[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] e.mote:
Re: iOS vs Android on tablet -- iOS had the advantage of being a fast and intuitive UI. It was the secret sauce behind iPhone's market-leading success, and was moved to the iPad relatively intact. The iPad at launch was pretty much an oversized iPhone, and it wasn't until more apps and add-ons came out taking advantage of the larger display that iPad came into its own. Because it was already a polished OS to start, and because there was no architectural changes, iOS-on-iPad was a smooth transition. With first-mover advantage and weak competition, iPad became the market leader.

These successes mask iOS' deficiencies, which is that it is still a phone-centric OS, and doesn't take advantage of the tablet's potentially greater versatility. To name two: connectivity (incl networking) and interoperability. The iPad is a poor performer when viewed as a computing device in the existing computing ecosystem. To compensate, Apple is building out its own ecosystem--not surprisingly, one in which all roads must go through Apple.

Android has several disadvantages: Unlike Apple's integrated SW/HW approach, Android has a large gap between code-release and device implentation, exacerbated by Google's hands-off approach. Android's plethora of disparate devices and displays necessitated a major architectural change (in HC/ICS) to accomodate tablet, which slowed Android's development by over a year.

As said, this isn't a death knell for Android. Now that phone+tab integration is (hopefully) done, Jelly will show what Android has going forward. The upcoming Google I/O is more important than many realize.

As an aside, note the difficulties in attempts to bridge the three form factors--phone, tablet, laptop/desktop--into a single platform. With its success, Apple is content with its phone OS on both phone & tablet, and the desktop is on the backburner. For Google, desktop => ChomeOS (which flopped); phone & tablet integration took an extra 1+ years. For Microsoft, desktop + tablet integration is still the big question mark.

>If Google simply drops all support once next iteration is launched, how is non-existent support as the same?

Google has no support for Android devices, other than for products of its preferred partner at the time (Nexus, Xoom). All support comes from vendors. It's not much different from Windows, where OEMs handle all free support (MS does provide paid support). For support from the ecosystem, as said, 2.x devices still enjoy better app support now than 4.0 devices.

>but again, this basically directs the user to purchase new device or go the custom ROM route

For the third time, you're still thinking like a geek. Normal people don't do custom ROM, nor do they rush out to buy new toys every time a new OS rev drops. How many times must I repeat myself?

For geeks and technophiles, the answer hasn't changed: Know what you're buying. Android's current travails and its rapid iteration mean you need to be more cognizant of when and what to buy. That has always been true for the bleeding edge.

>The bundled Office 15 on WinRT will be on Metro.

From the tech preview, Office 15 will be in desktop mode with a Metro veneer (see link below). As said, it will be an indication of present level of desktop+Metro integration. Things are admittedly still very murky, which is indicative of MS not figuring it out yet. Expect another release--or a major service pack--by next year. Win8 won't be a shoo-in. If reception is poor, MS won't wait 2+ years for the next step.

http://www.winsupersite.com/article/office/microsoft-office-15-preview-142569

>Gary, please answer this question.

Yes I can see Gary in all his "truth uber alles" splendor, responding with "Gosh, you know, Infinity QC is still same as where the Prime was. I'm so sorry. Please spread the word, and please buy our competitor's product instead." :)

Thanks for the amusing naivete. To all: Let's all hold our breath for Gary's answer.