Android Tablet

[bogstad-e+AXbWqSrlAAvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org (Bill Bogstad)]

On Wed, Apr 6, 2011 at 10:06 AM, Richard Pieri <richard.pieri-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org> wrote:
> On Apr 6, 2011, at 9:40 AM, Jerry Feldman wrote:
>>
>> IMHO, the tablet computers should eventually replace the most of the
>> netbooks and cut into laptop sales.
>
> Oh... I really hope that doesn't happen. ?Tablets in their current incarnation are appliances. ?They're designed as appliances, presented as appliances, sold as appliances, supported as appliances and maintained as appliances. ?They have powerful, sophisticated computers in them but users aren't expected to interact with those computers. ?When we do things like replace the stock OS with a custom version we void the warranties, very much like we would when replacing the firmware in a microwave oven or car engine controller.

They are somewhere on the continuum from complete appliance (feature
set fixed at manufacturing and possibly no way to even install
security fixes) and general purpose computer.   I hope it doesn't
happen either, but it seems like most computing devices that have come
out since the PC tend in the direction of being an appliance. Given
that almost anything that uses electricity (and isn't just a
controller for an electrical motor) uses software for significant
functionality, I see this as very unfortunate.  OTOH, I understand why
vendors do this: lower support costs and possible lock-in for
accessories.   The app store model seems to be as general purpose as
we are going to get on new form factors as long as devices are
subsidized by cell phone companies.


> Even so, I expect that you're right. ?Most computer owners don't want computers. They want appliances. ?They want devices that work like their microwave ovens and game consoles. ?Android and iOS deliver that experience.

Not completely.  Game console is closer then microwave oven. They want
the app store model.  No one would be buying these devices if they
were the equivalent of a TV, radio, or cable set top box.  (Varied
media content, but functionality completely controlled by the device
vendor.)

Bill Bogstad