Skip to main content

Apple’s Tim Cook slams Android, Windows tablets

apple-tim-cook-coo
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If a combative, yet dismissive, attitude is part of the test, Tim Cook may be ready to take over Apple after all. During one of his first days as active caretaker of Apple during Steve Jobs’s medical absence, Cook lobbed some heavy shots at all of the tablets announced at CES 2011. Below are some of his more fiery comments from Apple’s record $6 billion profit earnings conference call. His words are almost as targeted and mean as a typical Jobs verbal attack.

For a full rundown of all the new tablets at CES, check out our CES 2011 Tablet Roundup.

On Windows 7 tablets

When asked about tablets, Cook began his attack on Windows 7 tablet PCs, which he views as relics of the past, already rejected by the market.

Cook: “If you look at what’s shipping today, there’s not much out there as you know. Generally speaking, there’s two kinds of groups today at best on the market today. Ones using a Windows tablet PC, are fairly big and heavy and expensive. They have weak battery life, they require a stylus, and from our point of view and what’s we’ve seen customers are just not interested in them.”

On current Android tablets

After hitting Windows, Cook moved onto Android, but concentrated on current Android 2.2 tablets like Samsung’s Galaxy Tab.

Cook: “Then you have the Android tablet, and the variety are out shipping today, the operating system really wasn’t designed for a tablet. Google has said this, so this is not just an Apple view by any means. And so you wind up having a size of a tablet that is less than what we believe is reasonable, or one that we provide what we feel is the real tablet experience. So basically, you end up with a sort of scaled-up smartphone, which is a bizarre product, in our view. Then you’ve got a third group–those are the two that are shipping today–and frankly speaking it’s hard for me to understand if somebody does a side-by-side with an iPad, and some enormous percentage of people are going to select an iPad there–those are not [products] that we have any concern on.”

On future Android tablets

Finally, he moved on to future Android tablets like the Motorola Xoom, calling them vaporware.

Cook: “The next generation of Android tablets, which is what you discussed primarily at CES – there’s nothing shipping yet, and so I don’t know. Generally they lack performance specs; they lack prices; they lack timing; and so today they are vapor. We’ll assess them as they come out, wherever, but we’re not sitting still, and we have a huge first mover advantage. And we have an incredible user experience from iTunes to the App Store and an enormous number of apps and a hugee ecosystem. So we’re very very confident.”

$3.9 billion supply contract

As an aside, Cook was asked about a $3.9 billion supply component contract Apple recently signed. He refused to give any detail about it, saying that it’s “something I don’t want our competition knowing,” but said that it was a strategic buy, similar to something like flash memory, reports ZDNet. What could it be?

Editors' Recommendations

Jeffrey Van Camp
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As DT's Deputy Editor, Jeff helps oversee editorial operations at Digital Trends. Previously, he ran the site's…
The best tablet deals you can shop before Prime Day 2020
apple ipad pro 11 and 12 9 deals prime day 2020 lowest price

Can't wait any longer for Prime Day deals to land on October 13? If you're in the market for a shiny new tablet, there are bound to be some fantastic Prime Day tablet deals coming your way -- but there's no need to wait. We're as excited about Prime Day as you are, so we've hunted down some of the best tablet deals you can shop right now, from Samsung Galaxy tablet deals to deals on the latest Apple iPad. But you'd better move fast -- they won't be around forever.
-- $118, was $150

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A has an 8-inch screen, up to 13 hours of battery life, and 32GB of storage, expandable up to 512GB via microSD. It's a great tablet for kids or students, with Kids Mode allowing you to restrict app and internet access and a powerful processor that makes multitasking a breeze. It's slim and lightweight too, so it's ideal for slinging in a backpack for school or college, and it has USB-C charging and a 3.5mm audio jack -- good news if you don't want to invest in wireless earbuds. You can get $32 off the silver version right now on Amazon.

Read more
Best Labor Day Tablet Deals 2020: Apple and Samsung
apple ipad mini pro samsung galaxy tab s6 deals best buy work from home sale 10 5 review screen angle 1 768x768

Labor Day is back and this year the sales are better than ever. It’s as if retailers took a look at the summer we’ve had and said, collectively, “these guys need a break,” and have offered some terrific Labor Day sales. As we look toward going back to school, or just to upgrade our tech in the home, some of the handiest gear in 2020 takes the form of tablets, which are solving more problems than ever before. Fortunately, there are oodles of fantastic Labor Day tablet deals just waiting to be snapped up today.
Today's best Labor Day Tablet Deals

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (32GB, Wi-Fi) -- $118, was $150
Apple iPad 10.2 (32GB, Wi-Fi, Latest Model) -- $279, was $329
Apple iPad Mini (64GB, Wi-Fi, Latest Model) -- $350, was $399
Apple iPad Mini (64GB, Cellular + Wi-Fi, Latest Model) -- $480, was $530
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 (128GB, Wi-Fi) -- $530, was $650
Apple iPad Air (256GB, Wi-Fi, Latest Model) -- $550, was $650
Apple iPad Air (256GB, Cellular + Wi-Fi, Latest Model) -- $680, was $780

Read more
5 tablet deals you really can’t afford to miss this Father’s Day
iPad-Pro-12.9-Case

Celebrate this coming Father’s Day with your favorite breadwinner by giving him an excellent tablet he can use for both work and play. You’ve got the pick of the litter with the iPad 10.2 and iPad Air, the Samsung Galaxy Tabs S5e and Samsung Galaxy Tab S6, and the Microsoft Surface Go, with prices starting at only $279 and maxing out at $530. If these aren't convincing enough for you, check out the Black Friday tablet deals for more options.
Apple iPad 10.2 — $279, was $329

The Apple iPad is a staple in most households because of its unbeatable ease of use and stylish functionality. The latest model, released only in 2019, measures a small yet versatile 10.2 inches, making it lightweight without being difficult to use. Navigation is also made incredibly simple thanks to Apple’s signature Retina display that eliminates all lag and makes using the iPad feel silky smooth. It doesn’t have cellular capabilities though and can only connect to the internet. Thankfully, this shouldn’t affect most of its capabilities and it saves you literally hundreds of dollars, especially if you already have a smartphone on-hand. The iPad’s 32GB storage capacity is, unfortunately, a bit low, so programs will easily eat through chunks of it and leave little to no room for other files and pictures you might want to store. As long as you manage your space or opt for cloud storage, you shouldn’t have any other issues. Whether your dad is an Apple loyalist or a newbie, he’s sure to appreciate an Apple iPad. If you’re interested, you can check it out on Amazon where it’s on sale for $279, down from its retail price of $329.
BUY NOW

Read more