With iPad 2 now revealed to the masses (in not only black but also white as Apple Gazette suspected), the question on every geek’s mind is which “iPad Killers” will be able to survive the next wave of iPad madness?
While the future has yet to be written, here are the tablets that will probably become extinct as well as the ones that can potentially thrive in the shadow of iPad 2.
Blackberry Playbook
Future Status: Dead On Arrival
Despite RIM pouring their heart and soul into the Blackberry Playbook, the device’s screen is still way too small to be considered even a threat to the iPad (let alone iPad 2).
To make matters worse, RIM is allegedly shipping the Playbook on April 10th, which is almost a month after iPad 2 hits the shelves in the US (note: Apple is shipping iPad 2 on March 11th).
RIM also has yet to publicly declare a price for the Playbook, although it will have to be much cheaper than the iPad in order for the company to gain any traction.
HP TouchPad
Future Status: Barely Breathing
Despite the fact that I think that webOS is superior to iOS (whether upon a smartphone or tablet), HP is missing one key ingredient in order to attract the masses: a thriving app store.
Whether it’s due to poor marketing or bad luck, webOS has been unable to attract the attention of developers who have (for the most part) focused their efforts upon iOS, Android and even Windows Phone 7.
Combined with the belated launch date (which HP still has yet to announce), the webOS table may end of being ignored by not only the development community, but the masses as well.
Windows 7 Tablets
Future Status: Surviving
Although this isn’t a fair comparison, Microsoft will probably survive the iPad 2 tsunami based upon the fact that the tablet is basically running the same OS as a PC.
While it’s doubtful that Microsoft will sell as many tablets as Apple, it wouldn’t be surprising seeing users buying both devices as touch screen devices start becoming the norm as we enter the “post pc” era.
Microsoft has hinted that they plan on launching a scaled down version of Windows 7 for tablets (probably using an altered version of Windows Phone 7), although it’s doubtful that it would be able to survive in iPad 2’s shadow.
Motorola Xoom
Future Status: Thriving
Despite the fact that Xoom boasts less than 100 apps designed for Honeycomb (aka Android’s tablet OS), that number will quickly accelerate as mobile developers reconfigure their mobile apps for the tablet.
Unlike their rivals Motorola actually has thrived under Apple’s shadow as evidenced by the Droid series (which sadly many people refer Android phones as).
With the exception of their Superbowl ad, Motorola has been able to present themselves as the true alternative to all things Apple, and with Google’s help we may see the company take the silver in their war against tablet rivals.
Will You Choose iPad 2?
While I’m personally going to invest in an iPad 2 (now that it finally boasts camera’s as well as some must have multimedia apps), I’m wondering what tablet will you consider purchasing?
Originally posted on March 2, 2011 @ 5:37 pm