ASUS CEO Jerry Shen sure is
making the rounds this week talking up the company's upcoming entry into the tablet arena, but before giving up some more
Eee Pad details he clarified that he doesn't anticipate tablet sales surpassing that of netbooks. The latter category is for personal computing while tablets are based on consuming content and Cloud computing. Shen said something similar when
we spoke with him at CeBIT, but this time he also added that without Apple the tablet category would have been slower to ramp up. We'd say he's on the money with that one, but still he plans to launch an Eee tablet in early June at Computex. And though he mentioned there being a few versions, he revealed the "first phase will use
Microsoft software." We don't know if that means the tablet will be Intel powered and run Windows 7, or pack a Tegra 2 processor and boot some version of Windows CE
like we saw at CES. Regardless of what happens, we'd say Microsoft's happy to hear this all after
this week's news.
posted April 30th 2010 4:05PM
@Dr K Nkrumah netbooks are amazing? They run MS office, flash, have hdmi out, and do everything big boy laptops do.
Except they do it for under 500 bucks.
@staticjethro : its the atom processor that's killing all these other tablets. The performance and battery life isn't as slick as the A4 on iPad. (unfortunately)
@aubreyq
...But hardware makers are making money putting Windows on Netbboks... their probably has been 3 times as many Windows Netbooks sold than iPads since its launch. Netbooks and Laptops will continue to outsell tablets because they are more multipurpose.
@timotim One of the biggest issues is that they are not really making money (profit) on these things. Recent analysis showed that Apple took the lions share of total industry profitability followed by hp with their printers and ink margins and no one else could even make the same share if profit that they took in revenue. Asus stands out as particulary low profit IIRC. This matters because this is how they ultimately stay in business (not sales) and pays for R&D. Is it any wonder Apple out innovates the industry when it has so much more to spend (and spends it) - $1.4Bn in R&D last year >$10bn profit I think.
@capnbob66
That maybe but, they sell so many more Netbooks than Apple sells iPod Touches or iPads that they wont complain or stop making them... profit may not be as high as Apple but its high enough. Also, Apple is the exception in this case, not the rule. They hit on a very popular mobile OS that they can afford to the just that same OS to different form factor and charging you out the ass... people will pay $500 for a bigger iPod Touch (not as much as you think) because Apple generates hype.
Netbook wont continue to sell more than ARM based tablets just because of profit, but because of DEMAND. Right now, their isn't a high enough demand for tablets and most people cant see a need for them. When the industry convinces the mass that a Tablet with a phone OS can is better for their work and school than a small (cheaper) full computer, then Tablets will start outselling Netbooks/Laptops.
Dear ASUS CEO,
How about improving the horrible quality on your LCD screens?
Sincerely,
Potential Buyer
@JakeInDC
+1
@JakeInDC seriously, the only thing keeping me from buying asus.
@JakeInDC Which model? I like my Asus LED backlit LCD screen.
I'd LOVE it though if it were matte, but apparently matte screens are against designers fashion sense. *makes jerk off motion* Sigh...
@hated one
i wonder, if apple hadnt made it would it have sold so well?
something tells me no...
This is kind of what I'm thinking too, that netbooks will still sell more. Manufacturers are unsure this category has staying power, which is why they are not particularly trying too hard right now in this front. After all, similar products (convertible tablets, MIDs) haven't really caught on big in the market (still niche). Apple obviously gives a big boost to this category, but it's still not clear how the consumer uptake is. I think in about half a year to a year we'll have a clearer picture.
1 million ipad means nothing. There are maybe 2-3 million of inconditional buyers. Lets see what happen after that numbers are passed...
Lot of people will realize that there is no need to buy a 9.7" ticket to itunes...
@trihy
Use real words and try again.
@aubreyq
you know how? No one in asia buys genuine software. Sure there are plenty of shops that carry retail packages - but 99% of the population do not purchase retail packaged software - this goes for all windows products.
How do they make money then? That question I'd like to have an answer to as well.
selling netbooks is like selling McDonald's dollar menu. It's cheap so everyone can afford one. But it's not necessarily good for you. The world gets plagued with problems from consuming these cheap burgers then we will start to see people giving a shit about paying more for something better that's not mcDonalds.
yes, this analogy is used for netbooks vs tablets specifically iPad (where the iPad is an expensive french dinner (you don't get much value, but it looks great, barely satisfies, and of course costs alot - but the components used are high quality). The netbook is of course the $1 burger.
@Vanilla Sperm mcdonalds and frech dinner?
Face it, they are burger king and mcdonalds, both sucks.
@Vanilla Sperm A netbook is a scooter. Practical, economical, convenient, can use the roads just like a car, but you aren't going to have the full utility of a Ford Explorer.
A iPad is like a gold plated unicycle. Looks cool and not everyone is going to have one, you can kiinda use the same roads as motorcycles and cars, but it doesn't really do anything and after the novelty of it wears off a month later, you kindof wonder what you're practically really supposed to do with it. :D
@Ducman69 Keep dreaming. It does most things that most general users want in a more attractive and well designed experience than any desktop OS or half baked competitor mobile OS. That you don't like it is irrelevant to it's success.
For anyone doubting how good Windows 7 can work on a touch screen tablet check out these videos of it in action on HP's computers:
CNET Windows 7 Touch Features:
http://cnettv.cnet.com/touch-screen-features-windows-7/9742-1_53-50074521.html
Keyboard, IE, Windows Explorer, Photos, Office 2010 on a HP Tablet PC:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBtEhQqS1dw
Windows Media Center:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuU1j9ZawIw
@cool8man
I'm glad you're satisfied with that level of performance in the touch UI of W7. Even running on desktop hardware, there is noticeable latency, nothing like the fluid response of the UI on the iPad. Go pick up an iPad and use it for five minutes -- it won't kill you -- and you will see just how poorly multitouch is realized in W7.
@Ed T Did you have to rehearse that in the mirror a bunch of times to convince yourself first? *coughbullshitcough* ;)
@Ed T
Actually the reason why the TM2 Tablet PC is better than the desktop is because the software is newer. On the TM2 he is using the final release version of Windows 7, MS Office 2010 which is coming out next month, and the latest IE browser. Microsoft has drastically improved touch functionality in all of their software. That is the reason why pinch to zoom looks so much smoother in IE on the TM2 Tablet PC. It's not because the Tablet PC has better hardware than the desktop computer. The Cnet video is a little older that's all. I simply posted it because they did a good job running down the new touch features built into the OS.
I have an iPod Touch and a Zune HD which is even faster so I know how well touch control works on these devices. iPad is not even capable of a fraction of the things of Windows 7 tablet so the comparison is moot. Obviously when you can't multitask and you're not capable of background processes you're going to have an extremely tight experience. Any slight improvement you perceive in speed is not worth the tradeoff in functionality. iPad is for people who are willing to live without things like Flash and multitasking. It's not a device for an experienced users like most of us.
@cool8man So OS4 addresess most of your moot points, the demos are one step away from lame. The fact that a guy with a heavy laptop class tablet can run a barely adequate touch environment for which there is almost no software, where he only highlights basic MS-only custom stuff, is unusable for non geeks (buttons & menus are still too small) and that is supposed to be the next thing and makes
the iPad look weak? Pathetic. Overpriced. Klugy. IPad can create Office docs in iWork
for a fraction of cost and effort of bloat office 2010, can print, doesn't need an 80s style file system as well as consume content far better than those clunky tabs with weak batteries. A TM2 is irrelevant. The cancelled WIn7 slate is all the answe you need as to it's uselessness in this category.
@capnbob66
iPhone OS4 addresses very few of my problems with iPhone OS such as closed and censored app ecosystem, lousy web browser without add-ons, limited multitasking, no Flash Silverlight or Java capabilities, limited application availability, limited or no printing functionality, limited music and video store access, extremely limited software availability, etc. iPhone OS is not even a serious consideration for me as a computer user. 10 years from now maybe iPhone OS will be mature and open enough to compete with Windows, but today iPhone OS is a joke.
"The cancelled WIn7 slate is all the answe you need as to it's uselessness in this category."
Eh you do see the irony that you just posted that in this topic about Asus announcing Windows slates. We don't know if the HP Win7 slate is cancelled, but if it is I'm sure it has more to do with HP buying webOS than it does with TM2 sales. Still I could see HP integrating webOS into their Windows slates, that would be the smartest thing for the company to do as it would give them a content and UI advantage over their rivals at Asus and Lenovo. webOS can run on x86 hardware afterall. Hopefully this is the test that HP forced Palm to demonstrate for them before they agreed to purchase.
@capnbob66
Not really. 0S4 does include multitasking but in a very limited way. First off, you only get like 7 programs at once with no true task manager, which means its not used to close and MANAGE the apps, only switch them. Then, you cant run multiple screens or windows on iPad's 10" screen at once... its still a one off experience. That may be ideal for a smartphone with a 3.5" screen but not for a device with a 10" screen.
The main problems however still exists... ALL your "apps" are going through iTunes limited app count and feature set when compared to Windows 7 and its equally poor codec playback and file system doesn't help either. No, a Windows 7 touch Tablet wont run as zippy as an iPad (although it could be a solid experience given the right hardware) but the trade off is you get way more functionality and features that an iPad couldn't even start to dream of. I can to you - what good is zippyness without functionality? The fact that you need another device (like a Windows 7 tablet) to even start using an iPad, should tell you something.
@timotim Youre wrong about OS4 multitasking. 7 ways to MT, not 7 apps. OS4 MT is much smarter than the others in many ways. Itamahes every use case for MT without ever needing an App Killer (which is a Fail for most users (non-nerds)). The battle here is do a lot badly or do less bit really well. I think Win7 slates do a lot badly as shown by the TM2 being barely passable with no touch ecosystem outside skme MS stuff. Your hatred of iTunes store lock in is just your bias. You hate the control but the vast majority of people either don't mind or actally appreciate the benefits. You don't seem to get that the iPad is a very good device for millions of people and Win7 slates are ways away from Primetime outside the geek community. Buy one by all means but the constant hate of the iPad in the face of it's success is just paranoia.
@capnbob66
You're not buying into the whole "Windows computers are too complicated for regular people" argument are you? Apple's been making that same argument for decades and it's been utter nonsense. That is some RDF bull. Supposedly nobody wants Windows yet Apple is constantly getting harassed by their userbase to add copy/paste, multitasking, desktop backgrounds, folders, Flash, open ecosystem, customization, etc. Apple will keep telling you nobody wants a Windows experience up until the day they finally can sell you an equivalent experience.
BTW Windows 7 touch support is built into all programs. You act as if most Windows programs won't work at all with a touch interface. Not all software is optimized for touch, but everything works and will recognize finger presses and virtual keyboard entry. Gestures like scrolling and rotating are not universal, but neither are they on any mobile OS.
"You don't seem to get that the iPad is a very good device for millions of people"
I've been hearing more negative than positive. First impressions are positive, but long term use sounds frustrating and limiting. It sounds like a short burst novelty device not a credible long term computing environment.
"Your hatred of iTunes store lock in is just your bias."
Uh on a cellphone store lock in has been the norm, on a computer store lock in is completely unacceptable to most people. iTunes store lock in is eventually going to come to an end because developers and consumers are not going to tolerate it when there are open alternatives. The vast majority of computer users will never accept iTunes store lock in.
"Buy one by all means but the constant hate of the iPad in the face of it's success is just paranoia."
I own an iPod Touch which I rarely have any use for anymore. Why on Earth would I need to buy an iPad? It's basically the same device with a larger screen. I think I have a solid basis to judge an iPad's utility. It's safe to say I'll have the same issues with an iPad that I have with my iPod Touch.
Yeah, but Netbooks are crap and they make teeny tiny profit margins.
That's not Apple's business model. Sorry.
@Wesscoast They do have very little profit margins tacked on.
What I don't understand is why some people, not saying you are, proudly boast that they paid some extremely rich guy who they have never met and have pretty much nothing in common with socioeconomically way way more than the device actually cost to produce.
Granted I spend way too much time on froogle and slickdeals to get the most bang for my buck, but most people I know feel embarrassed when admitting they paid huge profit margins.
@Ducman69
> Granted I spend way too much time on froogle and slickdeals to
> get the most bang for my buck, but most people I know feel
>embarrassed when admitting they paid huge profit margins.
Idiots don't...make of that what you will...
:-)
@Avaron
Sure sure, the point is not who's rich and who's not... My point was the guy in the picture, who claims that Netbooks are outselling Tablets (duh!) misses the point... profit is the reason you go into business, not marketshare, or selling a billion units, and eeking our a .001% profit margin.
You beat Apple when you make a better product and can get away with making a reasonable profit.... that's a sign that the customers actually love the product. Bargain basement netbooks using old tech and compromising on screen size and keyboard size... is just crap.
Go ASUS! I WANT A TABLET NOT A MID >.> After rumors of HP got out that the slate is gone, and courier was demolished, this is a nice pick up. Honestly, what is killing these devices is power, and who supplies most of that? Intel does, and their crappy atom processors need to be worked on.
I was hoping to get an HP Slate later this year but since thats been abandoned to be rebuilt as a WebOS device looks like Asus will get more of my money! I have an Asus EeePC 900HA (upgraded to 2gb ram, 500gb wd drive) now and love it but I've always wish it had better portability like a tablet does. Just hope it's no bigger than 10".
Keep up the good work Asus.
Netbooks are merely simple, soporific stepping stones to the item consumers subconsciously want more (at least now): tablets. Netbooks may outsell tablets for now but not because people truly want them. To continue interest in netbooks is an excuse for slow progress and a lack of innovative nature at Asus. Netbooks are a safety ground. Asus, you bore me.
Atom+Windows7=Failure
What ever happened to those ebook readers that Asus was supposed to release? They were supposedly going to compete directly with the Kindle and be loaded with features and be low priced? There sure was a lot of hoopla surrounding those at the CES but not their carrying on about their tablet! Go figure.
asus makes the best laptops
Why not use Android? *sigh*
Jerry Shen is probably the only tech CEO that doesn't sound like bad salesman. He's upfront and admits there's competition and welcomes it.
I have just recently read that netbooks are leveling off in sales. The netbook will never replace the laptop period.