Comments on: iPad vs HP Slate – Where Do You Stand in this Mac vs PC War?

By: jalexromero

jalexromero — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 23:04:45 +0000

A PAD is not a replacement for a laptop and is also NOT to be the ultimate all-inclusive gadget that has X high resolution cameras, digitizing pens, and hot/cold water outputs… A PAD is a gadget that provides the passive functions of a computer (passive means that it receives and displays content, but does not work well to create it: such as web browsing, document reader, music/video player, etc.). A PAD would NOT work to CREATE content – for example, to produce video, desktops are the best solution as they provide the most stable and fastest environment, can have several large size monitors and provide the best possible user experience.
Having said the above, the most important thing in a PAD is THE USER EXPERIENCE – which in reality has nothing to do with most of the specifications these comparisons provide… It is really irrelevant if one has more memory than the other or even the type of processor. On the other hand, the operating system and especially the INTERFACE are critical. Also critical are the software applications and content available to the device – considering the breath of options as well as the ease of use and ease of acquisition.
In ALL of those fronts, Apple's iPAD excels way beyond what HP provides. Let's see why:

1. Operating system / Interface
Apple's iPad interface is designed around the experience. The multi-touch works with the applications to allow a NATURAL use of the device to display or perform the different tasks user wants.
HP uses Windows multitouch – and while it is multi-touch capable, the operating system interface has not been engineered around the experience; instead they behave like mouse/keyboard replacements (with few exceptions). I think that Windows and HP will get there, but as of now, it is just a fancy mouse.

2. Content & tool availability
Apple's iPAD is not only a device. In fact, more important than the device is Apple Store, which is in reality an electronic market where suppliers and consumers meet. Apple has done an awesome job to bring consumers closer to developers and bring solutions to consumers with a click of a button. This is in my opinion the 2nd biggest advantage of iPAD over competitors… Purchasing an app or content using an iPAD is literally a click away. And selling software or content through Apple store is also as easy as a couple of clicks (only thing I don't like is the share % Apple keeps – but I guess in the balance of things, it is fair).
HP AND Microsoft offer solutions that are outdated, cumbersome and that provide a terrible consumer experience. Some of the software requires patches to the operating system – creating vulnerabilities & bugs. And most software is not designed to leverage multi-touch and other technologies so in the end – is the same laptop software but without the keyboard!

So in conclusion – while some specs in terms of hardware look good for the HP, and while I am NOT a Mac fan (not even an iPAD user), I believe that the reason for the success of the iPADs are clearly the two points described above, and while HP is a great company, as long as they rely on Windows, they will be forced to offer more expensive, buggy and non competitive products.

By: Ipod_to_Itunes

Ipod_to_Itunes — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:26:19 +0000

I think the Ipad just aims for simplicity: e-book reading, surfing, music and videos while the HP slate appeals more to the tech hungry users: Multi-tasking, Win 7 OS, webcam. This will be a good competition.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:19:50 +0000

You obviously don't know what you're talking about. Windows 7 supports multitouch technology.

By: albinoid

albinoid — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 09:57:51 +0000

a larger ipod with less options will not fare well, and should not fare well either. The slate clearly wins this battle

By: cdrpo

cdrpo — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 07:14:41 +0000

Windows7 not be operated with the fingertips requires a stylus pen =(

By: Famous George

Famous George — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:01:44 +0000

I still use a HP TC1100 that I purchased from HP about 7 years ago. In the last 7 years the TC1100 ran almost 24 hours a day almost. I have carried it to several countries in the world. And until the iPad came out this weekend everyone who saw it dropped their jaw. So 2 years ago I wrote a nice email to the CEO of HP asking them how they don't do anything cool anymore and whatever happened to HP Invent. I just got a reply back saying it will be forwarded to the right department. Thank you for bringing this back.

Now in the last 7 years I changed the hard drive one time. Battery two times. It is such an amazing device which recognizes your hand writing. You can draw on it like paper and pencil. It doesnt have a built in camera that I really wished it had.

The new slate is going to be incredible with the built in 3G and Wifi with a front and back facing camera. And the new multi touch technology. It will kick Apple iPad. Just wait and see. Wish there is enough internal RAM memory, SSD hard drive and bluetooth and may be a pen that I can use to draw on. External detachable keyboard like before or a bluetooth keyboard, a nice docking and carry folder like before.

Cant wait....

By: redheadstepchild

redheadstepchild — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 22:48:23 +0000

Win 7 IS a touch optimized OS

By: redheadstepchild

redheadstepchild — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 22:45:59 +0000

duh, its called Windows 7 buddy. Which is more touch aware and designed to be used as a tablet. Plus im sure HP will throw in a touch friendly interface and apps as well.

By: Travis Haviv

Travis Haviv — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 08:37:37 +0000

Well, its not that the hp slate is that much more capable of a device, but more the fact that the ipad has such great potential and doesn't fully deliver in this first iteration. Apple and reviews of the ipad, have demonstrated to me that I would be able to use this device for email and word processing. Being a college student using this around campus would be fair easier than awkwardly lugging around my macbook pro. Even still, I'll be wait impatiently and anxious for the second iteration of the ipad.

By: Lyka Ice

Lyka Ice — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:29:34 +0000

I think people are honestly confused about the whole issue. Slate PCs have always been virtually unusable except in very specific kinds of contexts and functions. I think the fact that people are talking about Flash support instead of the basic usability of the OS and UI is a sign of naivete. Not that Flash support on a tablet wouldn't be great -- will a slate PC be useful for anything other than watching videos and playing Flash games? That's the real question.

Opinions: http://bit.ly/hp-slate-reactions-impressions