Motorola Unveils ET 1 Tablet: Will it Die Like HP's TouchPad? [PHOTOS and VIDEO]
Motorola is entering its ET 1 in the tablet wars dominated by Apple's iPad.
Motorola aims to attract enterprise and government consumers since the tablet computer is apt for various vertical markets.
The new tablet is equipped with Android 2.3. Moreover, it is powered by 1GHz dual-core CPU, has 8GB of internal storage and a 32GB microSD card slot, and features a seven-inch, Gorilla Glass capacitive touchscreen with 1024 x 600 resolution.
This slab of metal is very light and portable as it weighs 1.4 pounds. You can also shoot enticing photos with the ET1 with its 8-megapixel rear camera and a front-facing shooter designed for videoconferencing with 720p video capabilities.
The new device also comes with a variety of accessories such as barcode reader, magnetic stripe reader, handstrap and holster. The ET 1 tablet boasts only WiFi connectivity.
The new Motorola tablet seems to be jampacked with features. But it also comes with a hefty price tag. The company did not reveal the price of each tablet. However, according to a correspondence of Motorola Solutions' Sheldon Safir to Computer World, each slab costs less than $1,000 if ordered in bulk.
How ET 1 Will Fare in the Tablet Wars?
Apple's iPad and Samsung's Galaxy Tab dominate the field, and Amazon's new Kindle Fire is said to be doing well, so competition in this area is quite intense already.
How will Motorola's ET 1 tablet gain some edge over its competitors? Will it suffer the same fate as the HP TouchPad that end up losing the race?
Functionality and durability are some of the points of the ET 1 tablet. Moreover, this device seems to be strictly for business.
According to the press statement, "ET1 is password-protected so it can be easily shared and instantly provisioned for each employee according to his or her level of responsibility and access rights. Based on log-in information, managers can automatically control and monitor use of approved applications to help ensure on-the-job productivity is not compromised."
The $1,000 tab may not be consumer-friendly. It is important to note that Motorola's target market is enterprises and business people that may have the purchasing power to buy the device. The big question is: will they buy it?
Motorola's ET 1 tablet is expected to hit the market later this year. Watch the demo video below for a sneak preview.