Posted on Tuesday, February 23 2010 @ 18:49 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck
Lenovo announced it will not launch "slate devices" due to negative feedback from customers. The company explains they created mockups of computers with a slate form factor, but contrary to their expectations customers said it will not work because of the need to have a physical keyboard.
Lenovo will stick with the tried-and-true Laptop-based convertible tablet designs and not bring out a slate device due to negative feedback from customers, an indication that Apple's iPad may face resistance at businesses. "We of course build plastic mock-ups that we show (to customers)...we had a slate form factor," Majapuro said. "The feedback was that for (our) customers it will not work because of the need to have (a physical) keyboard."
The most prominent example of a pure slate device is the Apple iPad, which has a virtual keyboard. Majapuro said the response from customers to slates was a surprise. "It was amazing to me. At first I didn't want to believe (our customers) but the keyboard was such a big need for them," he said.
More info
at CNET.
