Where Is My Tablet?

Nothing against the iPad, but I chafe at the thought of owning another device which needs Steve Jobs’ approval for me to use as I wish.

I want a tablet computer. Please don’t ask why. I’m not sure I can explain why. Must I?

Think of it as an obsession. I’m talking to you shoe lovers!

The whole tablet genre has been around for awhile, but it wasn’t until Apple produced the iPad that anyone really cared.

Sorry Microsoft. Earlier Windows based tablets were pretty much non-starters. That’s gotta sting in Redmond!

As CNBC reported last fall:

Big news for Apple and Apple investors: The iPad is the highest-scoring product that a leading consumer satisfaction index has ever tracked.

It’s just I don’t want an iPad!

Nothing against the iPad, but I chafe at the thought of owning another device which needs Steve Jobs’ approval for me to use as I wish. That’s why I already have a love/hate relationship with my iPhone. It’s the geek in me pushing back.

After the Consumer Electronics Show I expected a boatload of new non-Apple tablets running Android, the Google produced operating system. Over 100 were introduced at the show. Few have appeared.

Motorola is unveiling it’s new Xoom tablet tomorrow. It’s too pricey.

There are tablets from Huawei and eLocity that look promising (though a friend from PCMag.com said of the Huawei, “Looks like another lousy low-end tablet to me.”).

Here’s what I’m looking for:

  • Capacitive touch screen
  • SDHC card slot
  • Front facing camera for video chatting
  • Android operating system
  • Wifi and Bluetooth. Cell connectivity not necessary
  • USB connectivity

I’d like to use a tablet computer with my camera, but at the moment there are no Android apps which recognize the RAW formats my Canon delivers. I expect that itch will soon be scratched. The same goes with apps to play poker online.

When a tablet that fills my needs comes out and costs less than $400 I’ll be ready to buy. It hasn’t happened yet. It will.

What’s taking so long?

11 thoughts on “Where Is My Tablet?”

    1. Mike – RAW files preserve a lot more of the photographic info which allows for further manipulation. Can’t change that.

    1. No. Jpeg is lossy compression. It’s fine as the last step. If you’re going to manipulate the photo it eliminates lots of options.

  1. I have a lot to learn after 40 years of this stuff. I use Photoshop Elements 7 and have had good results with Jpegs. but maybe I should kick around RAW and see what happens. I’ll keep an open mind. I’ve used Photoshop CS and felt it was just too much to do simple photography with. I use the cable to direct to the laptop using canon software. I though I was doin’ fine. I’ll do more research.

  2. Get the iPad now. Enjoy it while waiting for something perfect to come along…..you’ll find it’s an awesome appliance that doesn’t do everything. It’s awesome as it. DId I mention awesome? It won’t be a waste of time.

  3. Geoff,

    Go to your Twitter account and re-tweet Motorola’s tweet (that will enter you in the contest) and maybe you will win a free Motorola Xoom. Not likely to win but if you do, you will be the proud owner of a Limited Gold Addition Xoom and it will be free! Better than the $599 contract price and you will have a Xoom with some bling!

    Wait until summer, you will see much cheaper tablet prices, maybe even sooner. Glad you are going for an Android! You know I’m a little biased but you are making the right decision. iPad is nice but you will see some much better Android tablets from numerous manufacturers which spec wise will blow it away.

    Link to Moto’s Tweet: http://twitter.com/Motorola/status/40471237238980608
    Link to Contest Rules: http://twitpic.com/42yxn7

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