CNet News
NEW YORK–Samsung’s assault on Apple is under way, as the company unveils its plans for its new tablet PC as well as a new service that allows consumers to purchase or rent TV shows and movies on their Samsung mobile devices.
At an event here at the Time Warner Center tonight, Samsung took the wraps off its iPad-killer, the Galaxy Tab. It also announced a new service called Media Hub, an iTunes-like service, which allows consumers to buy and rent movies and TV shows for their Samsung portable devices.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab is an Android-based tablet that will be launched in Europe in early fall and in other markets including Korea, the U.S., and Asia in the following months. Pricing is yet to be announced.
Other reports I’ve seen put the US price at between $200 – $400. If that’s the case, I’d be very interested. iPads are cool, but they’re way too expensive, and I just can’t manage to choke down the Jobs ego factor.
# 21 eighthnote “Other reports I’ve seen put the US price at between $200 – $400.”
That price point is if you sign on to a two year contract with a phone company. I hope they make a wifi only version.
# 20 fargonaz said, “Do we even need tablets?”
Well, sir. It’s quite possible you don’t. I travel a lot. I mean A LOT. I’d like to have a sort of a computer with me without the weight and bulk of a laptop or even my netbook. Right now, my Nexus One fills in for me on these trips but more would be nice.
So, “need” is a relative concept. Do I “need” one? No. Do I want one? You bet.
@ #17 Advantage iPAD. The iPAD is the gold standard for tablets and Android is the only real alternative even if companies are pushing tablet products (like Samsung) with a smartphone OS.
Microsoft is MIA but the likely third alternative – some day.
One can’t help but like the iPAD (never mind price) but what I fear the most is Apple locks down their platform way too much for my liking.
Having said that, I’m getting an iPAD on Jesus’s birthday for my magazine and photography addictions. Industry rumors suggest Apple may reduce iPAD prices in the 4th quarter a little and may even produce a 7 incher.
Who would pay thousands of dollars for this thing? (Thousands being the likely total cost after paying 2 years of phone company contract) Small, low-res screen; probably middling build quality; probably bastardised by the carriers; no or tardy OS updates because it’s Samsung and they don’t care — and besides, they know you’re stuck paying for the thing for 2 years regardless. Seems overpriced.
Why?
I wouldn’t buy a netbook either. Slow; tiny low-res screens; not even impressive battery life. They are basically pieces of crap and a massive step backwards in computing. The only good point is the light weight; I have one and it was light enough to stay velcro-d on to a tilting table even at 90 degrees with the screen out when I was in hospital for 6 weeks before Christmas -being able to stay connected was great. Coming home to my desktop was lovely, however (almost as good as walking again) – there is no substitute for raw power.
#24 Yeah, and we must act surprised that you’re getting something mac. Sheeple do as sheeple is.
#26 Pedro, yep, I’m going for an iPAD because it’s just the best and regain face with my gay friends again as a bonus.
So, are you like this 7″ tablet or you still prefer a basic 10 incher in black?
There ya go.
http://crunchgear.com/2010/05/28/the-top-seven-ipad-knockoffs/
Yeah, its way too expensive. But come back at the January sale – and you might just find a cheap one
I was very skeptical of all these devices, until I got a 3rd generation Ipod Touch, which I absolutely love. I got a Virgin Mobile Mifi unit for it, which does cost $40 a month, but for that I can listen to Internet radio and music (which I do constantly), do emails, read books (I don’t mind the little screen), browse the Net or read news, and use Skype. I’m thinking of dropping my cell phone and just using Skype – the sound quality is actually better and the connection is pretty reliable. It’s great for me as I travel a lot and the Touch has actually taken the place of even a netbook, and I can just stick it in my purse or pocket.
I just don’t see the need for the tablets – for the money, I’d get another netbook – or 3 or 4 at these prices.
@25,
Not all netbooks are slow and lame. My Acer Aspire One runs the full-fledged Ubuntu (or XP) and all the same applications I use on a desktop. I’m just not into games, everything else runs fine. 2 GB of RAM, 320 HD, 1.6 GHz processor, it’s almost as powerful as my old desktop. Battery life is not bad, 6-cell gives me about 5 hours with Wifi on. My only complaint is the screen, I really do wish it was taller.
pedro is my number one customer. The excitement is building as the new Nokia’s will soon support “electronic mail”.
#24
The iPAD is the gold standard for tablets
Only to the clueless and fanboys. A full tablet computer is the gold standard of tablets. Microsoft has had tablet computers out for some time and they blow the doors off the the maxipad. Get back to me when the maxipad has a native USB connector, a full desktop OS, can play Flash and can multitask *and* is comparably priced to a tablet.
And still they don’t sell the Ipad in Korea. They just now allowed sale of the Iphone 4 here.
We need to slow down their sales of Hyundai and Kia in like fashion and see how they like it.
Microsoft has had tablet computers out for some time and they blow the doors off the the maxipad. -
microsoft just blows- fixed that for you
“Microsoft has had tablet computers out for some time and they blow the doors off the the maxipad.”
And the sales are through the roof. I’m not kidding, we must have sold 2 or 3 dozen, easily.
When will they ever offer this as a no-contract device?