There's no reason to believe that Android tablets can't take the same role as Android phones have in assuming a quick march to market leadership. As Google continues to tighten up standards for the devices, it could reduce worries of fragmentation while increasing the addressable market size for developers.
The first edition of the Galaxy tab is very good. I've handled it and it's polished even if Android itself isn't fully ready for primetime on the tablet. That will improve in 2011 and at that time it will good for Samsung to release a new edition. In that spirit, here was my thinking about what would make me switch from my iPad to an Android tablet:
- Embrace Handwriting. I use my iPad to take notes and there are some remarkably good solutions for the iPad that use software to detect palms. The gold standard would be a digitizer tablet, something that I think is essential for mark-up in an education environment.
- Enable Mice. Some people are going to want to turn their tablets into very very mini PCs - complete with wireless keyboards and touchpads or mice. Let them.
- Go Unlocked. Enable people to be a fully capable unlocked version of the device that they can use on any network.
Beyond my own needs, I think there are two additional models/form-factors that Samsung must consider:
- Large screen. For text-book users, that is going to be a must. I'm not sure that dual-screen readers will take off, but I am sure that education users need a larger format.
- Ruggedized version. From age 2 when they drool on things to age 17 when they sit on them and shove them in their backpacks without protection, kids are hard on their technology. I would love to give my kids an iPad or an iPod touch someday, but I fear the consequences of giving a child such a delicate and expensive item.
Tablets are only going to get better. Competition is good for the industry and Samsung knows how to make a market very very competitive.
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| Samsung off to a great start. Link |
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