does this have? Many Android apps use native ARM code to get around pitfalls of the Dalvik VM. I'm assuming that none of those will run on a MIPS-based Android system without a recompile.

10" tablet with proper screen, 8/16Gb storage and a good ARM SoC still costs about $260 to manufacture.

I'm serious. Apple is going to be totally overwhelmed by many powerful and dirt cheap tablets and phones within 6-12 months.

I'm serious. Apple is going to be totally overwhelmed by many powerful and dirt cheap tablets and phones within 6-12 months.

People buy Tablets not because they need them, but because they WANT them... Apple will dominate the Tablet market for as long as the tablet is a luxury device, as soon as they become commodity devices that is when Apple will suffer market losses, only then will cheap tablets have a real market.

Tablets are "lifestyle" machines, not commodity devices... If you can afford a tablet you don't need to scrape the bottom of the barrel. People buy Tablets not because they need them, but because they WANT them... Apple will dominate the Tablet market for as long as the tablet is a luxury device, as soon as they become commodity devices that is when Apple will suffer market losses, only then will cheap tablets have a real market.

Same thing was said 6-12 months ago. Funny how that hasn't happened.

It's almost like some people actually want a quality product (whether that's apple or android) and not the cheapest thing out there.

Tablets are "lifestyle" machines, not commodity devices... If you can afford a tablet you don't need to scrape the bottom of the barrel. People buy Tablets not because they need them, but because they WANT them... Apple will dominate the Tablet market for as long as the tablet is a luxury device, as soon as they become commodity devices that is when Apple will suffer market losses, only then will cheap tablets have a real market.

Tablets are only considered luxury devices because they have been expensive until very recently. Within a year or so tablets will cheap enough ($100-150) to be used as electronic toys for children. They will then sell tens of millions each year.

Ouch at the $60.00 shipping. Still a great deal.

ARM > MIPS.

I don't know why this stupid architecture is still around. Anything I've ever used with MIPS in it was horribly slow and buggy. You know what I'm talking about. Especially MIPS routers are a NIGHTMARE to deal with!

Heh, my laptop was fscked last night, but then again it does that every 30 boots or so. It was a minor annoyance. I wonder if thats how Apple sees getting fscked too?

"Same thing was said 6-12 months ago. Funny how that hasn't happened.

The best use for tablets is keeping young children amused. Young children only need to watch movies, read a story or play simple games. This need is easily satisfied by very cheap tablets.

I think Apple will be fine.

Tablets are only considered luxury devices because they have been expensive until very recently.

Within a year or so tablets will cheap enough ($100-150) to be used as electronic toys for children. They will then sell tens of millions each year.

You may be right about mips handling overflow better than x86, but I actually don't mind the way the x86 does it.

One very clear message form reading the comments. That message is that the average techie has absolutely no understanding of human nature or business.

- tablets (even top of the range models) are far cheaper in real terms than a C64 was in the 80s. The C64 was a mega success.

- a tablet is cheaper than a decent TV. Every middle class family has multiple TVs.

- people will spend a lot of money on their children. In Australia about 40% of children attend private primary and high schools. These schools cost $5,000-40,000/year.

- the average toddler doesn't doesn't give a shit about a aesthetics, screen resolution or battery life. As long as they can watch a Wiggles video or play a simple game they are happy.

- for children the perfect tablet has a 7-8" low resolution screen, a low end CPU and a thick plastic case.

I can guarantee that next Xmas there will be super cheap ($70-100) child specific tablets in the stores.

I'm serious. Apple is going to be totally overwhelmed by many powerful and dirt cheap tablets and phones within 6-12 months.

you would mostly have to change the NEON functionality.
For the sake of 0.0000001% of tablet market?

From most companies I've had to deal with? Something tells me coincidence is the least likely option here. A flawed architecture (or at least, an implementation of it) seems more likely.

Ahhh, now I realize what your avatar reminded me of...