In China an iPad competitor is on the way that one company hopes will be the antihesis of the iPad. Known as RedPad Number One the tablet based device features the same 9.7-inch display as an iPad and also shares the same dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 chipset and an iOS-like app tray that runs on Google Android 3.2.
Eventually selling for 9,999 yuan ($1,584) the company also plans to release government-related apps that include the ability to check for accredited journalists and read private updates on officials that are published by People’s Daily and the micro-update service Weibo.
The luxury tablet also ships with a leather case that has the words “serve the people” written across the case, a funny gesture considering the high price of ownership for the device which most people in China can’t afford.
The makers of the RedPad Number One claim they have already formed partnerships with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the People’s Daily although the latter denies that claim.
To put the high cost of ownership in perspective the The 16GB, 3G-capable tablet is far more expensive then even the highest end iPad 2 with 64GB and 3G which can be purchased in China for 6,288 yuan or $996. The iPad 2 equivalent with 16GB and 3G is even cheaper 4,688 yuan ($743).
In the meantime many citizens in China have voiced their outrage over a luxury item that is only attainable for governmental officials.
Would you be willing to pick up a highly customized Tablet for a premium price or is the iPad 2 or a comparable Android tablet enough for your likes?
