In an effort to plumb the depths of you-get-what-you-pay-for, Google and Asustek are reportedly working on developing a US$99 tablet in time for Christmas. According to Taiwan-based DigiTimes, the two companies are conspiring on a thinner form factor for the $199 Nexus 7 and a second unspecified $99 model in order to keep in front of Apple's unannouncediPad mini.
DigiTimes has a long and hallowed history of publishing stories based on leaks from Apple's supply chain. Many of those leaks haven't been borne out by time, but the newspaper's reports that have improved in the last couple of years.
In the case of this new report not directly involving Apple, the leak cites display maker HannStar Display, though the source of the leak isn't specified as being from within that company. Be that as it may, HannStar would make the displays, and Google/Asustek wants the end device to be inexpensive.
With the launch of iPhone 5 and iOS 6 out of the way, it's time to move on to the…
3 Comments
Eolake Stobblehouse
Oh, I don’t know. They may not make any *money* from a $100 tablet, but who could ever stop fools before?
And even more than a year ago (more like two), I bought Chinese Android tablets in this price range. The hardware was crappy, of course, but they *worked*. So I think it should be doable to make a decent tablet very soon for a hunnert. And I think there’s no reason they shouldn’t sell like hotcakes, even if Apple has a much better one for $200. And I don’t think Apple can go lower than that, it’d threaten their Premium Brand image and thus profit margins.
So we only need the Play Store to really work, and that could happen too.
Nick
With Google’s name slapped on the device, I doubt it is going to be some cheap Chinese imitation piece of junk. I bet the hardware and specs will be close to what the Nexus 7 is now or better. The whole point is to drive consumers to the Android operating system so that Google can generate revenue through ad revenue and their Play Store, not make any money on the product. They accepted the loss on the product when they made the Nexus 7 $199.
Eolake Stobblehouse
Just so.
If they could make a “toy” 7-incher two years ago for around $100, they can probably make a good one now, or soon.
And yes, they probably hope to “do an Amazon” and make the money on soft sales. Whether they can, is anybody’s guess.
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In an effort to plumb the depths of you-get-what-you-pay-for, Google and Asustek are reportedly working on developing a US$99 tablet in time for Christmas. According to Taiwan-based DigiTimes, the two companies are conspiring on a thinner form factor for the $199 Nexus 7 and a second unspecified $99 model in order to keep in front of Apple's unannounced iPad mini.
3 Comments
Oh, I don’t know. They may not make any *money* from a $100 tablet, but who could ever stop fools before?
And even more than a year ago (more like two), I bought Chinese Android tablets in this price range. The hardware was crappy, of course, but they *worked*. So I think it should be doable to make a decent tablet very soon for a hunnert. And I think there’s no reason they shouldn’t sell like hotcakes, even if Apple has a much better one for $200. And I don’t think Apple can go lower than that, it’d threaten their Premium Brand image and thus profit margins.
So we only need the Play Store to really work, and that could happen too.
With Google’s name slapped on the device, I doubt it is going to be some cheap Chinese imitation piece of junk. I bet the hardware and specs will be close to what the Nexus 7 is now or better. The whole point is to drive consumers to the Android operating system so that Google can generate revenue through ad revenue and their Play Store, not make any money on the product. They accepted the loss on the product when they made the Nexus 7 $199.
Just so.
If they could make a “toy” 7-incher two years ago for around $100, they can probably make a good one now, or soon.
And yes, they probably hope to “do an Amazon” and make the money on soft sales. Whether they can, is anybody’s guess.
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