Android On HP TouchPad

NicknamesAreStupid writes "As fast as you can say '$99 blowout sale,' PC World reports on an Android port to the now defunct HP TouchPad. 'Of course, it will turn out to be the best Android pad ever, making the iPad stink by comparison,' reports Muphy's Law Reports."

Re:"No ecosystem"

[Lumpy]

And being a guy who paid ipad prices for a real android tablet with the horsepower to run the apps smoothly, I still bought an iPad.

Why?

it's the apps man.

I can't get an app that will show me where the satellites are in the sky in a Augmented reality like I can on the iPad.
I can't get an integration app for Microsoft One Note on android.
I can't get a PDF annotation app that is as smooth and simple as the one for the iPad.
Only recently was I able to get an autocad viewer for android. but not an andriod honeycomb native, it's a phone app that scales.
And on and on.

Android falls on it's face with tablet specific apps simply because it has been around a short time compared to the iPad. Maybe in 2 years when the application base builds up I'll look at what android tablets are doing once more, but then I'll have to abandon all the software I bought for the iPad and re-buy all my software again.

the XOOM tablet is a nice piece of hardware and snappy... but it failed on the app front. I was lucky enough to have bought it early and chose to sell it early to get most of my money back on ebay.

I use a tablet for work. both my day job and my side photography business... and the iPad kicks android hard in the photography apps arena.

Re:"No ecosystem"

[auLucifer]

I use an iPad at work and have since it was first released in .au. The best thing it does that a notebook (this is assuming pen and paper notebook) can't is get my notes on my computer. I write once in evernote/awesome note/whatever note application and it's then everywhere I will need it. Same for using dropbox and scibbling apps. I don't have to later scan or rewrite, it's all there on my desktop/phone/laptop for whenever I need access to it.

If you're talking about a laptop, I use the iPad for the same reasons above. Plus my macbook pro is heavy and my air is too big to easily carry or use in small areas like behind the sink when I work with recipes. I also can't use my finger to simply scribble diagrams or have others scribble notes from across the table. Also having the iPad gets rid of the 'wall' between me and my clients so it's useful for body language too, something I never underestimate.

As for everyone YMMV but those are the reasons I use an iPad. Next year I'll likely change to Android as I've had enough of the walled garden.

Re:"No ecosystem"

[metalmaster]

You had me right up to this point

The iPad has become the "Windows of Tablets". The two arguments above are exactly why Windows still rules on the desktop.

Windows is an operating system. It can be installed on anything with the right components. Do you remember the "Vista Capable" fiasco? Just because a box has a CPU, RAM, a hard disk and a video card doesnt mean those components have to be specced high enough to run the software smoothly. Additionally, Windows doesnt rely on a walled garden of apps. Its the exact opposite. If you wanna install the latest application from www.iwannastealyourbankinfos.net you are entirely free to do so.

The ipad took off for a few reasons:

1. - It was the first trustworthy tablet to market
2. - It had the familiar interface and functionality that people loved with their ipod touch and iphone
3. - It's got the developers behind it. As much as I hate to say "$x - theres an app for that" is pretty damned accurate. If you want something its probably out there. If not, you may be able to find a competent developer to write an app for you.

Im not a fan of Apple at all, but the above points are true for the most part. These are the reasons why i told my mom to return her touchpad and get an ipad.

Re:Logical contradiction

[ByOhTek]

As an owner of a Toshiba Thrive, and several IPad 2s, I'd have to disagree with you completely.

Can you expand the storage by 128GB with an SD card on the IPad[2]? No
Can you plug HDMI and USB into the IPad[2]? No
Does the IPad[2] have a user replaceable battery if yours dies, and you don't want the downtime of a standard replacement/fix? No
Does the IPad[2] have a 1280x800 or better screen? No
Can you get an IPad2 for $550, with 16GB of storage? No
Does the IPad[2] have more apps? Yes
-- Does it's apps contain a wider range of functionality? No
Can you get a large range of apps to give you most of the fun/functionality you need on an IPad[2], for free? No
Does the IPad[2] have flash? No

So, the advantages ot the IPad[2] are more apps (not necessarily functionally more, just more), and probably less malware (only a problem if you are ADD or a moron when downloading software), no flash, and it helps if your wallet is too heavy. Oh, and you get a device with a logo that shouts "I'm a pretentious prick!"

Yum.

Re:"No ecosystem"

[E IS mC(Square)]

Dongle?? But that would spoil the looks of such a beautiful toy!!

Seriously though, after paying shitload of money, you still have to buy dongles and addons for basic functionalities?? Fuck that.