Kogan Technologies has long been about being at the forefront of new exciting consumer electronics, at affordable prices. I’ve seen various incarnations of tablet computers from various developers and manufacturers over the past twelve months, from both direct sources in China and on trade floors such as CES last month.
I’m sure no-one reading this missed last week’s announcement that Apple will soon be selling the iPad, a touchscreen tablet which sits between the iPhone and the MacBook. However, it’s not without its flaws. Google have also joined the fray by hinting at their tablet aspirations.
The possibility for a Kogan tablet device to hit the market in the coming months is also a very real one – and an option I’ve been seriously considering. As it stands, the market could go in any direction, particularly given the huge variety in form factors, applications, and cost. Not to mention the most basic of variations – the name! ‘Netbook’ quickly became a universal term, but it seems the industry and consumers are still jostling over what to call these new devices. Tablet, slate, pad, or something out of left-field?
There has been plenty of debate online since the iPad was announced. Does it really fill the niche that Apple has carved out? Or is it ready to hit the mainstream?
Does having a netbook or notebook and a smartphone fill all your needs, or do you see a tablet as a useful addition to them? If so, what would you like to see out of a Kogan tablet?
There’s a huge amount of variety when it comes to the future of tablet computing. Some of the things we have to consider before we release a Kogan tablet, and some of the things consumers should be thinking about are:
- What sort of display you’re looking for – do you prefer Amazon’s e-ink, a vibrant iPad like touchscreen, or would you wait for OLED?
- What you will use it for – netbook style web-based use, lots of video, or mostly to read e-books?
- Which operating system best fits your needs? Do you want to see Android, Windows 7, Linux, or even the upcoming Google Chrome OS on your tablet?
- Is 3G connectivity important for you, or is Wi-Fi enough?
I personally don't see the individual need for a tablet. Between my Google Nexus One and Kogan Agora netbook, I think I am fulfilling all my portable computing needs. That said, I still want to test one outside of a controlled environment and see how they perform in the real world. There may be a need for one that I am yet to discover. Though I still can't imagine 'flicking' through thousands of pages of Atlas Shrugged on a computer screen!
Keen to hear your thoughts on this one,
Ruslan
