Ever since Apple launched the iPad, the tech industry has been searching high and low for the iPad killer. With the launch of every new tablet, whether it's a traditional Android device or something more unique from Amazon, experts wonder if this tablet will be the one to knock the iPad off of its throne. Samsung, with its line of Galaxy Tablets has always been considered a serious competitor for Cupertino and its iPad, but the Korean company today admitted that it's not doing so well in the tablet market.
CNet reports that Samsung's Hankil Yoon made the admission at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week. That's right, while most companies use the likes of MWC to pump up their image, Yoon told journalists at a media roundtable, "Honestly, we're not doing very well in the tablet market." Yoon didn't elaborate on his statement, but said the company is hopeful that 2012 will be a good year for its Galaxy Note.
This week saw Samsung a 10.1-inch version of the Galaxy Note (pictured) at Mobile World Congress. The company also announced updated versions of the Galaxy Tab 7 and Galaxy Tab 10.1. The biggest difference between the Galaxy Note line and the Galaxy Tab line is that the Note features a stylus, which Samsung says is to enable content creation. Samsung's plans for these two lines seem a little murky. According to Yoon, the plan is for the Note's sales to eclipse the Galaxy Tab 10.1's sales. CNet's Roger Cheng says Yoon said it would be necessary to stay competitive:
"The best thing to survive in the market is to kill your products," Yoon said. "We want to stay competitive in the market."
However, when our own Andrew Ku was visiting the Samsung booth, he was told specifically by Samsung that the two lines were going to co-exist together. Similarly, a statement to the Verge implies Samsung means to offer customers several choices within the Samsung brand, as opposed to a one-line-fits-all approach.
"Seeking to kill your own product by releasing increasingly compelling devices might position Samsung as a confident brand. A brand ambitious to improve its products so that the choice for consumers is between several Samsung products rather than between Samsung and its competitors’ products."
Samsung's new Galaxy Tab 2 line will launch in certain markets in March, while availability for the Galaxy Note 10.1 is not yet known. The 5-inch Galaxy Note is already on sale, as is the Galaxy Tab in 7-, 7.7- 8.9- and 10-inch variants.
