It’s hard to find too many worthwhile features in the Acer Iconia Tablet that can’t be found in other devices. The slate comes with a 2-megapixel camera, a dual-core Tegra 2 processor, and a 10.1-inch display. However, it’s running Android Honeycomb 3.0—an issue for those looking for the more-reliable Android 3.1. Combine that with the fact few people even know about the device, and it might not be long before the $400 tablet fades from the market.
When Hewlett-Packard launched the TouchPad in July, the company had high hopes for its future. It thought that WebOS could catch on with customers, and consumers would respond well to the device’s iPad-like design. But in less than two months, it became clear that wasn’t the case. HP was forced to discontinue the device. Some have criticized HP for discontinuing its tablet so soon. They say that the company should have stuck it out to see if things would turn around. They also suggested that the company should consider offering up a new version of its tablet to try to appeal to those looking for something else. But HP disagreed. And instead, the company decided to end its tablet program altogether. Looking around the tablet space, it’s now clear that other devices might soon follow the TouchPad. Aside from the iPad 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, there isn’t a single device that is performing all that well at retail. It’s about time these tablet makers do something about that. To help them out, we’ve compiled the following list to highlight 10 tablets that are on their way toward joining the TouchPad on the extinction list.
The Acer Iconia Tablet
It’s hard to find too many worthwhile features in the Acer Iconia Tablet that can’t be found in other devices. The slate comes with a 2-megapixel camera, a dual-core Tegra 2 processor, and a 10.1-inch display. However, it’s running Android Honeycomb 3.0—an issue for those looking for the more-reliable Android 3.1. Combine that with the fact few people even know about the device, and it might not be long before the $400 tablet fades from the market.
Dell Streak 7
When Dell first got into the tablet market, the company tried its luck with a 5-inch tablet, called the Streak. After that device failed, Dell offered a 7-inch version, called the Streak 7. So far, the tablet hasn’t caught on with consumers, and enterprise users have all but ignored it because of its Android integration. Plus, its screen is still too small, which doesn’t help matters. Simply put, the Streak 7 falls short.
RIM BlackBerry PlayBook
The Research In Motion BlackBerry PlayBook was supposed to be the option for enterprise users. The device, which comes with a 7-inch display and runs RIM’s new tablet operating system, delivers much of the functionality corporate users are after, including support for BlackBerry Enterprise Server, but so far, it hasn’t been widely adopted in the business world. Perhaps that’s because of the tablet’s seemingly consumer-minded features. Either way, it might be time for RIM to head back to the drawing board.
Cisco Cius
The Cisco Cius has yet to be released, but already the device doesn’t look like an ideal option for its target market. The Cius is designed for enterprise users. However, the device will come with Android and sport a small, 7-inch display. Considering the security issues Android is confronting right now, it might not take long before IT decision makers turn their backs on the Cius.
Coby Kyros Tablet
The Coby Kyros tablet’s biggest issue is that no one even knows about it. The tablet comes with a 7-inch screen and runs Android 2.2 What’s more, it has 512MB of on-board memory. Those looking for a larger display can get the 8-inch option, which comes with 4GB of memory. But all that means nothing when the average consumer has never even heard of the product. Its $159.99 price tag is attractive, but it’s obscurity that’s killing Coby’s tablet.
Motorola Xoom
Asus Eee Pad Transformer Tablet
The Asus Eee Pad Transformer is arguably one of the most interesting devices in this roundup. The device comes with a big, 10.1-inch display, Android 3.2, and a whopping 16 hours of battery life. The device can even be docked into a physical keyboard, turning it into a netbook. However, few people in the marketplace know about it, as the iPad continues to cast its huge shadow on the market. If a better-known company offered up the Transformer, the device might have sold better. But Asus is behind it, and the mainstream consumer just doesn’t know enough about the company. That’s too bad.
HTC Flyer Tablet
The HTC Flyer tablet is unique in this roundup for one key reason: it supports a digital pen. Users can write on the graphics, take notes and much more. However, there’s no indication that today’s consumer or even enterprise user is even looking for such functionality. When judging a device, the leaders in the space must be considered. Apple’s iPad 2 and the Galaxy Tab 10.1 don’t offer digital pens, and they’re selling exceedingly well. That should tell HTC that perhaps its digital pen idea wasn’t the best idea. Or perhaps it needs more time and better marketing to get the idea across?
Lenovo IdeaPad Netbook Tablet
The Lenovo IdeaPad netbook is arguably the least tablet-like of any of the devices in this roundup. It comes with a physical keyboard and it seems to perform best as a netbook rather than as a tablet. However, its display can double as a tablet, and users can opt to work with it in that way. However, like the Flyer tablet’s pen, Lenovo’s decision to basically combine a tablet and netbook in one is not well-thought-out. Consumers aren’t looking for two-in-one devices; they want a single product that does something really well. They can find that in a tablet and a netbook. But who knows if they’ll find that in a netbook tablet? If Lenovo is serious about getting into the tablet business, ditching this device might be a good idea.
7-Inch Samsung Galaxy Tab
