Dell Tablet Plans To Go Up Against iPad In 2012

Photo by 아우크소(Auxo.co.kr) - http://flic.kr/p/9RZDSg

Remember Dell’s Streak tablet? Even though the device was just a blip in the minds of consumers, the PC maker wants to take another whack at going up against the iPad. The company is being coy with details, saying they want to get this attempt right.

Dell’s Chief Commercial Officer Steve Felice told Reuters “we are really being careful how we enter” the tablet market. Felice noted that people look at tablets differently than hardware — they care about the overall package. Perhaps Dell sees how important it is for a tablet to be supported by a well-rounded ecosystem, such as Apple’s iTunes or Amazon’s Kindle Fire services? Indeed, Felice says the folks down in Round Rock, Texas “are spending a lot more time in the overall ecosystem.”

The tablet wars are essentially a choice between two operating systems: Apple’s iOS or Google’s Android. Even RIM, whose BlackBerry PlayBook initially offered just proprietary apps, has taken sides, announcing its software update will support Android. But Dell isn’t saying whether Android (or Windows 8) will power its unnamed tablet.

Such reticence is refreshing. Dell likely witnessed how HP’s TouchPad crashed and burned and RIM’s PlayBook got no respect after over-promising and under-delivering. Let tech chatter do your puffery and save let your device do the real sales pitch.
In other words, copy Apple.

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