HP’s Slate Device Delivers (screw the iPad)

Up to now, we’ve given you only tiny glimpses of the HP slate device coming out later this year. You saw it first in a video we released during CES and most recently in videos demoing its Web experience and Adobe Flash and Air support. We’ve also blogged about the evolution of the slate category and our history in the space.

So far, almost everything we’ve shared showcases how you’ll consume media with the device. And by media we mean all types of digital content, whether it’s a story from a major news outlet or videos and photos you’ve shot. But we also believe that media consumption is only half of the ideal mobile experience.

Think about the last time you chatted with friends over Skype on your notebook. Or uploaded a picture from your mobile phone to Facebook or Flickr. How about the last time you viewed images or video from an SD card or a USB device. We know that you expect to be able to capture and share digital content on your mobile devices. And the HP slate device excels there.

Take a look at our newest video. As you’ll see, we’re putting a lot of thought into the design to make sure we deliver an optimal mobile experience.

HP will easily kick Apples’ butt in this horserace, with only a little smart marketing and design.

That's exactly what they were saying when the iPod came out in the early 2000s. In fact, companies like HP and Sony had a couple of years to react to the iPod as it was slow at first to gather steam.

However, despite having much more research and development resources at their disposal (at the time), HP, Sony and all the other major players in the consumer electronics industry were caught napping as Apple built a juggernaut with the iPod, literally taking over the entire music industry, and becoming unstoppable. Even today, they are so far ahead of the curve with the iPod that even if they stopped developing the product line today, it would take five years for their rivals to catch up. The only product that comes even close to iPod is Microsoft's Zune - but 75% of Americans will never buy a Zune simply because...it's a Microsoft product!

They then went on to repeat history with the iPhone. Despite having one hand tied behind their back (with AT&T), Apple is running circles around their competitors in the cell phone market. Sure, Apple is still behind in market share but they are closing the gap quickly and once they announce later this year that AT&T is no longer their only carrier, they will not be able to make iPhones fast enough come Christmas time.

Now the iPad. Now I'm not an Apple fan-boy or anything (I'm typing this post on a Microsoft computer) but it is obvious to all that the iPad is going to be the most successful consumer product in the history of human civilization and it will REPLACE the desktop and laptop computer.

Repeat: The Apple iPad will REPLACE the desktop and laptop computer. Maybe not with this version. In fact, definitely not with this version. Take a look at the 1st generation iPod (from 2001) and compare it to the iPod touch of today. Why it is like comparing Orville and Wilbur Wright's airplane to an F-15 Tomcat.

So it is not today's iPad that will conquer the computer industry but future iterations of the iPad that will. Once this product is perfected (around the 3rd or 4th generation), there will simply be no reason to ever buy a desktop computer or a laptop again.

This is my sales forecast (worldwide) for the iPad. Check this post in future years to see how right I am:

2010 - 6.5 million units
2011 - 13.8 million units
2012 - 44.7 million units
2013 - 121.2 million units
2014 - 255.7 million units
2015 - 438.3 million units
2016 - 929.1 million units
2017 - 1.33 billion units
2018 - 2.68 billion units
2019 - 3.48 billion units

That’s exactly what they were saying when the iPod came out in the early 2000s.
:::::
Well HP is not in the phone business, but they are in the computer biz. And Apple made a lucky gamble when they did the iPhone — it saved them, even though they still claim to be a computer company. As we know, the iPod/iPhone products are not computers, per se, and none of Apple’s actual computers are leading edge or competitively priced. And they are a disaster when it comes to software — that is a whole other story.

I think to gain any speakable share of market in the true PC market, they are going to have to something revolutionary or even just smart. It has taken them more than a decade to finally put the right processor into their computers. I worked with Apple back in the semiconductor hay-days and watched them bad decision after bad decision when it came to positioning themselves against the IBM PC. They just did not get it — what it would take to attain a leadership position in terms of share of market.

So we will see what they do. My humble guess is that the iPad will see a second generation model VERY soon that is more in line with what would be more versatile and useful.

Cheers!!!

They then went on to repeat history with the iPhone. Despite having one hand tied behind their back (with AT&T), Apple is running circles around their competitors in the cell phone market

Not quite:
Android Market Share Leaps 153% As iPhone Sputters
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2468850/posts

Android Crushes the Competition, iPhone Stands Still
http://hothardware.com/News/Android-Crushes-the-Competition-iPhone-Stands-Still/

http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2010/03/android_nipping_on_iphone_os_heels.html

“Now I'm not an Apple fan-boy or anything “

Yeah..and I am Mother Teresa too.

” but it is obvious to all that the iPad is going to be the most successful consumer product in the history of human civilization and it will REPLACE the desktop and laptop computer.”

You got any of your Apple Kool Aid left or you drank it all?

“Repeat: The Apple iPad will REPLACE the desktop and laptop computer. Maybe not with this version.”

We heard you the last time, but hey, don't let me stop ya.

“2010 - 6.5 million units
2011 - 13.8 million units
2012 - 44.7 million units
2013 - 121.2 million units
2014 - 255.7 million units
2015 - 438.3 million units
2016 - 929.1 million units
2017 - 1.33 billion units
2018 - 2.68 billion units
2019 - 3.48 billion units”

Now you've just gone and done it. We'll be sending the men in long white coats to you presently, ok?

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