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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| MWC 2016: Huawei unveils MateBook Windows 10 tablet | MWC 2016: Huawei unveils MateBook Windows 10 tablet |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Huawei has announced its first Windows 10 tablet, a day before Mobile World Congress in Barcelona begins. | |
| The MateBook is designed to be an alternative to laptops and is thinner than Microsoft's rival Surface Pro 4 thanks to its use of a USB-C port. | The MateBook is designed to be an alternative to laptops and is thinner than Microsoft's rival Surface Pro 4 thanks to its use of a USB-C port. |
| The Chinese firm is already the world's third-bestselling mobile phone-maker, but until now had only made tablets powered by Android. | The Chinese firm is already the world's third-bestselling mobile phone-maker, but until now had only made tablets powered by Android. |
| Experts said it made good business sense to expand into the new category. | Experts said it made good business sense to expand into the new category. |
| However, there was no mention of the much-rumoured P9 smartphone at Huawei's event. | However, there was no mention of the much-rumoured P9 smartphone at Huawei's event. |
| When questioned about the no-show, the firm told the BBC it did not discuss future products. | When questioned about the no-show, the firm told the BBC it did not discuss future products. |
| Thinner, lighter | Thinner, lighter |
| The MateBook features a 12in (30.5cm) display and can be clipped into an add-on keyboard and used with a stylus. | The MateBook features a 12in (30.5cm) display and can be clipped into an add-on keyboard and used with a stylus. |
| Its advantages over Microsoft's Surface Pro 4 are that it is: | Its advantages over Microsoft's Surface Pro 4 are that it is: |
| However, the disadvantages are that Huawei's machine is only offered with a sixth generation Core M processor, and not Intel's more powerful Core i5 or i7 chips. | However, the disadvantages are that Huawei's machine is only offered with a sixth generation Core M processor, and not Intel's more powerful Core i5 or i7 chips. |
| In addition, the decision to rely on a USB-C port means that older peripherals cannot be attached directly to the machine and it lacks a built-in display port. | In addition, the decision to rely on a USB-C port means that older peripherals cannot be attached directly to the machine and it lacks a built-in display port. |
| In order to gain USB 2 and external display connections, users will need to carry an adapter, which also includes an ethernet port. The tablet does, however, have a built-in SD memory card slot. | In order to gain USB 2 and external display connections, users will need to carry an adapter, which also includes an ethernet port. The tablet does, however, have a built-in SD memory card slot. |
| One other unusual feature about the machine is that its stylus includes a laser pointer at the opposite end to its nib. | One other unusual feature about the machine is that its stylus includes a laser pointer at the opposite end to its nib. |
| Marketing costs | Marketing costs |
| One company watcher said he was "totally underwhelmed" by the product, but said he could understand why it had been developed. | One company watcher said he was "totally underwhelmed" by the product, but said he could understand why it had been developed. |
| "I expect that Huawei will receive contributions to its marketing costs from Intel and Microsoft," said Ben Wood from the CCS Insight consultancy. | "I expect that Huawei will receive contributions to its marketing costs from Intel and Microsoft," said Ben Wood from the CCS Insight consultancy. |
| "Both of them will want to go to great lengths to help it promote the product, and that takes out some of the risk for Huawei. | "Both of them will want to go to great lengths to help it promote the product, and that takes out some of the risk for Huawei. |
| "I should add that it has also been beautifully engineered. But even so, this is a segment of the market that is getting very crowded very quickly with Lenovo and Samsung also having recently announced similar products." | "I should add that it has also been beautifully engineered. But even so, this is a segment of the market that is getting very crowded very quickly with Lenovo and Samsung also having recently announced similar products." |
| Apple also put its iPad Pro on sale in November, which likewise has a stylus and clip-on keyboard but still uses the firm's mobile iOS operating system. | Apple also put its iPad Pro on sale in November, which likewise has a stylus and clip-on keyboard but still uses the firm's mobile iOS operating system. |
| Detachable tablets | Detachable tablets |
| PC shipments are forecast to fall further this year - research firm Gartner has predicted they will decrease by about 1% - and tablet shipments as a whole are expected to see an even steeper drop. | PC shipments are forecast to fall further this year - research firm Gartner has predicted they will decrease by about 1% - and tablet shipments as a whole are expected to see an even steeper drop. |
| But the so-called "detachable tablet" category, which includes the MateBook, is growing. | But the so-called "detachable tablet" category, which includes the MateBook, is growing. |
| Sales were up 75% in 2015 and are forecast to double again this year, according to market intelligence firm IDC. | Sales were up 75% in 2015 and are forecast to double again this year, according to market intelligence firm IDC. |
| "It's a product category that we are going to see more people get involved in as it's a good way for the mobile players to attack the PC market," commented Tim Coulling, an analyst at the tech consultancy Canalys. | "It's a product category that we are going to see more people get involved in as it's a good way for the mobile players to attack the PC market," commented Tim Coulling, an analyst at the tech consultancy Canalys. |
| "But the thing is, Microsoft Surface Pro benefits from the company's brand name and also makes use of the firm's business-to-business sales channels." | "But the thing is, Microsoft Surface Pro benefits from the company's brand name and also makes use of the firm's business-to-business sales channels." |
| These are things where Huawei's MateBook could be at a disadvantage, he added. | These are things where Huawei's MateBook could be at a disadvantage, he added. |
| The entry-level MateBook will cost $699 (£485) when it goes on sale later this year, making it $100 cheaper than the basic Surface Pro 4. | The entry-level MateBook will cost $699 (£485) when it goes on sale later this year, making it $100 cheaper than the basic Surface Pro 4. |
| To purchase its keyboard, MatePen and MateDock will cost an additional $277. | To purchase its keyboard, MatePen and MateDock will cost an additional $277. |
| Follow all the BBC's MWC coverage via the "Mobile World Congress 2016" tag in our news app. | Follow all the BBC's MWC coverage via the "Mobile World Congress 2016" tag in our news app. |
| You can also keep track of our technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones and the rest of the team covering the Barcelona event via a dedicated Twitter list. | You can also keep track of our technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones and the rest of the team covering the Barcelona event via a dedicated Twitter list. |