Apple Tablet?

[Ensign Paris]

Hey, MacMinute reports:

Forbes talks reality distortion
May 21 - 10:33 ET**An article posted today by Arik Hesseldahl on Forbes.com discusses Apple's recent product announcements -- including the new bumped-up iMacs, Xserve, Mac OS 10.2 (Jaguar) -- Macworld Expo New York and interestingly enough, the suggestion of a new touch-sensitive input device that will work with any computer. "Given Apple's recent updates to all its product lines, it certainly has something truly noteworthy up its sleeve for July that is not necessarily a new computer per se, but something else. Between now and July, the speculation will reach a fever pitch." Oh, how true.

Full Report (http://www.forbes.com/2002/05/21/0521tentech.html )

Ensign

[Macmaniac]

DON'T TELL ME iWalk IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ensign Paris]

I don't think so, sounds more like a tablet to me!

I hope it is a tablet, I could really use a new one (I haven;t used my old 22" one in about 3 years)

Ensign

[iGav]

An Apple tablet.. now that would be cool....... I'd have one of those straight away.... no need for a mouse then....:D

I need to get a new wacom, on of those little things would do nicely... however I'll wait to see if Apple does release something....

[2Step Garage]

ever time i hear the word "tablet" i get this funny image of Moses carrying the ten commandments on an apple branded device.. hehe

just my thoughts... random yes.. i know

[whawho]

I hope apple makes its own 2 button mouse w/ scroll wheel before a tablet.

[Hemingray]

With Ink making its appearance in 10.2 (whoops, I mean JAGUAR), I could easily see this happening! Yes, let's hope on those two button mice with scroll wheels... although I'm not holding my breath on either. ;)

[Wry Cooter]

open conjecture on form factor ...

14 inch diagonal LCD touch screen, stylus cubby hole, USB and firewire port, AirPort. Bluetooth? Any storage? A 20 gig iPod sized drive? Maybe this will be the new home for g3s, which are probably fine for thin clients.

A nudge to the OS beyond "Ink" that would allow the OS to be viewed in "portrait" orientation. And a virtual keyboard that pops out on the desktop as if an item from the dock. Now how much would you pay?

I used to think if they ever attempt this, they would make it a removeable part of an iBook, or merely design an iBook where if you folded the screen completely back it would disable the keyboard.

Of course all of this is being fed by the new apple set top box on the tv...:p

[Ensign Paris]

Originally posted by Wry Cooter
open conjecture on form factor ...

14 inch diagonal LCD touch screen, stylus cubby hole, USB and firewire port, AirPort. Bluetooth? Any storage? A 20 gig iPod sized drive? Maybe this will be the new home for g3s, which are probably fine for thin clients.

A nudge to the OS beyond "Ink" that would allow the OS to be viewed in "portrait" orientation. And a virtual keyboard that pops out on the desktop as if an item from the dock. Now how much would you pay?

I used to think if they ever attempt this, they would make it a removeable part of an iBook, or merely design an iBook where if you folded the screen completely back it would disable the keyboard.

Of course all of this is being fed by the new apple set top box on the tv...:p

It sounds like Mira to me! I like the idea of Bluetooth monitor that is a tablet.

I never want a two buttons mouse but a scroll might do.

ENsign

[Macmaniac]

That moses idea gave me a thought for a cool ad. Apple could do an ad where moses goes to deliver the 10 commandments, but the stones break so god gives moses an Apple tablet to delevir them!

[FelixDerKater]

I don't know for sure, but I don't believe that you'd be able to power a monitor with Bluetooth with any quality refresh rate. Is it possible?

[Wry Cooter]

Naw, its best to think of bluetooth as wireless USB. Any such tablet will probably be 'served' via airport, although bluetooth might help for some purposes (connection to keyboards and similar)

The Mira thing Ensign Paris mentioned that Cap'n Bill announced at CES while MWSF was going on- was that spec built on 802.11b or 802.11a?

[porovaara]

Originally posted by FelixDerKater
I don't know for sure, but I don't believe that you'd be able to power a monitor with Bluetooth with any quality refresh rate. Is it possible?

Not without some amazing compression on both ends. Bluetooth maxes out in the world around 700Kbps. You need far more than that to stream things like video.

[kiwi_the_iwik]

Hmmm... A Tablet, you say?!?

Perhaps they'd call it - iScribe...;)

[Wry Cooter]

So I suppose this talk we are having is iPrescribe.

Some would find the idea of an Apple tablet a tough pill to swallow.

[Wry Cooter]

okay, maybe a 12 inch form factor....

http://maccentral.macworld.com/news/0205/22.planar.php

[boobers]

what the point of a tablet is..so you can sit on the couch?
i have to say it would be cool to surf while taking a ***** using airport but that is an expensive toy. no serious work could be done...mostly reading and video.

As for July, my guess for a new apple device is a video cell phone. (this of course would be a ground breaking device and it would seem that apple would be the first to do it. It could interect with quicktime 6 on any system(including pc) or call another with the same device. Also this would tie in with the rumored video conferencing app. Vmail would be cool too. A small handheld with a tiny camera and screen. I have never been a fan of cell phones but i would buy a video cell in a heartbeat!
Either that or a nice hybrid video/still 5 megapixel camera with ipod's HD, Zeiss glass and foveon CCD would make me thoroughly happy.

Just dreaming of insanely great things.
boobers

[Wry Cooter]

here is a short list of some things tablets allow, besides sitting on the pot (which is possible with present iBooks and TiBooks I hear)

Walking from room while reading, holding the screen in one hand. Perhaps a Big Gulp in the other.

Inventory management-- it could allow use in several vertical business niches. People taking inventory in a store, people taking surveys in a mall, waitresses using one as an order pad for a table at a restaurant, a real estate agent showing someone about a home, a decorator or architect discussing floor plans. A teacher walking around seated students with attendence roles and gradebooks.

Presenting computers to the world that "can't type".. pass it around family gatherings to show photo albums, as a petition or sign in list.

Personally I'd like to see a small camera built in as well, as the VAIO notebooks have (it would be like a digital camera with a really big LCD viewfinder)

In short, its a lot more portable, you can walk with it and use it at the same time. With a scroll thumbbutton or mouse nubbin it could be used with one hand in many cases

Regarding the cell phone with camera. The same phone that SJ showed bluetooth compatibility with is made by the same company that makes one with a camera built in.

[kiwi_the_iwik]

You're kidding, right?

It seems to me that we're all turning into a generation of slackers...

I mean - as much as I think it would be wonderful to have an airport-equipped-bluetooth-bandwidth-handwriting-recognition-all-singing-all-dancing-tablet as an addition to our already technically advanced Macs, I have to draw the line at computers in the can.

Ever seen that new music video from David Byrne (of Talking Heads fame) - "Lazy"?

I rest my case.

[boobers]

i failed to see the point of a tablet until wry pointed out some good uses. Not sure if its a very lucritive market however. It would be kinna cool to read ebooks or even just surf the web in bed but without a keyboard i don't see the point of surfing.. All the other uses wry pointed out seem more corporate and designed for a single use like taking orders at a restaurant. I don't think Apple would put out a tablet unless it was a truly mobil useful device. I like the apple branded video cellphone idea better quite honestly! Apple would make it the best of its kind. I could see them selling everyone on this "insanely great device" in conjunction with the rumored video conferencing app, a nice handheld device that could allow video conferencing wherever you may be. Its a really great idea and its just a matter of time before it flourishes..because there is no stopping progress.
think about it- its going to happen- u know it it is..
boobers

[kiwi_the_iwik]

Originally posted by boobers
ya i was kidding


Don't worry - I was too... ;)

I reckon that voice recognition would be a much more lucrative market, and could really take off - especially for when decent AI software/hardware systems become available.

But that's a whole new can of worms.

What a day that would be...:cool:

[mr.e]

I see apple doing a 5x7 tablet, possibly with IR remote as well - perhaps integrating into their set-top box/entertainment center.
I'd love to have a cell phone on the other side of my future iPod

[SPG]

Check the new article Arn just posted on the renewed PDA rumors...

[j763]

Originally posted by Hemingray
With Ink making its appearance in 10.2 (whoops, I mean JAGUAR), I could easily see this happening! Yes, let's hope on those two button mice with scroll wheels... although I'm not holding my breath on either. ;)

Inkwell in Jagwire is fuelling the Digital Device rumors, but more likely, there's some massive iBook deal or something and apple needs to make the technology work for kids with disabilites or something like that...

[Choppaface]

the better do something about jitter control. I can't use my wacom tablet w/ OS X because of the slight mouse jitter, which makes it impossible to call up the dock when dock hiding is on (which I use for illustrator, PS, etc etc)

[tjwett]

Originally posted by Choppaface
the better do something about jitter control. I can't use my wacom tablet w/ OS X because of the slight mouse jitter, which makes it impossible to call up the dock when dock hiding is on (which I use for illustrator, PS, etc etc)

This same thing drives me NUTS on a daily basis. I'm using the graphire2 and I get the same pain in my @ss. Plus, I believe it's causing Kernal Panics in my Ti550. If I shut down with the Wacom connected I get a USB related Kernal Panic. Do you know if they've ever updated the drivers?

[Choppaface]

Originally posted by tjwett


This same thing drives me NUTS on a daily basis. I'm using the graphire2 and I get the same pain in my @ss. Plus, I believe it's causing Kernal Panics in my Ti550. If I shut down with the Wacom connected I get a USB related Kernal Panic. Do you know if they've ever updated the drivers?

still waiting.....i just boot into OS 9 anyways....sometimes I just can't live w/out KPT for AI 9.....specifically the 3d transform

i wouldnt be surprised if it was the cause of your kernal panics. I've got one from some bad USB flash card reader drivers....

[mmmdreg]

how many people actually use tablets? I've actually never seen one and was curious as to what you use them for..

[Wry Cooter]

Well, how well can you draw with a bar of soap?

People wanting to draw with something better than a soap on a rope (A Mouse) use a tablet. That is probably the most common use.

[spoon]

Originally posted by mmmdreg
how many people actually use tablets? I've actually never seen one and was curious as to what you use them for..

one of the best uses which hasn't been discussed here yet (but maybe somewhere else) is using the tablet in a server enviroment (for example, a render farm full of XServes).

you could walk into the room with the tablet, and service an XServe (change hardware, install software, check if hardware is properlly installed without having to walk back to the admin computer or whatever).

other uses include a hospital's ER, doctors could walk around with access to all the pacient's medical information.

or as a visual backup to presentations. imagine a meeting where you have all the info projected onto a wall, and simultaneously sent to each tablet in the room. nice, huh?

there are MILLIONS of uses for "portable self suficient screens" or whatever you wanna call them. and apple could start by just giving the iBook a touchscreen, and letting the screen fold all the way back (disabling the keyboard, as someone mentioned earlier). they have already developed everything else they'd need for this! airport, ink, bluetooth (just in case).

although better than an iBook/tablet would be a TiBook/tablet. it's just 1 inch thick when it's closed! i could imagine myself using that as a tablet perfectly.

apple needs MORE products. microsoft is flooding the market with tons of gizmos, and apple can beat them in that game. ;)

[ericb88]

is like people who said "what can you do with a PDA?" You can do everything you can do with a pda with a tablet but so much more. ya sure, it cant fit in your pocket but, iwth a pda can you really take notes in your fairly neat handwriting? Could you write out checks, look at bank statements, or maybe even watch movies? Using it for doctors in the er etc is a great idea, and lawyers and stock brokers also. Lawyers could acess all their clients with their records,cases,etc. Stock brokers could acess all stocks with graphs etc and they could update via bluetooth. Journalists and reporters could write down stories in their own handwriting in the tablets, then email it to their editors overseas. It could be used to help track inventory, while giving synopsises w/ pictures of the products. Home builders and contracters would no longer need all those big stacks of paper. All their plans etc and older floorplans etc could be stored on the tablet. then their are students and teachers who coudl plan lessons, take notes, play games, and more. As you see, the possibilities are endless.

[rice_web]

I'm not sure if you have ever looked or not, but IBM has a new processor out that runs at up to 500MHz, and consumes virtually no power ( less than four watts at 400MHz ).

More information is available here:
http://www-3.ibm.com/chips/techlib/techlib.nsf/techdocs/9C268609D3538C4687256A33004E124B/$file/440GP_pb.pdf

[firewire2001]

that ibm processor is somewhat limited because of the way it was meant to be implemented -- the purpose of it is more for simpler devices that need power, like routers and stuff..


also, jus wonderin.. ive got jaguar, but i dont see inkwell anywhere.. it wasnt included, right? or did i miss a pref in the installer?

[Mal]

The main use for tablets currently is artists (who are notoriously Mac addicts) who like to draw with a brush and pen. WACOM has released airbrushes, fine and thick brushes, chalk pens, and a variety of other artistic tools, all of them operating strictly in the virtual world.

Another possibility is writers, who prefer to write instead of type. If InkWell is half as good at handwriting recognition as the old Newtons were, writers could sit inany position they like, and write away, without having to type a letter.

If Apple charges less than $1500 for a tablet like this, they would sell like cotton candy, including first-time Mac buyers.

[boobers]

first off why would apple want to disable a keyboard..just seems weird. all those keys become useless. So a handheld tablet, ok Freehand would be cool i have to admit, but does freehand support inkwell if you needed to render some type? Another thought was to service Xserve render frams or server units. Well thats kinda cool i guess but sitting at one terminal would allow you to service all of them..The whole tablet thing seems like a small market to me. I see devices in apple's future but i dunno about the tablet thing..a pda is more feasable in my opinion.
Cheers
boobers

[buffsldr]

I really enjoyed reading the Forbes article. I thought it was interesting the author mentioned the rumors sites. It is fun to think that the author of the article is our midst.

On the topic of the tablet like device, I think its great. I have a 466 G4 tower and I have no reason to upgrade (I am a consumer). But I own a digital still camera, iPod, MiniDV camera, and palm device. I dig integrating my stuff through the mac. I would buy another digital hub device if I had any reason to think it was cool. But, then again, I am a zealot so whatever. Others may not like it so much.

[Wry Cooter]

Originally posted by boobers
first off why would apple want to disable a keyboard..just seems weird.

this is in the context of an iBook becoming a touch screen device, and the screen being folded back like some might handle a paperback or magazine-- the keyboard would then be the 'back of the tablet' so to speak, and you wouldn't want the keyboard active in that situation where it might be pressed against a table pushing keys willy nilly (but that side still works for storage and ports and the CPU)

Other ways of making a tablet a part of a notebook computer is merely making the LCD screen completely detachable.

Or the CPU and storage could be in the tablet itself.

[big]

Not without some amazing compression on both ends. Bluetooth maxes out in the world around 700Kbps. You need far more than that to stream things like video.
hate to jump in here this late on this topic, why can't there be a firewire monitor?...daisy chain a multiple of them together...?

[Jackonicko]

I'd agree that an Apple tablet would be cool, but to get mass sales it would also have to be useful. A simple graphics tablet probably wouldn't 'cut it' on this nor would a video phone.

Nor should it be a stand-alone device, or anything that would compete with existing Apple laptops, and (following iPod's lead) should be reliant on the user having an existing Mac computer.

I'd tend to think that it would have to be small and highly portable, which would rule out a 'folded-back iBook' solution or an iBook sized screen.

Looking briefly at the iPod we have a device which:
1) Is reliant upon the user having a Mac desktop or laptop and thus doesn't reduce sales of these profitable high ticket items, and indeed encourages PC users to switch to Mac.
2) Replaces an existing item which has proven utility and mass appeal (eg the Walkman type personal music player)
3) Has an intuitive interface with the Mac and is easy to use.

Any iTablet should have the same basic conceptual features.

I'd suggest that a possible winner would be a small (sized to fit a big pocket, thus bigger than a Palm and maybe the size of a Psion or a slimmed down Newton) tablet optimised for use as a simple jotting pad or note pad, taking input in the form of natural cursive handwriting and converting this into simple text files, which could then be exported to and synched with files in a new application (iNotes?) on the desktop. It would have to use real handwriting and not graffiti, which is in adequate for anything more than a line or two. Even if Apple has done nothing since Newton it is well placed to achieve real natural handwriting recognition.

Text files could also be exported from the desktop to the device for reading and/or editing. From the application, files created on the device could be simply exported into e-mails, Word, Entourage, Works, Quark or whatever.

You could perhaps also have a facility to store sketches or hand-drawn graphs as Gifs, and could perhaps link it to a phone to send simple e-mails or SMS text messages. Maybe a high-end version would incorporate a cell phone?

But it would be primarily be a replacement for paper and paper note books, and light weight, small dimensions, low cost and portability would be the drivers. There'd be no need for a diary, address book, clock, calculator or games if these had any real impact on price.

Who'd use it? Anyone who takes notes on a piece of paper, especially if they then use the data on computer. So journalists, schoolkids, secretaries (it could even have a special software to recognise and convert shorthand, perhaps?), Drs, teachers and anyone addicted to sending E-mails or text messages.

If it was priced right (I guess cheaper than a 5 gB iPod) who wouldn't want one?

[Wry Cooter]

My opinion is if they are going to make it the size of a palm pilot, they might as well not bother...unless they are coming out with a phone (unlikely) The Palm PDA market is going to cell phones. So take your iWalk off a short pier.

The Tablet sized full color screen touch screen computer has been around for awhile but never really pushed correctly with a proper OS. If it has resolution less than 800 x 600 I don't want to see it.

[mox358]

i agree with Wry - if apple thinks they can repackage a palm and make money they're crazy. I have a palm now and i don't use it nearly as much as i would like to. the stupid thing just isn't capable of doing the kind of work i need it to do. apple needs the develop a real Tablet Mac that doesn't replace the laptop, but is one step above palm.

first off, it needs to be the size of the tablets they have in star trek. those are just about perfect. It would also be nice if it were simply a touch screen (no pen) so your finger is essentially your mouse. Of course it would still have a pen for handwriting recognition, but i shouldn't have to hold a pen if all i want to do is scroll thru a document or webpage.

it would need some sort of wireless (airport or bluetooth) and a color display. battery life needs to last longer than 6 hours too. a palm can run for weeks, apple needs to atleast get a week of battery (with normal usage, so not all the time).

Also, RAM needs to be a lot higher - 256mb or 512mb. There could be a simple version with 32 or 64mb, but if we expect 8mb of ram to run the same programs as a palm and have all the new features, we're sadly mistaken. plus future-proofing this thing isn't a bad idea.

[GabrielX]

Originally posted by Jackonicko
I'd agree that an Apple tablet would be cool, but to get mass sales it would also have to be useful. A simple graphics tablet probably wouldn't 'cut it' on this nor would a video phone.

...

But it would be primarily be a replacement for paper and paper note books, and light weight, small dimensions, low cost and portability would be the drivers. There'd be no need for a diary, address book, clock, calculator or games if these had any real impact on price.

Who'd use it? Anyone who takes notes on a piece of paper, especially if they then use the data on computer. So journalists, schoolkids, secretaries (it could even have a special software to recognise and convert shorthand, perhaps?), Drs, teachers and anyone addicted to sending E-mails or text messages.

If it was priced right (I guess cheaper than a 5 gB iPod) who wouldn't want one?

The first time I saw this (in another thread) I started thinking...and it sounds very plausible.

Of course, I suspect the form factor will be bigger than a PocketPC, more along the lines of the Via device.

http://www.via.com.tw/en/VInternet/tablet.jsp

We shall see...

Gabriel

[Wry Cooter]

Originally posted by Jackonicko

But it would be primarily be a replacement for paper and paper note books, and light weight, small dimensions, low cost and portability would be the drivers. There'd be no need for a diary, address book, clock, calculator or games if these had any real impact on price.


I can't see those as having a real impact on price, and probably necessary to bundle. Web apps too.

Also it should be a fully capable OS, a real desktop/notebook OS that can be used with whatever software anyone should want to use with it. The VIA spec seems close.

And a hot sync cradle that charges it and autosyncs the real work you are doing with it with a desktop hub.

[Prom1]

First off Parovoroo, sorry if I got ur name wrong (Im posting before reading the second page here), Bluetooth CAN stream video--Ive done it successfully from my PowerMac G4 to a friends T-68 using proprietory software in the works.

Bluetooth maximum transmitt in version 1.1b is actually 1Mb/second--which is split between 728Kbps in any one direction, with the rest for the other direction. However you wont see a full 1MB/second becuase of the hop-sequence overhead....but you'll see close to that.

If you dont believe me about video over Bluetooth, then reset you QuickTime video viewer for video and audio over internet connections, if you have DSL then you probably using 256/384kbps data transfer rate right??? Well Ha, hehe, just had to say that.

Im actually expecting something like a remote control--to turn on/off/sleep your Mac, monitor control, application(Quicktime, etc) control for viewing HDTV/DVD/VCD formats if your mac is connected to the TV or Stereo or better yet if your cable channels are connected to your Mac.

1 button mouse is an Apple hallmark almost a trademark, multiple will not happen, besides it confuses the Windows users--used to be one 3 months ago and boy what a learning curve--but actually is less buggy when using several applications, less confusing and simplicity!

Hmmm, with laptops getting smaller, why oh why hasnt ANY computer manufacturer used a plexy or strong plastic/glass composite for a Touch-Sensitive keyboard layout?!?!?! It would make the laptop cleaner, more flat, and you could even backlight it, make it heat sensititve to prevent accidental inputs, and save huge costs for multiple language prints on the keys; they would be digitally enhanced to accommodate your language preference you set on your desktop, and the keys would display correctly.....just think how the Cantonese, Taiwanese, & Russians would love this?!!!!

Cheers

[Wry Cooter]

Originally posted by Prom1


1 button mouse is an Apple hallmark almost a trademark, multiple will not happen, besides it confuses the Windows users--used to be one 3 months ago and boy what a learning curve--but actually is less buggy when using several applications, less confusing and simplicity!

Although I can see some advantage to multiple button mice with scrollwheels, I think it has been very wise of apple to stick with a one button mouse BECAUSE of tablet input. Left clicking with a pen is not nearly as easy as double clicking, clicking and dragging, etc....



Hmmm, with laptops getting smaller, why oh why hasnt ANY computer manufacturer used a plexy or strong plastic/glass composite for a Touch-Sensitive keyboard layout?!?!?!


I have enough problems with spare fingers being tracked by my trackpad, a keyboard without the tactile feedback and real physical buttons to keep the fingers in position of touch typing, would be a nightmare. I have seen such keyboards and buttons for over 20 years, the only advantage, (besides cleanliness you mentioned and I snipped) is it being cheaper to manufacture. I first saw these on musical instruments, synthesizers. Knobs quickly came back due to market demand. The sort of keyboards we type on, are best provided with physical switches our fingers can feel, if we are using multple fingers at once, as we do when we type.

But I think any tablet interface will also, as does Palm, have a virtual keyboard layout for those who would find tapping a keyboard with a stylus faster than Ink or Graffiti style input. Probably tabbed to the side of a screen, a calculator could be nestled there as well.

[Prom1]

Cooter, I do remember the cheap synthesizers of old with touch sensitive keys......they truely sucked.

But of recently, most people have had a second sight on keyboards and sensitivity. Most people who've used a laptops keyboard for at least an hour of typing in about a 3 day period, wouldnt like going back to a desktop keyboards long-stroke key depression. Most will also notice that their typing speed and accuracy have increased considerably since using the laptops keyboard. Also, 2 new companies have working prototypes that will come to market, of gloves that allow mid-air input of a virtual keyboard technology. Remember the least resistance that your fingers feels it has to TRAVEL the quicker the input is buy your hands, however I'll agree that fingers do need some resistance on the TOUCH side of things. The technology being currently used in tablets is not what I'm proposing, but more advanced technology........similar to that of the LCD displays power/sleep buttons that Apple makes. I used a pencil to put one to sleep but it didnt respond. I also tried to quickly swipe my finger by it and still nothing, it only accepted a deliberate touch.

What I propose is something that will not mistake a swipe of the hand nor the fingers' tips as input, nor will it misinterpret longer that 0.42 seconds of "tap" on the keyboard.......this will eliminate the hovering fingers above the virtual keys when a typist is thinking as input. I know the technology is out there, and for research may be expensive, but in mass producing it'll be cheap, if the technology is first proven effective and market tested for input sensitivity and problems. Just think about how you type when doing Messenger, a Word document, or a thesis essay. Your hands actually stay stationary most of the time your thinking or about to type, or typing.....that is if you type more than 20 words per minute. And if you dont type 20 words per minute most likely your pecking at the keys so mistakes would be minimal anyway, which is comparable to regular keyboarding.

Multiple mouses I hate them with a passion now!

As far as Bluetooth goes with Apple, I'm hoping that it'll support the Anoto pen, for signatures of legal documents and of credit card signatures for online payments. I'm no environmentalist, but Earth is all of our home, so limiting on the use of paper would be nice!!!

Anyone have any other clues as to what Apple may be surprising us with??

[boobers]

how to write..typing is a hundred times faster. i need the keys.
BUT Inkwell would serve a portable fine..The tablet needs to be small..smaller than a laptop monitor to be nicely portable. But bigger than a useless pda monitor. Tough call on the tablet i must say.
boobers

[boobers]

feature will come in handy with any portable Apple decides on.
boobers