Analysis: Tablet PC makers' dilemmas are cheap and different

The April 15 international report recently saw a hot panel of computers. With the advent of Android tablets, this day is coming. Like a dazzling store, OEMs must also make their products more prominent, but this is not a simple matter. The dilemma it faces is that it is necessary to create products that are cheap but different from those of competitors in order to gain favor. Manufacturers are looking for products in the intersection of two conditions.

Apple has set a very low price range for products, tablet computer manufacturers are competing to launch competitive products in the iPad entry price, and seek to achieve a strategic approach. Tablets are regarded as products that users need extra, rather than necessities, so they are very important at the price point. The motive for buying has a great impulse, so the price must be quite low.

The lower price point makes OEM manufacturers must reduce the manufacturing cost of tablet PCs to be lower than that of iPads. This is the only opportunity in the market. This way, the products are not sold for increased functionality, but they have no special features. Can fight the price. This is good for consumers, but not for tablet makers.

New features such as the HTC Flyer or ASUS Transformer Tablet add new features, the former into the pen environment to the standard Android tablet, while the latter is to join the keyboard base can turn the tablet into a laptop. Both products increase the value of the product to consumers in an interesting way, but at the same time, they also increase the selling price. The next thing to look for is whether these added features are recognized by consumers and they pay for them; or they turn to purchase traditional cheap tablets.

In the past, tablet PCs purchased with notebook computer architectures and rotating screens have appeared on the market. At present, products based on the positioning of notebook computers and the unique pen input environment are still being sold, but they have never occupied a large number of markets. It is because of the extra features that make the price increase. Manufacturers must persuade consumer products to be worth higher prices. Unfortunately, at the moment there does not seem to be a successful case. The additional marketing plus cost is fatal to market these features to the market, and will also make such products greatly reduced in competitiveness.

Now that you can see that Android tablets are available at prices competitive with the iPad, these tablets are similar in hardware and functionality. Because there is not much place for choice, it is a good choice for consumers, but because the price is the only point that attracts consumers, the market whimpers. The dilemma of tablet PC makers will soon come to the fore, and it is worth observing how manufacturers solve these problems.