Ebay Android Tablets, junk or possible alternative to iPad?

[PoorManQ45]

And these are similar to you? Am I missing something? Are you high? I'm not sure which one from roughly 2003 you would consider a "tablet", or maybe there was some other product on the market that better fits that description. Please elaborate on what was comparable to the current iPad 7 years ago. I was a bit of a nerd back then too, and I probably would've been interested in a tablet if it had any worthwhile features. Maybe I missed my chance.

What you're missing is that Apple did not do anything special.

What they did was removed the lower portion of the old tablets and integrated it into the screen portion. In the process they decreased the speed and capabilities of the components.

What allowed them to do this was the update in LCD technology that allowed them to be extremely thin. They did indeed use a "new" Arm processor, but a VIA chip could have been used just as well.

So, as a "cliffs" version they:

Took old technology
Wrapped it in a small package
Made it really pretty
Called it new
Viral marketed it

[AppleBonker]

And these are similar to you? Am I missing something? Are you high? I'm not sure which one from roughly 2003 you would consider a "tablet", or maybe there was some other product on the market that better fits that description. Please elaborate on what was comparable to the current iPad 7 years ago. I was a bit of a nerd back then too, and I probably would've been interested in a tablet if it had any worthwhile features. Maybe I missed my chance.

What you're missing is that Apple did not do anything special.

Well, then no one is doing anything special. My current core i7 processor isn't any more unique than an older P3 by the same logic. Sure, it's newer and upgraded, but it's not anything special. Yet intel is marketing it as one of the biggest breakthroughs in recent past.

So we're saying we have a problem with the marketing, and not the product? This is honestly one of the dumbest complaints I've heard about the iPad, and it has been around since the device was first announced. Sure, the iPad is less powerful than my netbook which is less powerful than my laptop which is less powerful than my desktop and so on. The device is about form-factor and portability. And in that respect it is somewhat revolutionary (though I agree that word is a bit unrealistic, but that's what marketing folks do).

And their sales justify what they did. If it were such a garbage product like all the haters make it out to be, would it sell like it has? So even if you feel it was nothing special, it certainly was revolutionary that they can take a bunch of "old technology" and market it up and sell it to the masses. I'd take that any day and wish I had the ability to do the same.

Finally, I'm still paying attention, and I fail to see any other product on the market that will do the same things as my iPad. Why aren't there more competitors? Clearly people are buying products in the segment. If it's so simple to make, shouldn't everyone else be trying to steal a piece of the pie?

[PoorManQ45]

Well, then no one is doing anything special. My current core i7 processor isn't any more unique than an older P3 by the same logic. Sure, it's newer and upgraded, but it's not anything special. Yet intel is marketing it as one of the biggest breakthroughs in recent past.

So we're saying we have a problem with the marketing, and not the product? This is honestly one of the dumbest complaints I've heard about the iPad, and it has been around since the device was first announced. Sure, the iPad is less powerful than my netbook which is less powerful than my laptop which is less powerful than my desktop and so on. The device is about form-factor and portability. And in that respect it is somewhat revolutionary (though I agree that word is a bit unrealistic, but that's what marketing folks do).

And their sales justify what they did. If it were such a garbage product like all the haters make it out to be, would it sell like it has? So even if you feel it was nothing special, it certainly was revolutionary that they can take a bunch of "old technology" and market it up and sell it to the masses. I'd take that any day and wish I had the ability to do the same.

Finally, I'm still paying attention, and I fail to see any other product on the market that will do the same things as my iPad. Why aren't there more competitors? Clearly people are buying products in the segment. If it's so simple to make, shouldn't everyone else be trying to steal a piece of the pie?

You are actually right on the money in your first paragraph. There isn't anything completely revolutionary about the i7. It's just a much faster way of performing the same functions that you could with your P3.

The problem with the "it must be a good product if people are buying it" argument is that this does not take into consideration marketing and "brainwashing".

The ipod is far inferior to the Zune HD at the functions that it's designed to perform, yet the ipod is more popular. Why? Marketing. Apple has gotten to the point that they can tell you what you need to have.

IIRC, you agree with me on the Bose issue. Just look at them. They are selling very successfully, and the users are happy with the products, but the products are actually crap. Apple is one step above this as their products do work well, but I think you get the point.

I am not saying that the ipad doesn't perform it's intended functions. I'm saying that it's not anything special. Apple fanactics like to praise every "new" product from Apple as "the best thing since sliced bread".

[AppleBonker]

So you're problem is only with the term "revolutionary"? Are you just as mad at intel for marketing the i7 as something "amazing"?

And it is a good product if people will buy it. I'd love to work for Bose. Their executives and "engineers" must make sick bank, because they honestly can't be doing much work. I'll never own the product, but I can respect it as a product that people will buy. That makes it an excellent product (my personal opinion on it is completely irrelevant). And once again, if the iPad weren't special in some way there should be proof. As in, there should be another product that is at least comparable, and I've yet to find one. Sure, there are some android offerings right around the corner, but they do not exist yet. So back to the OP- there really aren't any other options than the iPad.

Side note on the iPod thing: I just wish more manufacturers would realize the Zune is better. Unfortunately, software in mobile head units that controls portable audio devices is pretty much limited to Apple products. This is the only reason I buy iPods over other options. Sure, I could just use flash media, but it is harder to control with most head units and often is lacking features (playlists/video/etc). Once you get past the marketing thing, the product obtains a large enough market share that it will continue to grow from there on its own because all of the complementary products are designed around it.

[PoorManQ45]

Side note on the iPod thing: I just wish more manufacturers would realize the Zune is better. Unfortunately, software in mobile head units that controls portable audio devices is pretty much limited to Apple products. This is the only reason I buy iPods over other options. Sure, I could just use flash media, but it is harder to control with most head units and often is lacking features (playlists/video/etc). Once you get past the marketing thing, the product obtains a large enough market share that it will continue to grow from there on its own because all of the complementary products are designed around it.

That's exactly why I have an iPod. My Alpine integrates with it perfectly.

I will agree that there isn't any real competition for the iPad currently. But even when there is, people will still say that the iPad is better because it's an Apple product.

On your Bose comments. The difference between Bose and Apple is that Apple actually makes decent products. Bose makes complete crap. I guess my way of thinking doesn't allow me to agree with you that, because people are buying and enjoying it, it is a good product. Those two things do not automatically go together.

If you want another comparison I can bring in MagLite. They have been marketed as the best for like 30 years. Yet there are far better products and the same or less cost. More people buy MagLites then any other brands combined. That doesn't mean they're "the best".

So, now we are up to three companies that do the same thing. Apple, Bose, and MagLite all say they are the best.

*edit* Maybe my issue is really with their false advertising claims.

[marlin29311]

So back on topic...

Interesting tablet I see coming out...

www.exopc.com

Win 7 Tablet?

[AppleBonker]

So we're actually in agreement. Even though you might not consider the iPad anything special, if the OP were looking for a device of this nature, there really is no other choice. Right now, the other knock-offs are terrible substitutes for Apple's offering. This will certainly change in the future, but for right now it is a valid statement. So while it seems this conversation keeps spinning OT, this paragraph is at the core of the original question.

And maybe I'm going more on the pure definition of "product" would would lend itself to a producer's point of view. If it can be sold for a good profit, it's a good product. If it is dirt cheap to make and doesn't do anything but you can sell in large quantities and make tons of money, it's a good product. Because a consumer is too stupid to understand that the product is useless does not make it a poorer product. If I could invent an item that was entirely useless and cheap to manufacture but everyone wanted it, I'd be happy as a clam.

Edit: Lou, we actually were MOSTLY on topic. And that does look interesting. The problem I've always had with Windows tablets is that Windows was designed for control with more traditional HIDs, not touch screens. I'll be interested to take a look at the UI on that device. But a standard Windows desktop will never work on a tablet (IMO).

[wingFeather]

And these are similar to you? Am I missing something? Are you high? I'm not sure which one from roughly 2003 you would consider a "tablet", or maybe there was some other product on the market that better fits that description. Please elaborate on what was comparable to the current iPad 7 years ago. I was a bit of a nerd back then too, and I probably would've been interested in a tablet if it had any worthwhile features. Maybe I missed my chance.

No, I'm talking about Motion Computing tablets, which Apple copied their MacBook aluminum shell design from.

the other knock-offs are terrible substitutes for Apple's offering

In your opinion. Many others hate being locked into Apple's proprietary software and services. To someone like me, a resistive touch screen is a small "sacrifice" for the open architecture of Android.

[AppleBonker]

No, I'm talking about Motion Computing tablets, which Apple copied their MacBook aluminum shell design from.

So the materials used on the case are similar, making the products similar? Do you think this through before you type it out? By this same logic, the plane was hardly new since gliders had been around for a while. Clearly just copying off of them.

the other knock-offs are terrible substitutes for Apple's offering

In your opinion. Many others hate being locked into Apple's proprietary software and services. To someone like me, a resistive touch screen is a small "sacrifice" for the open architecture of Android.

I hate the closed nature of Apple's devices as much as anyone and I have plenty of posts supporting that. But at the same time, the software wont work so well when the hardware just can't keep up. If you want to grab a knock-off device and have the hardware crap out on you right away, be my guest. If the hardware fails, it really doesn't matter what software you're running (seriously, look at the videos on youtube of the unboxing of the knockoffs - they look like complete garbage that will fall apart if you handle them too often).

Also, there are very few people who actually have a problem with locked-down operating systems. In fact, most people probably don't even understand the difference between the two. So Apple products are perfectly acceptable to them. Once a reputable manufacturer brings an Android tablet to market, I'm sure my opinion will change. But until then, Apple has the best tablet computer on the market. And I think most anyone who disagrees is just blindly hating on Apple because it is currently the "cool" thing to do. If you want to argue that anything else is even a viable substitute, the Archos 9 is probably the only other option (and that isn't an Android tablet either).

[PoorManQ45]

Also, there are very few people who actually have a problem with locked-down operating systems. In fact, most people probably don't even understand the difference between the two. So Apple products are perfectly acceptable to them. Once a reputable manufacturer brings an Android tablet to market, I'm sure my opinion will change. But until then, Apple has the best tablet computer on the market. And I think most anyone who disagrees is just blindly hating on Apple because it is currently the "cool" thing to do. If you want to argue that anything else is even a viable substitute, the Archos 9 is probably the only other option (and that isn't an Android tablet either).

[wingFeather]

So the materials used on the case are similar, making the products similar? Do you think this through before you type it out? By this same logic, the plane was hardly new since gliders had been around for a while. Clearly just copying off of them.

Are you 16 years old?

[AppleBonker]

If I could have afforded all of these toys when I was 16 I probably would've been pretty pleased.

Your statement was that the iPad is boring since it's been done before. My argument is that while it is similar to a number of other products, there is nothing that is equal to it (currently). Cell phones don't seem exciting when you realize cordless was there first, then corded, then telegraph... I mean, it goes on forever. No matter how you look at it, the iPad WAS a new product. There was nothing comparable to it on the market when it launched. As a tech nerd, that excites me.

[TBrack]

Definately do not buy a chinese knockoff. I am waiting for the new Samsung Galaxy Tab coming to Germany Sep. 2nd. It will be THE Android tab you are looking for.

[wingFeather]

If I could have afforded all of these toys when I was 16 I probably would've been pretty pleased.

Your statement was that the iPad is boring since it's been done before. My argument is that while it is similar to a number of other products, there is nothing that is equal to it (currently). Cell phones don't seem exciting when you realize cordless was there first, then corded, then telegraph... I mean, it goes on forever. No matter how you look at it, the iPad WAS a new product. There was nothing comparable to it on the market when it launched. As a tech nerd, that excites me.

I can respect that.

[Jesda]

Definately do not buy a chinese knockoff. I am waiting for the new Samsung Galaxy Tab coming to Germany Sep. 2nd. It will be THE Android tab you are looking for.

Looking forward to this, and its about time. Android is a great tablet OS, but all the hardware for it right now is garbage.

[PoorManQ45]

Definately do not buy a chinese knockoff. I am waiting for the new Samsung Galaxy Tab coming to Germany Sep. 2nd. It will be THE Android tab you are looking for.

Looking forward to this, and its about time. Android is a great tablet OS, but all the hardware for it right now is garbage.

I'm waiting until the 1.2ghz dual-core ARMs processors come out before I even consider upgrading.

[AppleBonker]

Me three. I am excited about the new offerings coming up. Part of me hates being an early adopter cause I always seem to have a strong urge to upgrade within a couple of years of my purchase. Or I need to find a way to sell off my HD-DVD player/collection...

[PoorManQ45]

Me three. I am excited about the new offerings coming up. Part of me hates being an early adopter cause I always seem to have a strong urge to upgrade within a couple of years of my purchase. Or I need to find a way to sell off my HD-DVD player/collection...

I'm still rocking a MyTouch 3G. If you're not familiar, it's simply the G1 without a keyboard. My buddy upgraded to the Nexus One. It's sexy, but I just didn't see the point. Not a big enough speed increase for me.

[wingFeather]

Me three. I am excited about the new offerings coming up. Part of me hates being an early adopter cause I always seem to have a strong urge to upgrade within a couple of years of my purchase. Or I need to find a way to sell off my HD-DVD player/collection...

My biggest lesson about early adoption was buying the new M35 in 2005 (as an '06 model). $60,000 and about 2 years later they dropped to $30k on eBay. Then the advanced technology I paid so much for started showing up on Sentras. UGH.

But, as always, things could be worse. If I was rich I could have paid $178k for an '05 Mercedes sl65 (which now has a wholesale value of $32-42k). But then again, would I care if I was rich? Hmmm...

[Kompresshun]

Me three. I am excited about the new offerings coming up. Part of me hates being an early adopter cause I always seem to have a strong urge to upgrade within a couple of years of my purchase. Or I need to find a way to sell off my HD-DVD player/collection...

I saw somewhere online the other day that somewhere(I want to say Warner Bros) was doing a program that you can send in your hd dvds and they'll swap them for blurays for like $3-4 a piece. Pretty good deal if you don't have some or all of them on bluray.