Re: Which device type is the real competitor?
 

Sorry, I was rambling a bit. I think what will happen is this:

In the near future there isn't really a competition like GA says, because the tablets have a pretty unique set of features and are cheap. Still their functionality overlaps with smartphones and MIDS. So people who only want some light browsing, IM-img and mediaplayer may be interested in either the tablets or an iPhone/Android phone. And those who want little more office/PIM type of things and use it mostly around the house may be undecided between a MID and a tablet.

However in the longer term the internet tablets may well become obsolete:

1) Phones become so powerful and cheap that for most people they satisfy their mobile online (and media/pda/ebook/navigation) needs. Even more so if new types of expandible screens become commonplace like the rollup-digital ink ones. Since people already need a phone there is no need to carry around a separate 'internet device'.

2) Mids become more powerful so that eventually you just hook them up with an external display and keyboard and they will replace notebooks, just like currently notebooks have replaced desktop computers for most people.

Nokia was smart not to place all their bets on either phones or tablets/MIDs so they can adjust their strategy depending on which way the market develops.

Re: Which device type is the real competitor?
 

Why would MIDs go this route, but not tablets? We've got (IMO, though I don't have benchmarks) better performance/power in the tablets, and if they get used with external monitor and keyboard, the larger size of MIDs becomes entirely a disadvantage. They seem to be better positioned to take this route to dominance...

Re: Which device type is the real competitor?
 

The tablets and even phones could eventually go that route, yes, but MIDS will take that position first.

Re: Which device type is the real competitor?
 

Why wouldn't tablets be able to, though? Look at the Beagle. That's what we're looking at performance-wise for the next tablet. It's got more than enough juice to handle the desktop use-case.

Re: Which device type is the real competitor?
 

Gah! I wanted to comment and then realized anything I say could be construed as more than my personal gut feeling...

Re: Which device type is the real competitor?
 

Answer: tablets :)

Such as Pandora. Pandora is aimed at gaming though. For me, not interesting. Its not something I use my NIT for. This is why I believe there isn't 'one real competitor'. The embedded market is vague and fractured, there are all kind of usages for a NIT. Therefore, interesting questions could be: what is the NIT's weakest spot or what is the NIT currently used for which other devices can do far better.

The point is though that a NIT can do so many things (flexible) that it might begood enough to use a NIT for several of those things instead of using or buying specific devices for the specific purpose. This is where the power of the NIT lies.

The current competitor of the NIT is Nokia. They can make the N900 able to increase its usage for its specific purposes. I believe the usability of the device is very important, and judging from the software updates for Maemo 5, there is going to be a huge leap forward. If Nokia adds good GPS and navigation software, PIM option, 24/7 connectivity via 3G I see the value of the flexibility of the NIT increasing.

Re: Which device type is the real competitor?
 

while pandora have the controls in place for gaming, its construction is quite open. usb host, wifi, and now even bluetooth. it even have outputs that allow it to use a tv or other display.

all it really need is the right firmware to make use of it all...

Re: Which device type is the real competitor?
 

I'd have to agree with this. PMPs all lack some functionality that the tablets offer, while the tablet isn't the best at pmp functions. UMPCs offer superior hardware at 3x the price, or more. Are any MIDs commercially available, yet? And, I don't want or need a fancy phone. A phone is a utility device, to me. If it makes calls, I'm happy.

IMO, nothing currently available truly competes with the tablets, given their intended usage and price. I expect that to change near the end of the year [I'll go ahead and mention the pandora, here, since it's already come up ;)], but it remains to be seen, today.

Why does the pandora potentially compete? Because it has the potential to be a full-fledged linux computer. I realize the gaming controls may be off-putting for some, aesthetically, but it's the hardware that counts. The device certainly has as much potential as the internet tablets for being an excellent, general-purpose device. Like I said, time will tell, though. At this point, it's purely conjecture.

Re: Which device type is the real competitor?
 

That seems like a summarily dismissive statement without a lot of foundation. Isn't that what people always say about wiz-bang hardware when people first see them? How many business-minded people saw 3D graphics cards, sound cards, etc. when they first came out but today every business laptop needs this stuff for everything from development work to presentations to Internet based meetings and so on.

Let's also not forget the Pandora has SVIDEO output.. that could be VERY VERY handy for a pocket-sized presentation or video device. I can just as easily see business using Pandora just as easily as I could see gamers.

Re: Which device type is the real competitor?
 

It POTENTIALLY has a better chance, given they started out with the mindset that, paraphrasing, "the more open, the better", as opposed to the Nokia mindset which they went to the press with, again paraphrasing, "the open community needs to embrace closed and proprietary landmines".

Ugh

At this point, as much as I love the Nokia tablets, I'm absolutely open to a much more open hardware platform and when one comes along, I'm jumping off. The corporate attitude has really been off-putting to those of us that prefer to own our hardware and re-purpose them as we see fit and not get forced to use some crippling or insecure software blobs with questionable legal blather which make the corporation feel all snug and secure at our expense as customers.

I prefer the Pandora mindset so far and I look forward to its release. Potential is certainly there. Great potential, given their initial mindset so far.