MSI to Release Its Own Tablet, Does Multitasking
MISI's Android-based touchscreen tablet will definitely have one advantage over iPad: multitasking.
MSI is expected to release a 10-inch touchscreen tablet the second half of this year for around $500 USD. The unnamed prototype was originally revealed earlier this month at CES 2010, however the tablet is now expected to compete with Apple's lower-priced iPad models in the coming months. MSI is just one of many manufacturers preparing tablets for the second half of 2010, including Acer and Asus.
Under the hood, MSI's device will feature Nvidia's Tegra 2 chipset and Google's Android operating system. Ubergizmo reports that the device will be able to run Full HD video at 1080p resolution, beating out the iPad's 720p video playback on its 1024 x 768 pixel display. Digitimes adds that it will be more PC-friendly, combining the light-weight design of a mobile device with the functionality of a notebook.
Ars Technica adds that it's apparent MSI has made a few customizations to the Android operating system so that it can adapt to the larger form factor. But Ars also has its doubts about MSI's ability to rival the "refinement of Apple's user interface." Ars points out one huge advantage MSI's gadget will have over Steve Job's little cherub: Android has full support for multitasking, which we expect Apple to solve before the iPad goes on sale in 2 months.
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Version 4 of the iPhone OS (planned for simultaneous iPad launch?) reputedly has multitasking. 1080p HD Video resolution will suck batteries dry in no time. Good engineering is about thoughtful compromise not feature lists.
Iteration one of iPad is not for me as too many compromises have been made to meet the launch window but the following generations will flourish with what Apple learns from the failings of its premier iPad.
Other OEM suppliers of tablets will make competing product but none will be as cohesive in every day use. And that is Apple's strength.
Adobe Flash is a buggy and insecure resource hog which HTML5 will hopefully stake through the heart.
Android OS... Man, what's with all these lame operating systems on tablets? Next we'll see one with Windows mobile FFS!Woooooooooo! At least this one can do multitasking... That means it will have almost as good a feature set as a 386DX circa 1994. The HP running win7 is looking the most appetising so far, I hope they announce prices soon - not that I'm likely to buy this generation until they come cheap on Ebay.
Absolutely. If I'm buying a device this expensive and, well, big, I want a full-fat full-function OS to go with it. The rest of you can go jump.
I prefer Android OS to iPhone OS, but thats just a personal preference, but I do agree with Rab1d, that said I'm sure I saw an article somewhere on tomshardware about a tablet running a proper version of windows (read as none mobile).
To add to my above post I would prefer a tablet that would allow me to install an operating system on it that I want to use.
At least it can multitask, you know what'll be awesome though? A full OS with full fuctionality. /sigh