Stop the Noiz

iPad Trade Dress Ruling in Europe Won't End Tablet Competition

Frank Fox - 2011.08.11 - Tip Jar

Apple iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
Apple iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

The world of tablets is going to end, because Apple has a trade dress on the look of the iPad that has blocked Samsung from selling its Galaxy Tab in Europe. That's the myopic opinion of ZDNet's Adrian Kingsley-Hughes (see Apple's EU Legal Win Could Prevent All OEMs from Building Tablets) and others (for instance, Kevin C. Tofel's At This Rate, There Won't Be a Tablet Market, Just an iPad Market on GigaOM).

Here's the image from the Community Design patent that "proves" only Apple can now make a tablet.

iPad Trade Dress
iPad Trade Dress

It is pure bull to say that Apple has locked out all other vendors. Sure, the design Apple has made famous is very popular now, but it isn't the only choice. I can prove it by showing five other tablet and PDA examples.

HP EliteBook 2740p
HP EliteBook 2740p 12" TabletPC

Dell Latitude XT2
Dell Latitude XT2

Palm m500 series
Palm m500 series

Newton MessagePad 120
Newton MessagePad 120

Toshiba Portege R400
Toshiba Portegé R400

Apple eMate
Apple eMate

And for an extra bonus - even though it is not a true tablet - the Apple eMate (right) shows how unique a design can be while still being functional.

Samsung is mimicking the iPad not because it is the only option, but because it is the most popular. That is something Samsung and the rest are going to have to deal with to make their own product that doesn't simply copy Apple's design. LEM

Join us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Google+, or subscribe to our RSS news feed

Today's Links

Recent Content

About LEM Support Usage Privacy Contact

Follow Low End Mac on Twitter
Join Low End Mac on Facebook

Page not found | Low End Mac

Well this is somewhat embarrassing, isn’t it?

It seems we can’t find what you’re looking for. Perhaps searching, or one of the links below, can help.

Most Used Categories

Archives

Try looking in the monthly archives. :)

Page not found | Low End Mac

Well this is somewhat embarrassing, isn’t it?

It seems we can’t find what you’re looking for. Perhaps searching, or one of the links below, can help.

Most Used Categories

Archives

Try looking in the monthly archives. :)

Favorite Sites

MacSurfer
Cult of Mac
Shrine of Apple
MacInTouch
MyAppleMenu
InfoMac
The Mac Observer
Accelerate Your Mac
RetroMacCast
The Vintage Mac Museum
Deal Brothers
DealMac
Mac2Sell
Mac Driver Museum
JAG's House
System 6 Heaven
System 7 Today
the pickle's Low-End Mac FAQ

Affiliates

Amazon.com
The iTunes Store
PC Connection Express
Macgo Blu-ray Player
Parallels Desktop for Mac
eBay

Low End Mac's Amazon.com store

Advertise

Well this is somewhat embarrassing, isn’t it?

It seems we can’t find what you’re looking for. Perhaps searching, or one of the links below, can help.

Most Used Categories

Archives

Try looking in the monthly archives. :)

at BackBeat Media (646-546-5194). This number is for advertising only.

Open Link