万花筒 2010-04-17&04-018 当iPad遇到wePad?（在线收听）

It’s a case of David and Goliath of the small German company tries to take on US technology giant Apple. Berlin-based Neofonie is launching its answer to Apple’s iPad.

This is the WePad. It’s a touch screen computer designed by the firm of a hundred and eighty staff, based in the German capital, and it’s being manufactured in Asia. The WePad has two USB gateways and is fitted with a webcam, allowing users to access video conferencing software such as Skype. Pre-ordering begins at the end of the month. A Neofonie’s manager says things are already looking positive.

”We already have more than twenty thousand pre-order registrations directly from consumers who are saying I am going to buy that thing as soon as possible just tell me when I can have it.”

WePad prices start from 449 Euros. It’s extra for Wi-fi, 3G, GPS and Full HD video. Those have been testing Apple’s iPad think the WePad has a lot to live up to.

”The iPad works very well but it’s like a television for the internet. The WePad could have more potentiality for the promises that would make news conferences are kept. I think that's rather unlikely because this is a big deal. If you want to make a device which performs as well as the iPad , it’s really very fast and Apple spent a lot of money on these chips which are in there. They bought a company and spent huge amounts of money. Neofonie can’t claim that and WePad can’t achieve that.”

But Neofonie isn’t too worried about the views of a few technology journalists ,it’s the customers who really count.