How Dual-OS Open Source Tablets Could Slay Apple's iPad

by Sam Dean - Feb. 24, 2010Comments (10)

Everywhere you look, people are talking about Apple's iPad. Given the fact that tablet computers have been around for a long time and not ever been huge market successes, it's sort of surprising that Apple's device, which runs the iPhone operating system, is predicted to do so well.

Nevertheless, many people predict that the iPad will do revolutionary things like bring new life to dying print newspapers and magazines that can deliver whiz-bang versions of their publications on it. If the iPad has so much promise, though, then why couldn't an open source tablet--especially one that runs more than one operating system--have even more promise?

Just look at the market success that Google's open source Android operating system is at this point, with countless handsets, and, yes, tablets based on it arriving. It's sure easy to forget that as recently as March of last year some people were wondering whether Android was already a failure. It was on only one phone handset back then.

If Android has been such a success competing with the iPhone OS on smartphone handsets, why can't it compete with the same OS on tablets? For that matter, why can't it ship on tablets that have more than one free, open source operating system for users to choose from? This proposition gets even more interesting when you throw into the mix the fact that an abundance of applications usually ensures the success of a hardware platform. Could a tablet that, say, runs a version of Ubuntu as well as Android give me a pallette of applications that would make my iPad's applications look puny in comparison? Why not?

To prove itself as being as innovative as it supposedly is, the iPad will have to make us appreciate new applications and large numbers of applications that can run on it. There is still more than enough time for an open source challenger to compete with it. And there's no reason why that challenger has to run only one, closed operating system the way the iPad does.

Image courtesy of GigaOM.

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by Jack Quils on Feb. 24, 2010

there are at least 9 upcoming ipad alternatives -

http://mashable.com/2010/01/27/9-upcoming-tablet-alternatives-to-the-app...

for apple ipad I think only the iPhone loyal will ever jump at this thing, I mean, no multi-tasking? No external storage?I just don’t get Apples thoughts here? It’s an over sized iPhone, that’s all. Junk…

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by an anonymous user on Feb. 24, 2010

You really don't get it do you..

It's not about a tablet that runs linux. Linux sucks compared to USEABILITY of apple's OSs

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by an anonymous user on Feb. 24, 2010

apple's iPhone OS is a joke...any two bit Linux or android system would outdo it.

the usability you cite s inexistent (OS X has it though) or irrelevant because the alternatives can do it as good or better.

the difference is that the ipad is LIMITED in hardware and software (good for phone not for tablet)

BTW, the ipad will barely be used for eBooks and papers since it has an lcd screen with no smart light sensor (link in first comment) which will lead to hurt eyes. e readers like the Kindle will remain dominant in that regard

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by El Spamolito on Feb. 24, 2010

I don't like the ipad at all.

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by J.Seabury on Feb. 25, 2010

I am really eagerly waiting for iPad to come into market. I am sure it will beat other products in market.

@Jack Quils I think Apple technology is better than any other stuff in market. Wheter their are 9 products or 10 Apple iPad will remain at the top.

I more thing I want to confirm, some websites are saying that you can get iPad free...Is this true? One example is here http://www.ipadqa.com/2010/02/ipad-testers-can-get-a-free-apple-ipad-by-...

Can somebody confirm.

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by Jack G on Feb. 25, 2010

It is great to see so much chatter over something that has not even launched yet. Guys - this is a step behind in several ways, in addition to the slick UI, etc. There is no multi-tasking?! Come on!

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by Sam Dean on Feb. 25, 2010

@ Jack G -- I agree that the lack of multitasking is a problem. That's a possible advantage for Android and other FOSS-based tablets.

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by steva on Jul. 28, 2010

I agree as an ebook reader it is far better than Kindle. The availability of books etc is fantastic. I use http://www.ebooksipad.info for all my iPad stuff.

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by Mandy on Jul. 29, 2010

I take my iPad everywhere and use it for blogging on the move.

I lso do a lot of reading on it and agree with others that it is a better devise than Kindle.

http://ipadnovelsdownload.blogspot.com/

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by an anonymous user on May. 25, 2011

I think it's interesting how you mentioned that “tablet computers have been around for a long time and not ever been huge market successes, it's sort of surprising that Apple's device, which runs the iPhone operating system, is predicted to do so well.”

I think the fact that the iPads were predicted to do well just reveals how strong the brand really is. Apple's products have become very trendy and Apple tried to differentiate their iPad from other table computers. These factors may have had an impact on their predicted and achieved success.

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