“According to Digitimes, already ‘2-3 notebook brand vendors’ plan to ‘postpone their tablet PC model’s launch schedule until after they redesign the specifications and reduce the related costs’ of their iPad competitors. To compete with the iPad, manufacturers feel they need to get prices below $399, and Digitimes’ inside sources say “none of the current Wintel or ARM/Android” platforms can achieve such a goal while maintaining profitability on the devices,” Kit Eaton writes for Fast Company.
“Apple did pretty much invent the new tablet PC paradigm, and has moved swiftly to consolidate its position. Particularly noteworthy is the imminent launch of iPad 2 in 26 nations–much faster than expected, and significantly swifter than the prolonged roll-out of the original device,” Eaton writes. “Any moves Apple makes have the potential to distort the entire tablet market.”
Eaton writes, “Since sales of the MacBooks have skyrocketed (some figures place sales of the new 11-inch MacBook Air alone at over 1.1 million in its first quarter), and unlike generic PC manufacturers Apple controls hardware and software strictly, a change in its supplier lineup may heavily impact the industry… Apple’s dominance as a manufacturer suggests that its merest whim can make waves in the rest of the computing industry. Heck, even stubborn Adobe is kinda bending to Steve Jobs’ decisions.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Brawndo Drinker” for the heads up.]