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The actual quote is: "Android tablet options abound, and Google’s operating system is as open as you’re going to find on a retail shelf. At the end of the day,

by jsight 15y ago

The actual quote is: "Android tablet options abound, and Google’s operating system is as open as you’re going to find on a retail shelf. At the end of the day, though, you’re passing profit along to the Android device makers." Isn't that more of a swipe at Google/Android than at device makers in particular? Ie, presumably he feels that Android and their makers don't contribute back to the software community, whereas this device does? (Personally, I think he's wrong in that assertion, but I still don't think this is a swipe at hardware guys at all)

MaysonL 15y ago
Are any Android tablet manufacturers selling enough to make a profit on the tablets?
- jsight 15y ago
  The Asus transformer has done pretty well, and is almost certainly profitable (cf, http://www.pcworld.com/article/235925/asus_transformer_tablet_surprising_second_best_in_sales_after_apple_ipad.html http://www.pcworld.com/article/235925/asus_transformer_table... though I suspect those numbers are a bit high). I don't know how many of the other models would have to sell to reach profitability, but I'd be shocked if the cheap shenzen tablets were unprofitable (why would they keep going if they weren't?). Not to mention the Nook Tablet and Kindle Fire. The others don't seem to be selling as well, but that has to do with a very poor quality->price ratio (cf, any Acer tablet). Anyway, I think the argument that Android tablets aren't selling has been vastly overstated. There was a huge line for these things on Black Friday in the US for example.
abuzzooz 15y ago
You might be correct, but that money doesn't go only to Asus or Motorola or Acer or Samsung. There are tens of other components in the tablet that are made by other companies (touch screens, cpus, DRAM, usb controllers, LEDs, gyroscopes, network controllers, etc). Each one of these companies needs money to survive and spend more on R&D and innovate even more. This ultimately leads to more competition, and reduced prices, which reflects back to the consumer. I think it's a very naive point of view. Not all corporations are evil.

by jsight 15y ago

MaysonL 15y ago

Are any Android tablet manufacturers selling enough to make a profit on the tablets?

jsight 15y ago
The Asus transformer has done pretty well, and is almost certainly profitable (cf, http://www.pcworld.com/article/235925/asus_transformer_tablet_surprising_second_best_in_sales_after_apple_ipad.html http://www.pcworld.com/article/235925/asus_transformer_table... though I suspect those numbers are a bit high). I don't know how many of the other models would have to sell to reach profitability, but I'd be shocked if the cheap shenzen tablets were unprofitable (why would they keep going if they weren't?). Not to mention the Nook Tablet and Kindle Fire. The others don't seem to be selling as well, but that has to do with a very poor quality->price ratio (cf, any Acer tablet). Anyway, I think the argument that Android tablets aren't selling has been vastly overstated. There was a huge line for these things on Black Friday in the US for example.

abuzzooz 15y ago

You might be correct, but that money doesn't go only to Asus or Motorola or Acer or Samsung. There are tens of other components in the tablet that are made by other companies (touch screens, cpus, DRAM, usb controllers, LEDs, gyroscopes, network controllers, etc). Each one of these companies needs money to survive and spend more on R&D and innovate even more. This ultimately leads to more competition, and reduced prices, which reflects back to the consumer. I think it's a very naive point of view. Not all corporations are evil.