The iPad Has A New Competitor That Has Been Dubbed a "Killer"

[Obama 2012 1,714]

BERLIN (AP) ― The German maker of a new tablet PC is setting out to rival Apple's iPad with the promise of even more technology such as a bigger screen, a webcam and USB ports.

The touch screen WePad, however, is not an "iPad killer" as it has been dubbed by some blogs but an alternative to its bigger rival, Neofonie GmbH's founder and managing director Helmut Hoffer von Ankershoffen told reporters on Monday in Berlin.

Ankershoffen stressed the system's openness: Two USB-Ports allow users to connect all kinds of devices with the WePad, from external keyboards to data sticks.

People who want to put music on their WePad do not have to have any particular software, Ankershoffen said — a blow at Apple's devices that require particular Apple software like iTunes.

The WePad's basic version, which comes with Wi-Fi and 16-gigabyte storage, is set to cost euro449 ($600), the larger 32-gigabyte version with a fast 3G modem is euro569.

Ankershoffen claimed that given its technological superiority and greater openness, "that's a bargain compared with the iPad."

The iPad — which hit stores in the U.S. less than a month ago — is on sale there starting at $499 for the smallest version, coming with Wi-Fi and a 16 GB storage.

The WePad is powered by an Intel chip and relies on a Linux software basis which is compatible with Google's Android and all Flash applications, Ankershoffen said.

When it hits stores starting late July, it will also boast a complete open source office package, he said.

Berlin-based Neofonie — a small company of some 180 employees — claims it already has some 20,000 people interested in signing up for a preorder, even though orders won't be formally accepted before April 27.

Ankershofffen declined to give a sales estimate. "Not thousands, not tens of thousands but many more will be sold before the end of the year," he said.

The device is to be assembled by a manufacturer in Asia — which Ankershoffen refused to name — who can prop up production capacity according to demand, he said.

Apple's iPad will go on sale in Germany at the end of April, according to the company's German Web site. This would give the iPad roughly a three month lead on its German competitor.

http://cbs11tv.com/consumer/wepad.ipad.alternative.2.1627666.html

[mawilson 2,133]

These geniuses actually called it WePad? The only "killer" is going to be

Apple's upcoming lawsuit.

These guys don't get it. The iPad is popular precisely *because* it's

NOT like a PC. If you make it more like a PC, you'll get all the

problems of PCs - viruses, spyware, malware, incompatible applications

and versions, etc etc.

And how is $600 for a 16GB version "a bargain compared with the iPad"?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Actually - the stuff about Apple's not being susceptible to viruses is a bit myth. They totally are.

If the iPad is a success there are going to be a whole bunch of tablet competitors - filling the gap between netbooks and those standalone e-readers. Though it won't be hardware that will be the key selling point, it will be software.

Apple's OS design has always been very good. Android 2.1 is almost on a par with iPhone OS3, but it's not quite there.

[JohnSmith2007 353]

These geniuses actually called it WePad? The only "killer" is going to be

Apple's upcoming lawsuit.

These guys don't get it. The iPad is popular precisely *because* it's

NOT like a PC. If you make it more like a PC, you'll get all the

problems of PCs - viruses, spyware, malware, incompatible applications

and versions, etc etc.

And how is $600 for a 16GB version "a bargain compared with the iPad"?

This isn't "really" like a PC either since it doesn't run windows. It will be just as immune to the downfalls of windows as the Apple OS's are, maybe less so.

The WePad is powered by an Intel chip and relies on a Linux software basis which is compatible with Google's Android and all Flash applications, Ankershoffen said.

[The_Dude 1,142]

These guys don't get it. The iPad is popular precisely *because* it's

NOT like a PC. If you make it more like a PC, you'll get all the

problems of PCs - viruses, spyware, malware, incompatible applications

and versions, etc etc.

Total BS about Macs not getting virus' or malware. Yes, PC's are more vulnerable because they make up a much larger proportion of the market. But regarding botnet attacks and general vulnerabilities, quicktime is probably the most exploited program. Incompatible applications and versions is the problem with macs, not PC. That is the reason why they have made virtually no headway into commercial markets. You can love your mac all you want, but what you got is an overpriced, underperforming machine that can't be upgraded or performance enhanced. But hey, you got an apple sticker to go with it.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Total BS about Macs not getting virus' or malware. Yes, PC's are more vulnerable because they make up a much larger proportion of the market. But regarding botnet attacks and general vulnerabilities, quicktime is probably the most exploited program. Incompatible applications and versions is the problem with macs, not PC. That is the reason why they have made virtually no headway into commercial markets. You can love your mac all you want, but what you got is an overpriced, underperforming machine that can't be upgraded or performance enhanced. But hey, you got an apple sticker to go with it.

So much truth right there.

Macs are for yuppies who know jack ###### about computers and for graphics designers (even that is a push though).

[mawilson 2,133]

Actually - the stuff about Apple's not being susceptible to viruses is a bit myth. They totally are.

But the iPad isn't like any Apple laptop, either - it runs only Apple-approved

iStore applications.

So unless you can sneak a malware app into the store and then jailbreak

out of your chroot'ed directory and make yourself run in the background,

your "virus" has no chance of surviving the push of the "Home" button.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

But the iPad isn't like any Apple laptop, either - it runs only Apple-approved

iStore applications.

So unless you can sneak a malware app into the store and then jailbreak

out of your chroot'ed directory and make yourself run in the background,

your "virus" has no chance of surviving the push of the "Home" button.

Viruses targetting cell phones are not unknown, pretty much anything that connects to the Internet is potentially vulnerable, in this case something that buggers up the firmware. Less likely perhaps, but still within the bounds of possibility.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

See - the iPad is already changing computing.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

iPads are for homos.

[The_Dude 1,142]

See - the iPad is already changing computing.

By utilizing already available technology? By making it non-flash comptatible making over half the internet useless? By giving it a shoddy wifi capacity? No thanks

[JohnSmith2007 353]

See - the iPad is already changing computing.

I hate to tell you this but touch screen computers have been around for years. All the IPad did was put one on instead of a mouse. Nothing new there really.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

I hate to tell you this but touch screen computers have been around for years. All the IPad did was put one on instead of a mouse. Nothing new there really.

The Apple fanboys think anything Apple makes is the second coming.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

By utilizing already available technology? By making it non-flash comptatible making over half the internet useless? By giving it a shoddy wifi capacity? No thanks

It is capable of using Flash, but the functionality is disabled because of a rights dispute between Apple and Adobe.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By utilizing already available technology? By making it non-flash comptatible making over half the internet useless? By giving it a shoddy wifi capacity? No thanks

By packaging it in a very good interface that is incredibly intuitive. I don't care if it were Apple who did this or Snapple. In terms of internet surfing cell phones as well as people looking for a laptop that has the portability of a PDA, the iPad is going to create a niche market all their own.