Due to the hype generated by the recent launch and my reservations on using the Apple Inc. iTunes I was doing some research into alternatives to the proprietary and completely locked iPad device (and the associated lock-down to Apple’s iTunes Store). Hopefully this list can be of use for other people as well.
I can see the form factor and the tablet style with a cut down (mainly web-browser based) Operating System as useful in a number of settings not least in educational institutions and libraries.
Here is the findings so far:
EDIT: I have re-published the list as a Google Spreadsheet to enable submission of new items. Please ENTER YOUR OWN if you found an item not on the list.
If you are purely looking for a tablet as an electronic reading device there is a good Wikipedia comparison chart to look at.
I will add further devices as I discover them. Please leave a comment if you find other tablets / devices that have similar features, but are more open and do not require iTunes lock-down.
Hi there – great list. Next step is links to reviews? Or at least split the list between mobile OS and desktop OS devices? One other might be the Lenovo Skylight, 2Go PC Slate, Hilton HT960, ICD Gemini – (just did a search at http://www.engadget.com/search/2/?q=tablet&sort=date). Also this is a great resource: http://www.pocketables.net/
It will be interesting to come back in a year and see how many are no longer manufactured.
Seems like a continuously growing list…
Hope their is a market for the competitions.
Thanks for the post…
Here is another good listing:
http://technologizer.com/2010/08/12/ipad-alternatives/2/