Upcoming Slate Devices and Handheld Tablet Devices to Compete With Apple iPad Tablet

After the recent news of the upcoming Apple iPad release, many popular computer manufacturers are quickly gearing up ideas and creating devices to try and challenge the Apple iPad tablet device.

The basic strategy of computer manufacturers is to capitalize on the renewed interest and buzz in the tablet category that has been created by the Apple iPad tablet or slate and the new Nook e-reader from Barnes and Noble.

This may or may not be a smart idea. It is certain that computer companies like, Hewlett Packard, Sony, Acer, and Dell need to be involved in the consumer electronics category where they can try and make a quick profit much like they have with netbook computers.

I am not convinced that following Apple’s lead will be a great strategy in the long term, especially considering the Apple iPad tablet has yet to be released for purchase and has not been proven in the real world market. According to the Wall Street Journal, Sony has acknowledged that the Apple iPad Launch is the benchmark for them. Other computer makers likely feel the same way about the way the iPad was launched by Apple in January. Apple has a long history of creating a product, creating a buzz, and then releasing a great product that basically rules the marketplace. Many lessons have been learned over the years and Apple has taken those lessons and created what looks to be a winner with the Apple iPad tablet device.

Most of the computer companies plan to try and undercut the Apple iPad tablet price with their new handheld tablet devices.

The issues with this idea are as follows:

• Apple immediately takes the lead before the Apple iPad tablet has even been released for purchase because of the publicity.

• Apple uses a closed system that has been custom tailored for their touchscreen input as well as the ability to use dock accessories like the Apple iPad keyboard dock.

• Apple has already decided to offer several variations of the Apple iPad tablet from a basic model to a fully featured model with Bluetooth and 3G connectivity.

• Apple has used powerful software and services that have been proven on the iPhone and iPod devices on the Apple iPad tablet.

The key to Apple's success and what makes the Apple iPad tablet quite attractive is the fact that it works and it is focused on user experience. Because Apple has complete control over their products, they can focus on solely on the complete user experience for the iPad tablet device rather than just the specifications of a product.

Most large computer companies have failed to follow this model and often engage in various partnerships that make a mess of user experience because of the preloaded software and various marketing tactics.

This problem has already become a part of smartphones, because of various carrier services being used on many Android phones.

My problem with this is that many companies have visions for a great product, but do not consider the user experience when they bundle a bunch of useless software or apps we did not ask for. HP will be releasing the Slate tablet device, and it will probably be a good device. The question becomes, what programs will I be forced to use on it? Will their operating system be stable and user friendly? How will the device function with it's intended content that will be viewed on it? The answers to these questions, for me at least, are more important than the device specifications.

There are many unanswered questions about the upcoming tablet devices and even some for the Apple iPad tablet. But with the current technology, hardware production is not enough, user experience should be more important and at the forefront of the production process.

A tablet PC doesn't have to run the same OS as a home PC, it doesn't have to have windows. Apple understands this, that is why the Apple iPad tablet runs the iPhone OS and not the OS found on a Mac.

Apple still has some proving to do with the iPad tablet device, but it is clear that Apple has found a successful model in the Mac, iPod, and iPhone. This should translate to similar success with the Apple iPad tablet.

Whether the computer manufacturers make tablets $100 less than an Apple iPad tablet will not matter if they can't create a similar or better user experience. If any of the PC companies want to help boost their shrinking profit margins by adding their own hanheld tablet device, it is important for them to look beyond just the hardware. Creating a competitive Slate tablet or other handheld tablet device is a big challenge. Hardware, software, and services are all important factors in a great user experience. One wrong move in any of these areas can mean disaster. Look at the Apple domination of the smartphone and mp3 markets. All of this because Apple created a superior user experience with the iPhone and iPod devices which will likely be replicated in the Apple iPad tablet.