14 DAY TRIAL // The recently launched iPad, previously known as the unannounced but hype-generating Apple Tablet, left a large variety of end-users with a bitter-sweet taste in their mouths after it finally came out. While the slate is cheap ($500) and is capable of a good performance when running iPhone apps, it has several downsides that already threaten its popularity. A runner-up in the nascent slate market is a device developed by ExoPC. This tablet, on the other hand, seems to possess everything that the iPad lacks.
The iPad's inability to handle Adobe Flash content was perceived as the biggest drawback of Apple's new product, because it meant that the new device was incompatible with a very large number of websites. This, however, was not the only thing that the tablet lacked. The iPad also did not feature a webcam and USB connectivity. The ExoPC slate has all these features and even aesthetically resembles the iPad, though its insides are radically different.
Only in prototype form for now, the ExoPC slate is powered by an Intel Atom N270 central processing unit with a clock frequency of 1.6GHz. It has 2GB of DDR2 memory, Intel GMA950 for graphics, 32GB of storage space (provided by a solid state drive) and even an SD expansion. The product will be running Windows 7 and will have a user-replaceable battery, as its base option offers only four hours of life.
This configuration seems to point at a somewhat slower performance compared with that of the iPad, but its functionality will definitely be superior. Its support of Flash allows it to view all web content and even act as a TV. Furthermore, by leveraging both the Flash and the multitouch screen, end-users will be able to enjoy a large variety of touch-based applications. This usability is supplemented by the presence of a 1.3-megapixel webcam (which the iPad lacks) and versatility is given by the presence of the USB connectivity (three ports in total).
The ExoPC tablet will become available in March at a price of $599, quite competitive with the iPad considering the added functionality. Still, eager end-users may already acquire a non-multitouch prototype for $780.