Re:Google set to blow open the tablet market later this year...
by tedunangst on Thursday September 27, 2012 @12:26PM
(#4581418)
maybe. remember when Apple was going to fade out of the computer business because they refused to make a $200 netbook? do you see anybody making $200 netbooks these days? everybody makes airbook clones at airbook prices.
Re:Google set to blow open the tablet market later this year...
by bryanlarsen on Thursday September 27, 2012 @12:45PM
(#4581522)
No, but there are tons of people making $300 laptops. I think that did more to kill the netbook market than Apple did.
Re:Google set to blow open the tablet market later this year...
by officemonkey on Thursday September 27, 2012 @03:57PM
(#4582555)
Netbooks were superlightweight computers you could take anywhere, just like the tablet market the iPad created. Most people complained that the netbooks were underpowered toys with tiny batteries. The first iPad addressed both of those concerns successfully.
Re:Google set to blow open the tablet market later this year...
by bryanlarsen on Thursday September 27, 2012 @04:01PM
(#4582568)
Sure, that's what they were supposed to be. However, my argument is that to most people they were just cheap computers, for both senses of the word cheap.
Losing customers to a low-priced Android tablet before they have the chance to get them on board their "mini tablet" upgrade cycle could be disastrous. Apple effectively had first-mover advantage in the 10" tablet market, but Android is solidly ahead in the 7" market with the existence of the Kindle Fire and the Nexus 7, and it's much more difficult to gain ground in that kind of market. Add in a low-price high-quality competitor and you've got a really steep uphill climb.