Since the first day of iPad launch, Apple did see annoyed users who were complaining about weak Wi-Fi signal while surfing internet through their newly bought iPad. Some thought, it was just a perception issue from user’s end but the crescendo of complaints didn’t stop and humongous uproar from iPad buyers has now gone so loud that Apple had to speak out and admit the Wi-Fi issues with the iPad.

Most of the problems are related to the weak signal reception from WiFi network and the users are reporting that the signal drops drastically once they take iPad away from the WiFi router. The users are so sure about the issues because they have cross-checked the Wi-Fi signal strength with their smartphones(most of them are iPhone guys) and the signal remains absolutely good on their iPhone, Droid or whatever smartphones they have got.

While Apple has only commented on the issue regarding failure of iPad in Automatic rejoining of known Wi-Fi networks, there is still no word from Apple regarding the weak Wi-Fi signal reception issues which are piling up fast on Apple’s shoulders.

The support forum solutions basically suggest getting closer to the Wi-Fi hotspot, which is not an intelligent solution at all.

Now, what do we make out of this ? Is this a hardware fault ? Can it ever be rectified ? Can a firmware update fix all these problems ?

We can’t really say if Apple can fix things with a software update as the problem seems to be a hardware design problem and that can’t be fixed with a software update. We’re keeping a watch over the issue. Stay tuned !

• Display: 8.9-inch 1024 x 600 capacitive multitouch with Pen/digitizer support
• Processor: 1.6GHz Atom Z530 processor with UMA graphics, an accelerator for 1080p video playback
• Data Storage: 32GB/64GB of flash storage with SD Card enhancements
• RAM: 1GB of non-upgradeable RAM (Should have been more for Win 7)
• Battery life: 5+ hours
• Camera : VGA Camera(Inward) , 3MP Camera(Outward)
• Ports: SDHC, USB, SIM card slot for the optional 3G modem, connector for power, audio, and HDMI
• Software: Windows 7 Home Premium + HP Touch optimized UI
• Connectivity: WiFi(802.11b/g), Bluetooth, Optional 3G
• Pricing: $549 – $599

It has not been released officially but it seems that the specs sheet is a real one(the leak might be intentional). HP Slate specs are certainly impressive, actually lot better than iPad but the heart of the Slate, software and UI needs to be excellent. Hope, HP won’t disappoint this time.

Source: Engadget

With loads of media speculation over this new category of device and the possibility of success or failure of iPad, it was tough to guess the real fate of iPad before April 3. Now, with early sales estimates pouring in, its quite apparent that Apple has certainly created a new category of device, which is revolutionary and disruptive in several regards.

According to an estimate by Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, Apple sold as many as 7,00,000 iPads on the first day of its public launch. It takes no genius to estimate that Apple must have sold more than 1 million iPads by the end of Day Two, that’s April 4. Now, compare that to the 74 day time period that iPhone took, to get to the figure of 1 million and you will easily realize what’s the probable future of iPad.

One much note here that Apple is not yet selling iPad with WiFi+3G model, the preferred option for anyone who wants to take along iPad just about anywhere.When 3G enabled model comes into the market, iPad sales are bound to explode. And further, when more tablets will jump in, Apple will drop the iPad prices for staying competitive and lift the sales.

But what the key factor in this early success of iPad ? It’s the Apple Fanboys !

It has become more of a ritual for people, aka Fanboys to queue up in front of Apple Stores all across the U.S. before any such product launch and get the iPod/iPhone/iPad on Day 1 itself. And probably, it just Apple that enjoys such a committed following, not even Google.

No doubt, iPad is just awesome in many regards but it’s actually the millions of Apple fanboys that don’t even need to touch yet-to-launch Apple gadgets before pre-ordering the device weeks before getting it in their palms.

There are plenty of slate device alternatives available like WePad or many others will soon be available so why hurry for a WiFi only iPad Slate device right now ? That’s what a sensible guy would think, not an Apple Fanboy.

The war between the Slate devices is bound to get hotter and more interesting as the time passes by. We’re keeping an eye over that.

And the latest one to bring more competition to iPad is WePad. It apparently sounds like a cheap copycat of Apple iPad but it’s certainly not. It’s actually a shocker of a gizmo and brings a lot for the consumer to take away, especially when one compares it to what Apple iPad is offering.

Built by Germany based Neofonie, WePad adds some staggering hardware capabilities that are way too far from iPad till date. Take a look at the head-on comparison table between iPad and WePad.

Now WePad, as defined by its creators, runs a Linux derivative with Android on top. And this makes it a suitable device to run thousands of Android applications over it. With growing prevalence of Android platform and more apps being added to its marketplace faster than ever, WePad might turn things difficult for iPad in the initial run, especially in Germany and European continent where WePad will make its debue next month itself.

Another thing to note here is that WePad is trying its best to fancy the publishing industry magnates and projecting its device as the most ideal slate device for serving digital analogue of magazines and newspapers. It makes perfect sense because the parent company(Neofonie) has already been busy providing software services through WeMagazine ePublishing Eco System and now, the same software will power WePad. Here’s a factsheet for WePad. Take a look.

It is yet to be seen whether WePad, JooJoo, HP Slate or other queued up slate devices will be able to dominate the evolving market of “couch computing” when there is iPad to compete with but it is sure that Apple iPad will not be squeezing the non-existent yet lucrative market of slate devices all alone.

At the moment, it’s easy to realize the plight of ebook reader manufacturers such as Amazon(kindle), Sony(Reader), Barnes&Noble(Nook), as the fate of their e-reader devices is endangered with the recent arrival of iPad and powerful tablet devices such as HP Slate.

It’s easy to foresee e-reader device sellers going out of business if upcoming generation of tablet devices(iPad, Slate), that actually includes e-reader functionality as one of the many functionalities, start selling to mass consumers.

Till now, there was no tablet from HP, Apple or anyone else and e-reader devices like Kindle was the only option for consumers to get a light-weight and handy device for reading ebooks on the run. Now that one can read ebooks and do a lot more stuff such as photos, videos, web and most of the computational tasks through iPad or Slate or any other available tablet, why would anyone buy a single purpose device such as Kindle, Nook or Sony Reader.

Another fact is that the advent of tablet generation will soon result in multiple tie-ups with major book publishers and bestselling authors, which would mean that ebook retailers such as Amazon and Barnes&Noble will loose control over the territory that’s predominantly controlled by them(mainly Amazon) at the moment.

For Amazon, it is like surrendering their flourishing Kindle oriented business which Amazon will never let happen. So what can they really do ?

Amazon needs to compete head-on with Apple. Amazon needs to transform its single tasking Kindle to a touch-sensitive e-Ink/LCD Kindle that’s equally capable as iPad or HP Slate or any other tablet device out there.

And with recent buyout of a startup that specializes in touchscreen technology, Amazon seems to be in full swing to make its Kindle, a Super-Kindle.

Sony seems to be having similar plans for its e-Reader device as well, transforming it to a Super e-reader, basically a powerful tablet, nothing less.

For miscellaneous tablets like JooJoo , the scope of growth is next to nothing now.