With the release of the
Apple iPad
in January of this year, Apple fired the first shot in the portable computing market. Others were soon to follow in the Windows & Linux fields.
The Apple iPad is expected to make more money by offering gazillions of apps and paying subscriptions to newspapers. A new way to stop newspapers from disappearing? The iPad also offers all sorts of synchronizations to your existing iPhones and iPods that you already own.
Let’s start with the Linux operating system, a German company came out with a WePad, and very quickly changed the name to WeTab. Like the Apple several models exist with 16GB & 32 GB memory and WiFi & 3G available. Unlike the Apple products, Linux is free, but even with a low euro, these machines are more expensive than the Apple products.
Motherboard manufacturers like MSI (WinPad 110) and ASUS (Eee Pad) have released their own version of a tablet with Windows 7, with touch screen and a 9/10 hours battery. A 9” or 12” inch screen seems to be the choices available. Also present are USB ports and a built-in camera to connect to communication software like Skype (features not yet on the Apple iPad). Some of these units besides the Windows software will be offered next year also with the free Google Android operating system. HP/Compaq have also let a few Formula 1 race car enthusiasts field test their unit at the beginning of the year, but public release will be for later this year. HTC, Foxconn (that assembles the Apple equipment in China), Acer & Dell are also building their own units. Expect a flurry of new products by Christmas, but wait another year to get a better product, unless you buy an iPad now and raise the price of the Apple stock!
There is also the
Kindle from Amazon
that allows to read books & magazines. Unlike all the above units it does not have a backlit display & if you like the feel or reading an old black & white text, that equipment is for you. A bigger Kindle the DX will be release soon and will have the same size screen as the
Apple iPad
.
We are Computer Hounds located in the Conifer Market Place shopping center, next to H&R Block.
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