Given that existing Android tablets from OEMs are not selling greatly, if this tablet is a success will it not be to the detriment of these OEMs already taking a hit on Android? So basically Samsung etc. are now competing with Google in the Android tablet space :-(
My personal feeling is that it was released in reaction to the Amazon Fire, which Google must be pretty pissed-off about given that it has sold well and is firmly on it's own Android branch, further deepening fragmentation. It's no coincidence that they are both 7" tablets for $200.
Not really. Andy Rubin said this is being sold at cost, so either Google is paying for Asus' margin or none of them is getting a margin on this device, setting a price point even harder for manufacturers to match.
It would make more sense to me that "at cost" is relative to Google. Google pays Asus to manufacture these devices. I'm pretty sure that the payments to Asus include Asus' margin. The point being that Google is getting no margin.
If Asus can make it for Google with a margin for themselves, then other manufacturers could do the same. I doubt that Asus is making these devices for Google at no profit.
So basically Samsung etc. are now competing with Google in the Android tablet space :-(
A big reason the Android tablet space has sputtered is the ecosystem (not enough tablet apps, etc). By supercharging the Play store and subsidizing a product that I confidently feel will sell in the tens of millions if they can produce them quickly enough, this will be great for the entire Android ecosystem.
Already have a household with two tablets -- an iPad and an Acer A500 -- but I preordered the Nexus 7. It is perfect to give the kids in the car for them to play music/movies/games like Minecraft. That price point is simple brilliance, and it was that or an iPod Touch. I choose that.
I think the most baffling thing about this release is the constant commentary that has this only competing with the Kindle Fire. The Kindle Fire competed with the iPad -- if you wanted something to read books, look at some websites, and maybe use a couple of apps, the Kindle Fire provided a somewhat competitive alternative to the iPad. Now the Nexus 7 provides a pretty serious alternative.
With the huge sales of the GS3, the incremental but overdue improvements in 4.1, and the killer Nexus 7...this is the first time in years I truly feel bearish about Apple's sales over the next year.
My personal feeling is that it was released in reaction to the Amazon Fire, which Google must be pretty pissed-off about given that it has sold well and is firmly on it's own Android branch, further deepening fragmentation. It's no coincidence that they are both 7" tablets for $200.