The iPad is a tablet computer from Apple that was announced in Jan 2010 and made available in April 2010. The Adam is a tablet computer from Notion Ink that was announced at CES - also in Jan 2010 but before Apple's announcement. The Adam is expected to be available in the summer of 2010.
While the iPad was hailed (mostly by Apple) as a "revolutionary and magical" device, Notion Ink's Adam has won rave reviews from Gizmodo, Engadget and Slashgear. The Adam has some important advantages over the iPad.
Comparison chart
 | Notion Ink Adam | iPad |
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
| Display | Adam boasts of a 10-inch Pixel Qi display: Transmissive, transflective, and reflective modes, a capacitive touchscreen capable of recognizing six simultaneous points of contact. Matte finish, Anti glare coating, Scratch and Finger print resistant. | 1st & 2nd generation: 1024 × 768 px 132 PPI 4:3 aspect ratio, 9.7 in (250 mm) diagonal, XGA, LED-backlit IPS LCD, 3rd & 4th generation: 2048×1536 px 264 PPI, Mini, 1,024x768 px 163 PPI, 7.9 in (200 mm) diagonal |
| Operating system | Android | 1st generation: iOS 5.1.1, 2nd & 3rd & 4th generation: iOS 6.1.3 |
| Dimensions | Thickness: ~14 mm; Width: 191 mm; Length: 269 mm | 1st generation: 9.56 in (243 mm) (h), 7.47 in (190 mm) (w), 0.50 in (13 mm) (d), 2nd generation: 9.50 in (241 mm) (h), 7.31 in (186 mm) (w), 0.34 in (8.6 mm) (d), 3rd & 4th generation: 9.50 in (241 mm) (h), 7.31 in (186 mm) (w |
| Weight | 1.6 pounds (0.68 Kg) | Wi-Fi model: 1.5 lb (680 g), Wi-Fi + 3G model: 1.6 lb (730 g), 2nd generation: 1.325 lb (601 g), 3rd generation Wi-Fi model: 1.44 lb (650 g), 3rd generation Wi-Fi + 4G model: 1.46 lb (660 g), 4th generation Wi-Fi model: 1.44 lb (650 g), 4 |
| Type | Tablet computer | Tablet computer |
| Input | USB 2.0 Host x 2, Mini USB, HDMI, Micro SD slot, SIM Card slot, DC connector, multi-touch capacitive touchscreen | Multi-touch screen, headset controls, proximity and ambient light sensors, 3-axis accelerometer, digital compass, 2nd generation adds: 3-axis gyro |
| Manufacturer | Notion Ink | Apple Inc. (depending on tablet) |
| Camera | Yes; 3.2 megapixels (rear facing camera) and 1.3 megapixels (front facing camera) | 1st generation: None, 2nd generation: VGA Front-facing and 720p rear-facing, 3rd generation: VGA Front-facing and 5 million pixels rear-facing, 4th generation and mini: 720p Front-facing and 5 million pixels rear-facing |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi and 3G (optional) | Wi-Fi, 802.11 a/b/g/n, 1st & 2nd Generation, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, GSM models also include, UMTS / HSDPA, 850, 1,900, 2,100 MHz, GSM / EDGE, 850, 900, 1,800, 1,900 MHz, CDMA model also includes, CDMA/EV-DO Rev. A, 800, 1,900 MHz, 3rd Generation, Bluet |
| Power | rechargeable battery | Built-in rechargeable Li-Po battery, 25 W·h (90 kJ), 10hr life |
| Release date | Summer 2010 | 1st generation: April 3, 2010 (Wi-Fi), April 30, 2010 (Wi-Fi + 3G), May 28, 2010 (International), 2nd generation: March 11, 2011 (United States), March 25, 2011 (International), 3rd generation: March 16, 2012, 4th generation and Mini: Nov |
Dimensions
The Adam will have two versions - 12.9mm thick and 11.4mm thick. Both versions are slimmer than the iPad which is 13.4mm thick. Measuring 6.3 x 9.8 x 0.6 inches, the Adam will weigh about 770 gms. The iPad measures 7.47 x 9.56 x 0.5 inches and 680 grams, the 3G version being slightly heavier.
Operating System
The iPad runs Apple's proprietary operating system based on the iPhone OS while the Adam runs the open source Android operating system.
Multitasking
The iPad operating system does not support multitasking (running more than one app at the same time). The Adam, on the other hand, supports multitasking.
Apps
The biggest advantage of Apple's iPad over other tablets is that the 140,000 applications in Apple's iPhone app store are all compatible with the iPad. Apple has also released its Software Development Kit (SDK) for the iPad that allows developers to leverage the larger screen size. Apple has also developed a version of their iWork productivity suite exclusively for the iPad to leverage multitouch capabilities, and a special application that makes the iPad great for reading and writing e-mails.
The Adam will allow all Android apps to run. The developers have also announced that they will develop office productivity applications for the Adam.
Flash support
The iPad's web browser does not support Adobe Flash, the de facto standard for video on the web. The Adam will support Flash.
Display
Adam boasts of a 10-inch Pixel Qi transflective display, a capacitive touchscreen capable of recognizing six simultaneous points of contact. Pixel Qi's technology offers two different modes: full colour LCD for indoor use or in a low-power reflective mode that actually gets brighter when more direct sunlight falls upon it. This elongates the battery life substantially.
The iPad has a 9.7-inch LCD colour screen. The device uses iPhone's multi-touch technology, Apple's Magic Mouse, and the company's trackpad technology found in some of the company's laptops.
Hardware
Camera
The Adam has a 3 megapixel, 180 degree swivel autofocus camera and will support video calling. The iPad does not have a camera.
Input and Output Ports
The Adam has 3 USB ports and a 1080p HDMI output. The Adam also has an SD card slot. The iPad has none of these hardware features. This means with an Adam you can view HD videos on a large screen TV but with the iPad you cannot.
Processor
The Adam uses an Nvidia Tegra 2 chip which runs at 1GHz and acts as both a CPU and graphics card in one. The iPad uses a 1GHz chip that is custom designed by Apple.
Storage Capacity
The Adam will be available in 16GB and 32GB versions, but offers additional capacity via an SD card slot. The iPad is offered in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB versions.
Battery Life
According to Notion Ink, Adam will be able to play music for up to 25 days, offer 16 hours of internet browsing and play high definition video for 8 hours. The iPad offers battery life of up to 10 hours. The standby time is approximately a month.
Price of the iPad vs Adam
The iPad 16GB version will cost $499, the 32GB version will be $599 and the 64GB version will sell for $699. Prices for the 3G version will be $130 extra. Pricing for the Adam are starting from $ 329 and highest version is available at $ 539 which offer Pixel Qu Chi display and 3 G also.
Similarities between the iPad and the Adam
The Adam and the iPad share many similarities. They are both portable computers (tablets), lightweight, comparable in size and have multitouch screens. In addition, both the iPad and Adam offer a GPS and connectivity via WiFi, 3G, and Bluetooth.
References
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