Cisco To Challenge iPad With Cius 'Business Tablet' 217
GMGruman and several other readers noted Cisco's announcement of the forthcoming 7-inch Android-based iPad challenger, the Cius, which "... will offer multiple networking capabilities, keyboard and mouse support, and the ability to do videoconferencing. Cisco says it will cost less than $1,000, or about the same as an iPad. The Cius will come with a front-facing high-definition video camera that can record 720p video at 30 frames per second and a 5-megapixel camera at the back that can capture high-quality video and still images. Users will be able to engage in live video calls [most likely via WebEx] when the tablet is docked or being held. Some units will be available this fall, though general availability is not expected until early 2011."
Re:Bizarre (Score:3, Informative)
Cisco doesn't have a history of making consumer grade products.
Linksys.
Re:Bizarre (Score:4, Informative)
Re:The software is key. (Score:1, Informative)
This is what has us excited (Score:3, Informative)
Lenovo's new Ideapad which will be out later this year:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/05/lenovo-ideapad-u1-hybrid-hands-on-and-impressions/ [engadget.com]
It was supposed to come out about now but they decided to replace the snapdragon OS with Android. I showed this to my manager, the IT staff and we all can't wait for it. Especially now that Android will be on it.
The price is supposed to be around 1K as well.
Re:The software is key. (Score:5, Informative)
I agree, it is not as if Cisco had prior history with the iphone name either.
Re:Bizarre (Score:4, Informative)
Actually, exactly the opposite is true: once Cisco completes an acquisition, they pull all development in-house. In the case of Linksys, which really was just a marketing company (everything was outsourced, from board layouts to software to case design), it was a real effort to get everything from the OEMs.
After that, all soft/hardware development is done internally. Cisco employs a vast number of engineers.
Also, they don't rename everything "IOS". IOS is very specific software that runs on certain systems. None of the Linksys stuff runs it, for example.
So I don't think you really know what you're talking about.
Re:OH GOD MAKE IT STOP (Score:4, Informative)
It's Android. The UI's already built.
Re:OH GOD MAKE IT STOP (Score:3, Informative)
This is pretty much it. I worked for a media company that moved premises and scrapped the old VC setups. When I saw the pricing for the new ones I was amazed until I saw the setup. 8 mics embedded in the roof, projectors capable of 1080p, multiple cameras, encryption, electronic frosted glass, etc. All coming to about $100 000 per room.
$500 000 isn't too bad if it's speced to government standards. This Cius actually looks like it may make it to market and do well. It's kind of like saying that Blackberry should stop making devices because the iPhone is such a hit. I've supported executives who had a huge hissy fit to get an iPhone then they returned it a week later to go back to their Blackberry. I don't blame them personally, I like my iPhone but I know it's just not as usable for business as Blackberries are.