Apple News, Analysis and Podcasts

It was January 2010, and front and center at CES was Steve Ballmer who "demoed" for us three (he really only used one) "slate" products running Windows 7. Well, "demo" is really an generous description. Ballmer picked the slate up, did a few things with it and then put it back on the shelf next to the other two "slates". We were told that 2010 would be a year full of slate product introductions — and it was going to be exciting!

Ballmer got his prediction half correct. On January 27, Apple launched the iPad — a real tablet that ran a sophisticated OS and it began shipping in mass in April. If you had an iPhone or iPod Touch, you knew how to use the iPad right out of the box: download software, sync with your computer and everything else. Even better your iPhone/iPod Touch software could be used on the iPad. Developers also were in luck as they didn't need to do much to adjust their apps for the iPad either.

However, the killer feature of Apple's iPad ended up being its entry price point. After CES 2010 and before the iPad launch several rumors swirled about that Apple's new tablet would start anywhere from $799 - $1,199 USD. When Apple launched the iPad starting at $499 USD, jaws dropped. What's more, Apple's competition dropped something else — in their pants. $499 USD was unheard of, undreamt of and yet there was Apple with the best tablet on the market at a price point that no one could touch. Tablet manufactures were driven back to the drawing board to figure out how in the world to make their tablets cheaper, errrr "competitive".

Fast forward to January 2011 at CES. Once again we heard the mantra of tablets galore "seen soon in a Best Buy near you". And just on cue, two months later Apple updated its product line with the iPad 2 — faster processor, same stellar 10 hour battery life, 1/3 thinner design, front and rear facing cameras, 1080i HD mirroring and smart covers. What's worse (for the competition) is that the original iPad was now available for $399 USD until inventory is gone.

Digitimes suggests that Tablet makers are once again going back to the drawing board, knowing they have to enter the market at $399 in order have a chance. In addition they are hoping that Google or Microsoft will have tablet software ready soon to compete with Apple's ever-maturing iOS. 

Here's to the wizards of smart at CES 2012 telling us the wonders of non-Apple tablets. If they can bat 3 for 3, they'll be tablet-less, while we'll soon see the next generation iPad with even better features and prices. 

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