The big question about Apple’s new iPad is not what it has but more what doesn’t have. After yesterday’s launch, several vendors that are set to compete with Apple in the application touchscreen space were rubbing their hands with glee, among them the likes of Lenovo, Acer, Asus and HP.The big problem for many manufacturers, say industry experts is, not hardware, with many vendors claiming that they can build a similar device, but software content and application downloads.
Sony believes that it has a chance of competing, with content delivered via its new Sony PlayStation Network, while others are shopping around for content relationships.
Information emerged earlier today that Apple may have an additional fight on its hands over the iPad trademark, with Japanese Company Fujitsu claiming that it owns the name and has done so since 2002.
A Fujitsu Ltd spokesperson said that the Japanese company believes it owns the rights to the iPad name, based on a real-time, portable inventory-management device called the iPad that debuted in 2002, and received an update in 2006.
The Fujitsu version of the iPad is a point-of-sale device, running the PXA 270 processor with Microsoft Windows CE .NET 5.0, together with a 802.11 b/g radio and Bluetooth v1.2, according to the Company.
According to my sources, several traditional PC vendors, including Fujitsu, believe that they can compete head-on with Apple by delivering a superior hardware product.
However, many are concerned that they will not be able to compete in the application download market unless they run a Google Chrome Operating system. “Google are in a far stronger position than Microsoft to deliver applications in the e-book, movie and music space, with a combination of YouTube and other services, though they will struggle in the gaming market where both Sony and Microsoft are strong,” said an industry analyst from DisplaySearch.
PC vendors claim that their opportunity lies in the fact that Apple failed to deliver a 3D interface, or an OLED screen, or a built-in projector, or any other revolutionary features. They claim that the new iPad doesn’t have basic features such as a webcam, microphone, USB port, SD card slot, HDMI port, or a standard mobile phone SIM slot, though some of these will be provided at extra cost via adapters.
The new iPad also lacks Adobe Flash support (which means that, like the iPhone and iPod Touch, it can’t handle some websites) and multi-tasking.
