The assumptions by the slate article defy the nature of constantly improving hardware with falling prices.
The iPad, unlike the iPhone, doesn't get to benefit from the carrier subsidies that hide the real price from consumers. The radical majority of iPad sales are the wifi model. The iPad will be left to compete straight up on price, much like Apple's PC products.
Cheap tablets will dominate the market, Mr. Moore will make sure of it.
And much like in the music player market, I suspect the bulk of those cheap tablets will have an Apple logo on it. You do realize that Apple will also get to benefit from cheaper component prices? Only moreso than their competitors because they will be able to pre-order them in huge volumes.
I absolutely disagree. Unfortunately there is no data on how much each version of iPad has sold, but eBay says that Wi-Fi model accounts for about 60% of all (of their) iPad sales: http://www.quora.com/iPad/What-percentage-of-iPads-sold-are-...
On the other hand, it's been rumored that Apple (at least for the first batch of iPad 2's) had ordered 60% 3G and 40% Wi-Fi: http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/02/04/over_60_of_app...
I believe the first (60% Wi-Fi), but still it's not * radical majority*.
Really great software for tablets takes massive resources to develop - e.g. GarageBand or the new iPhoto.
At the moment, Android tablets are caught in a chicken and egg situation - there isn't enough penetration to justify massive development efforts, and this seems to be getting worse, not better.
How do you see them overcoming this?