What I hope happens with tablets

[SAWYER]

As they are steadily getting more and more powerful it would be awesome for them to be your only computer/gaming/media device if you wanted. I would like to be able to dock it at home with my monitor or using it as a console and having a controller for it and displaying on my tv. This all seems pretty reasonable, do you think this will be happening?

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

You can do it somewhat already. Some devices support mini-usb/hdmi. Just plug it in and have a bluetooth keyboard and mouse and you're good to go.

 

[Red Storm]

As soon as Apple (and to a lesser extent, Google) releases a standardized game controller for iOS they will start to eat into Xbox and PS3 marketshare (lack of a standard controller is keeping many games from being quickly ported over).

 

[Bateluer]

After using the Tab 8.9 with the keyboard dock, I can definitely see tablets with docks becoming the primary computing device for most people.

 

[vshah]

As soon as Apple (and to a lesser extent, Google) releases a standardized game controller for iOS they will start to eat into Xbox and PS3 marketshare (lack of a standard controller is keeping many games from being quickly ported over).

android already supports several third party controllers. I agree that google should come out with a standard one, especially after this new "Play" branding.

OP, see motorola webtop and the asus padphone. we're already moving in that direction. I imagine windows 8 will be a big push towards single device multi screen computing as well.

 

[Red Storm]

android already supports several third party controllers. I agree that google should come out with a standard one, especially after this new "Play" branding.

Yeah but 3rd party controllers are not enough to get devs to jump on board. An official, standardized controller will, IMHO.

Another thing playing in the tablets' favor is that you get yearly updates to hardware specs, whereas consoles make do with the same set of hardware for ~5 years. Considering how fast we've already seen tablets progress, I can definitely see them achieving relative performance parity with consoles.

Factor in much more affordable game prices, the much easier method of obtaining games that fuels impulse purchases (click download as opposed to physical media), no longer needing a dedicated system just for gaming, and being able to play anywhere you want without being tied down to a display (which can still be utilized if you want) are all upsides to using tablets as gaming systems. It's just a matter of time.

 

[RockinZ28]

Definitely. My 1st gen Transformer lacks on the HD video playback, but it does work just dandy with a wireless keyboard/mouse, ps3 controller, and hdmi out to my tv's. Games like Shadowgun show the capabilities are there for console level games too.

Tablet is only a year old now, already seen a successor released, and another upgrade due fairly soon. Can stream pc games to your tablet etc.

I'll probably buy the true next generation version when it comes out, and I expect it will be able to handle just about everything I'm interested in.

 

[Raduque]

The biggest problem with using a controller on an Android device is that the input layer is a keyboard replacement app. With almost all of them you have to set the controller software as the system-wide keyboard for games to recognize it. There doesn't seem to be a way for you to simply pair the controller with the device, and then use it in-game, without having to switch the software layer on and off every time.

At least, this has been my experience with BT controllers.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

tablets are still too slow, especially android tabs.

 

[akugami]

I think we are seeing this transformation already. Devices like the Moto Atrix are paving the way for the future. You'll have your "primary" device which is a mobile smart phone device. This forms the core of your computer system. This can be docked into a larger tablet sized screen for expanded functionality. This can further be linked up with a keyboard for a more traditional computing experience. And of course, any peripherals can be linked to the smart phone as well.

 

[RockinZ28]

The biggest problem with using a controller on an Android device is that the input layer is a keyboard replacement app. With almost all of them you have to set the controller software as the system-wide keyboard for games to recognize it. There doesn't seem to be a way for you to simply pair the controller with the device, and then use it in-game, without having to switch the software layer on and off every time.

At least, this has been my experience with BT controllers.

I think ICS has fixed this, at least for the games I've tried. It just works, no messing around or tweaking settings.

Yea honeycomb was a bitch.

tablets are still too slow, especially android tabs.

What things are too slow? With Honeycomb I would totally agree, it was so slow I rarely used my tablet because it was frustrating.

Now with ICS, everything feels smooth and fluid. I'd wager its faster for most things compared to the average persons bogged down laptop or desktop. Compared to my desktop, internet browsing isn't that much laggier either.