the tablet war is heating up

[falcarrion]

I was holding out for Amazon's tablet, but scuttlebutt is that Apple screwed them by creating a run on the tablet component market as they slap together about 15 million iPad 3's.

According what I read Amazon has ordered 1.2 million touch panels for the third quarter. No where have I read that Apple has screwed amazon in any way.

 

[Felon]

According what I read Amazon has ordered 1.2 million touch panels for the third quarter. No where have I read that Apple has screwed amazon in any way.

Well, you can't have looked all that hard. There's plenty of scuttlebutt to that effect.

Try googling for titles like "Apple iPad 2 chokes Amazon tablets". Or "Is Apple Buying Up All the Parts for Amazon's Tablet?" Or "Amazon Could Be Held Back By Apple". Those were three that popped in a quick search for me just now. Throw in TPK and Wintek as keywords if you're still hard-pressed somehow.

Amazon is struggling to manage 1.2 million in the face Apple's supposed 14 or 15 million unit order that Apple placed.

 

[Felon]

I've been considering this one as well. If I'm
I'm not sure why, but even though the device came out yesterday, there's only one review from a major tech site.

Here's a good review.

Toshiba Thrive Review - Android Tablet Reviews by MobileTechReview

Interesting...Lisa comments that yeah, it's bigger than most other tablets....but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Instead of trying to copy the iPad 2, it goes its own way and focuses on meeting a different set of needs.

It's kind of nice that you could plug in a USB mouse and have it work....or a keyboard, or use it in conjunction with your digital camera, to view photos as you're taking them...or even plug it into a printer or portable hard drive.

Yeah, that's a good review. Here's one from CNet:

Toshiba Thrive AT105-T1032 Review - Watch CNET's Video Review

What caught my attention is that they gave it 4 stars, which they haven't done for a tablet since the iPad2.

So what I'm left wondering now is whether I should wait to see what will become of Amazon's tablet ambitions, and what Apple is cooking for the iPad3

On the basis of (mostly) apps alone, it's tempting to get the low-end iPad in addition to an Android tablet. Pretty self-indulgent though.

 

[Alan Shutko]

On the other hand, Amazon may have only ordered 1.2 mil because none of the iPad competitors has managed iPad volumes, and they don't want to be stuck with a bunch of unsellable stock.

 

[Banshee16]

According what I read Amazon has ordered 1.2 million touch panels for the third quarter. No where have I read that Apple has screwed amazon in any way.

No more than they have any other manufacturer. I remember reading articles about how Apple has bought up as many supplies as they could for iPad development.....both to ensure their own access to components, but also to control pricing.

Banshee

 

[Banshee16]

Yeah, that's a good review. Here's one from CNet:

Toshiba Thrive AT105-T1032 Review - Watch CNET's Video Review

What caught my attention is that they gave it 4 stars, which they haven't done for a tablet since the iPad2.

So what I'm left wondering now is whether I should wait to see what will become of Amazon's tablet ambitions, and what Apple is cooking for the iPad3

On the basis of (mostly) apps alone, it's tempting to get the low-end iPad in addition to an Android tablet. Pretty self-indulgent though.

The four stars is cool.....however....on his blog, Donald Bell apparently commented that they have to start giving higher reviews to some of the non Apple tablets. It's possible that they realize they've been shaping opinions a little too much.

Guess we'll see. I'm glad to see those numbers.

Some of the reviews I've noticed on Youtube, by regular consumers, have indicated that something with how Toshiba has tuned the device results in it functioning smoother than competing Android tablets, despite the fact that it shares the same CPU and amount of RAM. Maybe the extra time Toshiba took to get it out the door indicates they've spent a longer time working on hardware drivers?

I *have* heard that the screen on the Thrive isn't as good. More Xoom quality level in terms of brightness. But that, screen aside, it it one of the top performers in Honeycomb tablets.

Now I'm not entirely sure what to do. I just might have to wait until August when it arrives in Canada, so I can compare it to the EEE Pad Transformer.....but by that point, we'll be just a few months away from the 2nd gen devices.

Banshee

 

[Banshee16]

BTW, for those for whom the current lack of Hulu and Netflix apps on Android is a problem, I was reading some posts on user message boards, and I saw several users pointing out a relatively simple solution. Keep your main PC or laptop on, and then use a desktop sharing program (both the EEE Pad Transformer and Thrive have it, for free), and just connect to your desktop through the tablet, play your movie, and bang, there you go. Apparently it'll play, no lag (assuming no lag on your network).

Banshee

 

[falcarrion]

Well, you can't have looked all that hard. There's plenty of scuttlebutt to that effect.

Try googling for titles like "Apple iPad 2 chokes Amazon tablets". Or "Is Apple Buying Up All the Parts for Amazon's Tablet?" Or "Amazon Could Be Held Back By Apple". Those were three that popped in a quick search for me just now. Throw in TPK and Wintek as keywords if you're still hard-pressed somehow.

Amazon is struggling to manage 1.2 million in the face Apple's supposed 14 or 15 million unit order that Apple placed.

"According to the Taiwanese journal, touch panel makers are reluctant to commit themselves to Amazon tablets as Apple’s demand increased in the third quarter of 2011 fiscal year." Thats not Apple screwing Amazon. But touch panel makers being reluctant.

 

[Relique du Madde]

BTW, for those for whom the current lack of Hulu and Netflix apps on Android is a problem, I was reading some posts on user message boards, and I saw several users pointing out a relatively simple solution.

What do you mean no Hulu on android? My Droid II has it.... oh yeah.. .I forgot it's a "must be a hulu+ member" and a "select devices with DRM chips installed" deal.

 

[Banshee16]

What do you mean no Hulu on android? My Droid II has it.... oh yeah.. .I forgot it's a "must be a hulu+ member" and a "select devices with DRM chips installed" deal.

I'd settle for being a Hulu basic member, but they discriminate against Canadians

As far as I understand it, there are no Hulu or Netflix apps yet for Android. However.....I wonder if you could just use your browser, go to the website, login, and watch the movie?

Banshee