Kamis, 18 November 2010 - 13:01 wib

LONDON - Tablet komputer berbasis sistem operasi Android Google diprediksi akan menguasai 15 persen dari pasar dunia pada tahun 2011. Ini artinya tablet Android bakal menjadi pesaing terberat dari iPad.

Prediksi ini sendiri dikeluarkan oleh IMS Research, yang juga mengharapkan tablet Android akan menguasai 28 persen pangsa tablet pada tahun 2015. Beberapa pembuat perangkat keras yang akan menjual tablet Android, termasuk Samsung, Dell, Motorola dan Cisco.

Samsung telah membuat taruhan terbesar di tablet Android, dengan meluncurkan Galaxy Tab untuk T-Mobile, Sprint dan Verizon Wireless di AS, dengan peluncuran AT&T yang ditetapkan untuk 21 November. Samsung mengharapkan dapat menjual 1 juta tablet di musim liburan 2010 saja.

"Ketersediaan Samsung tablet Tab Galaxy melalui operator seluler seperti AT&T di Amerika Serikat dengan cepat akan meningkatkan kehadiran Android Google di pasar tablet," kata analis IMS Research Anna Hunt, seperti dilansir eWeek, Kamis (18/11/2010).

Sementara Hunt juga memprediksi tablet akan menguasai 75 persen dari pasar atau lebih pada saat ini tahun depan.

Popularitas tablet sendiri melejit setelah diluncurkan pada bulan April, penjualan jutaan unit dalam beberapa bulan pertama, hingga saat ini berhasil menjual sebanyak 4,19 juta pada kuartal keempat saja.
(tyo)

That’s a rather simplified expression of the bigger picture; but ultimately, Google () sees Chrome OS as the operating system for traditional computers, such as PCs, netbooks and laptops, which may include touch interfaces but always include keyboards; and the company sees Android () as an operating system best suited to mobile devices, which may include keyboards but almost always include touch interfaces.

During his talk at Web 2.0 Summit, Schmidt was asked by a member of the audience about Android’s perceived fragmentation. In addition, Schmidt was asked about where Chrome OS should be used vs. Android and where they overlap. The audience member professed that he was confused about Google’s strategy surrounding both platforms.

Schmidt responded in a few parts. His first point was that Android isn’t fragmented, stating that you can still run the same app on all Android phones — a point which our readers are welcome to dispute in the comments. However, Schmidt emphasized that he wants to make sure you can run the same apps on all Android devices.

What I found more interesting was his response to the difference between Chrome OS and Android. He iterated multiple times that it seems like Android is optimal for touch devices, while Chrome OS is best suited for traditional keyboard devices. While this explanation makes perfect sense to us, we’ve never heard this explanation from Google’s CEO until now.

In other words, if Google builds a touch-based tablet, it’s going to run Android. If it builds a new type of keyboard computer device, it’ll run Chrome OS. Schmidt says to expect Chrome OS “in the next few months” and the new version of Android (a.k.a. Gingerbread) in the next few weeks.