Apple Tablet Computer?

[alirio]

iMac --> PowerMac

iBook --> PowerBook

iPod --> PowerPod

The PowerPod will be an Airport-compatible tablet you can use to view photos and movies broadcast from your Mac.

It will also serve as a remote for AirTunes.

It will even be able to mirror your display so that you can surf the Web.

It will be dockable a-la the iPod.

It will retail for 999$

[rjwill246]

Oh no... If Steve really understood consumers.... Then Apple would not have languished at the bottom of the Computer manufactures in sales for their entire existence as a company.... 3 to 5 % market share....

Actually, Steve understands computers and PDAs quite well. Arguably, Apple has one of the best operating systems available, computers that are very well engineered, are cuting edge and win industrial design awards year after year. The PDA market is a minor disaster and the fact that a few people have been imploring Apple to do otherwise, Steve as CEO, is showing a good deal of responsibility to his investors by telling these folks who don't seem to understand the word "no" by saying "Shove off!"
If you want a PDA- get one from someone else: there are good ones out there.

Apple's low market share came about for one reason only: people preferred an OS and computers that could be 'redesigned' at home with parts from Frye's -and cheap parts, too, leading to the ready availability of choices and features that were lacking in the early Macs. That this myriad of choices has led to compability and reliabilty issues, poorly designed OS (es) with unfixable flaws and no easy means of integration of hardware and third party software clearly is less important than well designed (and for the most part) tightly integrated services for most people.

[reyesmac]

If the new iMac looks like an oversized tablet PC (which is just a laptop with no keyboard) then that would explain this rumor. It just might be true. If so, it would end up costing almost as much as a Powerbook yet have a G5 in it. I think Apples product matrix will look bad until a G5 Powerbook is released because of this.

[unsigned]

The PowerPod will be an Airport-compatible tablet you can use to view photos and movies broadcast from your Mac.
It will also serve as a remote for AirTunes.
It will retail for 999$

I can't imagine why people are fantasizing about a $1,000 remote control for a $20 feature on a $129 base station. Is it worth $1,000 so that you don't have to get up from your couch and walk to your computer?

The Register article pushed everyone towards this idea of a remote control just because one apple exec might have winked at the idea. When in the history of the world did a remote control cost ten times as much as the thing it's controlling?! My Sony T610 is a remote control for Airtunes, and I got it for FREE, and it also MAKES PHONE CALLS.

[sbarton]

If he knows so much about PDA's then he surely he knows that Apple had, and still has to my knowlege, the-best-example of PDA technology in the Newton Message Pad 200x. The current manufactures of PDA's...Palm, Microsoft, IMO have not really made useful devices like the Newton was and still is to alot of people.

I firmly belive that a PDA's input system is th #1 key for sucess. The "others" have stabbed in the dark at creating a useable system, and still come up short. The 2100 nailed it with palm-resistive touchscreen technology combined with a nearly flawless handwritting recognition system. When one of the "other" companies get this part down, they will see success. It will happen, and PDA's will be as common as Cellphones, and only a handfull of people will know what was missed.

Yes, Steve Jobs understands personal computers. No, I do not belive he understands the current state of the PDA market, technology, and it's future.

He is however by all standards and execellent CEO and Visionary for Apple right now, and my hat is off to him.


Actually, Steve understands computers and PDAs quite well. Arguably, Apple has one of the best operating systems available, computers that are very well engineered, are cuting edge and win industrial design awards year after year. The PDA market is a minor disaster and the fact that a few people have been imploring Apple to do otherwise, Steve as CEO, is showing a good deal of responsibility to his investors by telling these folks who don't seem to understand the word "no" by saying "Shove off!"
If you want a PDA- get one from someone else: there are good ones out there.

Apple's low market share came about for one reason only: people preferred an OS and computers that could be 'redesigned' at home with parts from Frye's -and cheap parts, too, leading to the ready availability of choices and features that were lacking in the early Macs. That this myriad of choices has led to compability and reliabilty issues, poorly designed OS (es) with unfixable flaws and no easy means of integration of hardware and third party software clearly is less important than well designed (and for the most part) tightly integrated services for most people.

[Bonnie]

I can't imagine why people are fantasizing about a $1,000 remote control for a $20 feature on a $129 base station. Is it worth $1,000 so that you don't have to get up from your couch and walk to your computer?


Haha, good point. :D

[FaasNat]

[.....]

Apple's low market share came about for one reason only: people preferred an OS and computers that could be 'redesigned' at home with parts from Frye's -[....]Actually, the only reason why I bought a Windows system is so I could play the games that were available for it.

[cb911]

could Apple make a sucessfull tablet? of course! :D but that includes taking into consideration the very important point of price... if it's just a 'lesser' spec'd out version of a iBook or PB, then it needs to have a much lesser price.

i'm not so sure how this would be so great as a 'remote control'. that for small mobile phone sized thingys with lots of buttons. :p

this would have application in the creative industries, design, film, photography etc. if Apple can do it, it would be great... :D

[iMeowbot]

Or that's what they're saying in Wired (http://www.wired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,64579,00.html) today. So I guess it's a good thing that most computier peripherals don't use it.

[Travis Novak]

C'mon guys a tablet/pda if done right could be a huge hit. Mp3 players weren't all that popular until the ipod. Apple usually is the first company to finally get things right. The ipod was the first well designed affordable mp3 player. itunes was the first good, legal online music service. Now as far as references to the newton, yes it was a flop, but so was the Mac portable. But after the mac portable came the powerbook, the first practical laptop.
So have a little faith, I don't think apple's going to mess up on this one


;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) :)

[Colonel Panik]

I've been thinking about this for the last three days (amongst doing other things, naturally), and it seems that folks are arguing along four lines:
1. a remote control
2. the new iMac
3. a video ipod
4. a small 'tablet'.

I think that 1 and 2 are ridiculous. Remotes are small devices, and the batteries last forever. How many people honestly need a remote control for their Macs? Also, the idea that a 10" device is the detachable screen for the new iMac makes me wonder what variety of crack the proponents of that suggestion have been smoking. No comment needed.

So, could it be a video iPod? Why? I don't need to carry my movies with me, and I'm certainly not going to watch them on a 10" screen. I've got a television, and it's big and loud and doesn't run on batteries, so it won't run out on me when I'm half-way through a movie. And I'm never sitting on a bus when I think to myself, "I'd like to see that scene from Spiderman 2 right now'. I think a video iPod is a non-starter. You can listen to music in many situations, but there are few situations where you can watch a movie/TV program and do something else at the same time.

So that leaves suggestion number 4, which is 'a small tablet'. At first I dismissed this idea, but it's grown on me in the last couple of days. A lot of the suggestions got mashed together in my head, and now I'm a believer: it's the iPad, a portible ebook reader, and much more.
As someone said, it's the size of a paperback. And many people carry books with them. So it could be a proper ebook reader, with the ability to make/take notes.
But it's also a sketch pad, for notes and doodles. And it's got voice recording for recording meetings.
Perhaps it'll run MS Office, or perhaps Appleworks X?
It should dock with your Mac, syncing automatically, and have a wireless capability, for surfing the internet and rendezvous-ing with your Mac on your local network and and and...

Arguments against this have ranged along the data entry model. But there are applications like 'Dasher' which when you get used to them, allow very fast data entry, with only a pointer.

We can all admit that we mostly don't utilise the full power that our Macs have, it's just nice to have it for those times when you're ripping a DVD or doing intense Photoshop work, or whatever. So, a pared down computer geared specifically towards being a notepad/book/dumb terminal, well, that would be interesting.

I suppose that we'll all know the answer come August 31, this year or next.

[outerspaceapple]

OK, we need a new vote!

How much would you be willing to pay for a "remote control for your digital hub"?

Not me. It took me long enough just 2 buy an iPod (2 weeks ago, 20GB 3rd Gen).

[ClimbingTheLog]

Phil Schiller is giving Le Keynote:

http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=602

Steve Jobs will be back at Apple at the time, so he could do it, which means only one thing:

Steve won't have to eat crow, err, his vegan-hat.

Schiller will introduce the new WunDerNewTonPod, thereby saving the universe from overload of the reality distorition field. For once, I'll be glad to see all four hundred pounds of Schiller up on stage.

This should also help to assuage Wall Street's fears of a 1-man company.

[coolfactor]

Anyone who has used Apple Remote Desktop or comparable products know full-well that a computer can be used remotely, even over a < 1MBit Internet connection. Imagine how will it performs over an 11MBits or 22MBits wireless connection!!! The technology is in place to have an arbitrary number of remote displays sharing the same base computer.

I rarely need to use the disk drive or USB devices other than the mouse and keyboard. The monitor with Inkwell technology is the only component needed for most work. A wireless keyboard could be used when doing tasks such as programming which requires speedy text entry.

[coolfactor]

I've been thinking about this for the last three days (amongst doing other things, naturally), and it seems that folks are arguing along four lines:
1. a remote control
2. the new iMac
3. a video ipod
4. a small 'tablet'.

What about a pair of Virtual Reality glasses plugged into the iPod while you're sitting on the plane. We all know that that's the future, so why not have Apple deliver it _first_?

[csubear]

Anyone who has used Apple Remote Desktop or comparable products know full-well that a computer can be used remotely, even over a < 1MBit Internet connection. Imagine how will it performs over an 11MBits or 22MBits wireless connection!!! The technology is in place to have an arbitrary number of remote displays sharing the same base computer.

I rarely need to use the disk drive or USB devices other than the mouse and keyboard. The monitor with Inkwell technology is the only component needed for most work. A wireless keyboard could be used when doing tasks such as programming which requires speedy text entry.

I just looked into this kind of idea. I though it would be great to have a X server, and a bunch of cheap thin clients. Well It turns out that apple's Display Server (Quartz) can only run one display at a time :(. So unless apple hack ..... urmm repaired ... umm updated their display terminal then there can not be mac thin clients. Which would rule out this tablet thing being a thin client.

The only way this thing would be affordable ( I'm using this term lightly) is if it where some sort of thin vnc client.

So..
A) apple has been hacking away at their display server. This new iTablet will need Tiger.
B) this is vaporware and macrumors is going crazy over nothing.

[narco]

Maybe Apple is listening to all the people complaining about how there's no G5 Powerbook. If Apple throws a G5 into an iMac, they can say "hey, it's smaller than your average PC", but it's too large to have as a notebook.

.narco

[Porchland]

What about a pair of Virtual Reality glasses plugged into the iPod while you're sitting on the plane. We all know that that's the future, so why not have Apple deliver it _first_?

or maybe Apple could put special magic iBeans in every box that you could plant in your yard and grow a beanstalk.

[Converted2Truth]

Great. Just what we need... another underpowered overpriced show-off toy. Thanks Jobs... you're really gonna shake the world with this :confused:

[SWC]

But how on earth Apple would have made this as a some sort of detachable computer display is beyond me. It really doesn't even seem feesable.

Don't know if anyone else has mentioned this but viewsonic and a couple of other display manufacturers made displays like that a while back for XP. The display itself contains a wireless card and the dock acts as a base station. The monitor contains the guts of a PDA to help process the information and then transmit it to the computer for all the hard work. They failed miserably because of price, and lack of marketing. But it has been done and apple can go and do it right.

EDIT: Turns out viewsonic still makes them they have modified them a bit (upped processor speed, removed wireless base station etc.) they are still expensive $1400 for a 10" model.

http://www.viewsonic.com/products/desktopdisplays/wirelessmonitors/airsyncv210wirelessdisplay/

[LimeiBook86]

I think if Apple can pull this off with a cheap price say $299, or $399 (that's about the price to get a new old Clamshell iBook 12'' LCD Screen) it would be great. This is what they need:

LCD Screen ($200-300)
Low-End G3 or G4 Processor ($???)
Slot loading CD-ROM Drive - Optional ($75)
Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard - Optional ($79)
AirPort Extreme Built-In ($79)
USB and FireWire ports

Maybe video and audio out??


I'd imagine this as a 500-800mhz G3/G4 iBook with no base (with the keyboard, trackpad, etc...) Seems like a good idea. It all depends on the price and features.

[aswitcher]

I think if Apple can pull this off with a cheap price say $299, or $399 (that's about the price to get a new old Clamshell iBook 12'' LCD Screen) it would be great. This is what they need:

LCD Screen ($200-300)
Low-End G3 or G4 Processor ($???)
Slot loading CD-ROM Drive - Optional ($75)
Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard - Optional ($79)
AirPort Extreme Built-In ($79)
USB and FireWire ports

Maybe video and audio out??


I'd imagine this as a 500-800mhz G3/G4 iBook with no base (with the keyboard, trackpad, etc...) Seems like a good idea. It all depends on the price and features.

If it will run MS word/excel, WiFi for AX anbd internet access, and work with a BT keyboard and have reasonable battery life then it could be a real hit.

[LimeiBook86]

If it will run MS word/excel, WiFi for AX anbd internet access, and work with a BT keyboard and have reasonable battery life then it could be a real hit.

exactly ;)

[ArticulatedArm]

Don't know if anyone else has mentioned this but viewsonic and a couple of other display manufacturers made displays like that a while back for XP. The display itself contains a wireless card and the dock acts as a base station. The monitor contains the guts of a PDA to help process the information and then transmit it to the computer for all the hard work. They failed miserably because of price, and lack of marketing. But it has been done and apple can go and do it right.

EDIT: Turns out viewsonic still makes them they have modified them a bit (upped processor speed, removed wireless base station etc.) they are still expensive $1400 for a 10" model.

http://www.viewsonic.com/products/desktopdisplays/wirelessmonitors/airsyncv210wirelessdisplay/

I wonder how they worked? Any reviews? It seems like there would be latency issues. Also seems like battery life would be an issue.

[nagromme]

or maybe Apple could put special magic iBeans in every box that you could plant in your yard and grow a beanstalk.

Video-quality virtual glasses (Sony Glasstron) have existed for several years. They cost a couple hundred (more for VGA versions), but they DO give you a big-screen TV in your pocket! Apple offering something similar may or may not make market sense, but the technology is no fantasy.

[MacQuest]

Great. Just what we need... another underpowered overpriced show-off toy. Thanks Jobs... you're really gonna shake the world with this :confused:

That's the same complaint that a lot of people had with the iPod. :rolleyes:

[amberashby]

We haven't had any updates to MacRumors in a while. This seems worthy.

Bad as it is.


http://www.forbes.com/markets/2004/08/16/0816automarketscan11.html?partner=yahoo&referrer=

[hob]

We haven't had any updates to MacRumors in a while. This seems worthy.

Bad as it is.


http://www.forbes.com/markets/2004/08/16/0816automarketscan11.html?partner=yahoo&referrer=

Anyone fancy explaining finance to me? A company announces bad news - and say i'm a shareholder, I have to sell to get a good return on my shares because everyone else is going to sell - but why does everyone sell! If everyone kept the shares the value of the company would stay up and their shares would be worth more...? (sorry completeley off topic)

[salmon]

I've been thinking about this for the last three days (amongst doing other things, naturally), and it seems that folks are arguing along four lines:
1. a remote control
2. the new iMac
3. a video ipod
4. a small 'tablet'.

I think that 1 and 2 are ridiculous.

I agree completely, the talk about a remote control or simply a detachable display doesn't seem to provide enough value-add to make it a worthwhile purchase. I wouldn't buy either of these.

So, could it be a video iPod? Why? I don't need to carry my movies with me, and I'm certainly not going to watch them on a 10" screen.

I sort of agree with this. There are certainly portable video players around, and I don't see the point if that's all they do.

That being said, I think most people on this thread are vastly underestimating how useful a tablet type device would be. Sure, it could act as a picture display (great for showing digital photos to people) and a video clip display(wanna see the home movie of my kid catching his first salmon? Waiting in line for concert tickets? - let's watch some sitcom I taped the other day.) and a remote control, and a wireless display - but it could be much more.

eBooks and PDFs are a great use case. I read books and magazines constantly, but often find myself waiting for something and wishing I had a newspaper or article or something to read - but nowhere around to easily get one, so I end up reading something I don't like (cereal boxes at times). I also don't remember to carry my latest novel around with me, but I would remember something I take everywhere, like my wallet and car keys. Another case - you're doing any kind of home project - look, I can have all of the manuals and information about my fingertips. And I can display them in a convenient way (when I'm under my car working on something). And maybe modify some plans as I go. And make notes of things I need to get at the store. Just like your entire music collection, how about having your whole book collection with you at all times? Now THAT's cool, and I think it will take something like this to make eBooks really take off. The problem with them now is that they are tethered to something bulkier than the book itself.

Random happenings - how about thinking about buying something at the mall, and not being sure how it fits into your budget plans? Turn on your instant on tablet, and play with a spreadsheet for a couple of minutes. OK, so you're going to buy it, but not sure which one to get? Hit Google and check the product reviews. (Yes, this would take ubiqutous WiFi coverage. I think it's coming, and devices like this would help push it forward.)

And I'm only thinking of at home - in a workplace, it would be amazing - meetings, notes, impromptu presentations and instant access to information and web apps. I carry around a notebook with me everywhere at work to capture info and show people diagrams, and something like this would be so much better.

The tablet PCs haven't caught on because they are (as most things from Microsoft) poorly designed - way too big and bulky for the average person to carry around (they have to bulk up the specs to run their crappy OS), and WAY too expensive (about 3x the price I think is appropriate).

The key is having a screen big enough to actually work with, and not one of those annoyingly small PDA screens that are a PITA to use. No one likes looking at a 3 inch screen for any length of time, and they are useless to try and do anything with. I figure 8"-10" diagonal would be about right.

I keep watching Apple for this, because they seem to be the ONLY company that seems to have a chance of getting it right. I see things from other companies that fall flat because they aren't focusing on how these things might be used or fit into someone's life.

Take the Palm Tungsten C, give it a 8" screen (widescreen ratio), a flat thin battery attached on the back (for a long battery life) and an iPod docking slot (or MP3 and internal HD).

[Les Kern]

I can't believe Apple will bring out a Tablet computer seeing what a financial disaster they have been on the PC side (admitted even by Steve Ballmer).

They won't is all. UNLESS Apple (like they always do) redefine what a "tablet" does.
I had an HP top-of-the-line tablet. Bottom line is it smelled something awful. Now, if Apple looks at the failings of the standard tablet (which I'm sure they have) and look at any niches created by the iPod and the Airport Express, it wouldn't surprise me if it's a video device to compliment iLife for home use. Not nesessarily a "tablet" in the regular sense of the word, with handwriting recognition and a slow processor, but rather a way to, on demand, control, watch and broadcast video. Makes sense to my pea brain. Oh, and this could also be another false alarm created by the trillion patents they file evey year, an over-zelous media, and the hourdes of gullible folks.... like us.

[Les Kern]

.....how about thinking about buying something at the mall, and not being sure how it fits into your budget plans? Turn on your instant on tablet, and play with a spreadsheet for a couple of minutes. OK, so you're going to buy it, but not sure which one to get? Hit Google and check the product reviews. (Yes, this would take ubiqutous WiFi coverage. I think it's coming, and devices like this would help push it forward.)

Too big. I'd never carry it, and I don't thnk anyone else will want to either. If it can't fit in a pocket, it's for home use. If it CAN fit in a pocket, then they have created a miracle in cramming everything needed into it, to an extent the world has not seen to this point.

[Les Kern]

I for one would buy this mac/tabletPC in a split second. I would run alias sketchbook pro, painter and photoshop and not worry about taking a sketchbook with me wherever I go and pencils, markers, pens etc. For a person like me who wants to do some artwork on the go for character designs, sketches, ideas, studies... this would be amazing. I am sure there are many people out there who want something like this for the same reasons as me. For those who have paid attention apple has been making headway into the cg market and this would be a perfect and logical addtition to the tools they offer.


I might sound like the most pessimistic one here, but what you described is.. a laptop.... or a tablet. All those things could be done on my tablet, but it was awkward and slow. I and many others field tested it, and it was of no value to anyone I know. (I'm in edu, and have lots of admin users). The fact it's "Apple" makes little difference since the concept and application is exactly the same. Oh, and just HOLDING the thing was like holding a slippery fish. What to hold on to while you wrote? Sideways? On your lap? Horrible ergonomics! It was never comfortable unless I had the keyboard attached... but then it was a laptop! And a dismally slow one at that. There is a REASON why tablets are doing poorly... they stink.
Nah, Apple needs to re-define the concept. Make it for home use. Get the masses interested. Add video. Make it easy. Make it "cool" like thay always do. But do NOT make a tablet!

[salmon]

Too big. I'd never carry it, and I don't thnk anyone else will want to either. If it can't fit in a pocket, it's for home use. ...

I'm not convinced it would be too big for anyone else - I would carry it. And I know quite a few people that carry around purses/backpacks/shoulder bags, with books and electronic gadgets and the usual important stuff. I just think it would be so darn useful that people would put up with a bit of inconvenience to carry it around, because they have for other things.

I definitely agree that there are people who would find it too big, but I really have no idea what the % is.

[SiliconAddict]

The tablet PCs haven't caught on because they are (as most things from Microsoft) poorly designed - way too big and bulky for the average person to carry around (they have to bulk up the specs to run their crappy OS), and WAY too expensive (about 3x the price I think is appropriate).

The key is having a screen big enough to actually work with, and not one of those annoyingly small PDA screens that are a PITA to use. No one likes looking at a 3 inch screen for any length of time, and they are useless to try and do anything with. I figure 8"-10" diagonal would be about right.

I keep watching Apple for this, because they seem to be the ONLY company that seems to have a chance of getting it right. I see things from other companies that fall flat because they aren't focusing on how these things might be used or fit into someone's life.

Take the Palm Tungsten C, give it a 8" screen (widescreen ratio), a flat thin battery attached on the back (for a long battery life) and an iPod docking slot (or MP3 and internal HD).


Ummm NO. Here is the problem that people aren't getting. People equate Tablet PC (PC in the generic form that also includes Macs.) with PDA. The two don't compete against one another at all. Totally different form factors totally different uses. Tablet PC's more or less compete with laptop. In that type of device segment their weight is perfectly fine. (The lightest tablet PC is aprox 4lbs.) And even then it could be argued that the Tablet (slate) and the laptop markets are their own segment of a market just as the desktop and laptop and PDA are all separate.
The reasons the tablet PC has yet to successfully catch on are three fold:

First and foremost this is Microsoft software. They wouldn't know a good GUI design if it bit them in the butt. They are taking the Windows GUI and slapping it into a tablet or convertible form factor. That WILL NOT work. If the tablet is going to catch on it is going to need a rewrite of the GUI from the ground up. So much so that I will put forth the idea that even OS X in its current incarnation wouldn't work all that well.
Second is the hardware. As I've stated before the Tablet PC is currently offered in two forms: The pure bred slate format that has no keyboard and the convertible that has the screen swivel and lay flat face up against the keyboard. I firmly believe the second format, convertible, is the direction all notebooks are going in one form or another. It allows the user to have the flexibility of a notebook with the features of a tablet. The convertible is an ingenious format that will catch on once prices come down. And that is the key. Right now the price of an EM digitizer is still dang spendy. (Note that MS's tablet PC specs requires that the screen be a EM screen instead of a touch screen. e.g. It's more like a WaCom tablet then a PDA.) Until these prices fall don't expect to see widespread use of a tablet.
Third is price. MS is, last I read, gutting their OEM's with the price of the tablet PC OS. (Basically nothing more then XP with a few feature bolted on.) Way to push the format MS! :rolleyes: Lets see here. The tablet PC is still a niche market to return on investments at this point are going to be a drop in the bucket AND the OEM is expected to pay more for the OS then typical laptops. Yah. I'm seeing a real incentive for companies to make a tablet PC. :rolleyes:

I firmly believe that the tablet convertible market is there. Not only is it there but its going to reinvent the portable computer altogether when it happens but someone has to step up to the plate and bring software AND hardware together in a way that just clicks. Hmmm now who do we know who has a knack for such a process?

[salmon]

I might sound like the most pessimistic one here, but what you described is.. a laptop.... or a tablet.

I think there's a gap between a laptop, which is big, bulky, no touchscreen & awkward mouse, and a PDA which has a screen that is too small to do anything useful on, but great in a lot of other ways. The tablets that are out now seem to have taken the worst of both worlds, not the best.

Horrible ergonomics! It was never comfortable unless I had the keyboard attached... but then it was a laptop!

The keyboard/text entry ergonomics question is a difficult one, and probably what has kept this from being a successful idea in the past - a thumb type keyboard would be the best that I've seen. But I would also argue that just because no one has solved this problem before, doesn't mean it's not possible, and if there's any company that has a shot at getting it right, it's definitely Apple.

[joeboy_45101]

I think this might be how Apple is now approaching it's new product designs.

[salmon]

Ummm NO. Here is the problem that people aren't getting. People equate Tablet PC (PC in the generic form that also includes Macs.) with PDA. The two don't compete against one another at all. Totally different form factors totally different uses. Tablet PC's more or less compete with laptop.

Oh, I get it - that's the current state of affairs, but missing that middle ground is, IMHO, why tablet pcs suck. Microsoft made this current definition of "tablet", same as they managed to convince people that rebooting a computer 15 times a day is OK - but it's not right. More on this below.

The reasons the tablet PC has yet to successfully catch on are three fold:

First and foremost this is Microsoft software. They wouldn't know a good GUI design if it bit them in the butt. They are taking the Windows GUI and slapping it into a tablet or convertible form factor.

I agree whole-heartedly. And dealing with this bloat drives the hardware specs up, which drives the cost up, etc, etc. To me, the CPU power in PDAs is about right - the most intensive processing I can see doing with a tablet is showing a video.

Second is the hardware. As I've stated before the Tablet PC is currently offered in two forms: The pure bred slate format that has no keyboard and the convertible that has the screen swivel and lay flat face up against the keyboard. I firmly believe the second format, convertible, is the direction all notebooks are going in one form or another.

The keyboard/ergonomic question is a difficult one, because a stylus is the best for working, but a keyboard is essential for any type of text entry. The OQO (http://www.oqo.com) is somewhat interesting, but I think will fail because it's got Windows XP on it (see point 1).

Third is price. MS is, last I read, gutting their OEM's with the price of the tablet PC OS. (Basically nothing more then XP with a few feature bolted on.) Way to push the format MS! :rolleyes: Lets see here. The tablet PC is still a niche market to return on investments at this point are going to be a drop in the bucket AND the OEM is expected to pay more for the OS then typical laptops. Yah. I'm seeing a real incentive for companies to make a tablet PC. :rolleyes:


I didn't realize this is why the prices are so high, all I know is that they are. WAY too high - about 3x what they should be.

A light OS is the essential starting point. And Apple won't be wanting to put Aqua on one of these things, but they have an OS that is way more scalable than XP. There's a lot of desktop stuff they can strip out of OS X, then create a simple windowing manager.

[bored13]

I might sound like the most pessimistic one here, but what you described is.. a laptop.... or a tablet. All those things could be done on my tablet, but it was awkward and slow. I and many others field tested it, and it was of no value to anyone I know. (I'm in edu, and have lots of admin users). The fact it's "Apple" makes little difference since the concept and application is exactly the same. Oh, and just HOLDING the thing was like holding a slippery fish. What to hold on to while you wrote? Sideways? On your lap? Horrible ergonomics! It was never comfortable unless I had the keyboard attached... but then it was a laptop! And a dismally slow one at that. There is a REASON why tablets are doing poorly... they stink.

You may be right about the ergonomics... I already have a powerbook and two tablets (graphire which is pretty small not very precise and a intuos 12in. x 12in. which is great but not portable at all) but if i could simplify everything into one thing especially if I could draw on the screen and be portable it would be a dream come true for me. About it being a slow computer I don't expect it to be fast which is why I wouldn't use it for high end stuff. I don't know how apple could pull this off but I will say that if they can't make it better than the tablet pc's I would rather be left wishing than being disappointed.

[izzle22]

Why does this whole thing have to be so complicated. It's most likely just a nice touch screen remote for airtunes, that displays and controls the songs in iTunes and controls volume. They could sell this for $150-$200. This is something I and everyone else who has an airport express on the oppisite end of thier house from thier Mac, need. There are very few people in this world who NEED a tablet.

[iMan]

... the following:

- small enough to carry easily around in the house
- wallmount dockable, i.e. hanging in the kitchen to access recipes or watch the news...
- a remote for my iTunes library
- able to display my shared iPhoto and movie library via AX/AE
- a remote for myMac based TV settop, and record TV to my harddisk
- able to recognize handwriting (ink) so I can take quick notes and drawings
- have iChat AV compability (built in cam/mic?)
- a remote for my doorbell and feature frontdoor video through iChat
- has a touch screen for easy functionality
- does not feature a full scale OS X - but just basic functionality (no need for a high power processor).

Remember the rumours that Palm (I think) did development for a remote feature for their products and asked to discontinue by Apple?
I actually miss a simple computer add on to be able to control iTunes/AX and show pictures (not everyone has a computer in the living room, and a computer is hardly as attractive to show pictures on when sitting in the couch as something resembling a real album...) - something more rugged, that can take some dirt when carried in the kitchen, bathroom, garden, pool area, wherever...

Please Apple... :D

[mvc]

Why does this whole thing have to be so complicated. It's most likely just a nice touch screen remote for airtunes, that displays and controls the songs in iTunes and controls volume. They could sell this for $150-$200. This is something I and everyone else who has an airport express on the oppisite end of thier house from thier Mac, need. There are very few people in this world who NEED a tablet.

Yeah, but the moment apple releases THAT device there will be 5,000,000 screaming mac fans ranting about why they "didn't do a proper job", and "lost opportunity" & "typical under-specced apple product" on NEWS.COM and C/NET.

You see, we all kind of "know" that an 8 - 10 inch screen slim tablet COULD be a great device for many many uses, as long as the screen quality, battery life, processor speed, hardrive and wireless connectivity is up to snuff, AND the interface, input devices and ergonomics are responsive and intuitive.

But miss just ONE of those and it will be another also-ran.

Much as I am a futurist fan-boy of wireless handheld tech, I don't actually believe Apple or anyone else has all of their technological ducks in a row for this just yet.

At any price...

Love to be wrong though. :p

[Loge]

eBooks and PDFs are a great use case. I read books and magazines constantly, but often find myself waiting for something and wishing I had a newspaper or article or something to read - but nowhere around to easily get one, so I end up reading something I don't like (cereal boxes at times). I also don't remember to carry my latest novel around with me, but I would remember something I take everywhere, like my wallet and car keys. Another case - you're doing any kind of home project - look, I can have all of the manuals and information about my fingertips. And I can display them in a convenient way (when I'm under my car working on something). And maybe modify some plans as I go. And make notes of things I need to get at the store. Just like your entire music collection, how about having your whole book collection with you at all times? Now THAT's cool, and I think it will take something like this to make eBooks really take off. The problem with them now is that they are tethered to something bulkier than the book itself.


Yes. Somebody has to produce a decent e-book reader at some stage. I hope it's Apple because they have a lot of the right business model set up already with iTunes/iTMS/iPod. Just being able to read standard PDFs in a convenient reader would be a start.

[GregA]

I really think that this is a remote display for Macs, PCs and iPods:

At home it is a wifi VNC viewer for any Mac/PC discoverable via Rendezvous.

On the go it is a wired display for your iPod. (Remember, 4G iPods have a rumored hidden feature). Think about the silhouette advertisments with another wire from the iPod to this new viewer!I must admit I haven't read everything on the forum. But I've done a quick find through every page for "Dash"board.

Doesn't anybody think that the REAL reason for Dashboard may be that those web-java applets (that can link back to real Mac apps, like the iTunes controller) may be the exact things that run on this new device?

What other interesting Dashboard Applets were there by default from Apple? And what other possibilities are there?

[Seanb23]

You know, despite what some people may say about 'em, I find my 17" pbook to be just about perfect ergonomically...but I'm a pretty big guy. However, my 5'5 room-mate, whom I outweigh by about 85 pounds...well, she likes it just fine, too, and so does everyone else I talk to who uses them for light-duty programs. It's no trouble at all to carry around in a nice case...fits into the lap nicely...it's very lightweight, but the battery only lasts for about 3 hours, so you've got to compromise somewhere...

And, hey, if Apple and IBM ever decide to fit a modern processor into it, like a G5 or some revamped G4 or something, I'd never even want to hear the words "AMD64" or even "fast M-chip" again. Who cares if it winds up being a little thicker and heavier...it seems to me to be the perfect compromise between a desktop and laptop anyway...you can plug a mouse or a display or whatever into it...and we all know how much of a demand there already is for fast powerbooks as compared to, um, what were they called ? Oh yeah..."Tablets"...that's right...I thought I knew someone once who heard of someone who actually used one every now and then...

[aswitcher]

Do this at a decent price point and I would be interested. Even more so if I could use BT and connect a keyboard to have a second machine for word processing...

... the following:

- small enough to carry easily around in the house
- wallmount dockable, i.e. hanging in the kitchen to access recipes or watch the news...
- a remote for my iTunes library
- able to display my shared iPhoto and movie library via AX/AE
- a remote for myMac based TV settop, and record TV to my harddisk
- able to recognize handwriting (ink) so I can take quick notes and drawings
- have iChat AV compability (built in cam/mic?)
- a remote for my doorbell and feature frontdoor video through iChat
- has a touch screen for easy functionality
- does not feature a full scale OS X - but just basic functionality (no need for a high power processor).

Remember the rumours that Palm (I think) did development for a remote feature for their products and asked to discontinue by Apple?
I actually miss a simple computer add on to be able to control iTunes/AX and show pictures (not everyone has a computer in the living room, and a computer is hardly as attractive to show pictures on when sitting in the couch as something resembling a real album...) - something more rugged, that can take some dirt when carried in the kitchen, bathroom, garden, pool area, wherever...

Please Apple... :D

[csubear]

I think this might be how Apple is now approaching it's new product designs.


Good. I'm not the only one who was thinking that when i read that strip.

[ArticulatedArm]

I have a possible solution to this. I really think it could work.

Have you heard of a throat mic? They are used on small airplanes to keep the noise of the engine out while talking. It is like a choker with a mic built in. I think if this was designed properly and made ultra sensitive you could speak to your computer with the slightest whisper. You would also need to sheild the mics from outside voices -- to prevent other voices from being picked up by your computer -- but it seems doable.

Combine this with the pen input i mentioned before to edit mistakes while dictating and I think this could far surpass even keyboards as a method of controlling your computer and inputing information.


This could help drown out external noise so you could have an ultra sensitive mic on your throat allowing you to input with the tiniest whisper. A throat mic would also be a much better design for this system.


http://www.popsci.com/popsci/images/computer/comp0904jawbone_A.jpg


Drunk-dialing your former girlfriends from a noisy bar just got intelligible, if not intelligent. A mobile-phone headset from Aliph debuts a noise-suppression system that its designers say can drown out a weed whacker. Jawbone ($150), due this fall, uses a digital signal processor (DSP) running proprietary algorithms to scrub background noise from your outgoing calls. What’s unique is its voice activity sensor, a rubber node that rests against the cheek and picks up vocal vibrations through your jawbone. This crucial stream of data—are you talking or not?—when analyzed in conjunction with data from the two microphones, helps the DSP calculate a precise digital map of the noise. It then compares this against everything it hears, and removes the din before shipping out a clean signal. The upshot: Jawbone makes a more informed call about what is noise and what is voice. As for the decisions you make, you’re on your own.

The Speakeasy
Jawbone’s 15-gram earpiece/boom is spring-loaded to seat the voice sensor against your cheek. A port in the stainless-steel casing allows one mic to detect background noise.

A Sound Accessory
A belt clip houses the processor, which analyzes three streams of data 500 times a second to identify noise.

A unique sensor translates vocal vibrations from your jawbone into binary data.

The unidirectional voice microphone is set at 90 degrees to the noise microphone to help separate data.

[Mac Dummy]

Hey an Ipad...
Or possibly a PowerPad. :rolleyes:

No, seriously if anyone can do tablets better than Toshiba...then its Apple.
AND it won't have Microsoft's stupid Tablet PC operating system. :mad:

Go Apple! :D

[spinko]

http://blackberry.com/

yet another hand held device that I didn't know about but which could be of some inspiration to Apple although Apple's version probably wouldn't be squarely aimed at corporate staff...

[jonhoffm]

For all of you dumping on the inability of a Tablet or how worthless it might be, have you actually used one or owned one?

Don't knock it till you try it. It might be more versatile than you think.

As my first post on these forums, I know this may draw some fire, but I have found my Toshiba M200 tablet to be a great tool. Not only do I carry my entire music collection on my iPod. I carry the notes for every meeting and phone call I have ever taken since adopting the Tablet.

Is it perfect - no. Could a better platform for a tablet be developed by Apple using OS X - definitely. It always amazes me when Apple lovers (which I am as well) site poor sales as proof the MSFT failed and that the idea is inherently flawed - by that measure, one must conclude that OS X is a terrible operating system since it has under 5% of the OS market. Where MSFT has come up short is with a killer app - they need one badly for the Tablet and are getting closer with OneNote.

I would guess at least 95% of those critical of the MS Tablet have never touched a working tablet let alone applied one to their daily professional life.

Those who conclude regarding the viability and usefulness of products they have never used become pretty quiet once they find themselves using the technology and touting it as great. Then, ironically, they criticize others who don't see the technology as valuable. Many on this thread have pointed out the slow initial adoption of the 5+ gig MP3 player - a great illustration of this point.

[jonhoffm]

Perhaps since Apple has become the recognized market leader in the portable music player market with the ipod as well as the market leader with the itunes music store, they are going after the video market as well.

They already know how to market this type of product and would be sure to implement it with the style we all expect from Apple. Others are entering the market with PVPs - Apple may perceive these devices as a threat or successor the the MP3 player.

Some question the attraction of a portable video player, but with the recent FCC approval of TiVo sharing, these devices could become a commuters dream - movies, broadcast television, your iphoto library, imovie clips with you all the time. This seems to me like a natural extension of the MP3 player and would provide Apple an opportunity to introduce Windows users to more of the ilife suite.

As a footnote, the inclusion of H.264/AVC in Tiger would work well with such a device.

[Les Kern]

As my first post on these forums, I know this may draw some fire, but I have found my Toshiba M200 tablet to be a great tool. Not only do I carry my entire music collection on my iPod. I carry the notes for every meeting and phone call I have ever taken since adopting the Tablet.

Is it perfect - no. Could a better platform for a tablet be developed by Apple using OS X - definitely. It always amazes me when Apple lovers (which I am as well) site poor sales as proof the MSFT failed and that the idea is inherently flawed - by that measure, one must conclude that OS X is a terrible operating system since it has under 5% of the OS market. Where MSFT has come up short is with a killer app - they need one badly for the Tablet and are getting closer with OneNote.

I would guess at least 95% of those critical of the MS Tablet have never touched a working tablet let alone applied one to their daily professional life.

Those who conclude regarding the viability and usefulness of products they have never used become pretty quiet once they find themselves using the technology and touting it as great. Then, ironically, they criticize others who don't see the technology as valuable.

Well said. And don't worry about "drawing fire". You post was well thought out, and has no holes as far as I can see. (I still hate tablets after usng one, however!)

[apple juice]

Hmmm, based on the dimensions described so far, it almost sounds like it could be a digital picture frame. Imagine an apple picture frame! It could be the "ipod" of iPhoto! It could be an 802.11g connection to your home computer. I could run slideshows automatically over wi-fi, based on pix in your Pictures Folder. That would be another huge step into apple's home integration plan. talk about iLife. That would be sexy! And it would work beautifully with Airport Express! I'm getting psyched already! I don't think Apple is going to venture into the tablet market, but this woulld be something different wouldn't it? What do you guys think? I haven't read ALL of the posts on this thread, I don't have that kind of time, so this is my guess/hope for this product. :cool:

-apple juice

[salmon]

Hmmm, based on the dimensions described so far, it almost sounds like it could be a digital picture frame. Imagine an apple picture frame! It could be the "ipod" of iPhoto! It could be an 802.11g connection to your home computer. I could run slideshows automatically over wi-fi, based on pix in your Pictures Folder. That would be another huge step into apple's home integration plan. talk about iLife. That would be sexy! And it would work beautifully with Airport Express! I'm getting psyched already! I don't think Apple is going to venture into the tablet market, but this woulld be something different wouldn't it? What do you guys think? I haven't read ALL of the posts on this thread, I don't have that kind of time, so this is my guess/hope for this product. :cool:

-apple juice

I don't know, I think that if Apple is going to make something like this, they'll try to make it as versatile as possible (but without trying to be all things to all people). I can't imagine it just being a digital picture frame/personal video player, I think it would be some type of full-fledged computing device that could be used at home or away (but probably optimized for at home).

While I'm sure it would INCLUDE the functionality you describe, I doubt it would be limited to it.

[zelmo]

I don't know, I think that if Apple is going to make something like this, they'll try to make it as versatile as possible (but without trying to be all things to all people). I can't imagine it just being a digital picture frame/personal video player, I think it would be some type of full-fledged computing device that could be used at home or away (but probably optimized for at home).

While I'm sure it would INCLUDE the functionality you describe, I doubt it would be limited to it.

I don't know if this will be a real product anytime soon, but if it does come to market, count on this:
1 - Apple will not make it a Swiss army knife solution. It willl do two or three things really, really well [iPhoto frame, iTunes remote, maybe light duty email access a la PDA).
2 - It won't step on the toes of Apple's 'Book sales much at all. These are very profitable lines, and they won't sacrifice sales here voluntarily.
3 - No high quality streaming video. It won't magically solve the bandwidth issue that others [who know far, far more than I] have discussed at length on this thread. Maybe it would have that 60gig drive and a FW port.

Say, maybe this will be that "one more thing" in Paris? yeah, right.

[iMan]

I don't know if this will be a real product anytime soon, but if it does come to market, count on this:
1 - Apple will not make it a Swiss army knife solution. It willl do two or three things really, really well [iPhoto frame, iTunes remote, maybe light duty email access a la PDA).
2 - It won't step on the toes of Apple's 'Book sales much at all. These are very profitable lines, and they won't sacrifice sales here voluntarily.
3 - No high quality streaming video. It won't magically solve the bandwidth issue that others [who know far, far more than I] have discussed at length on this thread. Maybe it would have that 60gig drive and a FW port.

Say, maybe this will be that "one more thing" in Paris? yeah, right.

Agreed! Probably it will be an extension of the computer you already have. My guess it might as well be crossplatform (as AX and iTunes/iPod). I am not sure it will feature a large harddrive though... I believe rather in wireless connection - streaming content from the computer - or rather just controlling the computer for some features (like music and video). I suspect the AX is soon going to also support video (as iTunes as well...). Also internet access and mail functions - only working like some kind of remote desktop...

[dahacouk]

All this talk of an 8 inch device got me thinking. Could Apple build an 8 inch PowerBook running full blown OS X? And if they could would people want it? From a brief investigation I reckon Apple could build such a unit and from reading people's comments I reckon there's a market for it. Heck, I'd buy one like a shot!

So, I put down some specifications for what I'd like in the hope that Apple will sort it out for me:
http://www.daha.co.uk/daha/Apple_8_Inch_PowerBook

Cheers Daniel

[Chomolungma]

I don't know if this will be a real product anytime soon, but if it does come to market, count on this:
1 - Apple will not make it a Swiss army knife solution. It willl do two or three things really, really well [iPhoto frame, iTunes remote, maybe light duty email access a la PDA).
2 - It won't step on the toes of Apple's 'Book sales much at all. These are very profitable lines, and they won't sacrifice sales here voluntarily.
3 - No high quality streaming video. It won't magically solve the bandwidth issue that others [who know far, far more than I] have discussed at length on this thread. Maybe it would have that 60gig drive and a FW port.

Say, maybe this will be that "one more thing" in Paris? yeah, right.

the device that you are describing here has virtually no practical use. I can't imagine carrying a iPhoto frame around with me. prints in a traditional album is still the prefer way. iTunes remote? what does this function solve? If I can't think of a way to use it immediately, it is a bad sign. Light email access? Just go to your desk or laptop for this. How hard can this be? Okay, if you have a weight problem, and find it difficult to get off the couch.

I think sometime we forget the one rule in invention i.e. if a machine or device fails to make our life easier; it will never make it off the drawing board.

[iMan]

the device that you are describing here has virtually no practical use. I can't imagine carrying a iPhoto frame around with me. prints in a traditional album is still the prefer way. iTunes remote? what does this function solve? If I can't think of a way to use it immediately, it is a bad sign. Light email access? Just go to your desk or laptop for this. How hard can this be? Okay, if you have a weight problem, and find it difficult to get off the couch.

I think sometime we forget the one rule in invention i.e. if a machine or device fails to make our life easier; it will never make it off the drawing board.

So you are the one proofing new inventions?
I think most certainly a device like this has a lot to it! You will - in time - have a lot of digital pictures (maybe even movies) that is not going to make prints. Still it would be nice to show friends sometime - especially if it is readily available. If your computer is located in the basement or another room it is not as easy as if you can still sit in the couch. Also, iTunes remote is the one thing I miss after AX (and I have my PB in the living room!). If I could have a lighteight device that somehow featured controlling iTunes could show pictures from my iPhoto library, could access my mail and also the net - and maybe a couple other associated features (at a decent pricepoint) I would buy it. I could actually really use it right now!

[salmon]

2 - It won't step on the toes of Apple's 'Book sales much at all. These are very profitable lines, and they won't sacrifice sales here voluntarily.


You're right, I don't think it would be a replacement for a 'book or desktop - it would have to complement it. So something that can be used for general, light-duty computing, probably a bit more than current PDAs are capable of. Maybe something like a G3-500, single active app (a la PalmOS), 1 USB, 1 FW, 40GB HD, Wifi, 6-8" touch screen, ~500g (1lb) weight, MP3 player abilities, and some type of pull down or fold out keyboard. This wouldn't challenge an iBook or Powerbook, IMO. It could be used around the house, and if you didn't mind carrying it around, you could take it with you out around.

How about some thoughts on use-cases of a devices like above?

BTW, I really don't understand the continuing mention of an iTunes remote control - I'm sure a company could put together something simple (a USB IR device, with a remote, for $50cdn or less) and it would be great, but isn't a device that would cost multi hundreds WAY overkill? Could someone who believes in this idea give me a better understanding as to why they think it is a marketable product? Or am I just misunderstanding...

[iMan]

BTW, I really don't understand the continuing mention of an iTunes remote control - I'm sure a company could put together something simple (a USB IR device, with a remote, for $50cdn or less) and it would be great, but isn't a device that would cost multi hundreds WAY overkill? Could someone who believes in this idea give me a better understanding as to why they think it is a marketable product? Or am I just misunderstanding...

Oh yes.. and there are already devices out there (like what you can do with Salling). The thing is that it is not supposed to ONLY be the iTunes remote (besides the fact that iTunes interface take a pretty advenced remote to get full feature). What about when iTunes (or something like it) also incorporates movies - how great would it be to controll it from your chair rather than walk over to the computer? And if using your Mac as a "video recorder"?
Other uses:
- iChat AV (including some kind of link to your doorcam)
- accessing mail / web / Web TV conveniently from odd places (kitchen, bathroom, garage, pool...)
- showing off you iPhoto collection like a digital album (or even controlling it for TV viewing)
- remote desktop for you other computer (you need to e-mail a file on the computer in the den when sitting by the pool - convenient if you have a really large house :)
- making quick notes / sketches wherever you are (and of course sending to others..)

...

more?

[Squire]

BTW, I really don't understand the continuing mention of an iTunes remote control - I'm sure a company could put together something simple (a USB IR device, with a remote, for $50cdn or less) and it would be great, but isn't a device that would cost multi hundreds WAY overkill? Could someone who believes in this idea give me a better understanding as to why they think it is a marketable product? Or am I just misunderstanding...

Good point. Every time I think of this, I wonder if Apple will simply release a truly amazing PDA that controls iTunes. Of course, they'd have to call it something other than a PDA.

Squire

[salmon]

- iChat AV (including some kind of link to your doorcam)


Now THAT's a cool idea :D Of course, a control for the gate and door locks would be needed too...

[iMan]

Now THAT's a cool idea :D Of course, a control for the gate and door locks would be needed too...

Sure it will. And it will also have a personal message if not at home (obviously the doorcam has a face recognition feature that will know if it is a friend calling...) and the possibility for the visitor to leave a videomsg to you. :)
In fact - this kind of device already exist as part of a homesystem (besides the recog thingie), so it is not that far fetched...

[thatwendigo]

You're right, I don't think it would be a replacement for a 'book or desktop - it would have to complement it. So something that can be used for general, light-duty computing, probably a bit more than current PDAs are capable of. Maybe something like a G3-500, single active app (a la PalmOS), 1 USB, 1 FW, 40GB HD, Wifi, 6-8" touch screen, ~500g (1lb) weight, MP3 player abilities, and some type of pull down or fold out keyboard. This wouldn't challenge an iBook or Powerbook, IMO. It could be used around the house, and if you didn't mind carrying it around, you could take it with you out around.

Well, if you look back a ways: (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=849436&postcount=425)
No, this is ultracompact, (http://www.oqo.com/hardware/specs/). It's 4.9" x 3.4" x .9" and a svelte 14 ounces. The display is 800x400 native WVGA, with an optional external video link to another, larger display, FireWire 400, 802.11b. headphone jacks, pen input, removable battery (2-6 hour life), a docking station (USB 2.0, FireWire, Ethernet, DC power, Audio Out). The HD has an autodetect for when it falls, so that the platters park to prevent head crash. The screen slides to reveal a keyboard beneath, and a smart light-detector keeps the backlight at a steady level based on your environment.

The reason I won't use one: It runs Windows.

Were Apple to offer something like this, I would sell my laptop and desktop and buy one, along with an external FireWire drive and an LCD to use at home. It's so close to what I consider the perfect ideal for modern computing that I would gladly pay PowerBook prices for one, G4 or not.

So, I give you my true wish for what Apple ought to replace the iMac with:

Apple iMac II
1.5ghz FreeScale MPC7447A or 2.0ghz single-core e600/VX
896x600 WXGA LCD
512 MB PC2700 RAM (expandable to 2GB)
40GB 7200 RPM shock-mounted drive
802.11g
BlueTooth
FireWire 400 & 800 (1 port each)
USB 2.0 (1 port)
3.5mm audio out jack
Built-in mic
Pen entry
Lithium polymer battery (3-4 hours of life)
6" x 4" x 1" and less than 2 pounds

Docking Station
2x 3.5" bays with SATA controller (1 80GB drive installed)
1x IDE optical (1 8x SuperDrive installed)
AGP 8x and/or PCI-Extreme to drive external monitor (Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB installed)
4 USB 2.0
2 FireWire 400
2 FireWire 800
ADC & DVI connectors
Built-in 802.11g transmitter
Gigabit Ethernet
Charging Cradle/Interface Dock
1' x 2' x 6"

Total cost: $1,500-2,000 base model, with BTO options.

The docking station would hold the screen up so that the unit is usable in that mode, or you can press a button to close it down and output all video to the external monitor. The interface would be a modified version of rackmount C-PCI blade backplanes, which allow incredible, hot-swappable I/O speeds and power throughput. It wouldn't increase overhead on the portable unit because all it needs is the pathways to allow transfer, since power and controllers would be on the dock and not in it.

[zelmo]

the device that you are describing here has virtually no practical use. I can't imagine carrying a iPhoto frame around with me. prints in a traditional album is still the prefer way. iTunes remote? what does this function solve? If I can't think of a way to use it immediately, it is a bad sign. Light email access? Just go to your desk or laptop for this. How hard can this be? Okay, if you have a weight problem, and find it difficult to get off the couch.

I think sometime we forget the one rule in invention i.e. if a machine or device fails to make our life easier; it will never make it off the drawing board.

I have tons of digital pictures in iPhoto. When I visit my Mom [who has no computer at her house] to show her the latest pics of her grandson, I have a couple of options. I can take the time/expense to print out photo's [and will do this for the really good ones], or I can let her view them on the camera viewer [ewww!] or on my Palm T3, or I can lug my laptop [which is what I do]. My mom is not even a little computer savvy, nor is she inclined to become so at this stage of her life. Handling the laptop makes her nervous. A $600 device with a small screen, which can hold a few photo's and be used as a digital photo album or frame, would be easier to tote for me, and simpler to interface with for her. Sure, I can organize the images and burn a dvd for her, but something simpler to put together would be handy.
An iTunes controller? I'd love to able to sit on my deck and control what is playing through the speakers without getting up and going to the computer, and sometimes I don't want to leave my laptop laying on the picnic table around tall sticky drinks and the kids who spill them.
Ligtht computing and email? working with spreadsheets and Word docs on my Palm is a pain, and I sure don't like walking around the printing plant taking inventory with my PB. Something in the middle wwould be helpful.
Seems to me like this kind of device would play well for introducing the potential of a digital hub to those who don't already buy into the dream, while affording those of who are there with a simple means to accomplish common tasks.

[firestarter]

All this talk of an 8 inch device got me thinking. Could Apple build an 8 inch PowerBook running full blown OS X? And if they could would people want it? From a brief investigation I reckon Apple could build such a unit and from reading people's comments I reckon there's a market for it. Heck, I'd buy one like a shot!

So, I put down some specifications for what I'd like in the hope that Apple will sort it out for me:
http://www.daha.co.uk/daha/Apple_8_Inch_PowerBook

Cheers Daniel

I sure hope so!!! Apple are really missing a small laptop from their range - over 2kg for the lightest is just too much. They'd sell a load in the Japanese market too - I'm sure it would be worth their while.

I'd really like a lighter laptop to take on holiday (for WiFi email and digital photography). The thought of buying a Windows machine is too depressing.

[dahacouk]

Hi thatwendigo,

I've added in some of your ideas and clarified some of the specifications for an Apple 8 Inch PowerBook (http://www.daha.co.uk/daha/Apple_8_Inch_PowerBook). One place where you and I really differ is on the idea of a docking station - not into it personally - would prefer to have an all-in-one unit.

Were Apple to offer something like this, I would sell my laptop and desktop and buy one, along with an external FireWire drive and an LCD to use at home. It's so close to what I consider the perfect ideal for modern computing that I would gladly pay PowerBook prices for one, G4 or not.

Agreed! ;-)

1.5ghz FreeScale MPC7447A or 2.0ghz single-core e600/VX

Not sure if we need to specify but I've added them in anyway.

896x600 WXGA LCD

I want a slightly bigger screen than this:

Diagonal: 8 inches
Horizontal Resolution: 1440 pixels
Vertical Resolution: 900 pixels
Width: 6.78 inches - 172.31 mm
Height: 4.24 inches - 107.70 mm
Dots Per Inch: 212.26
Dot Pitch: 0.12 mm
Total Pixels: 1296000
Aspect Ratio: 16:10

512 MB PC2700 RAM (expandable to 2GB)

Cool. Added that in too.


FireWire 400 & 800 (1 port each)

I've just said 2 x 800 ports as they are backwards compatible.

USB 2.0 (1 port)

I've said 2 ports.

3.5mm audio out jack

I've rather gone to town with audio:

Audio input: microphone (plug in power)/optical digital/line (stereo 3.5 mm mini-jack)
Audio output: headphone/optical digital/line (stereo 3.5 mm mini-jack)

Built-in mic

Added that in.

Lithium polymer battery (3-4 hours of life)

I also want to be able to swap in AAs just in case there is no mains to recharge from.

6" x 4" x 1" and less than 2 pounds

I'm saying slightly larger:

Width: 6.78 inches - 172.31 mm
Length: 4.24 inches - 107.70 mm
Height: Less than 1.5 inches - 38.1 mm

Docking Station

I reckon you could get all the functionality you want by either bringing more connectors into the PowerBook or just plugging in separate devices. Doing it this way you have more options, me thinks.

2x 3.5" bays with SATA controller (1 80GB drive installed)
1x IDE optical (1 8x SuperDrive installed)

Could plug in external drives via Firewire to the PowerBook.

AGP 8x and/or PCI-Extreme to drive external monitor (Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB installed)

I'm sure you could drive a 1920 x 1200 screen using the chip set built-in to the PowerBook.

4 USB 2.0
2 FireWire 400
2 FireWire 800

Could do this with hubs as required.

ADC & DVI connectors

Just need a DVI-I connector as current PowerBooks. Allows you to drive 1920 x 1200 LCD and, with a converter, VGA. I've got a feeling ADC is on the way out as a connector

Built-in 802.11g transmitter

I'm guessing you mean AirPort Extreme Base Station here, yes? In which case I don't see the need for it to be built in.

Gigabit Ethernet

Built-in.

Total cost: $1,500-2,000 base model, with BTO options.

Sounds good to me.

Now, where's that red phone direct to Steve Jobs gone?!?!?!? ;-)

Cheers Daniel

[Chomolungma]

No coincident, but I got my PowerBook stolen from my truck 3 days ago. Mistakenly lefted unlock for an hour at home. All my pictures and music were on it. My roommate notice that I seem to take this casually. Sure, it is a loss, but I think it is an opportunity to generate new pictures and start a new music library. However, I'm not eager to rush out and get a new PowerBook. Work provides computers for me even while traveling. I'm thinking about going retro! Pencil, paper and snail mail anyone?

-Chomo

[thatwendigo]

Hi thatwendigo,

I've added in some of your ideas and clarified some of the specifications for an Apple 8 Inch PowerBook (http://www.daha.co.uk/daha/Apple_8_Inch_PowerBook). One place where you and I really differ is on the idea of a docking station - not into it personally - would prefer to have an all-in-one unit.

I've seen your ideas since I originally posted that idea (several months ago), and I can understand where you're coming from. However, I disagree on things as fundamental as purpose and target market, so I think that our ideas are going to not entirely mesh.

In the spirit of friendly discussion, though, I'm going to modify my idea. My dream:

Apple FlexMac (the name I originally applied to this concept)
FreeScale dual-core 1.5-2.0ghz e600
8" diagonal EM LCD (1200x900 max resoltion, 4:3 aspect)
512MB PC2700 DDR RAM (2 slots open and installed in pairs, 2x256 soldered onboard, 2.5GB max)
40GB 7200RPM 2.5" accelerometer-locking HD (the largest 7200RPM drives are 60GB, and the 2.5" format is JUST getting to 100GB at this point)
ATI Radeon 9700 Mobile 128MB
Built-in 802.11g and Bluetooth (disablable, for security)
FireWire 400 x1, FireWire 800 x1
USB 2.0 x1
Analog Audio in/out
Built-in mic
Built-in video pickup (possibly an iSight, sans the need for FireWire?)
Built-in gigabit ethernet (using the e600's interface instead of other controllers)
Built-in sheathe/cradle for the pointer, which is EM instead of touch and helps preserve the screen surface.
Lithium-Polymer Battery with at least 4 hours of life, even with WiFi active.

Dimensions: 8" w x 5" h x 1.5" d
Weight: Less than three pounds.

Software to be included as a special package:
-Apple VoIP app to remove any complaint about phone, bundled with a special rate from a major carrier that signs on to support Apple in exchange for customer.
-Auto-detecting security that locks the screen and interface at a predetermined time without a presence in front of the camera, optionally active or disabled.
-Voiceprint passwords, optional.
-Light version of Apple Remote Desktop that's limited to only 2 clients, allowing for full VNC.
-Remote control functions and easy networking to iTunes, iPhoto, DVD Player, Quicktime, and other media apps. This requires new Apple iSafe technology be enabled, using 1024-bit transparent encryption to keep the content locked while between machines. DVDs and digital movies would be pre-cached on the FlexMac's harddrive or loaded before watching, not streamed realtime.

Hardware options:
-Docking station - CPCI interface slot under covered port on unit provides interface to internal drive bays (2x SATA), DVI and VGA out to drive a monitor, four more USB 2.0 ports, 2 more FireWire ports (one of each), optical SPDIF in/out.

There's probably more, but I work third shift now and it's getting "late" for me. ;)

Base cost: $1,899

[Blackguard]

I wrote to Apple a short while ago, passing them on some links from an emerging segment of the market for portable PCs, the handtops (http://www.handtops.com).

The idea is a fully functional PC, with a standard version of the OS, that is at or slightly larger than your typical Palm device. You have a dock at home to which you attach all your peripherals (monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.) to give you a fully functional PC and on the road you use the screen itself (6-7" diagonal would be perfect, IMO) as a touchscreen with a pen. It is WiFi capable, sports USB 2.0, Firewire and all the toys.

It gives you the opportunity to combine everything (iPod, computer, PDA) except your cell phone, and if I could get my toys down to those two ... I would be a *very* happy camper.

In the Windoze PC world, my favourite is the OQO (http://www.oqo.com), and if they can make something this sexy, imagine what Apple could do with the concept.

[macmatt]

this is something i see as a possibility . . .

Not a Computer Replacement !

Think peripheral or digital lifestyle device (the obvious comparison would be the ipod)

ok here goes,

A "tablet" that 8x10ish by maybe .5 inches thick, or as thin as is technically feasible to include the following specs/capabilities :

1 . colour screen - of comparable quality/resolution to ibook/powerbook

2 . touch sensitivity - probably via stylus, pen-like input a-la Wacom

3 . ability to utilize inkwell (hand-writing recognition)

4 . airport/wireless network connectivity

5 . ability to run a Web Browser and possibly some light "view only" versions of iApps (ie no editing or "heavy lifting" just accessing info over a network to your desktop machine)

6. resonable battery life - 2 to 3 hrs would be enough for what i'm thinking


THAT'S IT !

No Huge Hard drive (probably a small drive for temporary storage)
No Speakers (though it could be used as a remote for AirTunes)
No Blazing Processor

Nothing But a Lightweight, nicely viewable "Internet Conduit"

I can only speak for myself, but the majority of the leisure time that I spend on my computer is internet browsing with minimal textual input
(ie I mostly click and scroll)

Even my laptop seems "bulky" and a bit overkill when i'm "arrowing" down through 6 pages of text about some obscure but interesting page that i've just "googled" my way to. Those with desktop machines would surely welcome the freedom that would normally require the price of a laptop to enjoy.

This you could pick up and wander around your house with, flop on tha couch and do what i use my powerbook to do 80% of the time - browse the internet - write a few key-words into google, check e-mail, skim the news, watch the newest movie trailers, check tomorrow's weather, lurk the mac-forums :) etc.

! AND ! you could do all this while someone else was utilizing the full power of your desktop machine to do photoshop or whatever. It would almost be like getting a second computer . . .

Plus, when not in use, it could perch on a small stand/dock to charge, and display an iPhoto slideshow via airport. Digital Picture Frame anyone? ;)

[Chip NoVaMac]

Not a Computer Replacement !



Most of your comments were right on. Such a device would not be a replacement, but an augment. As such it requires some CPU power. For me i need something that allowa access to all the programs that I need for work (in my case it is Safari, Mail, Word, Excel, InDesign, and Photoshop. In the case of InDesign and Photoshop, I need a system near my 1ghz PB 12" so that I can preview to my manger and make subtle changes as he requires.

Speed in "preview" can be handled by PDF's. I would like "reasonable" speed for changes to the ad content. I have BIG hopes for the Toshiba 60gb HDD's. Since they did not show up on the new iPod releases.

[aswitcher]

. I have BIG hopes for the Toshiba 60gb HDD's. Since they did not show up on the new iPod releases.


Yep, same here.

[Chip NoVaMac]

Yep, same here.

Thank You! I was hoping that I was not alone here.

I di play with Inkwell and found it to be much better than the PocketPC.

[iMeowbot]

Speed in "preview" can be handled by PDF's. I would like "reasonable" speed for changes to the ad content. I have BIG hopes for the Toshiba 60gb HDD's. Since they did not show up on the new iPod releases.
I think those 60 GB drives aren't in iPods yet simply because they aren't available yet. It would be a questionable move to put a drive like that into a larger device with display, because slightly (physically) larger drives with higher capacities and lower cost are easy to get.

I suppose the little drives would make sense if the unit was to be about the same size as an iPod, but that's kind of silly for enjoying photos and such. Might as well use a camera's viewfinder.

[aswitcher]

Thank You! I was hoping that I was not alone here.

I di play with Inkwell and found it to be much better than the PocketPC.

Yeah, Apple saying no video ipod and no 60 gig ipod, mean they have something else in mind, and something the size of a 12" ibook/pb design for multimedia and low to medium use as an entry (non education) level or secondary machine would be very welcome now that the whole of the desktop (non edu) line is moving to G5.

I think the "tablet" will be G4 (and I note recent mention of staff discounts for G4 manufacturer suggesting relationship is still strong) with standard BT and AE. 60 gig hdd (to accomodate many photos, music and movies), 256 RAM (possibly not upgradable...), DVD ROM CD-R/W (no super option), 32 maybe 64 VRAM. 2xUSB 2 and 2xFW 400. Headphone jack. Possibly audio in... Power. No modem. No network card (you use AE and maybe BT for networking OR better yet 10/100 not giga). No DVI, No s-video (although for a machine like this that would be useful). Speakers in top of sides not front, but otherwise much like PB. Purchase option to get wireless keyboard and mouse.

Anyway thats my dream and at a reasonable price point...

[aswitcher]

I suppose the little drives would make sense if the unit was to be about the same size as an iPod, but that's kind of silly for enjoying photos and such. Might as well use a camera's viewfinder.

An 8" to 12" screen is far superior obviously to a little 2-2.5" camera screen. The need for a really small HDD might be for the depth, weight and maybe power consumption...

[iFaulder]

If you need something small just get a 12' iBook. The pics of the tablet look to be the same size as a 12' iBook so like i said i don't really see the use of it and it would probably cost about the same as an iBook.

[aswitcher]

If you need something small just get a 12' iBook. The pics of the tablet look to be the same size as a 12' iBook so like i said i don't really see the use of it and it would probably cost about the same as an iBook.

Maybe about the cost but sans keyboard, no expansion capability (ram etc), means that production and supply costs would be reduced. Furthermore putting in the low end G4 cuts costs as such a device would be more about convenience than power.

Not sure about the touch screen thing...still to soon to do cheaply.

If is was specifically designed to lever off airtunes and wireless networks, extending its access to the net etc from other machines, and acting as a small second monitor when not used indepdantly, I think it might find a market.

[izzle22]

the device that you are describing here has virtually no practical use. I can't imagine carrying a iPhoto frame around with me. prints in a traditional album is still the prefer way. iTunes remote? what does this function solve? If I can't think of a way to use it immediately, it is a bad sign. Light email access? Just go to your desk or laptop for this. How hard can this be? Okay, if you have a weight problem, and find it difficult to get off the couch.

I think sometime we forget the one rule in invention i.e. if a machine or device fails to make our life easier; it will never make it off the drawing board.

What are you talking about! No immediate use for an iTunes remote, speak for yourself I'm tired of trecking all the way upstairs in my house to change music on my G5 to hear it on my stereo downstairs. If you don't have an airport express and a desktop Mac you would'nt understand. Think before you write!

[pozytron]

What are you talking about! No immediate use for an iTunes remote, speak for yourself I'm tired of trecking all the way upstairs in my house to change music on my G5 to hear it on my stereo downstairs. If you don't have an airport express and a desktop Mac you would'nt understand. Think before you write!

But would said remote be worth $1000+ to you?

[izzle22]

But would said remote be worth $1000+ to you?


NO! But maybe $500 if it had a screen to show pictures and a few other features. No one said this so called device was $1000

[pubwvj]

The tablet didn't work for anyone else, why would it work for Apple?

Um... Remember Xerox Park? Back in the late 70's and early 80's nobody saw a graphic interface as viable. It got canned. Remember the Lisa?

But then came along the Macintosh 128K. WoW!!! 128 Kilobytes of RAM! And a graphical interface to boot! Black & White. Small screen. And a big success that lead to the Mac512, Plus, SE, II and beyond. Apple succeeded where others failed. Where even Apple had failed with their first attempt with the Lisa. They learned from the errors and did better and succeeded. Eventually the Evil Empire, er, I mean Micros*cks, jumped on the bandwagon and copied the MacOS making the infamous Windows. (Eek! Run screaming! Hide the children!)

Others failed. Apple succeeded and showed how to do it right. Others copied them and still haven't gotten it right. Which is why we're still using Macs after 20 glorious years.

Cool. A MacTablet! I can't wait!

-Walter
Still using a boosted Pismo 500 which has not
been exceeded to date by anything new.

[louden]

Why not make the next Powerbook a convertable tablet? That's the direction laptops should be going anyway. Apple should uses it's design smarts on making the convertable effective. I have a new Toshiba tablet, and it works well both ways. They're getting better, and Apple should really hit a home run if they put their mind to it.

That would make the next Powerbook a huge winner. Can you imaging G5 and a tablet?

I'd buy one...

[ijimk]

They could release a new hybrid cpu to replace the emac call it the itab, short for itablet :)

[Macs R Us]

I don't think that Apple will release a tablet computer, because of what's been happening to all the tablet PCs on the Windows side.

But I'd like to see one.

Well thats true but the PC Music Stores, MP3 Players, etc are nothing compared to Apple... I think the will soon have a EVT Verstion or simalr. I know Apple will be able to sell them if they did I would pay uptp $700 for one... But thats just me.

[Macs R Us]

Um... Remember Xerox Park? Back in the late 70's and early 80's nobody saw a graphic interface as viable. It got canned. Remember the Lisa?...Cool. A MacTablet! I can't wait!...

-Walter
Still using a boosted Pismo 500 which has not
been exceeded to date by anything new....

I remeber Lisa, I have 4 that work, and another revoltion awaits us... Or We Can hope!

Mark Jozaitis

[MacQuest]

Um... Remember Xerox Park? Back in the late 70's and early 80's nobody saw a graphic interface as viable.

I'm assuming you mean Xerox PARC. As in Xerox Palo Alto Research Center.

:rolleyes:

[pubwvj]

I'm assuming you mean Xerox PARC. As in Xerox Palo Alto Research Center.

*grin* Yes, my built in spelling checker got away with murder there... :)

[C-Mezak]

IMHO, a tablet seems like the natural thing for apple to produce - eventually, at least.

Imagine a household with one or two desktop machines on a wireless network. With a wireless tablet you could browse the web, communicate via email, and control your networked sound-system as you wander from room to room. But with enough ram, you could also run heavy apps like photoshop by distributing the processing over the network!

At first, it seems to me like computing will go in one of two directions: (1) your data becomes ultra-accessible and you carry around only the input devices (as in a networked tablet) or (2) input/display devices become ubiquitous and you just carry around your data (as in a wifi ipod-like device) . . . but I think that eventually both of these will happen and you will just have to carry around your identity. Of course in the utopian neverland no data is "your data" because all human knowledge is made free and human effort is put toward everybody's well-being. Oh well.

Charlie

[pubwvj]

in the utopian neverland no data is "your data" because all human knowledge is made free and human effort is put toward everybody's well-being.

I assume this includes your personal diary, credit cards, bank info, top secret projects for world domination, christmas list, etc. Bleck! That isn't my idea of utopia. I like my privacy.

How about a better idea, implant the computer into the brain. All your data is stored in your head and you can access the wireless net and backup to your home server nightly.

Now I lay me down to sleep,
If I should die before I wake,
Restore from backup.

-Walter
in Vermont
where I have privacy
and like it that way.

[pozytron]

NO! But maybe $500 if it had a screen to show pictures and a few other features. No one said this so called device was $1000

I know no one said that, but it's quite possible that the "mystery device" this thread is referring to will be pretty steep. I hope my comment didn't come across as insulting, because it wasn't meant to be. I would love a remote for my Airport Express too, though personally I would not pay more than $100 for it. If it had other features, I would definitely consider paying more. If the remote was a one-trick pony, I would want it to have a backlit b&w screen, wifi, and that's it, for $50. I doubt that will happen though.

[salmon]

I've been searching for this type of tablet device, and I came up with this link yesterday, for those interested.

Linux Wireless Web Machine (http://www.screenmedia.no)

I emailed an information request, but haven't heard anything yet.