Choice is good. Both in terms of the act of choosing and as a range of options from which to choose. That’s why I’m so glad to see more and more different tablet computers entering the market. Many owe their success and greater notoriety to Apple. Just as they did with the iPhone, they have in many ways become equally synonymous with tablets, or should I say pads. Of course that does bring up all the spoofing of Apple’s latest choice of device names. Again, all about choice…
In my opinion, the most exciting and noteworthy alternative is the WePad from Neofonie. But I can’t help but laugh a little at the WePad name choice too. I can see why some originally thought this device was an April Fool’s Day joke or something, and not a real device. The plural first person inclusive is kind of nice though isn’t it? Just what we need in our me or should I say, “i” centric society.
Neofonie, a “company from Berlin, although unknown, is no newcomer. The 12 year old Neofonie GmbH is a software company that also runs a search engine called WeFind and sells an epublishing platform by the name of WeMagazine. It makes newspapers and magazines readable on computers and smartphones, and that’s also where they see the real business for their WePad tablet PC.” I guess the prefix of this new device’s name is more a timely coincidence than a calculated pun on that Apple ‘i.’
One of the biggest criticisms of the iPad that I’ve heard, has revolved around the lack of certain features that we have just grown accustomed to seeing. I find it very exciting therefore to have come across a soon-to-be competitor that’s offering up a tablet computer that seems to have everything the iPad seems to be missing.
The Neofonie WePad “has a bigger multitouch screen and a faster CPU than the iPad. Also it runs Flash, has USB ports, an inbuilt card reader and expandable memory. Additionally it allows complete multitasking and has a webcam.” None of which the iPad has.
Here’s a side by side comparison of the two tablet computers:
| WePad | iPad | |
| Display | 11.6-inch (1,366 x 768 pixels) | 9.7-inch (1,024 x 768 pixels) |
| Processor | 1,66 GHz Intel Atom N450 Pineview-M | 1,0 GHz Apple A4 |
| Memory | 16 GB NAND Flash (optional 32 GB internal + 32 GB SDcard) | 16 / 32 / 64 GB |
| Webcam | 1,3 Megapixel | None |
| Ports | 2 USB ports, card reader, audio out, SIM card slot, multi pin connector | Apple connector for camera or card reader as peripherals |
| Flash / Adobe AIR | Yes / Yes | No / No |
| App Store | WePad AppStore + Google Android Marketplace | iTunes App Store |
| Multitasking | Yes | Restricted, allowed only for Apple apps |
| Battery life | 6 hours | 10 hours |
| eBook format | All open standards | Proprietary Apple format from iBooks store |
| Wireless connect | Bluetooth 2.1, WiFi N, 3G optional | Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, WiFi N, 3G optional |
| Body | Magnesium-Aluminium | Aluminium |
| Size | 288 x 190 x 13 mm | 242.8 x 189.7 x 13,4 mm |
| Weight | 800 g (850 g with 3G) | 680 g |
You viagra generic sale can simply buy Kamagra through any authorized pharmaceutical company. This type of generico levitra on line http://deeprootsmag.org/2016/11/14/saturns-rings-in-daylight-on-the-night-side/ has no patent protection act that is the reason; all the companies can produce the same medicine with the different names. But the sacrifice is worth it if it saves your life. order generic levitra People must know the fact that no permanent cure cialis prices is available for erectile problems but you can take kamagra oral jellies to treat it in a safe way and enjoy sexual life and satisfy your partner.
Being a fan of choice, I have never liked the proprietary nature of Apple products. Seemed overly manipulative to me to require one to use the Apple Apps store for example, rather than having the choice to go where you want, for what you want. That’s one thing I’ve always like about PCs, not that they don’t have other issues. Pick your poison I guess. But it seems like once you’re either in or out of the Apple world, it’s next to impossible to change. It’s often just too much to try to reestablish (buy all over again) all your computer stuff to join that other world.
There are however things I really like and respect about Apple, most notably its environmentally friendly stance and elimination of PVC and BFRs. But other companies are coming on board, affording more choice in the future. Hewlett Packard for example already has some products that also have no PVC or BFRs. They say that will be true of all their products by 2011. Acer is coming out soon with laptops that will also be free of these harmful substances. These are just a couple of a growing list of companies becoming more green. Both of the Apple and Neofonie slates have PVC free housing. Given I’m personally not all that keen on aluminum, I prefer the Neofonie casing that is not all aluminum, but is also part magnesium.
At present, the WePad is only available for pre-order in Europe. The non 3G model is 449 EUR ($600 US) while the 3G model is 569 EUR ($760 US). Due out this summer, hopefully it will soon be available worldwide. I will keep checking on subsequent regional availability. Why is it that such great products have to keep us waiting? Just like that Light Touch device from Light Blue Optics that literally turns any surface into a touchscreen. Still waiting on that one too…
Fabien Röhlinger, a member of the WePad community, filmed this live presentation of the tablet April 26th 2010. While not a really polished product demonstration by any means, the video does give us look at the computer in action. I just wish I spoke German.
UPDATE May 8th 2010
The Röhlinger WePad clip is no longer available, but here is a new Reuters report on the WePad.
%CODE2%
