We used to say that hardware is out-dated by time you get it set-up at home. Now mobile hardware is out-dated before it reaches the store shelf? This was true with the Samsung Galaxy Tablet and now with the Motorola Xoom tablet, that now ships missing a new high speed peripheral connector type called “Thunderbolt.” This technology developed by Intel and will possibly replace USB and Firewire. New Xoom customers must send their tablet back to be retrofitted with the new Thunderbolt connection. My biggest gripe about the Xoom is it does not ship with Flash. Announced last week, Flash will not be available for Xoom until a firmware update is released in a “few weeks.”
As competition heats up to catch up with Apple, it has become obvious how Apple’s control over its own hardware, software, and marketplace really does benefit consumers. So now I wait again for a full size, Flash enabled tablet.
I agree, the main reason I have not spent a cent on a tablet is the lack of Flash. iPad is great, but it’s just an oversized iPod Touch. The Xoom is another overpriced iPad wannabe that will fail on it’s price alone.
I for one am eagerly awaiting the South African release of the Asus EP121 Slate running full Win7. Not only can I build dashboards for touch interface, but I can actually run Xcelsius on the EP121
Can’t wait.
Thanks for the comments. It is a fun time right now with lots of rapid innovation. All of the consolidation over the last 10 years in the tech sector has upped the stakes higher than ever to capitalize on a global market hungry for gadgets.
You’re right, Thunderbolt will replace USB & FireWire. I’m assuming a new external hard drive with Thunderbolt will radically improve backups with Time Machine.