Tuesday
Apr062010
The HP Slate? What a Joke
Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at 8:38AM
Every one is getting their panties up in a bunch over the new HP Slate and how it is a competitor to the iPad.
Let me tell you this, after reading numerous articles about the HP Slate, this tablet will not even begin to phase, or hurt, Apple, in any way.
Here's why:
The HP slate has 5 hours of battery life vs. the iPad's 11 hour battery life. The iPad also has a higher screen resolution, larger screen size, and the 16bg version is lower in price. The only two things that the HP Slate has over the iPad is that it supports flash and has two cameras (inward webcam and outward 3 megapixel camera as well).
BUT!
These are not the main reasons that the HP Slate is a joke compared to the iPad, the main reason is because HP is applying a layer of make up over Windows 7 with an HP touch-optimized user interface.
It has been my experience, and I am sure with many others, that a nice make-up job will only last for so long. Not once have I used a touch "optimized" interface from any company that makes computers, or smartphones, and been pleased with the experience. No matter what, the ugliness of the non-optimized parts of the base operating system (in this case Windows 7) always shine through.
Building from the ground up is the only way to go with touch interfaces.
This is what made the iPhone the success that it is today, they built from the ground upan interface made for people to touch. Apple didn't use, let us say, WM 6.5, and apply some make up like HTC did with Windows Mobile phones for the longest time. Apple literally redesigned everything so you could get the best possible touch experience as possible.
Now, let me clarify. I can't stand the iPad either. I think it is an over priced giant iPod touch that will see only limited success, but at least the interface, and applications, are made for us to touch. Unlike the HP Slate, which will look pretty at first, but be disatrous underneath.
Let me tell you this, after reading numerous articles about the HP Slate, this tablet will not even begin to phase, or hurt, Apple, in any way.
Here's why:
The HP slate has 5 hours of battery life vs. the iPad's 11 hour battery life. The iPad also has a higher screen resolution, larger screen size, and the 16bg version is lower in price. The only two things that the HP Slate has over the iPad is that it supports flash and has two cameras (inward webcam and outward 3 megapixel camera as well).
BUT!
These are not the main reasons that the HP Slate is a joke compared to the iPad, the main reason is because HP is applying a layer of make up over Windows 7 with an HP touch-optimized user interface.
It has been my experience, and I am sure with many others, that a nice make-up job will only last for so long. Not once have I used a touch "optimized" interface from any company that makes computers, or smartphones, and been pleased with the experience. No matter what, the ugliness of the non-optimized parts of the base operating system (in this case Windows 7) always shine through.
Building from the ground up is the only way to go with touch interfaces.
This is what made the iPhone the success that it is today, they built from the ground upan interface made for people to touch. Apple didn't use, let us say, WM 6.5, and apply some make up like HTC did with Windows Mobile phones for the longest time. Apple literally redesigned everything so you could get the best possible touch experience as possible.
Now, let me clarify. I can't stand the iPad either. I think it is an over priced giant iPod touch that will see only limited success, but at least the interface, and applications, are made for us to touch. Unlike the HP Slate, which will look pretty at first, but be disatrous underneath.
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