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Hey guys,

I was wondering when did tablets (digital tablets, Android, Apple, those tablets) became so popular? Not sure back then, but I am pretty sure they were expensive as hell. Now they transit around in schools, work... almost EVERYWHERE.

They are also being sold by any company such as SAMSUNG, SONY, DELL... pretty much all those companies who makes computers and electronic devices.

Any idea on what is the source of Tablets? What or how was the first tablet? When did the first tablet ever came out? Ran out of ideas on how to look on google so I might post it here.
I'm just curious cause I got one myself, and never thought I would have one of those with my own money!

Tablets are stupid.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tablet_computer#History

?

I believe Microsoft had a tablet pc thingy a long time ago but I believe the iPad (2) made it big o.O

Tablets are popular? I've never seen anyone use them.

Yeah, I've also only seen very few people actually use them.
Personally, I find them kinda media-hyped.

I would really like a tablet with Windows/Android OS. Yes, both. Android for games and other apps. But Microsoft for work. And yes, I want the PC version of Windows, not some crappy sized-down mobile version.
And that's really why I can't see the purpose of current Android and Apple tablets. I mean, why would I buy it when it can't successfully replace my laptop?

saw some 7 inch android tablet going for 130$ yesterday

no idea why someone would buy this though lol, i got a laptop and a cellphone, why i would need somehting between them both that can only do half of those both?

Yeah, me neither. lulz

Think they're pretty sick when it comes to taking notes in Uni. It's really portable and takes 2 seconds to boot. Looks slicker than a Laptop but I wouldn't own both. Personally going to sell my 18.4' Gaming Laptop to buy a stronger 15.6' since that's a decent size that you can carry around(IMO).

P.S: My friend has an Asus tablet that's really powerful. It also plugs in into a keyboard.

Tsblets are everywhere in my country. It's being used by kids and adults. I do believe ipad made it famous. But now Samsung is the key player alongside with new Asus Transformer prime.

Yeah, I know about the Asus Prime. They're at least going the way I would like the market to go. But they're not quite there yet. As I said, I want to be able to run the FULL pc versions of Windows software on my hybrid tablet/laptop.
I'm sure it's only a matter of time though

Windows 8 will revolutionise the tablet and it will be amazing.

I personally think tablets will replace a lot of things. I'm waiting till our TV's and tablets both connect to your wifi, than you can stream movies from your tablet to your TV without cables and use the Tablet as a remote. Same deal with music. I'm waiting till the day where you ca adjust the heat of your air conditioner via your tablet that is next to you while your watching tv. All these things might just be in the realm of phones, though.

When the iPad first came out, I really couldn't see any reason for buying one, or any tablet for that matter. Recently, I looked more into it and it seems that tablets are really beginning to advance. I bought the new iPad and I can actually vouch for it.

The iPad can do everything that I already do on my laptop (including things like microsoft word, powerpoint, etc.). It's lighter to carry, has a much longer battery life, and an amazing display. On top of all that, there are wonderful apps like iBooks that let me read books and download books on the go. There is notability, which makes note-taking easy and organized.


I actually use the iPad more than my laptop now.

Unfortunately, I predict that will take.. maybe one hundred years!

You must have very low requirements then.
I know it varies from person to person. For a person like me who is still at school, I need to be sure that my software can work correctly with the school's systems. It's therefore important that I actually have Microsoft Office and not some QuickOffice or OpenOffice or whatever they're called nowadays.

I'm just saying. We're not quite there yet But I am very much excited about the future of Tablets, and I'll definitely be buying one some day!

Not really. There is a FREE app called CloundOn that lets you use Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, and Excel. They will be exactly the same as the Microsoft Office that you use on Windows, unlike the QuickOffice app. It is also integrated with DropBox, which is a cloud storage app.


I don't think tablets are at a stage where they can completely replacelaptops yet, however I think they will be getting there soon. I currently do have a laptop and with my Slaptop Streamer app, I can just stream from my iPad to laptop whenever I need to.

The functionality is starting to get there.

I have netflix, NHL centre Ice, and rogers on demand (my cable company) on my iPad. Additionally, I stream video files from my PC/Mac/NAS.

For music I have everything on my MBP. I use the iTunes "share" functionality to stream to my other mac/pc/ipad.

Edit: here is a video from 2010. You can see the netflix and streaming files from server functionalities: http://vimeo.com/16330622

I disagree. We already have all the technology in place, it's just a matter of having someone infuse it with the tablet. Remotes have been around ever since I can remember, creating a little remote app and installing bluetooth (or whatever the most recent wireless connection technology is) in a tablet and TV is entirely possible. Same thing with the Air Conditioner. Nearly every house hold with the internet has access to a wireless router, this can be used to transfer files from your tablet to a TV (I theorise in the next 5 years that TYV's will start to be made with inbuilt HDD's for storage, perhaps possibly very simple processing capabilities too) and play them remotely. The current technology exists, it's just a matter of the need being created. I watch movies on my TV that's connected to my computer via cables which I control from my bed with a wireless keyboard and mouse, why not eliminate the peripherals and cables and make the process more streamlined?

I think in the next 10 years any device with simply 1 function will be eliminated. The watch was eliminated, so was the alarm clock, the MP3 players, the portable DVD player, you can now even pay for goods using your phone so the wallet is slowly becoming eliminated! Home entertainment is due for a big revolution and the results will be amazing.

Of course this is all predictions and not based on any fact, but the technology platforms already exists so it's more reality than dream.

This. I agree with you, it's on transit now on days and by the coming of iPad, every competitor just gave it's competitor eye just like what the iPhone did previously, I believe.
I'm pretty sure you can do that now, or at least on Asia. I saw this movie? asian drama stuff, and saw a person controlling every single mechanic at it's house with a single tablet. It was pretty amazing. Also, you can also stream your computer desktop on any tablets (including smartphones) and do whatever you want as if you were in your laptop/pc and anywhere (like playing any PC game, working on Microsoft office, etc). Obviously, it has it's cons but the technology is increasing at the rate that a lot of people depends on it now.

Myself, I own a TF1 or Asus Transformer eeePad. Maybe I should've wait for the prime, the only difference is Prime is Tegra 3 processor, which means more faster. But doesn't mean the TF1 is slow! Beautiful wide screen, quick touch response and gets the latest android updates (ICS).

@Azilius lol, thanks for the article xD never thought I could find history. :C

Oh, and last night for some reason made me wonder what happened to Steve Jobs, the headmaster of Apple. Yeah,I am not a Apple fan nor do I know anything about him or Apple at all (I owned an ipod and thats it) and after viewing all his presentation, his biography, it was quite impressive. Made me want to get a Mac computer... If I had money to burn, tho. His presentation for the 1st generation iPhone and iPad was very interesting, and they way he dressed and the way he showed the presentations even tho knowing he had cancer, was something you give some respect to. Wonder why Apple products are so overprices, or we are just sticking too much to the standards?

Exactly, they can't completely replace it yet. And that's why I'm not buying one right now. In my situation right now, it would simply be a waste of money to be honest.

But yeah, let's hope we'll get there soon

Don't think it's such a good idea. Imagine if you lost/broke your tablets/wireless router device etc.. eh?

Im looking to get one soon for uni. The sony tablet in particular. Anyone know if its any good?

After Christmas, I started seeing a lot of people bringing BB Playbooks to school, and all of them use it to browse the internet in class, nothing else LOL.

I love the size of the BB Playbook.

The thing is, they don't make those anymore I heard? that's what I've been told when I went to BestBuy plus, their market is as poor as a windows phone D:

One thing for sure though, Android will soon overrun all other OSes. I own a Galaxy Note. And my Note ate any other smartphones and some tablets for breakfast. LOL..

iPads made them popular. Probably due to the hype of a mobile computer after the market never bothered with making them again since they were bad products, well more like unwanted. I wouldn't buy a tablet, because they're not the type of hardware I would need or want. If you want to fiddle around with a touch screen or want a fast booting piece of software then buy a tablet computer with a SSD. Congratulations it now starts up in about 3 seconds and includes a touch screen. Still cheaper than the ipad.

I cannot stand the touch of a screen over a keyboard. I need the physical feel if I'm typing or else I have no idea what the hell I'm typing. Maybe I hate change? Or perhaps I should buy one of those laser keyboards? Another main reason why I wouldn't buy one for school use. B-but you don't know until you try. I have. It sucks. Me Pete me use pen instead of it. Funny enough out of everyone I know that own an ipad or tablet they use it as a toy rather than a device for actual work.

Android is a great mobile OS, but for tablets? Not really. iPad will still probably rule for some time until the Windows 8 tablet is released.

My dad has had 3 Android tablets. The Motorola Xoom, an acer one, and the dell streak. The Xoom was a decent one, I liked it. However, the iPad still destroyed the Xoom. The other two were just a joke compared to the iPad. I know that 3 Android tablets don't represent the entire market, but if you look at the sale figures, you can see the iPad is dominant.

I do think the Windows 8 tablet has a lot of potential.

U cant compare those 3 tablets with ipad. U should compare Asus Transformer Prime or Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 / 8.9 / 7.7.