So whats the next best thing to an iPad?

[superccs]

Is there a competent competitor to the iPad at the moment or in the near future?

Are these units running Android or Windows?

Looking for netbook-like usage, manipulating office docs, pdf reading, and internet browsing so a screen size of around 10" is optimal.

So far I have seen products from Archos in stores, and seen pics of potential products from MSI, HP, Samsung, but can't see through the fog of ignorance as to which ones are actually legit.

 

[TheStu]

There is the HP Slate, but that is about $900 and is a netbook tablet, so Atom processor running Windows 7. Windows is absolutely not optimized for a touch screen, just like every other desktop OS.

The Samsung Tab is a 7" device with Android 2.2, but I believe it lacks the Market making it kind of gimped. It comes in cheaper than the iPad with a 2 year contract, but most of that price advantage disappears if you want to get it without a contract.

There is the upcoming Inspiron Duo, that one is a traditional netbook with a rotating screen. Instead of rotating at the hinge (lets call that vertically) like other convertibles, this one the screen rotates horizontally with the swivel joint located in the sides of the bezel. That is also using Win 7, however it appears to have some sort of finger friendly skin to it, but I am not sure how well that will work (see HP TouchSmart PCs).

 

[Winterpool]

What, you don't fancy a JooJoo Pad?

If you require 'netbook-like usage', why not get a netbook? A very light, thin model... 'Manipulating office docs' would be 10x more productive with a proper keyboard.

As Teh Steve is denying me a 7-inch iPad, I've begun looking more seriously at alternative tablets/slates. A host of them were displayed at recent shows, but many have failed to materialise or are retailing at much higher prices than most find acceptable. (If you're going to charge prices equivalent to the iPad, you had better provide Apple qualite...)

Windows 7 is not well suited to touchscreen use, at least at this size, and it requires far too much processing power and energy.

As to Android, the Samsung Galaxy Tab is probably the first of the desirable tablets to appear with decent specs, but the price was much higher than most had hoped -- essentially iPad range. And these are only 7 inches (which is what I want, but it smarts to pay about the same as a 10-inch IPS iPad). Both Engadget and Laptop magazine have already reviewed the Galaxy.

A lot of folks are interested in the Notion Ink tablet for its combination full-colour and b&w e-inkish display. This could be my perfect reader/portable Web device, but I suspect it's going to be too expensive.

OLPC (remember them?) are working with Marvell to produce a $75 tablet.

B&N has a new Nook that's based on Android and only $250. If it hacks well...

 

[xSauronx]

Is there a competent competitor to the iPad at the moment or in the near future?

Are these units running Android or Windows?

Looking for netbook-like usage, manipulating office docs, pdf reading, and internet browsing so a screen size of around 10" is optimal.

So far I have seen products from Archos in stores, and seen pics of potential products from MSI, HP, Samsung, but can't see through the fog of ignorance as to which ones are actually legit.

if you intent to actually do any real work with those office docs youre gonna want to get a real computer. the new air models may be of interest, and there are threads on other 11.6" notebooks recently that are worth looking at.

 

[superccs]

:/ This sounds like I was wasn't missing much in the tablet market right now. The Samsung unit just seems a little small... ha I feel like Goldilocks or something. So many compromises.

 

[taltamir]

You require netbook like useage, then get a netbook. The ipad is not a netbook, it is an ebook reader.

ipad is a rarity in that unlike all the ereaders that came before it, it utilizes a color LCD instead of a B&W epaper. That makes it thicker, heavier, and it's battery lasts 10 hours instead of 10 days. Which made everyone think it is a dumb a idea, and why they all stuck to epaper.
There are exceptions, the barns and nobles nook which has a small LCD + large epaper screen (and came before the ipad btw), and a few others which utilize an LCD.

you can get a full list of ereaders and their features here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebook_readers
A little counting reveals that there are currently 51 B&W epaper ereaders on the market, 5 color LCD ones. the ipad is not listed in either section, but instead mentioned as "Other mobile text viewers" but thats just wikipedia for you.

Anyways, a bunch of the higher end ones have a full OS and netbook like functionality (at quite a price point though). but really, for a netbook experience just get a netbook.

 

[Zap]

If you require 'netbook-like usage', why not get a netbook? A very light, thin model... 'Manipulating office docs' would be 10x more productive with a proper keyboard.

This. Pure tablets are best for consuming media with limited interactivity. If you want to type a document, get something with a real keyboard. A tradeoff would be a netbook tablet (Asus makes some). I suppose you can do a tablet and a Bluetooth keyboard, but IMO it would be less portable than a netbook tablet.

As for alternatives to the iPad, are you looking for as good or better or are you looking for not an Apple product or are you looking for cheaper?

 

[Skott]

I'm curious how that new Archos 10.1 Internet Tablet with Android Froyo 2.2 will stack up against the iPad. I havent seen any reviews of it yet though. Supposedly priced around $300.

 

[WelshBloke]

This. Pure tablets are best for consuming media with limited interactivity. If you want to type a document, get something with a real keyboard. A tradeoff would be a netbook tablet (Asus makes some). I suppose you can do a tablet and a Bluetooth keyboard, but IMO it would be less portable than a netbook tablet.

As for alternatives to the iPad, are you looking for as good or better or are you looking for not an Apple product or are you looking for cheaper?

What about this, best of both worlds.

 

[Emulex]

jailbroken ipad has a ton of apps and flexibility. navigon is really fast on the 3G model; air video streams really smooth; i'm sure airplay will look nice too. video out. tethering. bluetooth keyboard; openssh/terminal.

they have extremely poor resale value i see slightly used 3G models going for $500 all day long (16GB 3G). tons of great apps. get a model quick before the SHSH blobs get bumped to 4.2; that way you can keep your JB in a few days/week when ios 4.2 comes out. the next ipad's will have facetime too. very nice build quality. doubt you'll find an IPS screen on anything in that price range/screen size.

 

[ed21x]

Asus has an atom-based tablet. while the atom processor sucks, it is still miles better than any ARM-based processor and you can at least be productive when running windows XP media center edition on it.

 

[Bateluer]

This?
http://www.archos.com/products/ta/archos_101it/index.html?country=us&lang=en

 

[Emulex]

a nokia booklet 3G is the next best thing. or a macbook air with ispot (on the list of allowed mac addresses).

Nokia booklet 3G is best kept secret check them out on ebay if you know what i mean.