Tablet Battle Royale at CES 2011 By Robert Leitch, Technology Manager, Senior Producer/Director Every winter an event brings the techies out in droves: the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). For those not in the know, CES is a trade show (held this year in Las Vegas, where else?!) where the next big things in electronics are unveiled to the public. Companies like Motorola, Apple, Google and LG bring the innovations year after year. Each year, an “it” product emerges. This year’s “it” product is the tablet computer. Sure, the tablet may seem like old news to early adopters of the iPad (who are already waiting for the iPad 2). However to the average consumer, the benefits of a tablet computer are just now materializing. If this year’s CES show-stoppers are anything to go by, Apple needs to watch its back. Apple's iPad is no longer the only kid on the playground. And, with their recent no-shows in the exhibit hall at events like CES and NAB, Apple may be losing valuable face time with members of their biggest audience. Apple’s two main iPad competitors are the BlackBerry PlayBook and Motorola’s Xoom (which operates with Apple’s current archnemesis, Android). While both are similar to the iPad, they include added features like front and rear-facing cameras and Flash capabilities - areas where the iPad falls short. Feeling overwhelmed? Have no fear, these gadgets are only trying to make your life easier. Consumers looking at a tablet computer now have more options than ever before. There is no longer one brand, one size, one price. Motorola, Apple, BlackBerry...who will win? Don’t worry, techies, this doesn’t require another intense debate. The answer is YOU. Do you have a tablet computer like the iPad? What do you think - are they the wave of the future?
Tablet Battle Royale at CES 2011 By Robert Leitch, Technology Manager, Senior Producer/Director Every winter an event brings the techies out in droves: the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
For those not in the know, CES is a trade show (held this year in Las Vegas, where else?!) where the next big things in electronics are unveiled to the public.
Companies like Motorola, Apple, Google and LG bring the innovations year after year. Each year, an “it” product emerges. This year’s “it” product is the tablet computer. Sure, the tablet may seem like old news to early adopters of the iPad (who are already waiting for the iPad 2). However to the average consumer, the benefits of a tablet computer are just now materializing. If this year’s CES show-stoppers are anything to go by, Apple needs to watch its back. Apple's iPad is no longer the only kid on the playground. And, with their recent no-shows in the exhibit hall at events like CES and NAB, Apple may be losing valuable face time with members of their biggest audience. Apple’s two main iPad competitors are the BlackBerry PlayBook and Motorola’s Xoom (which operates with Apple’s current archnemesis, Android). While both are similar to the iPad, they include added features like front and rear-facing cameras and Flash capabilities - areas where the iPad falls short. Feeling overwhelmed? Have no fear, these gadgets are only trying to make your life easier. Consumers looking at a tablet computer now have more options than ever before. There is no longer one brand, one size, one price. Motorola, Apple, BlackBerry...who will win? Don’t worry, techies, this doesn’t require another intense debate. The answer is YOU. Do you have a tablet computer like the iPad? What do you think - are they the wave of the future?