The problem with iphone/ipad mimics

[MacBH928]

I just want to share my thoughts on companies that want to get a piece of the cake Apple is eating from with all their iphones and ipads. Lets be honest this is Apple's vision, maybe I can say Jobs vision even . It wasnt there when he wasnt.

Anyway, everyone is entering this market and it reminds me the 70's-80's where everyone built his own computer/console to compete with atari,commodore, apple...etc all failed in the end except for few. Actually for computers only Microsoft won and Apple survived until 1998 to win again.

They are all just releasing products mindlessly trying so hard to be an iphone or an iPad. In most cases their product is inferior! or more expensive. For example why would I buy a Motorola Xoom or Samsung tablet? they have no advantage what so ever for me to go and buy them. In the best case scenario, they might have just as much many and quality apps as the ipad, but then again why would I buy then and just not buy an iPad?

Same story with the iPhone and the HTC or HP pre 3 . Why would I NOT buy an iphone and buy your product? hardly any reason, in most cases I will be left alone with a much smaller community and less support. Whats funny is that usually the price is just about the same.

When I buy a Windows machine or Mac, there is a huge price and user experience difference and reason. I can understand those who would buy a blackberry over iphone, because it has bbm or its more secure I dunno. I would buy a Playstation over Wii I have a reason. But the mimics got not reason to buy their product over Apple.

Sure, some people might just hate Apple and not want to buy their product. Maybe they just dont feel like using iOS. But I am talking about the majority, they got no advantage really for most users to buy their product hence they will die sooner or later.

What do you think?
I know no one who ever said I'll use Android phone because its BETTER than an iPhone, or it meets my needs.

 

[Sined]

The other devices have an actual operating system tailored for tablets.

 

[TheSideshow]

I think Id buy a Xoom before an iPad. The only thing the iPad has going for it over the Xoom is app selection

 

[thejadedmonkey]

What do you think?
I know no one who ever said I'll use Android phone because its BETTER than an iPhone, or it meets my needs.

I can't speak for Android, but I can say with 100% certainty that I would use (and buy even) a WP7, because it's BETTER than an iPhone, or it meets (and exceeds) my needs.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Do you think that the other companies should just give up and stop making phones and tablets? Do you think that eventually everyone in the world will have an iPhone and nothing else? It doesn't sound too plausible to me.

 

[Bernard SG]

Do you think that the other companies should just give up and stop making phones and tablets? Do you think that eventually everyone in the world will have an iPhone and nothing else? It doesn't sound too plausible to me.

I don't think that's the point the OP is making. He's pointing out that competitors are trying to take on Apple by releasing imitations without additional value nor distinctive advantages and this, basically at the same price tag. That is a losing strategy.

 

[*LTD*]

I think Id buy a Xoom before an iPad. The only thing the iPad has going for it over the Xoom is app selection

That, and the iPad has a complete, stable and optimized operating system. It's usable. That's kinda important.

 

[OllyW]

That is a losing strategy.

Are you sure about that?

 

[roadbloc]

That, and the iPad has a complete, stable and optimized operating system. It's usable. That's kinda important.

So is the Xoom. I suggest you head down to a store and have a play about on one of these things. Android isn't as smooth as iOS, and the thing isn't thinner than two oxygen atoms put together like an iPad, but it is certainly complete, stable and optimised. Very useable.

The only problem is that they appear to be a lot more expensive than an iPad. Which is certainly rather bizarre.

 

[neiltc13]

So is the Xoom. I suggest you head down to a store and have a play about on one of these things. Android isn't as smooth as iOS, and the thing isn't thinner than two oxygen atoms put together like an iPad, but it is certainly complete, stable and optimised. Very useable.

The only problem is that they appear to be a lot more expensive than an iPad. Which is certainly rather bizarre.

Huh? Base model Xoom is 32GB and is £479, iPad 32GB is also £479.

 

[decafjava]

For me the app store is the strongest argument-but I am happy to see some variety.

 

[roadbloc]

Huh? Base model Xoom is 32GB and is £479, iPad 32GB is also £479.

The Currys store I was in messing around with them, they were about £800.

 

[neiltc13]

The Currys store I was in messing around with them, they were about £800.

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/motorola-xoom-tablet-pc-32gb-09752543-pdt.html

 

[roadbloc]

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/motorola-xoom-tablet-pc-32gb-09752543-pdt.html

I stand corrected then. That's even more reason for *LTD* to want one.

 

[OllyW]

That's even more reason for *LTD* to want one.

He's still out of luck, they haven't got Currys in Canada.

 

[macquariumguy]

IThe only thing the iPad has going for it over the Xoom is app selection

Sort of like the only thing a car has going for it over a pushcart is an engine.

There will be real competition for the iPad, but it's not there yet. I played with a Xoom in BB and it was obvious that Honeycomb isn't ready to compete.

 

[maflynn]

That, and the iPad has a complete, stable and optimized operating system. It's usable. That's kinda important.

Except that Honeycomb is a stable, optimized operating system that's usable

I mean you probably haven't even looked at honeycomb never mind used it. Yet you feel justified to state its usefulness

 

[yg17]

I know no one who ever said I'll use Android phone because its BETTER than an iPhone, or it meets my needs.

I use Android because it's BETTER than an iPhone, and it meets my needs.

 

[Stella]

This post is fine for one individual's POV of why *they* prefer iOS over Android, but people will buy what suits their needs. His preferences cannot apply to the rest of the world. OP must realize the iPhone and iPad isn't a one fit device.

For example: Prefer the look and build of HTC phones? Buy an Android HTC phone - thats good enough reason to buy Android device over an Apple phone.

As for:
"I know no one who ever said I'll use Android phone because its BETTER than an iPhone, or it meets my needs."

This is a very small amount of population. antidotal. Another antidotal experience: I've heard people say they prefer Android over iPhone, for the following various reasons:
* not locked down
* don't need OSX to develop for an Android device
* Android is where things are going ( read: More popular, more users )

I just want to share my thoughts on companies that want to get a piece of the cake Apple is eating from with all their iphones and ipads. Lets be honest this is Apple's vision, maybe I can say Jobs vision even . It wasnt there when he wasnt.

Anyway, everyone is entering this market and it reminds me the 70's-80's where everyone built his own computer/console to compete with atari,commodore, apple...etc all failed in the end except for few. Actually for computers only Microsoft won and Apple survived until 1998 to win again.

They are all just releasing products mindlessly trying so hard to be an iphone or an iPad. In most cases their product is inferior! or more expensive. For example why would I buy a Motorola Xoom or Samsung tablet? they have no advantage what so ever for me to go and buy them. In the best case scenario, they might have just as much many and quality apps as the ipad, but then again why would I buy then and just not buy an iPad?

Same story with the iPhone and the HTC or HP pre 3 . Why would I NOT buy an iphone and buy your product? hardly any reason, in most cases I will be left alone with a much smaller community and less support. Whats funny is that usually the price is just about the same.

When I buy a Windows machine or Mac, there is a huge price and user experience difference and reason. I can understand those who would buy a blackberry over iphone, because it has bbm or its more secure I dunno. I would buy a Playstation over Wii I have a reason. But the mimics got not reason to buy their product over Apple.

Sure, some people might just hate Apple and not want to buy their product. Maybe they just dont feel like using iOS. But I am talking about the majority, they got no advantage really for most users to buy their product hence they will die sooner or later.

What do you think?
I know no one who ever said I'll use Android phone because its BETTER than an iPhone, or it meets my needs.

 

[macquariumguy]

antidotal

LOL - is that some kind of medicine?

 

[roadbloc]

LOL - is that some kind of medicine?

antidotal |ˌantiˈdōtl| adjective
ORIGIN late Middle English : via Latin, from Greek antidoton, neuter of antidotos ‘given against,’ from anti- ‘against’ + didonai ‘give.’

At the end of the day, many phone users just want a few gimmicky apps, facebook, calls and texts. And Android provides them just as well as iOS does, but on cheaper handsets. Android (or similar) will soon dominate the tablet platform was well for this very reason.

 

[Stella]

LOL - is that some kind of medicine?

LOL. Wrong spelling !

Anadotical.

 

[roadbloc]

Hmmm....

 

[MacBH928]

I don't think that's the point the OP is making. He's pointing out that competitors are trying to take on Apple by releasing imitations without additional value nor distinctive advantages and this, basically at the same price tag. That is a losing strategy.

exactly.
I am sure there will be some odd ppl who would choose android just because they want to be different
and even more, i think people r buying Android because their carrier does not sell iphones
another reason is I bet many ppl are buying android becuz " its 1 of those touch screen phones and it was cheaper than Apple's!"
meaning they just want the novelty of touch screen thats all

Personally i would love to see some real competition, becuase lately Apple became a verry arrogant company that says its either my way or the highway.
but companies r not pushing for real competition
Ihave yet to see some one leaving iphone fir android or an ipad for a xoom because he found it better.

But for the most part, almost all competition is pathetic compared to Apple. when u say Apple has 27% of the smartphone market and android has 37% u have to know that Apple is 1 company and Android is about every other cellphone manufacturer combined!

 

[ChazUK]

exactly.
and even more, i think people r buying Android because their carrier does not sell iphones

How do you explain this then?

http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/04/05/intelligent-environments-android-now-number-1-in-uk/

The iPhone is available on all major UK networks and is available free on various contracts. I don't know why some people can't realize that not everyone wants an iPhone.


Some reasons someone may choose Android over the iPhone:
I need a keyboard. I need a larger screen. I use Google services and want to integrate best with them. I want to be able to bluetooth files to my friends. I want flash. I don't want to use iTunes to manage my media. I prefer open source software. I want a less restrictive platform. I want free mapping. I want expandable memory....

There are lots of genuine reasons people choose an alternative to the iPhone which some people can't see.

Your friends might not see a reason to own an alternative to the phone, but i know plenty of people who own Symbian, Android and even a few WP7 powered handsets as that is what they wanted to get.