Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

http://crave.cnet.co.uk/laptops/0,39...9293967,00.htm

Let's get up in arms and compare it to the internet tablet. Some of you may say that this is an unfair comparison because they are obviously two different classes of device. But I offer the following proof.

a.) They both have touch screens
b.) They both have the word tablet in their name

No word yet on whether or not the Apple tablet will be a cell phone as well, but judging on the handdrawn pictures I would recommend the following IKEA furniture to compliment it:

The RAMVIK Coffee Table (While this has two drawers, make sure all of your Apple products are displayed on the shiny glass top. If you catch the perfect angle, the reflection will make it look like you have twice the number of Apple products! At the price you paid, that's almost what other equally good equipment would cost!):
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/90103720

HASTVIDA Chair (Perfect for enhancing your slouchy posture and "I'm hip and don't care" unkempt head of hair. Won't even further rip the pre-ripped jeans you bought at the mall!):
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/80075483

I eagerly await word of whether or not it will have a cell radio. We put a pillow next to our head every time we sleep at night, why not a 15 inch tablet while talking on the phone?

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

Presumably it won't have a phone, but - depending on size - will be positioned as either a tablet Mac, or a larger iPod Touch for use around the home.

I'll leave the Ikea shopping to your obviously expert opinion ;-)

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

Sarcasm aside, tablet PCs interest me. I just know that it's going to be treated like a stone tablte with Lord Jobs' commandments etched into them.

Fanboyism aside, I wonder how it's going to compare horsepower-wise with it's desktop brethren. They've obviously got experience cramming processing power into sleek form factors, I hope it translates well to tablet form. I wonder how durable it'll be? And most importantly, how much it'll cost. (And second most important, can I dump Ubuntu on it?)

What I dread, is the inevitable apples and oranges comparisons that I guarantee are coming.

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

If Apple ever releases this device, I will buy one and eat it publicly on YouTube.

I just don't see the point. A4 tablets have specific niches in which they make sense, such as in hospitals or warehouses, but for everybody else they're just too big and clunky. Why would anybody want such an unportable device that lacks a keyboard?

Also, Apple's chief business plan for the last 10 years has been built around multimedia and the home user (iPod, Apple TV, Mac Mini). How will an A4 tablet fit in with that? And Apple tend to be innovative but how could they make an A4 tablet any less of a disaster than it already is? The A4 tablet form factor is broken. There's nothing you can add to it to make it work. You can't simplify it to make it any better, which is how Apple usually works.

Now Apple might be considering producing an smaller tablet but they've effectively already done that with the iPhone and the iPod touch. But they could easily produce a Nokia Internet tablet competitor -- a dedicated internet tool with Flash, Java, full media support etc. My prediction remains that they will do this within five years and pretty much blow Nokia out of the water.

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

I think this would be really cool. It seems most tablet pc's have been aimed at business people and students, good for jotting down notes and giving presentations. I see thet apple tablet as a very good tool for graphic designers and artists. Macs are very popular with artists and combining the Mac OS with the ease of drawing using a stylus would be a good thing for them. (This is all assuming that they give it enough power to be useful) This is a small niche, but its also just a non-windows option for people that want a tablet.

Just my thoughts.

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

I think the problem is, is that these devices are always too expensive to just be mass-market toys. If Apple could pull off making this a family-friendly, kickstand-havin', coffee-table-sittin', etch-a-sketchin', internet-surfin', remote controllin' TOY for around the house, it could be a smash. Of course, Apple would price the thing way out of the general public's fun budget and it would turn into a piece of pseudo religious iconnery for the cult de la jobs.

I think something like this would be a great home companion for a device like the N800. I'm guessing it would have BT mouse and keyboard support- which would make it an ideal second computer for more business-oriented tasks.

Still, the apple tablet will probably end up being the $2000 equivalent of a giant Ipod touch, which will do nobody any good.

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

Can't wait to find out the real form factor..

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

Unportable? No keyboard? Until we see otherwise, I'm going to assume this is like most of the commonly released tablet PC's that are the same size as a laptop, open like a laptop BUT can swivel around and be used in tablet mode.

if Apple made this, I will finally upgrade my macbook pro :)

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

It would be interesting to see what Apple would put in such a tablet, if this prediction were to come true.

Still, having used Macs for most of my computing since I first had one back in 1985, I would be especially surprised if this predicted tablet didn't cost 50 to 100 percent more than the Internet Tablets available at that point in the future.

Roger

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

It's probably going to look something like this. Hopefully they actually make one. There's only been rumors of a mac tablet for the last 6 years or so.


http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ModBook


I'd buy one of these before the iPhone.

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

Take the ModBook recipe, put in a Core ULV and shrink the screen to 10.6" or so -- how big is the typical Wacom tablet that graphic artists use? This will let them draw on the screen itself.

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

See, my main problem whether they stick to A4 or dive down into NIT size... is that if it has that logo on it, everyone will buy it and profess that it's much better. Very little objective commentary exists with Apple's lineup.

I should clarify, my sarcasm is intended to be in good fun. Great they're running a Unix variant as their OS, but really, the legions of fans irk me.

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

Apple already had a kick-*** PDA/tablet. It was called the Newton MessagePad 2100.
Jobs killed it. What makes you think for a second he wishes to be publicly ridiculed by the press who WILL be drawing comparisons between the MP2100 and any tablet Apple produces?
If you EVER see a new tablet device from Apple it will be a touchscreen convertible option on their Macbook Pro line FIRST if they can get around the patent trolls from the Tablet PC and UMPC manufacturers.
Their current iPhone is much, much more lucrative from a financial standpoint than any Apple-produced tablet could be and THAT'S where they will be concentrating their efforts in the near future. Apple is just doing what any other company <cough>IBM<cough> does and patenting anything they can think up as a pre-emptive "just in case" ***-covering maneuver to keep the patent trolls at bay.

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

At least IBM donated a truckload of its patents to the community...

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

I think this is unfair. Certainly true in the past, when pre-Jobs-revival Apple execs openly boasted about their ridiculous profit margins.

But in the Jobsian Apple universe, the products cost about the same as a decent equivalent, with perhaps a 10% premium because it's Apple. Don't forget too that Apple only just broke even on early iPods because the hard disks were so expensive. They're a company that's prepared to take a risk to dominate a marketplace.

If Apple were to release a Nokia tablet competitor, I think they'd price it at around $299. It would be a little more than the N810. Apple also tend to sell at full price, rather than discount.

But I think even this is dreaming. The problem is that nobody can get a grasp on what the Nokia tablet is. It's really hard to sum up the functionality without sounding lame.

Did you see the Apple Expo presentation when Jobs introduced the iPhone? it went something like this.

Jobs: It's an iPod!
Crowd: CHEER!
Jobs: It plays videos
Crowd: CHEER!
Jobs: It's a cell phone!
Crowd: CHEER!
Jobs: It's a portable internet device
Crowd: (silence, with some concerned mumbling)

I can't remember the exact phrase he used to describe the internet connectivity, but it was something really clunky. Yet that Internet connectivity is one of the main selling points, beyond the key functionality.

Of course, the whole point of Apple is that they take a technology that's clunky and make it usable (the iPod being a superb example, but also the iPhone). So they could pull this off. But it's going to take a massive amount of creativity and marketing.

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

Would you, please, uh, do it earlier? I think thoughtfix video contest is about to end and I will like to submit it with YOU, my partner, as a team:p. I promise I will even split the prize with you:o.


bun

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

Why would I want half an N810? :rolleyes:

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

That's my thought. I'm hearing some talk of that this tablet is also the Apple PDA described in the earlier rumor, meaning it will be around 1.5 times the size of an iphone, which would give it a 5.25" screen, and means it would fit in a pocket almost as well as a n800 or n810. Such a device would be direct competition for the ITs, and in fact whether I get an n810 or a Apple PDA/tablet depends upon what features it comes with, price, and similar considerations. If it has GPS and real (ie back-facing) autofocus camera, I'll probably go with the Apple tablet.

OTOH, it could just as easily be a device with a 8"-10" screen, which seems clunky and difficult to carry, and I'm honestly not certain why anyone would want such a thing.

I guess we'll all know in January.

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

An Apple PDA, that allowed developers to write software for it, and had a screen...writing surface like the iphone would be sweet. All solid state and mostly spillproof would make this the perfect kitchen or poolside internet appliance. Of course, they would have uses in the professional fields as well...for doctors and people in plants...etc.

Here is what it should have to be successful.

1. Shock resistant.
2. Spillproof.
3. Lightweight.
4. 5+ hours of battery life while in use.
5. Quiet...fanless if possible.
6. Stand so it can be propped up.
7. Several days of battery life on standby.
8. Built in stylus but work fine with fat fingers.
9. Scratch resistant, impact resistant screen.
10. Web, Flash, Java, Ajax.
11. Bluetooth.
12. USB and USB host.
13. Built in office suite...possibly Open Office
14. Built in PIM software.
15. User replaceable battery.
16. 8-16Gb internal flash storage
17. Decently loud speakers.
18. WIFI b,g,n.
19. Open to third party software developers.

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

I wouldn't hold my breath for an open device from apple :)

they are known as control freaks. If you want examples: MaxOSX (there is no reason it wouldn't work on other hardware, not just apple), iphone, ipod touch, all ipods actually even if some can run linux. I know some of those have 3rd party apps but they are hacked apps which tend to break on every firmware update.

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

Yeah, I'd be leery of buying an Apple even if after they open the SDK. On the other hand, I'm known to be stubborn. I made my choice in early September: Apple's handheld line was insufficient and closed, Nokia's was open. And I like my Nokia. But it's possible for Apple to get me back.

Assuming the "NewNewton" is indeed a slightly bigger iPod Touch type device, with some extra capability, here's what I'd want for Apple to win me back:

1) add bluetooth to the iPod Classic (so it can be a storage device for the iPod Touch, iPhone, and New-Newton)

2) have some form of physical keyboard on the New-Newton (twist screen micro-laptop format, pepper-pad/q1/wibrain split keyboard, slide-n-tilt micro-laptop format) (though, I will probably accept if they have a different type of virutal keyboard than the iPhone; the original samsung q1 had a virtual keyboard which was split like their later model's physical keyboard, and translucently hovered over your screen ... the larger formfactor of the newnewton rumor might make that feasible, and I'd accept that as a possible substitute for a physical keyboard, esp. as it must be usable in landscape mode with ssh and vnc ... but only having the option for the iPhone type keyboard, usable only in portrait mode, wouldn't be good enough)

3) don't put a GSM radio in the New-Newton (so it's not tied to any particular service); but do have bluetooth PAN and DUN, and enable those on the iPhone and iPod Touch, so that you can use your iPhone, or _any_ bluetooth phone, as your internet gateway for the New-Newton and the iPod Touch.

4) ssh client built in (ideally: Terminal application with command-line open ssh, just like on a Mac or NIT), VNC and Apple Remote Desktop (all available on the NewNewton, iPhone, and iPod Touch)

5) beef up the iPod Touch so that it has all of the same read/write apps that the iPhone has, just no phone call ability, and no SMS app. Everything else should be identical. These should also all be on the NewNewton.

6) add an iChat client to the iPhone/iPod-Touch/NewNewton

7) allow the iPod-Touch and NewNewton to use bluetooth to fully control the iPhone, or any other phone with the right bluetooth profile.

8) continued strong support for syncing to the desktop, but also add syncing with Google for contacts, calendar, and email.

9) the NewNewton should have full AJAX, Flash, and Java SDK's. Python and Perl would be nice too. It's ok with me if these aren't available on the iPod Touch and iPhone, but only if it's a footprint issue (not enough storage, not enough CPU, not enough RAM), and not just a "we don't want you to run it on those devices" issue.

10) the iPhone, iPod Touch, and NewNewton must all support bluetooth keyboards (both HID and SPP mode). Some form of external display would be nice too (doesn't have to be a physical connector; a VNC server would be good enough ... OR if you dock them to a Mac, having the ability to transparently access all of your device's functionality (apps, phone calls via desktop apps, etc.) on your Mac desktop, would be good enough)

11) a Skype client for the NewNewton would be nice (I don't think the iPod Touch has a microphone for that, so I wouldn't expect to see that, plus it would then compete with the iPhone).


In this arrangement:

a) the iPod classic becomes your "pocket storage device" that you don't really have to directly touch ... and they can keep you buying these older iPods just for that purpose (or to use directly if you don't have the other devices)

b) the iPhone is your personal area network gateway to the internet if you need GSM type mobility instead of only having wifi.

c) you can pick either an iPhone, an iPod Touch, or a NewNewton as your handset, depending on size and formfactor needs (such as the NewNewton having a physical keyboard, whether or not you want/need Java apps, etc.).

(so, if you don't need GSM, and you don't need the bigger screen, put an iPod Classic in your pocket and the iPod Touch in your hand and ignore the Phone part; if you want the bigger screen, GSM, and 160GB of files, you carry a NewNewton, iPhone, and iPod Classic; if you want EVDO instead of GSM, then just substitute a suitable EVDO phone into that plan (apple shouldn't balk at that; they've already sold you 2 devices in that picture); etc.)


But that's just my minimum requirements. They would also have to show me that the release of the SDK really is a way to let the community develop for the platform. No more bricking for adding apps.


And, note, if Nokia looks at that same list, and finds what functionality is missing, the N8x0 already fits role #c quite well. If Seagate gets the DAVE out the door, or Agere gets the BluOnyx out the door, then those can fill role #a for Nokia's participation in this list. The NITs are _mainly_ just lacking some key apps and syncing ability (and said bluetooth storage device, and the ability to remote control a bluetooth phone). If Nokia finished this list first, then I probably couldn't be lured back to Apple in any way (esp. if Nokia can sync with Thunderbird contacts, and puts in a real IMAP client ... ).

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

I don't believe Apple will be able to name their tablet the iTablet like everyone thinks... Already take by this company. Which, btw, is really odd...

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

iPhone was already taken too.

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

johnkzin: No offense, but I don't see the point of these wishlists..you think Apple is going to read these forums to see how to win the Nokia users back? They will choose features that will bring Apple profit, not per se what users say they want.

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

As neat as an Apple tablet would be (mostly just because it would force everyone else to bring their A-game to the tablet market), I'm not convinced. But beyond that, I really doubt the 'big PDA' form factor.

They have the iPhone. They have the touch iPod.
What market would they capture by making it the size of a 5x7 pad? Are there alot of people holding off from a touch iPod because they really wanted it to be about an inch longer on each side?

The only thing that remotely makes sense is an 8.5x11-ish slate. That'd neatly round out the demands for a mac ultraportable (just buy a bluetooth mac keyboard if you need to type) and exist as something very distinct from the iphone and phone-less iphone. That size would at least have a definable purpose and niche.

Also, supposing the SDK isn't a horrible joke - the iphone and touch are going to be true competitors to the NITs in very short order.

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

Apple would probably make something extremely similar to the Amtek iTablet.

Of course, if Amtek asks $2,237 for that thing, I don't see Apple going any lower.

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

So, I shouldn't say what's on my mind? I shouldn't communicate my preferences? or communicate them in a way that might cause Nokia to also notice them, and perhaps get there first? (perhaps I posted a similar list in an apple oriented location, but felt they might be discussion worthy in this thread, as well)

You seem to come from the perspective that all communication must be of a practical goal oriented outcome (it would be the only perspective that would keep more fanciful posts, such as the one you're railing against, from being valuable). You might want to reconsider that.

Re: Apple Tablet Confirmed by ASUS
 

a number of people clearly want what would be an updated zaurus (convertible tablet with wifi, bluetooth etc) running newton software! The amtek thing is pretty big and its display isn't particularly hi resolution - the sony tx2 is 1366x768 in 11" for example.

why not buy a flybook and put OSX on it?