iPass? The best present and future alternatives to the Apple iPad
By Joanna Stern 
posted April 2nd 2010 9:30AM
posted April 2nd 2010 9:30AM
THE RIGHT NOW ALTERNATIVES
$499: either a 16GB, WiFi iPad or....
Toshiba Mini NB305 ($399)
It's quite hard to pick a single netbook for under $499, especially considering you could nab at least two of them for the price of an entry level iPad. However, the $399 10.1-inch Toshiba Mini NB305 continues to be our pick as the best all-around netbook. For $100 less than the entry-level iPad you get a device with 15 times the storage space, and a full fledged Windows 7 that lets you write an e-mail while simultaneously listening to Pandora and checking the weather. Oh, and did we mention the VGA webcam for making Skype calls?$629: either a 16GB, WiFi + 3G iPad or...
Why choose between a tablet and a netbook? The $549 Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3t and other netvertibles don't force you to. With a swivel-capacitive touchscreen the S10-3t morphs into a tablet with its very own NaturalTouch software interface, and with Kindle for PC loaded up you've got a color e-reader with 250GB of storage space. Yes, we were bothered by the viewing angles of the display and the tablet experience needs some love, but when it's in normal clamshell mode you can easily fire off e-mails without having to pick up a $70 peripheral keyboard. And Lenovo isn't the only one in the netvertible game – we have high hopes for ASUS's $499 Eee PC T101MT that will be available starting next week.
$829: either a 64GB, WiFi + 3G iPad or...
HP Mini 311 ($199 Verizon, $399 HP)
If you're spending $800, you should think about a higher end netbook, like an Ion-equipped Mini 311, or Intel ULV ultraportable. The 11.6-inch Mini 311's NVIDIA Ion GPU certainly has what it takes for mainstream gaming and full HD playback, and like the others it can handle multiple applications, play Hulu vids from your browser and store more than 64GB of your data. Like the iPad, you can opt for more than just WiFi with 3G from Verizon. We did the math and while it turns out to total $919 for the year with a $60 per month data plan, the 64GB iPad costs $1,189 over the same period of time. THE FUTURE / VAPORWARE ALTERNATIVES
So netbooks may be the best alternatives around right now, but the tablets are a comin' -- or at least that's what we've been told by a number of major companies. Unfortunately, most of these aren't shipping or even priced -- and the most promising member of this group hasn't ever been officially announced. But if you're the type to hold out hope, each of these is bound to present an interesting alternative to the iPad if and when they arrive.
HP Slate
Truth is we don't know much about the much-hyped HP Slate, but we can firmly say it has USB connectivity, runs Windows 7 and supports Flash out of the box. The questions surround the software, and given the fact that Windows 7 wasn't created to be a slate OS, we're crossing our fingers that HP is coming up with something awesome to put on top of it. Regardless, the quite svelte looking 10-inch, multitouch tablet is rumored to be priced around $549, but it looks like we will be waiting until early this summer to swipe our fingers all over it. 
Talk about baking in tons of cutting-edge technology into one device: the Notion Ink Adam has both the latest Tegra processor, and a 10-inch touchscreen made by PixelQi, which means you can turn the backlight on and off for saving battery life. No doubt we're intrigued with what we have seen from Notion Ink, but with no word yet on pricing or availability of this one and now rumors of Tegra 2 issues, we're skeptical of its real viability.
When you set aside all of the Fusion Garage / TechCrunch hubbub, the $499 JooJoo is actually quite a compelling tablet. With a larger screen than the iPad, the 12-inch, Intel Atom / NVIDIA Ion powered tablet promises full Flash HD playback and has a pretty nice looking interface from what we've seen so far. We're worried about the battery life given our issues with Ion netbooks, but it shouldn't be too long before we've got our full review up.
While the Dell Mini 5 is a bit smaller than most of these tablets and its five-inch form factor is closer to a phone than anything else it could just hit the sweet spot of portability. We've been impressed with what we've seen so far from the Snapdragon-powered Android device, and the prototype we've been toying around with is both snappy and responsive. However, as AT&T managed to totally ruin Android on the Dell Aero, we're more than nervous that all of that potential will be washed down the drain when it's finally announced.
Microsoft Courier
We figured we'd save the best for (almost) last -- and by best, we mean the product we're most intrigued by, yet know the least about. We can't even tell you if the Courier is a real product or just a collection of ideas mocked-up as an exercise, but the bits and pieces we've seen have us hoping Microsoft is hard at work on this dualscreen gadget. We've heard rumblings of a launch later this year, but honestly, for all we know, it could all be a Microsoft backed prank.
We have no idea what Google's Chrome OS is actually going to be like, and we have even less information on if it'll make it onto tablets. But more than a few companies have hinted at such devices, and now that the iPad's 10-year run atop the rumor charts is over, we've got a feeling those whispers are just going to get louder. There's no doubt that waiting on some of these tablets could be on par with waiting on Petco to sell unicorns, but why do that when you've already got dozens of great choices -- yes, including the iPad -- that you can buy right now?
@WP7S The Courier doesn't exist yet, stop trolling. If it comes out as the concept suggests it will be great and will probably "take the throne" but it only exists on a couple of videos, on Engadget.
@d0mth0ma5 In the time it took me to reply, @WP7S got removed, now thats a flash in the pan. no pun intended.
@WP7S
Well as much as I hate this whole hoopla over the iPad and iPhone I have to agree with them right now. iPad is the only tablet out on the market as of tomorrow, so that automatically gives it the first and last place. I, also, do believe that when other tablets start coming out they will be much better just for the fact that once you go multitasking you can never go back.
@1q2w3e4r
AHHH the great engadget comment system .... the comment to which i was replaying to was removed faster than i was able to type out my response.
@swanle
No, but the media is already trying to "move the language" in order to say just that.
IPad like - Any tablet made in the past 10 years would fit that
iPad format - whatever that means
iPad clones - again, meaningless phrase seeing that Apple didn't invent the things.
Since they've ignored these devices for years, only to now pretend like they've loved the for-factor all along, it isnt surprising how many people will believe that they didnt exist before now.
@reader1
Um, no.
They put forward the advertising dollars and had the luxury of a media willing to shill their product from rumor to release stage.
There was no interest in tablets until you had a machine to tell us there was.
From what I hear as the reason why these folks want one, I can clearly see they have never actually even seen a tablet before, and have NO idea how different reality is from what they have been sold on.
Because let's face it. None of these pre-order people have even touched this thing outside their imaginations.
@LAY It's iPad-like but all the next generation of slate tablets will imitate the concept Apple has been pushing. Multi-touch screens, reduced complexity. JooJoo could have made a concept first, but Apple is the one making it popular. Thus, iPad-like, Post-iPad.
@swanle
For people interesed in Computer history:
Read this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynabook
"The Dynabook concept was created by Alan Kay in 1968, two years before the founding of Xerox PARC. Kay wanted to make “A Personal Computer For Children Of All Ages.” The ideas led to the development of the Xerox Alto prototype, which was originally called “the interim Dynabook”.[1][2] It embodied all the elements of a graphical user interface, or GUI, as early as 1972. The software component of this research was Smalltalk, which went on to have a life of its own independent of the Dynabook concept.
The Dynabook concept described what is now known as a laptop computer or, (in some of its other incarnations) a tablet PC or slate computer with nearly eternal battery life and software aimed at giving children access to digital media. Adults could also use a Dynabook, but the target audience was children."
@swanle Where can I find info on the other capacitive tablets released over the past few years? Which ones have a touch based OS instead of a desktop OS? I'm not trying to cause trouble or incite any negative comments; I actually really want to look these up as I'm interested in this...
@swanle
You and LAY are going to share the prize for "I still don't get why the iPad is going to sell into the millions even though it's excruciatingly obvious" award.
@mrt2
Did you mean, "Which tablets are running a mobile phone OS instead of a real OS?"
As for capacitive ... it's not what everyone wants. I'll bet anything that the Courier will be resistive. Simple reason is that resistive is more precise. Depending on how you are using your device one screen tech is better than another.
@Beatnik Kay is awesome guy. but unfortunately most young people does not interest in history channel(which I think great channel with Discovery). They are watching MTV(which only show BS)
Dynabook is great research and concept. However it does not mention network because Kay did not know internet will be huge like now.
I would say there is huge involvement of Media. Old Media wanna go back to the time when they had iron-fist, they think apple will be answer.
anyway I like apple product, just i don't like App store system. Think about You can download iPad app from anywhere(without Apple's control) it will be real fun
@swanle show me one SLATE touch tablet over the past 10 years then. ONe with itunes, games, apps, ebooks, movies, rentals, TV shows, podcasts and audiobooks. Your talking out your a**. No tablet before the iPad had this form factor and its itunes integration. NONE of these tablets will access itunes. Tablets are more than "being said" to be iPad like. Its like smart phones. They all wanna look and work like the iphone. I don't wanna run windows on my slate. I don't want a desktop os on a mobile device. I don't want an os coded for mouse input with a layer of touch on top. I want the iPad os that was coded from the ground up to input by touch. No mouse ANYWHERE. You don't get it. I pad has cognitive touch screen with multi input gestures. No netbook or tablet has been like that. Brought nothing new? Your one jealous and spiteful apple hater. The iPad is changing things just as the iphone did. And when Im sitting next to you on the bus and I'm reading my full color full sized marvel comics app you can be thankful how much your netbook/tablet is like the iPad. The Courier? Why? SO i can get something in between the screen and not know it when i shut it and scratch it or bust it? You wanna pull out a BOOK and open it just to fire of an email? The courier will be good for some but not reach the audience the iPad does. It look more for productivity than media consumption. A dual screen touch with a stylus will be a fail. And I'm sure it will run the win7 series phone OS, just like the iPad runs the iphone os. No flash, no multi tasking. Everyone says the iPad is useless, id rather have a netbook but then the same people turn around and say they cant wait for the courier or google tablet. They will ignore the courier not having flash etc because its not apple. Just accept it. Apple has changed things and before the iPad and iphone the landscape was bleak. You can say Apple didn't do this or apple didn't do that all you want. After Saturday things will be different for mobile computing. Love it or hate it Apple has pushed the industry forward once again.
@Emeek
You're forgetting the iPod Touch XL aka iPad had leverage of yrs to get where it's at. And that's thanks to fanboys who buy whatever they're shown. That's how the app store came about.
http://i.imgur.com/uzLKA.jpg
@bjsguess Wow that's your big retort to my question the whole 'phone' OS misdirection? So let me get this straight... You thrown CoaCoa Touch based OS on anything other than a phone and it's a horrible idea but you can put android on anything you want and everyone thinks it's a great idea? Well let me answer you with a simple no, I don't mean which tablets run a phone OS instead of a full OS because with that definition, Android tablets would fall under your intentionally obtuse statement as well. I mean which tablets run an OS that was built from the ground up to be a touch based OS and not just a desktop OS that's haphazardly thrown on a touch device. Not sure if you knew this mate but tablets with desktop OS's have been out for a decade now and not to burst your bubble or anything but they haven't been the best thing since sliced bread either (not saying the iPad is though). Next, I never claimed capacitive was better than resistive. That's a very relative value. I'm merely asking about other capacitive based tablets because:
1.) I prefer capacitive (not saying they are the best I just personally like them).
2.) The OP said that the iPad wasn't the first capacitive tablet based PC out there and I genuinely wanted to learn more about the others because that's what I'm interested in.
It's sad when someone really wants to be objective but is somehow a target because he doesn't carry the same misplaced hatred toward one particular product as everyone else. :(
Also not sure if you knew this (you probably didn't because hate doesn't need facts to be passionate) but the iPad's OS is a TABLET OS, not the run of the mill installation of the iPhone OS... The core visual elements (colors, side scrolling hierarchal menu systems, vertical kinetic scrolling etc..) but there are many UI and design elements on the iPad that ARE NOT on the iPhone such as the pop over menus and stacked layouts etc... Thusly the iPad doesn't run a phone OS. It runs an OS designed for 'slate' devices that was first tested out on smaller devices that just happened to be phones. Now back to my original question because I really do want to look these devices up so I can see if they are something I'm interested in...
@Emeek angry fanboi is angry!
@swanle: Get real. Semantics aside, there is nothing, and I mean nothing, that delivers the iPad experience.
@swanle: What a clown. What can you buy from anyone that delivers a similar experience as the iPad. I'm including hardware, OS, apps, ecosystem, support and future dev.
You Apple haters have really gone off the rails. What an epic fail you represent. Might as well get out of the tech and gadget business, because I've touched the future, and it has an Apple logo on it.
@Ariel Bender Lol. The iPad hasn't even been released yet, but clearly you already know all about the "iPad experience". Seriously LOL
As long as I can play Flash games on a unicorn, that's where my money is going.
@CRA1G
Man, that HP Slate and Microsoft Courier both look extremely compelling. I agree with Engdaget, in that I really hope that Microsoft is planning on actually releasing the Courier to market. I'm going to be even just a little bit sad if the whole thing turns out to be vaporware from the get-go...
@CRA1G Funny how you think of the Apple app store as a bad thing, and most think of as the best thing since sliced bread.
Before I got my iPad I already downloaded 25 free applications that look outrageous. Think about 25 free applications built for the device!
So many games available and I would say 95% of the < $1.99 games are way better than any flash game in the market. More visually stimulating, and just better overall when taking the whole experience into account.
Flash bites. I hate it on my PC, on my Mac and I am happy that it will die in his current form. I blame it on Adobe because the reality is that they got full of themselves and didn't improve the performance of the product until Apple put a gun to their head. Oh an 10.1 still doesn't play Hulu perfectly on the Ion platform even when using a dual core atom.
@CRA1G I understand Flash for video and to some extent web-animation/navigation and multi-image uploaders but games?? Flash games suck. I'd rather run a native game that is using a C-based language for the code than Actionscript. Flash just wasn't made for touch input nor gaming.
I like HP's offerings most from the alternatives. Even if the HP Slate turns out to be vaporware, the Mini 311 is a good buy. It's a bit slow CPU-wise but the 9400M in it is awesome and will support a 360 controller.
@CRA1G
Both Engadget and Gizmodo are looking more and more like advertising divisions of Apple, Think I'll leave the tech blogs alone till after Easter when hopefully they have all calmed down.
Jesus is busy telling the world the iPad is the future of computing over on Giz, instead of riding on the back of a donkey ! what is the world coming too.
@reader1 What is the point of a comment like this? Oh, right: you're a troll.
@dxdragon : You can only download apps that apple approves of. And while you might not like flash, by excluding it you are narrowing your ability to surf the web. And since the primary purpose of this device is to surf the web (if not primary then it is 1B), you are cutting of your nose to spite your face by eliminating Flash support.
If I have a tablet the surfs the web, I want to be able to look at any and every page that pops into my mind. And the only reason you can't do that on the iPad is that Steve Jobs says no. Why does he say no? Maybe to keep his iron grip on the content that can be bought and used on the device.
@fourthletter
I think Engadget has been pretty restrained the last few days which reflects the differing levels of enthusiasm the editors have for the iPad. Now Gizmodo is something else. Completely out of control, mindless padophile (TM) froth. Embarrassing. Whatever credibility they had has gone.
@TinWard
I have the windows 7 2gb full ion mini 311, and I can play left 4 dead 1 and 2 on low settings pretty well, plus I have 250 gb of storage. I wish it was convertible to table for easier reading of comics and my RPG pdf's, but I guess you cannot have everything.
@CRA1G
Like I said earlier If HP could get something like the HP TouchSmart tx2 down in price to $600 or lower with a proper tailored GUI. Then it would kill the competition. It has great performance, a "internal" DVD burner, with a touchscreen to boot.
Laptop
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4824084&CatId=1900
+
Winmo 7 UI tailored to a Tablet PC
http://www.programmerfish.com/transform-windows-7-xp-vista-into-windows-phone-7/
=
Heaven... You'll have a fully functional Laptop but, when you want to use the touchscreen functionality it's right there with an alternative GUI that you can use or you can go back to normal window at the hit of a button...
@Laura June
And why hasn't he been banned yet, if I may ask? I mean if you know he is just trolling on every post on engadget?
@gersam
Hmm.. and yet everyone (reviewers) who's actually spent time with the device is madly in love with it... Wow.. I don't know who to believe...hrmm
@CRA1G
Thanks Joanna for the best engadget article of this week.
Just dont forget the Neofonie WePad
http://www.wepad.mobi/
11.6-inch (1366 x 768) display, a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor, GMA 3150 graphics, webcam, two USB ports, flash card reader, UMTS modem, and six hours of battery life.
@fourthletter I don't think you get the idea of an advert...
A post with ALTERNATIVE products along with a list of reasons those devices are BETTER is not a good advert...
@fourthletter Wow so even in a post highlighting Apple alternatives you still have such Anti-Engadget passion. They give you what you want and you STILL spit in their face? Geez dude... why even come here at all? Just stay away. It's like even when an article is Anti-Apple, Engadget can't win because Apple is mentioned at all. *sigh*
@r34p3r So if they release it and it sucks, you'll still be happy because it's a M$ product?
@fourthletter Yeah, that article is awful, Jesus Diaz is a schmuck. Journalism at it's worst.
@r34p3r how bad i want Courier !!! The Slate looks sexy too...
@CRA1G
Thank you Joanna, great article!
@r34p3r I will be utterly devastated if MS does not follow through with the Courier.. It's exactly what I need for my needs.
Of all these devices, I find the Courier the most compelling by far (maybe because I'm old-fashioned and have an anachronistic fondness for books), and then the first runner-up would probably be the HP slate. That being said, the iPad has one thing over every device shown here...
... that beautiful, sexy screen.
And no, I haven't seen it. I'm talking out of my at-sign-dollar-sign-dollar-sign here. But all things being equal matte/glossy-wise, I'd take a 1024x768 IPS screen over a 1366x768 TN screen any day of the week. Yes, I know the smaller screen won't be able to play 720p content without downscaling it. And sure, given a choice, I'd take a 1280x800 IPS display over anything else in a tablet (yes, over 1366x768), but seriously: sometimes it's not about the pixel count.
When you're, say, reading a book, you don't always hold it so that it's directly perpendicular to your line of site. With a TN display, viewing angle can make a big difference. With an IPS display, it won't. You can rotate it from landscape to portrait, look at it from a 45 degree angle, and the viewability will remain uncompromised.
@Wesscoast
yeah, its weird how the fans they invited to their press conference liked it...
and the people who sat in the cold in a massive que like it too...
its foolish, of course apple fans are going to like it...
Either way, HP slate, i feel some lovin comin your way!!
or the dell mini5, that thing looks delicious.... :P
@CRA1G
am i the only geek who doesn't play flash games? guess thats why flash isn't so much of a required checklist item on a device for me.
the good thing about the iPad is that it will drive HTML5 standards :)
@nicholiservia My CPA says i should first get a CPA
@CRA1G Thanks for including the google tablet, actually, if all of the rumors about it, be for real. It'll be like the super-tablet for all. According to this video, it has that clamored multitasking ability (close to what our desktop can do) and other goodies. Conceptualization: http://bit.ly/tablet-by-google-video
@fourthletter
If you think Engadget is as bad as Gizmodo, then you havent been on Gizmodo. I swear Gizmodo is just a domian forward for TUAW. Just look at their top 5 posts or even scroll down their first page.
@CRA1G With all the coverage Engadget has given the iPad, why are they so dense to say the iPad doesn't have a keyboard? It works with ANY BLUETOOTH KEYBOARD!!! It has a keyboard stand which would make it near identical to any of the listed options in function!!!
@gersam I can't read Gizmodo, not because they are fanboys but because they cannot bloody write ! Almost as bad as the Slashdot "journalists". Engadget has its faults, but I can at least read most stories without cringing.
@CRA1G I won't ever get a HP slate or an iPad. I want the courier that looks like something I could actually see myself using on a daily basis. Would be great for college and that is something that I would actually call in between my N1 and my Macbook Pro. The iPad, JooJoo, netbooks, and HP Slate just don't do it for me. Courier restore my faith in Microsoft and get your ass out to market soooon!
@gersam I am not much of a fan of the iPad as well, but maybe, just maybe the iPad is a great product. Everyone thinks that all these techy sites are "advertising for apple" but everyone that has actually spent some time with iPad seems to like it. Personally, I see no need for it and I won't spend my money on it. The Courier (if that is what it will actually do and is not vaporware) already has my money. That is a great "second tier" device in the middle of laptop and smartphone. That I would use all the time in school and that video I saw on this site (and all over the net) had me drooling. I am pretty excited for Microsoft products and I haven't been impressed with MS in years.
@Wesscoast I think it's because the device is sexy and the interface is well done (just like the iPhone). The problem comes down the road when you realize not every website/company wants to re-do their site or service to accommodate Apple who wants everyone to conform to their standards (i.e. no flash). Then you get bent over when you want to buy an accessory. At the end of the day you ask yourself, was it worth all the money I spent on this thing when I could have got a super thin real laptop? All that premium for touchscreen/multitouch?