It’s been almost a year since the last CES in Las Vegas and days before the 2011 edition, the tech news world has been buzzing for weeks about what tablets manufacturers will show off.
If 2010 was the year of the iPad, 2011 will definitely be the year of the tablet, specifically the Android tablet. While choices were limited for consumers in 2010, 2011 will see a chaotic offering of tablet devices hit store shelves.
Here’s a quick rundown of what everyone has been up to.
Rumored 10.1" Windows 7 Tablet by Acer
1. Microsoft
Samsung, Dell and Acer are all rumored to have been working on Windows tablets. We will possibly get a peak at these devices at CES. We will most likely see a 10.1″ Samsung tablet (being called the Gloria). It will feature a fold out QWERTY keybord and will be targeted at business users.
2. Samsung
The Galaxy Tab being the most successful iPad competitor to date, the Korean electronics manufacturer is expected to show off a newer version of that line. While details are few and far between, we know that these new Samsung tablets will have an AMOLED screen and come loaded with HoneyComb.
3. Acer
Acer is all set to release at least three tablets at the start of 2011. The company has made plans to put both a 7″ and 10.0″ Android tablet as well as a Windows 7 device as mentioned above. Though the Windows tablets are due to come out in February, the company’s Android devices won’t ship until at least April for the release of HoneyComb.
Michael Dell showing off the Looking Glass Tablet
4. Dell
Although Dell has not said a word about it’s supposed Looking Glass Tablet, the device is on record at the the Federal Communications Commission. The spec sheet at the FCC reveals a 7-inch tablet with 3G and Wifi connectivity and an SD card slot. This new Dell tablet is expected to be one of the first devices to run on Nvidia’s Tagra 2 processor.
5. Asus
Asus’ Eee Pad line should come in a range of sizes and operating systems. With an expected release in January, consumers will be faced with having to chose between 7, 9, 10 and 12 inches.
6. RIM
The canadian smartphone maker will most likely unveil its PlayBook. A 7-inch tablet based on a dual-core processor, the PayBook will be released some time in Q1 of 2011. This new tablet will run on a brand new OS RIM has developped based on QNX. Although this new tablet will not run BlackBerry apps, it will support Adobe Air and Flash.
7. HP
Having been the talk of the tech-town since it bought Palm, HP will be unveiling three Palm tablets called PalmPads. Running a new version of Palm’s WebOS, HP’s tablets will boast a mini-HDMI port, a USB 3.0 port as well as rear and front facing cameras. At 9.7″, the screen real estate will be slightly better than the iPad’s.
Andy Rubin was seen at All Things D with this device
8. Motorola
We’ve all seen the ad for this one and it will be no surprise that Motorola will unveil a Honeycomb tablet at CES this year. Although, not much is know on the specs of release date of this new device, we can expect it to be a more polished version of what Andy Rubin showed of at the D: Dive into Mobile event in early December.
9. Toshiba
Toshiba will introduce at least three tablets at this year’s CES. If Windows isn’t your thing, pick a Chromo OS tablet, or why not an Android. Toshiba is decidedly adopting a “see what works” method in regards to tablets.
10. Notion Ink
This little-known company with a big idea first showed off its unique screen technology at last year’s CES. Although the company’s supposed upcoming tablet has a real product page will full specs and details, it’s wondered if this one isn’t too good to be true. Still, you should keep and eye on these guys.
