A lot of companies are finding that it’s hard to compete with the iPad on features like retina display and raw speed. So there’s been a shift to competing with it on price. We’ve already seen the Kindle Fire clock in at $200, a full $300 less than the iPad base model. Now comes word that Google is looking to undercut things even further by planning a $150 tablet.
The ASUS MeMo 370T that was revealed at CES has been scrapped after Google contracted with ASUS to produce their “Nexus tablet.” Earlier reports said the device would retail for $249-199, but we are now told the target price is $149-199. The quad-core Tegra 3 version that was previously leaked is no more. Other than the 7-inch display, no additional information has been provided on the specs.
The Kindle Fire and, to an extent, the iPad are entertainment devices so a Google entry would mean buying into the Android platform as an entertainment resource. While Android has a ton of apps, one might be dubious to think that customers would be as comfortable using it as they would the iTunes or Amazon ecosystems.
Stories You Might Like
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.
