look I can touch, drag, and pinch things with my hands"?
I do not expect this post to hold up well over time.