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While many companies are preparing new Tablet PC's to compete with Apple's iPad the latest reports from Taipei show that volume shipments are not likely to hit the market until 2011.
If you read any tech press this month it is hard to escape the news on upcoming Tablet computers from companies such as Research in Motion, Asus, Samsung, Sony and Sharp. All of these companies are trying their damnest to get a slice of the iPad pie, because when it was released months ago no one expected it would generate over 3 million sales in such a short space of time.
The only problem is that mass production and shipping is going to take until 2011. This is part due to the low yields in lamination of medium size touchpanels, a fact verified recently by Lin Sheng Chang, the president of Chungwha Picture Tubes (CPT).
CPT are currently producing 3 million touch panels a month with the majority of the generated panels being shipped out to first tier partners. Lin has also told the press recently that CPT are expected to complete transfer of 70% of the production capacity at its 4.5G line in northern Taiwan to producing touch sensors for capacitive touch panels in Q1 2011.
Let us not forget the excellent Google Android, as this software package is giving many leading companies a perfect, low cost entry into this profitable marketplace. Some manufacturers believe that smaller screens will sell more, prompted by recent information that Apple are already working on a 7 inch iPad. Whether you hate or love Apple, they really do seem to be driving other companies into new sectors.
Sources close to KitGuru in Taipei have said that it is going to be some time before many companies can bring their tablets to mass production in Europe and USA due to the incredible demand and low yields in the run up to Christmas.
KitGuru says: Apple have a good head start and this is proving paramount to their sales right now. 2011 will prove to be a much tougher climate for the Cupertino powerhouse.
Whats the point? Apple have the market now, cause they were out first. no one will take a lot of their sales. thats something that wont happen. 2011 will be market saturation with 14 android tablets no one wants.
Joe I think thats a rather negative view. Android is a low cost OS and I would think quite a few of these tablets will sell, especially if they undercut apple by a few hundred bucks in the US. Not everyone can afford an ipad and quite a lot of people hate apple with a vengeance. I would say a few of the android tablets will do very well and 50% will die within 6 months. its all about marketing, the bundle, and price. It would also help if one of these companies can get a good working online store to support the tablet as I know most people buy apple just to get access to the online support and options.
Joe’s comment reminded me of that AMD / NV dx11 battle… iPad will win because it came out first (cypress). But soon enough there will be companies that bring out products to try and fight it but will fail or seem not as great as the ipad (GF100) then even later well see something competitive like the… dunno bout the future of tablets (GF104 + price cuts)… this is of course assuming all tablets are released at the price of the iPad varieties. In future hopefully the people that know a thing or two will discover companies like archos and theyll become more mainstream and steal some glory from the bigger guys just milking our cash