New Tablet beats Apple to the punch?

[DS Flyer]

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2009/04/leaked-photos-w.html

Of course that's assuming Apple is really going to manufacture the rumored tablet in the first place. Pretty interesting, especially if they stick to the pricing and components.

[jgbhardy]

That looks pretty nice, would be good to get some more detail on it in terms of specs etc

[clevin]

its stupid, I can't imagine that thing is asking for $299, hey, I can get a real netbook for full computational function for less than that.

[Consultant]

"The total software footprint is around 100 MB total, which is a solid achievement."

Wow, so much for gui?

[iMacmatician]

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2009/04/leaked-photos-w.html

Of course that's assuming Apple is really going to manufacture the rumored tablet in the first place. Pretty interesting, especially if they stick to the pricing and components.That looks really nice!

Quite similar to the rumored "mini-tablet," looks somewhat Apple-like too. If and when Apple releases the mini-tablet, I think it will be similar to the CrunchPad.

[diemos]

those look pretty impressive, but I'm sure apple will come up with something next gen.... i think.

[Marx55]

Apple Tablet:

- Full Mac OS X inside.
- No more than 400 g or so.
- VGA video-out.
- Pocketable.
- Firewire.
- Ethernet.
- Two USB ports.

We are sold!

[mikeinternet]

its stupid, I can't imagine that thing is asking for $299, hey, I can get a real netbook for full computational function for less than that.

$299?
The same thing with an apple logo on it. Would go for double.

This thing looks great. What's the typing interface look like?

[fleshman03]

Damn I was just going to post that.

Here's some pics so people don't need to leave the thread:

http://blog.wired.com/photos/uncategorized/2009/04/09/crunchpad_main_photo_2.jpg

http://blog.wired.com/photos/uncategorized/2009/04/09/photo3_2.jpg

http://blog.wired.com/photos/uncategorized/2009/04/09/crunchpad_photo_02_2.jpg

Those are from here.


More:
http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/gizmodo/2009/04/photo1_01.jpg

From here. (http://i.gizmodo.com/5207334/all-about-the-crunchpad-web-tablet)


I honestly do not care about an Apple label. This is exactly what Apple needs to do to sell 10" touch screen tablets. Hell, if it was made by Apple, I'd consider it @ $499. However, $299 has me not thinking twice about buying one of these.

Spcs:
Atom (Don't know Ghz)
512 MB Ram
4gb SSD

[twoodcc]

i would consider buying one of these!

[zap2]

They have my attention...for that nice 200-299 price, I'm in


And those comparing it to a full desktop/laptop...just don't.

Yes, you can buy a laptop for 299, yet the iPod touch 32GB runs more. They are different devices to do different things!

[Scarlet Fever]

Would someone care to explain what the purpose of a tablet is? Would it be portable? If so, how the hell would you use it in any sort of portable sense?

It looks like the kind of thing which would be awesome fun for about 10 minutes, before either your left arm becomes tired from holding a thick and heavy display, or your right arm becomes tired from being waved in front of it. I just don't get it.

[Schtumple]

(The white version) looks like something Apple actually would've designed...

That thing is beautiful, I would easily buy one of those over a crappy netbook... atleast that is worth the money...

[zap2]

Would someone care to explain what the purpose of a tablet is? Would it be portable? If so, how the hell would you use it in any sort of portable sense?

It looks like the kind of thing which would be awesome fun for about 10 minutes, before either your left arm becomes tired from holding a thick and heavy display, or your right arm becomes tired from being waved in front of it. I just don't get it.


Assuming it has BT, BT mouse and keyboard...then its just a thin laptop if you want.

[sushi]

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2009/04/leaked-photos-w.html

Of course that's assuming Apple is really going to manufacture the rumored tablet in the first place. Pretty interesting, especially if they stick to the pricing and components.
Interesting find.

Will Apple be entering this market? The ordering of 10.4 inch screens would seem to indicate a tablet or netbook device. With the success of the iPhone/touch platform, this seems to point towards a tablet rather than a netbook.

As some have said, the Apple tablet would cost more. If done like the iPhone/touch, an Apple tablet would be wonderful.

Fun times. :)

[twoodcc]

i really hope they start selling these soon

[zap2]

i really hope they start selling these soon

seriously...I'd buy it before another netbook(the EEE 701 is feeling old)

Although there is the netbook that has a slide out screen similar to this(but smaller) Gizmodo covered it a while back..I'll see if I can find the link

[twoodcc]

seriously...I'd buy it before another netbook(the EEE 701 is feeling old)

Although there is the netbook that has a slide out screen similar to this(but smaller) Gizmodo covered it a while back..I'll see if I can find the link

cool. i remember that asus is coming out with a tablet, right? though i think it's a lot more than $299

[PlayRadioPlay]

The article says the tablet can be BUILT for $250, which means it will cost more than that. I'd guess $400. If Apple built something like this, they'd definitely price it for at LEAST $800, since the 16 GB iPhone is $600 unsubsidized.

[surferfromuk]

I simply can't believe Apple has not filled this gap yet. Stoopid!!

It was plainly evident about 7 months after the first iPod Touch that this was going to be a huge new product segment....

[iMacmatician]

The article says the tablet can be BUILT for $250, which means it will cost more than that. I'd guess $400. If Apple built something like this, they'd definitely price it for at LEAST $800, since the 16 GB iPhone is $600 unsubsidized.The 32 GB iPod touch is $399…

[velocityg4]

This would be great for people whom need to take a lot of notes such as college students. When I was in college I never made the move to a laptop in class because it did not work for notes unless the teacher used a perfect outline without diagrams.

Once diagrams are added, calculus equations or a hair brained professor that jumps back and forth typing on a laptop becomes useless. But a device that could replace multiple notebooks (the paper kind) would work quite well.

This device would also be great for professionals that must take many notes. All this needs is a handwriting program that presents the user with a lined paper look and many hours of battery life. So if it runs 2 hours and weighs 2.5 lbs add another 2lbs of batteries for a very long run time.

[clevin]

thats a single function tablet, not doing ANYTHING else expect internet, for $299! thats crazy.

[LeviG]

the crunchpad as I understand it is primarily for web browsing and I suppose may have a few document viewers etc too, although being that the custom os is linux based and it's currently running on an atom cpu theres no reason (space allowing) for it to run more.

I'm hoping part of the reason its going atom is that it will run a little more than a browser as to be honest you could use an arm cpu (snapdragon for example) which could do that and get a lot more batterylife in the process.

[tubbymac]

If Apple made one of these it wouldn't have such a huge bevel and would look 10x cooler with an aluminum finish.

[LeviG]

If Apple made one of these it wouldn't have such a huge bevel
Assuming you meant bezel (the surround) not bevel (curvature of it) - take a look at the current models and then scale relatively, there surrounds are pretty large too

[ButtUglyJeff]

I smell an Apple lawsuit coming, if not just based upon the packaging alone........

[clevin]

I smell an Apple lawsuit coming, if not just based upon the packaging alone........
?? what would it based on? Is apple as big a patent troll as you are imagine?

[michael.lauden]

?? what would it based on? Is apple as big a patent troll as you are imagine?

well... when you copy someones design (in the packaging, who knows about the actual tablet, or if that's even coming out) and try to steal their thunder..... i'd say that's grounds for a lawsuit.

[Abstract]

What are you on?

[michael.lauden]

What are you on?

? sorry too much noise couldnt hear u

[jmann]

? sorry too much noise couldnt hear u

If I ever heard noise in a forum I'd be worried. :confused::confused:

[clevin]

well... when you copy someones design (in the packaging, who knows about the actual tablet, or if that's even coming out) and try to steal their thunder..... i'd say that's grounds for a lawsuit.
what packaging? apple patented a square box with device in it?

Now that would be a universally recognized patent troll.

Honestly, its hard to see any reasonable person call this thing "copy" apple anything.

Not that I like this thing, but to think apple can sue this? Its just hard to imagine.

[Abstract]

Honestly, its hard to see any reasonable person call this thing "copy" apple anything.


You're right, but no reasonable person is doing so.

[tubbymac]

Assuming you meant bezel (the surround) not bevel (curvature of it) - take a look at the current models and then scale relatively, there surrounds are pretty large too

Woops yeah I mean't bezel. True the current models have pretty big bezels too but Apple pulls a neat trick with the black screen against a black bezel to make them look smaller.

"Edge to edge" screens are where the design is these days. I'm guessing Apple's tablet would have black edges and an aluminum unibody. Plastic is great to get prototypes up quickly, and to keep costs down like for the Linux tablet in the article, but wow does it look old school.

[linuxophile]

cool. i remember that asus is coming out with a tablet, right? though i think it's a lot more than $299

It has come out already, the EeeTop PC
15.6 in Touch.
Atom N270
1Gb
160G SATA
1.3Mp Webcam
USB x 2
Ethernet, Wifi, BT, etc etc.
4.3 Kg

about 600$

A ``portable desktop''.

http://ca.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=24&l2=169&l3=0&l4=0&model=2290&modelmenu=1

[localoid]

Intel's new "convertible" version of the Classmate PC, which features a tilting and turning touch screen is available now (http://www.ctlcorp.com/v4/p-715-ctl-2go-convertible-classmate-pc-89-laptoptablet-with-hard-drive-with-windows-xp-home.aspx?affiliateid=10059&) (but in short supply) at ~$500 (US) and up...

http://techreport.com/r.x/2009_3_2_Intels_Convertible_Classmate_PC/exterior_tablet2.jpg

There's likely to a great number of multi-touch netbooks, tablets, and convertibles with 10-12 inch touch screen coming out in 2H 2009, offered by several manufacturers.

[miles01110]

How is this "beating Apple to the punch?" Tablets have been around for years.

[Schtumple]

How is this "beating Apple to the punch?" Tablets have been around for years.

Because theirs been rumors for several years saying Apple is going to release a tablet, however nothing has ever come of it, and now when it finally looks like Apple might be about to release said tablet, someones already come out with a better, (probably more affordable), probably faster alternative, meaning Apple won't be able to monopolise on this emerging segment.

Think of it as netbooks 2.0.

[Dr.Buzz]

Apple will do the expensive version of course, but a Tablet is not a laptop or a desktop. If you need to do real work - write a book, graphic design, edit video - you use your laptop/desktop.

If you are reading a book, surfing the net or reading email (90% of most computer use) then you don't need memory or power or anything, all you need is a surface with limited editing functionality. These should be inexpensive, because everyone at your company meeting should have one. Instead of printing out that PDF to review, everyone gets the email. You can draw on it or make edits. These will be relatively disposable.

Every night my wife and I use the net for one reason or another while we watch TV. My iphone is small, but works or you have to sit a 2000 dollar laptop with crappy battery life on your lap just to "read" something. The gap will be filled by the logical evolution. A less expensive email/web device that is a supplement to the desktop/iphone/tablet pyramid. It will have wifi and maybe 3G. Netbooks are still different, but that's why they are popular. People want cheap, convenient replacement for paper, but they don't need a keyboard. Why is this so hard for people to grasp? If I had one of these, I'd never use anything else. Why sit at a desk when you can sit on a couch and be comfortable while you READ not write?

[applecultvictim]

Let me help out this start up guys by suggesting them this excellent solution of a magnetic "foot" that is attached to the device as it slightly caves in in its lower part as a magnet and can be detached to serve as a mechanism to hold it up, unlinke the fugly and completely uninspired mechanism they came up with. They can thank me later.

My suggestion
http://www.lighttherapy.com/images/golite_blu_with_stand.jpg

Theirs:
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/images/2009/04/09/photo3_2.jpg

Don't you think the first one is far better?
:apple: