Google Tablet as low as $149?

[VaporPunk]

http://androidandme.com/2012/03/opin...as-low-as-149/

According to the article, the rumor of a low cost Google/Asus tablet is real but no quad-core CPU. It also appears that Google will copy Amazon and sell it for little or no profit on the hardware and hope to make money via its eco-system.

Could be a really smart move in the long run, creating more public awareness of Android and its viability as a true Ipad alternative. At 7 inches, it would make a pretty good e-reader alternative as well, albeit with an LCD screen.

[murraypaul]

I think there is a risk of further alienating the Samsungs of the world who were already concerned about Google's move into the phone market.

[VaporPunk]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

I think there is a risk of further alienating the Samsungs of the world who were already concerned about Google's move into the phone market.

Samsung and Apple have been suing each other in court left, right, and center and they still work together...
http://www.itworld.com/258918/samsun...plays-new-ipad

Why should it be any different re: Google and Samsung?

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by VaporPunk

Why should it be any different re: Google and Samsung?

The fear would be that Google would offer preferential Android access to their own hardware, ahead of offering it their other hardware partners. In the same way that Microsoft software had access to Windows APIs which competitors didn't. Google would also have the ability to undercut the others on price, as it is paying licensing fees to itself.
There have been a couple of stories about this in regards to the Motorola deal, but obviously there is no way of knowing how accurate they are, or if they are just rumours/scaremongering.

[markbot]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

The fear would be that Google would offer preferential Android access to their own hardware, ahead of offering it their other hardware partners. In the same way that Microsoft software had access to Windows APIs which competitors didn't. Google would also have the ability to undercut the others on price, as it is paying licensing fees to itself.
There have been a couple of stories about this in regards to the Motorola deal, but obviously there is no way of knowing how accurate they are, or if they are just rumours/scaremongering.

Google doesn't charge licensing fees for Android. They might eventually do that.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by markbot

Google doesn't charge licensing fees for Android. They might eventually do that.

They don't for the Android operating system.
I think they do for the Google apps than run on top of it?
The Android OS is open source, the Google apps are not.

[teh603]

While it looks nice, I'd rather pay a bit more for a larger tablet. 7" is a little small above 72 DPI.

[afv011]

Originally Posted by VaporPunk

Could be a really smart move in the long run, creating more public awareness of Android and its viability as a true Ipad alternative. At 7 inches, it would make a pretty good e-reader alternative as well, albeit with an LCD screen.

Yes, it's a matter of getting market traction. Once you get into an ecosystem, it's hard to switch, so offering a cheap tablet is a sensible approach. If they indeed can offer it at $149-$199, many people will be swayed - you could by 3 or 4 for the price of 1 iPad. Yes, it wouldn't be as big, as shiny or as fast, but you could get one for each member of the family for the same price as a single iPad. Basically it would be a Kindle Fire with a pure Android experience and the Android apps.

[RainingLemur]

If this gets released, I'll probably immediately snap one up.

[SeaKing]

I love all these "economical tablets" that get better and better.

The only problem I see is that the MS Windows 8 tablet with complete backward compatibility, when it finally surfaces will be facing a steeper and steeper slope as far a being able to compete.

But heck maybe it won't matter by then.

[emellaich]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

I think there is a risk of further alienating the Samsungs of the world who were already concerned about Google's move into the phone market.

Not really. This is another 'Nexus' deal. Google spreads the nexus love around, and next could be a Samsung Nexus.

The Samsungs of the world would be more nervous if this were a Motorola Nexus tablet. However, it makes you wonder about Motorola. Can they ever make a Nexus without upsetting the other partners?

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

I think there is a risk of further alienating the Samsungs of the world who were already concerned about Google's move into the phone market.

So who cares if they're alienated? Where are they gonna go for an OS? their own Bada OS? or maybe BlackBerry? or Symbian? or webOS? or Windows? etc...

Samsung is a success in the mobile market because of Android. If they ditch Android, I'm ditching Samsung.

[wizwor]

Originally Posted by SeaKing

I love all these "economical tablets" that get better and better.

The only problem I see is that the MS Windows 8 tablet with complete backward compatibility, when it finally surfaces will be facing a steeper and steeper slope as far a being able to compete.

But heck maybe it won't matter by then.

It never matters for MS. They jumped into the console space when Sony and Nintendo left no room for Sega. Microsoft has the cash and vision to attack a market niche until they own it.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by wizwor

Microsoft has the cash and vision to attack a market niche until they own it.

Like they did with Zune?

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

So who cares if they're alienated? Where are they gonna go for an OS? their own Bada OS? or maybe BlackBerry? or Symbian? or webOS? or Windows? etc...

Google care.
Android is succeeding in the phone market because it is available on so many different hardware platforms, at different price points and with different features. That is possible because so many different companies are producing Android devices.