Google's Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) as well as Microsoft's Windows 7 still stand a good chance of challenging Apple's iOS, with the global market share for non-iPad devices in 2011 estimated at between 20-30% conservatively and 50% by optimistic players, according to sources from upstream component makers.
The sources pointed out that Google has resolved the resolution issues in Android 3.0 to allow applications to fit onto the bigger tablet PC screens, in addition, Google enhanced Android 3.0's smoothness in application execution, and will also provide users a better control experience; therefore the sources believe Android 3.0 should be able to create a strong threat to Apple's iOS.
As for Windows 7, since the operating system still lacks a number of software applications, while its interface is not suitable to touchscreen inputs, most of the players still put their hopes on Android; however, since Windows 7 has strong advantages over its extensibility as well as compatibility with traditional PCs, Windows 7-based tablet PCs still have strong demand from the enterprise market as well as industries such as medical and governments, the sources noted.
As for the consumer market, since Windows 7-based tablet PCs that feature a slide keyboard or external keyboard can be treated like netbooks, those tablet PC models are expected to bite off some demand from the netbook market, the sources added.
Article translated by Joseph Tsai
