Will Google Nexus 7 and Microsoft Surface trump iPad?

In an influential article by Forbes, writer Panos Mourdoukoutas has spoken about “Why Google’s Nexus 7 and Microsoft’s Surface Tablets Will Beat the iPad.”

Poor Apple. The company just can’t catch a break at the moment. They’ve recently come under fire for their Apple Genius adverts, which they removed from television this week. Samsung also recently announced that they will be releasing their Galaxy Note 2 in August, just two weeks shy of when Apple is meant to be releasing their new iPhone. It’s stiff competition at the moment for the technology brand and it’s about to get stiffer.

Forbes, an esteemed American business magazine released an article on Thursday claiming that Apple’s iPad will start to lose market share with the release of Google’s Nexus 7 and Microsoft’s Surface tablet. We hope for Apple’s sake that all publicity is good publicity.

Mourdoukoutas, in his article, compares the two tablets and says, “Microsoft and Google are latecomers in a brutal industry that has already taken casualties … But perhaps, they’ve learned a thing or two from the mistakes of those that came before it.” He outlines the hardware differences between the three devices as well as the software, noting that Google and Microsoft have not directly competed with Apple, targeting their own niche in the tablet industry.

However some writers have already hit back, like Mark Hattersley from Macworld, arguing that some of Mourdoukoutas’ claims are not backed with evidence. For example, he raises a good point with regards to Mourdoukoutas’ comment that the Nexus 7 has been received successfully by consumers because it has a lower price than the iPad : “There is no evidence to suggest that in the long term, what the market wants is smaller cheaper, less capable tablets.” Take that Google.

He adds, “Microsoft’s Surface is, to our mind, built on even shakier foundations. As with Windows Phone, Microsoft does deserve credit for attempting to create a mobile device with a different device with a different approach to Apple; which could broaden the definition of what a tablet is for.” And take that Microsoft with your shaky foundations and attempts at creating a mobile device.

The good news is that there are still those who are die-hard Apple fans who refuse to believe that the current competition is anything more than a fly on the windshield. But if Forbes is starting to doubt Apple’s future success and you’re in the market for a tablet, you may want to do your own research before automatically deciding on an iPad.