Android Tablets Will Crush IPad, Says Dell

At least that's what Dell Vice President of Global Marketing Andy Lark told CIO Australia.

"Longer term, open, capable and affordable will win, not closed, high price and proprietary", Lark told the news site. "Apple is great if you've got a lot of money and live on an island. It's not so great if you have to exist in a diverse, open, connected enterprise; simple things become quite complex".

Lark's comments require some imagination. Sales of the iPad 2, released earlier this month, have not yet been released, but long backorder lists and a lack of stock in stores suggests that demand has far outstripped supply. The original iPad has sold 14 million units.

Meanwhile, Dell's answer to the iPad, the Streak, isn't doing as hot. Apple is expected is maintain 70 percent of the tablet market this year, according to research firm Digitimes, despite hoards of Android-based newcomers.

But Lark may be right about the longer-term view. Android is certainly on the rise. The iPhone looked unbeatable until Android stormed the market. Android-based devices, including smartphones as well as tablets, made up 29 percent of the market in early March, with Apple and RIM in second place at 27 percent each, according to Nielsen.

Like the iPhone, the iPad defined what a consumer-friendly device in its class should be. Apple will continue to refine it, but with HTC, Dell, Motorola, Viewsonic, Ingram and Archos all on the Android tablet bandwagon, Apple's head start may well begin to erode soon.