I often refer to my iPad review and that’s not to go back and say that I didn’t like the iPad but the same thing that we debated over on the Gizmos Podcast (Tablets special). Is there a real market for a tablet? Something between your super smartphone and the notebook? When I first heard (officially) about the Samsung Galaxy Tab, I actually liked the concept and specs and while Steve Jobs made his argument clear against a 7″ Tablet, I still feel pretty confident about smaller sized tablets. So while the tablets explosion of 2010 gets carried on to 2011, here is why I feel that a 7″ tablet can actually rock.
- Portability: No matter how much you tell us about the magnificent 9.7″ built of the Apple iPad, its a fact that carrying a tablet around the city is a pain unless you are carrying a backpack or some suitable case. However, the weight (over 700 gms in case of 3G) and overall size makes it not very comfortable to roam around with. A 7″ tablet would bring down the travelling challenges and serve more purpose on the go, unless of-course you have a chauffer driven car for youself!
- Media / Gaming: Holding the iPad for a game? Or watching a short movie on the iPad? Well you know its going to be a painful experience holding the device for long. A 10″ body isn’t the best for handling with one hand, not the lightest of things to use for handheld gaming. A 7″ doesn’t prove to be a game changer here, but it’s certainly our choice for gaming on a handheld. Attaching a suitable earphone to a 10.1″ slab isn’t the coolest thing to do either!
- Typing: Now that’s something which is significant concern on a tablet like device. While holding a cellphone and typing with the thumbs is remarkably natural to us today, the iPad actually makes it a nightmare to use the onscreen keyboard in portraid mode. The 7″ structure again brings in much more speed and ease of use while typing, specially when holding the device in your hands. When you speak of computing on the go, it’s not about keeping the device on a tablet top and using the right?
- Cost: A smaller multitouch screen means lesser expense on the device. Given the fact that displays are more often than not the most expensive component in a cellphone. And then battery life is essential as well right? One reason I would not do all my work on the smart phone is the BATTERY life!
- Using the camera: A back camera on a large 10″ tablet might not server the purpose as it would on a 7″ tablet. Imagine having a back camera on the Apple iPad and clicking pictures on the go and compare he same with a much more handy 7″ tablet. What feels more natural to use?
Its clear that this is an evolving market and consumers would soon choose what works better! Your thoughts?
i think u r confused…what u r talking about is not ‘Tablet-Computing’ at all…rather what u want is a nasty over-sized smartphone…may all these 5″ ..7″.. ill-shaped craps have DOA(dead-on-arrival) fate..ameen…i m confident tablets do have markets & no sooner than latter they will kick-out the cheap under-performing netbooks…and something to b properly classified as ‘tablet-computers’ & thereby fill the gap between laptops & smartphones it must have at least 10″ screen…by the way i personally feel that touch is the future & apparently in the long run there will exist only 3-4 segments–(1) 3-4″smartphones (2) 10-11″tablets (3)14-17″laptops(with of course touch interface (4) finally desktops for heavy users !!
I get your point and what Steve said is valid. But the tablets market is still being tried out and I feel that there are consumers who want a 7″ stuff.
Some other cases can be a Blackberry user who wants a good touch experience, but doesn’t want to leave the BB. There is a 7″ Tabet for them. In another scenario, I like to have a E series from Nokia that gives full QWERTY and I would satisfy a full touchscreen internet tablet space with a 7″ version and not 10.1″ one. The market is being tested and may be !0″ versions would sell the maximum, but there is a market for 7″ is my argument.
Thanks, really appreciate the time taken to read and comment!