Details on Apple's Portable Mini-Tablet Device?

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

A Seekingalpha article (http://seekingalpha.com/article/58345-details-of-apple-s-mysterious-new-portable-device) claims to have details on an upcoming Apple portable device which is described as a touch screen device. The details are claimed to come from "several different sources" over the past 6 months.

- Touch Screen device Larger than iPhone featuring one distinguishing button or depression on each side
- 5.2" 800x480 pixel touch screen by Balda
- No keyboard, multi-touch only

SeekingAlpha accepts outside article submissions (http://seekingalpha.com/page/submit_an_article) and it appears that this author is simply a new contributor. And the content of his article appears to simply be reprints from his own blog. As a result the information should be considered unreliable until further data can be collected.

The concept of a Apple Mini-Tablet device is not new with first claims (http://www.macrumors.com/2007/09/26/the-return-of-the-newton-apple-pda/) coming from Appleinsider in September. At that time, Appleinsider claimed that Apple had an ongoing PDA project described as an ultra-thin slate about 1.5 times the size of the existing iPhone with a high resolution (720x480) screen.

Article Link (http://www.macrumors.com/2007/12/26/details-on-apples-portable-mini-tablet-device/)

[Eidorian]

So should I buy an iPod Touch, iPhone, this bugger, or stick with my laptop? :confused:

[Kilamite]

I want one.

[Grimace]

Considering the low resolution, I wouldn't touch one.

[Wayfarer]

Small can be nice and practical, depending on one's needs.

Bring it on! :apple: :D

[Rocketman]

Apple Tablet Not Nano? (ATNN). This might be a strong BUY.

Rocketman

[plumbingandtech]

I'll take one too.

(and I have an iphone.)

[VolceOntra]

Mac Mini?

2nd gen?

[Wayfarer]

Then again, could this be the all new revolutionary "MacinTouch™?" :eek:

[Mydel]

Yeah sound cool, but I wanna see first what can it do.

[Kilamite]

Considering the low resolution, I wouldn't touch one.

Considering the size of the device, the resolution is perfectly adequate.

[mkrishnan]

Considering the low resolution, I wouldn't touch one.

I'm hoping that if only one rumor between this and a subnotebook come true, it's the subnotebook. I do have to say, however, that 800x480 is surprisingly usable for web browsing and daily activities, after almost two months with my Eee. There are a small handful of sites that are a nuisance with it, but if I judge by how often I'm sitting at the Eee and get up to use my iMac or another readily available desktop instead to browse because the screen frustrates me, that almost never happens.

I have somewhat more mixed feelings about 5" though.... that resolution at 7" is already fairly high-DPI. For using it more than in passing for surfing, 5" strikes me as too small.

[AmbitiousLemon]

I have no doubt that Apple is experimenting with handhelds of various sorts - in fact we know for a fact they have been doing so since long before the iPhone was around. I do find the tablet/touchmac/pda the least probable of the various rumors surrounding MacWorld releases though.

I don't expect any radicle new products at MacWorld. I think we'll get a small portable that, while very cool, is still very much just a portable. We'll hear a bit about the iPhone and perhaps see some previews of apps being developed by special third party partners with the sdk. There will be talk of how well leopard is selling. But the main piece will be those new form factor bitty laptops. People expecting anything too far out of the box will be disappointed.

But Apple will continue experimenting with small form factor machines (as they have been for many years now), and as the touch and iphone lines mature we'll see successes of the experimentations trickle down into these existing handheld and small form factor product lines.

[Faye]

Hmm, an Apple N800. I wonder what the pricepoint for that would be?

[Daveway]

I don't see this holding any weight. It's way too niche for Apple to bring out. A 5.5" touch device. Are you people serious?! Its too big for pocket or purse and too small to warrant its own case as a commodity product.

An Apple tablet would have to enter the 12" region to be of any use as an actual tablet people would use to compute regardless of resolution.

[igazza]

haha i dont think so .

[kornyboy]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/3B48b Safari/419.3)

Interesting but I don't know if I would purchase one or not. It would need a heck of a lot more functionality than the iPhone for me to consider. The 5.2" screen does seem a bit small but once again I'll have to see.

[desenso]

PLEASE do not release such a piece of garbage. Not a useful device.

[MonkeyClaw]

PLEASE do not release such a piece of garbage. Not a useful device.

Thats right, hell i used one last week and damn it sucked soooo terribly, who would want to buy one.:rolleyes:

Good lord, it amazes me how negative so many people on here are.

Anyways, I'd love to see a micro tablet like they are describing, I could see many uses for something like this, especially after getting an iPod touch and using multi touch on a regular basis. Its just damn cool!

[desenso]

Thats right, hell i used one last week and damn it sucked soooo terribly, who would want to buy one.:rolleyes:

Good lord, it amazes me how negative so many people on here are.

Anyways, I'd love to see a micro tablet like they are describing, I could see many uses for something like this, especially after getting an iPod touch and using multi touch on a regular basis. Its just damn cool!

So what are some uses for this that an iPod Touch is not suited for?

[nine9nin]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/3B48b Safari/419.3)

I really believe this has to do with in car navigation gps it would rock if it had winmax I think this would complement the iphone perfectly for hands free calling and no opticaly drive would make a lot of sense for a product like this google map on crack anyone?

[plumbingandtech]

So what are some uses for this that an iPod Touch is not suited for?

???????????????????? bigger screen. Start from there.

[::Lisa::]

Wow, nice. Bring it on.
I just bought mysef a iPhone, but I'll take one of these too :)

[lazyrighteye]

Wow, nice. Bring it on.
I just bought mysef a iPhone, but I'll take one of these too :)

Congrats on the iPhone, Lisa!

While I agree with others that any MWSF hardware announcements will be less than revolutionary (thinner, ALU MacBook Pros would still = cool), I still suspect we'll see a new device in '08. Something between an iPhone and a MacBook. More UMPC than PDA or laptop.

I love my iPhone. Love my MacBook too. But there are many times something larger than the 'phone and smaller than the 'book would be very desirable.
We'll see...

[desenso]

???????????????????? bigger screen. Start from there.

That's not a use. And if anything, a larger size makes the device less useful.

Here's the only three times that I think I would use a 5 inch "tablet" described in this thread: in bed, on the sofa, or while traveling. That's it. Not in the office where I have a computer, and nowhere that I would bring my laptop. And unless it's less than $300, which it certainly won't be, I'm not buying a device that makes it possible for me to read my blogs while I'm lying in bed.

Something that large isn't pocket friendly. Now I have to carry a bag around to take it with me. I'd rather have a fully-functional ultra-portable than something with a touch screen. The iPhone is great and all, but it's a crutch and a phone, not a tablet computer. Something that blurs the line between the two is useless to me, and I'll be pissed if it steals the thunder at MacWorld, because I have bigger expectations.

[plumbingandtech]

A sketchpad, and idea pad, an outliner pad, a lite notebook pad, a custom app pad a reader pad a......

[mpw]

I'd love to see a proper VAIO TZ competitor from Apple, but other than their OS I doubt they could significantly better the TZs spec/design(practical rather than pretty POV)

I could see therefore that they'd expand the succesful iPhone/iPod Touch format with a larger MacTablet. If they do I'd want to see at last 7", but better with say 10". I'd like to see it as open as the MacXs rather than crippled like the iPXs, which would mean being able to use a BT keyboard.

Using the Apple BT keyboard would be a good indication of size with the landscape screen being the same width of the keyboard.

[dream sequence]So 10/11" tablet, BT keyboard and a ox-blood red leather sleeve/wallet to slide the two in. Mmmmm mobile luxury computing, yum[/dream sequence]

[desenso]

A sketchpad, and idea pad, an outliner pad, a lite notebook pad, a custom app pad a reader pad a......

All I can say is that I really hope Apple isn't wasting time building a product to accomplish these tasks. Pen and paper works just fine. I'd rather have an ultra portable notebook.

[mpw]

A sketchpad, and idea pad, an outliner pad, a lite notebook pad, a custom app pad a reader pad a......
Some of the obvious uses for the tablet format, but each would require a stylus and this would be a step away from the finger painting method employed with the iPxs which I think Apple wouldn't want to do as they heralded the non-stylus input method as better and because it would mean writing software to work with a fifth(or sixth) input method.

[plumbingandtech]

Some of the obvious uses for the tablet format, but each would require a stylus and this would be a step away from the finger painting method employed with the iPxs which I think Apple wouldn't want to do as they heralded the non-stylus input method as better and because it would mean writing software to work with a fifth(or sixth) input method.

I thought about that. I think apple could "solve" the problem of a stylus being better at some of these things simply by having steve paint with his finger some drawing, then in the dry simple wit he has he grabs a stylus and says:

"And if you have a stylus, we made it work with those too."...

kinda saying it works with both but also saying the stylus would be better at some stuff like that.

[desenso]

I thought about that. I think apple could "solve" the problem of a stylus being better at some of these things simply by having steve paint with his finger some drawing, then in the dry simple wit he has he grabs a stylus and says:

"And if you have a stylus, we made it work with those too."...

kinda saying it works with both but also saying the stylus would be better at some stuff like that.

Maybe Steve could just build an iTimeMachine and we could all go back to 2001 when Tablets were all the rage. Sound good? :rolleyes:

[mpw]

I thought about that. I think apple could "solve" the problem of a stylus being better at some of these things simply by having steve paint with his finger some drawing, then in the dry simple wit he has he grabs a stylus and says:

"And if you have a stylus, we made it work with those too."...

kinda saying it works with both but also saying the stylus would be better at some stuff like that.

Maybe somebody can shed some light, but I thought the two technologies were different. The iPxs using a technology the same as a trackpad where as a 'traditional' stylus uses another technology. I've tried a stylus on a track pad and it doesn't work, not only do you need something conductive but you need a certain amount of surface area I believe, which is why a finger works fine. The point of a stylus is just that, it's point; it gives you accuracy that you don't have in a finger, but for the same reason doesn't have a surface area enough to work an iPhone.

Can somebody confirm what I think is right/wrong?

I briefly toyed with the idea of a stylus with two points that worked as a standard stylus when held at a normal writing angle, but when turned through 90º or so the second point would've allowed scrolling.

[plumbingandtech]

Maybe Steve could just build an iTimeMachine and we could all go back to 2001 when Tablets were all the rage. Sound good? :rolleyes:

Yes.

[jayducharme]

So what are some uses for this that an iPod Touch is not suited for?

I'd bet a device like that would sell quite well. After using my Touch for about a month, I can think of many uses for a bona fide OSX device in a slightly larger form factor. I love the design of the Touch. The small screen has plenty of resolution for the Web when coupled with the "pinch" motion. But what's lacking are "real" applications. If it had USB ports and I could take along Logic on a device that small, field recording would be a dream. I could also work on Keynote presentations, word processing and anything else a standard computer could do. I like the virtual keyboard on the Touch and wouldn't have any problem if it were used on a bigger screen.

I really don't think Apple has something like that in the pipe right now, but it's nice to dream. :)

[plumbingandtech]

I could take along Logic on a device that small

Did you see the proof of concept video that showed a guy controlling logic from his iphone by touching and dragging on the screen?

Too cool. I think it was on youtube.

[TechHistorian]

All I can say is that I really hope Apple isn't wasting time building a product to accomplish these tasks. Pen and paper works just fine. I'd rather have an ultra portable notebook.

Pen and paper do work quite well -- but then you have to get what you wrote onto the paper into the computer.

Some of us would like to forego that extra step.

[twoodcc]

i think i'd rather have an ultra-portable laptop. but i'm listening.....:apple:

[MonkeyClaw]

Maybe Steve could just build an iTimeMachine and we could all go back to 2001 when Tablets were all the rage. Sound good? :rolleyes:

Maybe we could take a crash course in being open minded. Constructive criticism and critique is a lost art. :rolleyes:


Instead of needing a stylus, what if perhaps you had a sort of gesture that acts as a pinpoint for drawing or writing? I was thinking and if you take the three digits you use to hold a pen or pencil, and press them together as if you were holding a pencil and it disappeared so what yo have is your middle and index finger touching each other with the thumb positioned in the middle, you have a gesture where the three together make a space in the center without any flesh.

Now seeing as how smart the multi touch software is, it should be possible for it to sense the disturbance in the field caused by the three fingers but pick up the dead spot in the center or simply triangulate the center based on the dimensions of the disruption in the field.

That center point then would be your source for drawing or writing. I just picked up my touch and was imagining it (man a thing some of us have a hard time doing) and it seems like if it was implemented properly, you could solve the problem of trying to draw with just a single finger (which i would imagine isn't very precise).

To add to it, apple put in a patent for even more gestures, some described as using three or more fingers and one that even described as the position of holding a pen or pencil, or stylus.

With something like this, you could easily draw or use it as a note pad, and have the connivence of the device being very portable. The 5" screen would make it lighter than a larger screen as well as being cheaper. Throw in wifi and this would be an awesome device.

I dunno, just a though :D

[desenso]

Instead of needing a stylus, what if perhaps you had a sort of gesture that acts as a pinpoint for drawing or writing . . .

Sounds interesting, but do I want Apple building it? Not especially. It's not the right product for them and they're not the right company. We saw with the Leopard delay that Apple has only so many resources that it can throw at any one project. That's not a criticism of the company: perhaps that's the price of pushing such incredible products. Maybe there are only so many people capable of working at Apple. These are my concerns when I hear people describing the product you just described. Only an extremely small number of people would jump all over such a device. I'd rather Apple keep pushing out products for the consumer / pro-sumer, and not some very small slice of the professional market. Let's leave devices like that to WACOM and the rest of them.

[JesLam07]

PLEASE do not release such a piece of garbage. Not a useful device.


If this rumor is really true are you going to be that upset? I mean it doesn't really effect you and you don't have to buy it. I'm sure to some people this seems like a really cool device. Different people need different devices for different things. You can't call something a peice of garbage without even seeing it or using it. That's wrong.



I really think this could be a really sweet product. I wouldn't buy one right away. I would have to wait a while and read some reviews, but I would probably buy it. I've never seen an :apple: product that I didn't like.

[imacdaddy]

I don't see this holding any weight. It's way too niche for Apple to bring out. A 5.5" touch device. Are you people serious?! Its too big for pocket or purse and too small to warrant its own case as a commodity product.

An Apple tablet would have to enter the 12" region to be of any use as an actual tablet people would use to compute regardless of resolution.

I totally agree here. Is this new device going to be used as an internet communicator or computing? If the latter, no thanks...I already have an iphone. If for computing at 5.5" and touch only, it be limiting IMHO. I can't imagine working with iWork on such a small device and how unproductive it would be to work with Numbers.

I just recently bought the Asus EEE PC (Black 4GB) and I love it! Installed Windows, OC'd to 900MHz and installed 2GB RAM. This thing is soooo ultra-portable, light and FAST! I can take it anywhere and it's cheap. I don't have to worry about it getting knocked up or losing it. It cost me only US$400 where I live. I'll think about it if they come out with a 10" and maybe even a 12" ultra-portable "computer". But at $400, it'll be hard for them to beat.

[ckurowic]

Its going to be funny as hell when all your rumor folks are watching the conference Jan 15th and see NOTHING that has to do with this. HAHAHHAHHHHAHAHHAHHAH]

do you really think a patent that was filed a month ago or even 6 months ago has a chance in heck to go into production a month later? WOW, you are NOT business people are you?

I totally agree here. Is this new device going to be used as an internet communicator or computing? If the latter, no thanks...I already have an iphone. If for computing at 5.5" and touch only, it be limiting IMHO. I can't imagine working with iWork on such a small device and how unproductive it would be to work with Numbers.

I just recently bought the Asus EEE PC (Black 4GB) and I love it! Installed Windows, OC'd to 900MHz and installed 2GB RAM. This thing is soooo ultra-portable, light and FAST! I can take it anywhere and it's cheap. I don't have to worry about it getting knocked up or losing it. It cost me only US$400 where I live. I'll think about it if they come out with a 10" and maybe even a 12" ultra-portable "computer". But at $400, it'll be hard for them to beat.


FINALLY someone who USES their BRAIN. No sarcasm.

You know, I get laughed at quite a bit on these forums. But I've been using Mac's since age 7 (The SE, in all its 68000 glory). I've never been wrong. get with the with reality people. Seriously.

[desenso]

If this rumor is really true are you going to be that upset? I mean it doesn't really effect you and you don't have to buy it. I'm sure to some people this seems like a really cool device. Different people need different devices for different things. You can't call something a peice of garbage without even seeing it or using it. That's wrong.


Yes, I will be upset because Apple has shown quite clearly that they don't have an enormous amount of manpower to spread across a ton of products. Something like this would be detrimental to the rest of their product line.

Based on the stats, it's a useless piece of garbage.

In any case there's no way Apple is going to build what was described in this thread, so I'm not worried.

[Orng]

Here's the only three times that I think I would use a 5 inch "tablet" described in this thread: in bed, on the sofa, or while traveling.

You can use almost any cellphone or smartphone in bed or on the sofa. Just set it to vibrate.

Seriously though, who gets upset about someone releasing a product that they have no intention of buying? I don't play golf, but there are all these companies selling high tech golf clubs, what the hell are they thinking? Don't they know I don't play golf? And what's with all these pick-up trucks they're selling these days, I don't need to haul stuff! :)

[jayducharme]

Did you see the proof of concept video that showed a guy controlling logic from his iphone by touching and dragging on the screen? Too cool. I think it was on youtube.

Yeah, I saw it. But in that instance the iPhone was simply a controller for a remote system. That itself was a pretty neat idea. But I'd like to be able to record wherever I happen to be. I'd like the proper software on whatever device I had, and have the option of plugging in a mixer or USB microphone.

There are ultra-portable studio recorders available that use flash media, but their price point (often from $500 - $1000) is too high, IMO. For a bit more money, if I could have something that small that could not only record but do other computer-based tasks, I'd get it in a heartbeat.

[desenso]

You can use almost any cellphone or smartphone in bed or on the sofa. Just set it to vibrate.

Seriously though, who gets upset about someone releasing a product that they have no intention of buying? I don't play golf, but there are all these companies selling high tech golf clubs, what the hell are they thinking? Don't they know I don't play golf? And what's with all these pick-up trucks they're selling these days, I don't need to haul stuff! :)

For the third time: because Apple don't have the manpower to add lots of new products to their lineup. I don't want it to delay more important, more universal things like laptops and operating systems.

[mpw]

...<dead-spot stylus idea>...
I'm sure what you describe, as I'm understanding it, would be techniclly possible, but it wouldn't solve the problem that the stylus addresses, in that you want accuracy and you want to be able to see where the point is to do this.

...You know, I get laughed at quite a bit on these forums...
Maybe it's not that they're laughing at what you say, but rather how you say it?

[gr8ful]

Though many of you may feel you have no need of a mini-tablet and think it would be a mistake for Apple to produce one, this is a steadily growing product segment that will only get bigger. It appears to me that many of you on this forum would be classified as power users, which means your needs actually represent more of a niche and not the mainstream computing population.

My wife is not a geek at all, but she does use a computer on a daily basis. A mini-tablet would fit her needs perfectly. She doesn't carry around a laptop because of the size and when she is out and about she doesn't really need a full keyboard. The screen on a phone is a bit small for prolonged web surfing and document reading.

Her mobile computing needs fit almost exactly the points that Intel makes about the Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs):
- Access information, content and services when and where you want.
- Communicate via email, IM, chat, or blogging.
- Be entertained with videos, games, music, pictures or TV on the go.

For her, a mini-tablet would not be a laptop replacement device (she doesn't own one now), it would be a companion device to our desktop. For what she wants to do, she can't justify buying a laptop and definitely wouldn't want to carry one around. A mini-tablet however, at a reasonable price would mean one more Apple customer.

I think a well designed and priced tablet would be a hit with the consumer market and I can see many use cases in the business market as well. I say for Apple to bring on the tablet...the time is right and they have the right user interface to make it work.

[desenso]

Her mobile computing needs fit almost exactly the points that Intel makes about the Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs):
- Access information, content and services when and where you want.
- Communicate via email, IM, chat, or blogging.
- Be entertained with videos, games, music, pictures or TV on the go.
.

It would have to be seriously cheap. Like, $200 to $300 cheap, in order to work. And since Apple is charging $300 for the AppleTV, I'm not sure I see that happening.

[LeviG]

As long as it has a pen (ala dell xt - so its possible apple), can install normal programs, I'm 90% sold if its not too expensive.

[TechHistorian]

It would have to be seriously cheap. Like, $200 to $300 cheap, in order to work. And since Apple is charging $300 for the AppleTV, I'm not sure I see that happening.

If they can bring it in around $500-$600, I think it would sell.

For one thing, the Kindle from Amazon is priced at $399 and is nowhere near as capable as the device gr8ful described. Yet it seems to be doing well.

Moreover, people denigrated the IPhone because of its price. It seems to be doing well also.

The key to selling well isn't cost but value. If people are getting enough value for their money (real or perceived), they'll buy whatever it is you're selling. Apple has long recognized this.

[Superlat]

I've played with the iPhone and that's about all it is to me, a toy.
I find it unbelievably annoying to surf the web on it, and frankly,
I've had about as much Youtube as I need in my life. The maps
and mobile email are about the only worthwhile things about it.
Computers are for making things, and, while maybe
a cheap tablet, like Amazon's book might be useful for a writer,
these low-resoultion micro-devices are worthless to someone
who uses their computer to make movies, animations, or use
heavier-duty audio programs where you want a big screen.
These things are great for travelling, but the hype is tedious.
Meanwhile, powerusers are stuck with the same old prices on
Apple's real hardware, an over-priced, oversized tower,
an over-priced iMac, and a hobbled affordable near-death mini.
Apple is turning into a toy company, because the people who
kept it alive are pretty much ignored.

[Orng]

For the third time: because Apple don't have the manpower to add lots of new products to their lineup. I don't want it to delay more important, more universal things like laptops and operating systems.

Well, they are hiring (http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/18/apple-hiring-multi-touch-engineer-for-mac-hardware-group/)

[mr.666]

re-NEWTON!

[gregorsamsa]

PLEASE do not release such a piece of garbage. Not a useful device.

I agree entirely.

For the third time: because Apple don't have the manpower to add lots of new products to their lineup. I don't want it to delay more important, more universal things like laptops and operating systems.

This is it. Post on any Mac forum that you'd like a consumer upgradable desktop Mac & you'll get plenty of "it's a niche product" "it won't sell" "buy a PC if you want to upgrade", etc. But start a rumour about Apple releasing some very niche, mostly useless & predictably over-priced gadget, & they think it's cool. Odd behaviour, to say the least.

[weg]

So what are some uses for this that an iPod Touch is not suited for?

Installing third party applications, for instance... (I know that Apple is preparing a SDK, but I'll only believe it when I see it).

[wizard]

For the third time: because Apple don't have the manpower to add lots of new products to their lineup. I don't want it to delay more important, more universal things like laptops and operating systems.

To keep repeating the same stupidity does not automatically make it a reality. Apple's staffing is fine and right now they could higher anybody they wanted. The reality is that after the core work has been done, that is we have Touch based devices shipping, the effort required to get products out the door is greatly reduced.

Using your logic the effort required to get each new Intel Mac out the door is the same as the effort required to make the transition. Obviously it isn't, the core effort is pass Apple in that respect. It doesn't take any more effort to produce a new Intel Mac then it did before the transition. Like wise, with Touch up and running and Mobile OS/X functional, the effort to produce new tablets is greatly reduced.

Personally I think something like this could ship into the tens of millions in the first year if it had the right feature set.

Dave

[wizard]

There have been a lot of negative comments in this thread and frankly I think people need to sit back a bit and think about where Apple, and the available technology is going. Frankly there are multiple reasons for Apple needing the device in its line up. I will highlight a few below.

1.
It could be an iPod Touch on steroids. The current Touch is fantastic for what it does, the problem is if Apple gets serious about movie distribution they need a device optimized for that. The alleged screen resolution is perfect for movies and the physical size makes the device much more competitive with devices already on the market. In essence this would give Apple two portable platforms for movies, one low resolution and the other a more standard resolution.

2.
As a Newton replacement. If such a device has the communications skills required, ie. Cell, WiFi and possibly WiMax it could be a very very popular device. It would need to be an open platform for development so that users would have their choice of applications. In this case the goal is to deliver apps that people need on the go and to support connectivity. Connectivity being voice communications in various modes, E-Mail and the web. This could be taken to be a iPhone on steroids as opposed to the Touch. The big advantage here is a better screen that allows the delivery of more advanced apps.

3.
As an alternative to a clam shell laptop. The focus here would be to provide a machine with the ability to run common desktop apps, some modified for Touch and also the mobile productivity core apps. The goal with this machine would be code compatibility with the desktop machines on an extremely portable machine. The unit would also be provided with a suite of Touch apps that would keep it competitive with the iPod Touch and iPhone.

Now that is three perspectives with respect to a larger tablet device. A product to support items one or two could be delivered today, it is a simple matter of a new ARM board and the associated LCD hardware and software. Item 3 could be delivered by mid to late 2008.

But here is the real kicker, if Apple really wanted to they could deliver a suitable machine that can handle all three perspectives described above. That is a machine that is x86 compatible with the rest of Apples line up, that can perform well as a Video iPod and have the connectivity features of an iPhone. Modern chips sets will be here to do so relatively soon to do so.

The problem is the i86 platform is likely to take to long! Apple will need a tablet product to take care of the video segment not long after they announce the rumored iTunes feature. So I expect a tablet / iPod in a size close to this early next year. It is a simple requirement considering the product they want to market. This device might also come in two models much like the iPhone and Touch of today.

In any event you can look at the potential for this sort of product by looking at demand. Here are some of the demands:

1.
Itunes video rentals and down loads. The potential here is unknown but they will need more that the Touch platform to deliver such on. In other words a video iPod, designed to deliver videos primarily.

2.
iPhone on Steroids. The demand here is simply for a larger screen and hopefully better communications.

3.
Newton like device. The demand here is pretty obvious and again the advantage over current devices would be the larger screen. In many ways Newton has been replaced by iPhone, what I think many people want here is more openness and a better applications suite.

4.
A better machine than a clam shell notebook emulator. In other words a machine that is truly designed for mobile as opposed to transportable computing.

In any event wrap those 4 items up into a machine and it will sell like hot cakes. The current Touch highlights the demand that is out there for such hardware. Sure people are playing music on them but they are being used for much more than that. Given a more open platform for third party apps and the non musical usage will sky rocket.

Dave

[Dmac77]

Fingerprint Hell. Probably will be priced around macbook if it runs a full version of OS X.

[SwiftLives]

I've said it before. I'll say it again.

It will primarily be a media device.

It'll play music. It'll play video. And it will display book content (in an attempt to compete with the Kindle). In addition, it will have wireless internet access and include iTunes, Safari, and Mail.

It will have a semi-mirrored screen, so it can be viewed clearly in sunlight or with an overhead light.

It will feature the multi-touch capabilities of the iPhone.

The screen will be about the size of a sheet of 8.5x11 paper. And 1/2in. thick.

And it will be priced as a high-end iPod. Around $699.

[iPhil]

I can imagine the new threads of the 'tablet mac' ..


When will it be updated 6 months or 8 months..

Should i buy or wait ...

When will it have Quad-core mobile processor in it ...

When do you guys think it'll support my 4 GB's of ram..

I could go on, but hopefully you get the idea.. :rolleyes:
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