From Daring Fireball:
"ViewSonic’s own promotional image for the product shows it running, of all things, a slightly-disguised screenshot of Mac OS X."
http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/03/08/viewsonic-viewpad

First off: Android 1.6 is not meant for tablets.
Second: Windows 7 is not meant for fingers. Despite the "touch-friendly" features built in, all UI controls are designed for mouse cursors.

Probably the the most ridiculous of all the problems with ViewSonic's release is that the screenshot (http://media.marketwire.com/attachments/201103/MOD-41377_ViewPad10frontscreen... shows it running Mac OS X, which it obviously can't and won't do.

These guys are hacks and frauds.

What's probably most shocking about the iPad is how little "computer stuff" has made it in. There is no file manager for example - it's not the "the Finder" has been dumbed down, there is nothing like "the Finder" even present. Clearly this is the most radical rethink of what's needed on a computer we've seen yet.

People I know look at me funny when I say that the folder-based storage of documents in computer OSes is in need of being thrown in the trash (or recycle bin). It may have made sense in the past, but with the vast number of files we create nowadays, it's just far too cumbersome. The failure of this paradigm is why we have desktop search tools like Spotlight and Windows 7's equivalent. Where I work, it's damn near impossible to find Word documents I need.

The reason, I believe, why people thought I was crazy was because those who fear change (that's most of the population) can't and don't want to imagine having to learn a new way of accessing their files. It's "great" because that's the way it has been and the way it will be.

Reading and hearing (MacBreakWeekly for 2/2/10) what I have about the iPad and how it stores and retrieves documents, I think Apple may have quietly given us the solution to the obsolete folder-based storage: Just store and retrieve the damn files. Hide the complexity from the user.

Time will tell whether this can scale. This may be just the first step. However, it's time for a change and I look forward to seeing how this plays out.

Intel CEO Paul Otellini at CES announced an app store for applications on netbooks. The store is called AppUp Center, and it’s a place where users can purchase programs that cater to a netbooks’ unique screen size and mobility. Intel AppUp center launched today for Windows and will support Moblin-based open source operating systems and a number of runtime environments later this year.

The first set of apps are now available for download, for free or to purchase, and more will be added as they are validated. App categories include entertainment, business, games, education, health and social media. Additionally, Acer, ASUS, Dell and Samsung have announced plans to collaborate with Intel on their own app stores.

According to Intel, by participating in the program, developers gain access to the fast-growing, consumer-centric computing netbook category. In addition, developers gain revenue opportunities from the netbook-installed base, and potentially hundreds of millions of other Intel processor-based computers and devices — should Intel and partner storefronts expand into new market segments.

Intel is also working with partners to bring the app stores to consumers. The partner stores give access to the developer and store services the Intel AppUp center offers. The services include validating and categorizing apps and utilizing a common transaction infrastructure to administer purchases and downloads for these tailored stores.

Personally, I'm a fan of the AppStore model in place for the iPhone. Developers get better visibility than they would have with their web sites alone and with the review process, even with all its faults, I am confident that I am not installing any malware.

Blow this up to the desktop/laptop arena like Intel and the Windows-based OEMs are doing with Netbooks and you've got an interesting situation. The idea of the app store is expanding, despite the geek community's uproar and complaints that it's too restrictive.

Personally, I don't want a situation where I can ONLY get applications for my computer through an app store that has an approval process like Apple's iPhone/iPod Touch App Store. I CAN support OEM (e.g. Apple, Dell, HP, etc.) run app stores that are an option for users and that are open to developers, with the only restriction being a review for malware & spyware.

That can be good for consumers and developers of all sizes. No, it won't make many instant millionaires, but it's better than just a web site that the developer HOPES their prospective customers will find.