東西 | dongxi

After a few days of doubt and skepticism of the iPad, the new Apple product started to grow on me; I was almost tempted to consider thinking about buying one. Those thoughts instantly dissipated the second these conceptual mock-ups of a “Google tablet” came to view. There’s only a few companies that have the resources and support to tackle Apple and Google has not disappointed.

In the conceptual mocks released by the designer of Google Chrome [Chronium], we get a small glimpse behind the potential of a Google-backed tablet.

Better yet, a video of the concept:

If the multitasking isn’t enough of a reason to rethink getting that iPad, consider the other twenty reasons: Gmail, Google Talk, Google Reader, Google Calendar, Google Search… well, you get the idea. While the thought of such dependency on Google can be quite unsettling (and a completely different topic to cover), the extent of Google’s reach across the web can also be one its largest strengths for how in-depth a new tablet device can be.  Between the iPhone and Nexus One, the level of depth provided by Google, especially when it comes to their own services (such as Gmail) is already apparent.

So though these pictures and video are still just a concept, they do point to a very high likelihood that we may soon have an interesting field of competitors that will give Apple a run for its money in the tablet market. Then again, as Apple and Google’s increasingly diverge in philosophy and audience, perhaps we’re just looking at an option that’ll feed the need that so many of us have been clamoring for since last Wednesday.

Tags: apple, google, ipad, nexus one, tablet