Pad vs Tablet vs Slate - What name to you prefer?

[EnzoTen]

To describe this genre of devices, a keyboard-less 10"-ish touch based computer. What term do you prefer.

For me I like Tablet. I like Slate but its too ambiguous to an average user. Pad, well, we have heard all the negative feedback from that dont need another era of devices of people asking "What kind of iPad is that"... just as we had to suffer from people asking what kind of ipod your non-ipod mp3 player is.

[CrowdAds]

[Marvin the Martian]

Tablet. Pad is just stupid, and slate, I automatically associate with the actual Slate.

[ultrauber]

Well, I think it's tablet, for the name of the type of product. But manufacturers are free to name their product what they want. Imagine if every DAP was named DAP be Cowon, DAP by Sandisk, DAP by Microsoft, etc. Apple can call it an ipad if they have to, but in the description they should say, "the ipad is a tablet made by apple." just like the Sansa Clip description says that it's a dap.

[roguemat]

I think the most correct and usable day to day would definitely be tablet. Slate, however, does sound the coolest.

[Olley]

I'm often sketching or taking notes on notepads, and always thought "NotePad" would be a good name for a media playing tablet.

I think that if someone gave me a couple of weeks I could come up with a better name for Apple's product though. Don't force me to start it with "i" though.

[dmnoland]

Originally Posted by EnzoTen

To describe this genre of devices, a keyboard-less 10"-ish touch based computer. What term do you prefer.

For me I like Tablet. I like Slate but its too ambiguous to an average user.

In the context of your question, the correct answer is slate but it's still a tablet.
I look at it like a family tree:
PC =
a.desktop
b.laptop
c.netbook
d.tablet =
d1.convertible
d2.slate
d3.other =
3a. smart phones
3b.touchscreen players w/browsers (sony x)
3c.pads (ipad)
I'm sure I missed some categories but you can get the general idea. In my opinion the maxipad is last on the computer food chain.

[EnzoTen]

Originally Posted by dmnoland

In the context of your question, the correct answer is slate but it's still a tablet.
I look at it like a family tree:
PC =
a.desktop
b.laptop
c.netbook
d.tablet =
d1.convertible
d2.slate
d3.other =
3a. smart phones
3b.touchscreen players w/browsers (sony x)
3c.pads (ipad)
I'm sure I missed some categories but you can get the general idea. In my opinion the maxipad is last on the computer food chain.

So is there a physical difference between a slate and a tablet by your definition? or is it still the same thing but different word?

[dmnoland]

Originally Posted by EnzoTen

So is there a physical difference between a slate and a tablet by your definition? or is it still the same thing but different word?

Sorry, I guess it's clearer in my own head.
I have a Gateway convertible (tablet) (the one with a keyboard under the single hinged swivel lcd)
If I had one of the Motion computers I would call that a slate (tablet). (No keyboard or touchpad but much lighter)
Both are tablet pc's, same software just a different hardware configuration.
Hope that makes a little more sense. Why did I start drinking so early today?
The more I think about this the stranger it all seems. Ever say a word so many times in a row that it sounds wrong? Similar brain fart for me.

[EnzoTen]

Originally Posted by dmnoland

Sorry, I guess it's clearer in my own head.
I have a Gateway convertible (tablet) (the one with a keyboard under the single hinged swivel lcd)
If I had one of the Motion computers I would call that a slate (tablet). (No keyboard or touchpad but much lighter)
Both are tablet pc's, same software just a different hardware configuration.
Hope that makes a little more sense. Why did I start drinking so early today?
The more I think about this the stranger it all seems. Ever say a word so many times in a row that it sounds wrong? Similar brain fart for me.

Ah ok, i follow... so Tablet is the main genre of devices where as a Slate is a type of tablet. So you would have

• Tablets
  • Slates
  • Convertibles

[dmnoland]

Yes. I might also include pda's, smartphones and some mp3 players with touchscreens and browsers under the tablet name.

[aki]

slate and pad sound stupid. Tablet or 'Tab' would be the best!

[musichound]

There are differences between tablets and slates, but you know what? I don't care. Whatever it's called, it's fine with me. This harks back to the days, and still does, to the inter usage of laptops and notebooks. While they are two different animals, the two names are interchangeable for the same type of computer.

EDIT: I think there should be a fourth choice in the poll for undecided, or who gives a rat's a$$

[Olley]

How about Slab PC?

[Dreamnine]

Slatelet

[EnzoTen]

Originally Posted by Dreamnine

Slatelet

i will also accept Tablate

[curiouswonderer]

Pad still reminds me of tampons. Slate reminds me of the Flintstones.

Tablet FTW. No questions asked.

[thedevilwithin]

Slate for me. Tablet is like..a small pill or something. As for the Pad...Man that sounds so wrong in many ways that I won't bother mentioning..

[The DarkSide]

I prefer "Tablet" me'self.

[Jack4L]

Tablet PC will always be a Laptop that has a touch screen that can be turned arround to provide a full stylus controlled device. Slate is a new word, and rolls of the tongue easier then tab-let... I can see why they went with iPad, its easy to say and remember, and honestly the whole "Maxi pad" meme was just retarded, even for Mad TV in its time :P

Just like the whole Wii thing, some people just choose to hit such obvious targets, and it gets so tedious after awhile.

[lgs]

The word slate for a keyboard-less computer has been around for much longer than tablet. The latter was introduced when the "convertibles" came on the market. Btw, I will always associate tablets with unpleasant medicines.