Apple iPad Pricing and Availability: $600-$1000, March 1st?

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2010/01/26/apple-ipad-pricing-and-availability-600-1000-march-1st/)


http://images.macrumors.com/article/2010/01/26/002701-mediamarkt_500.jpg

According to a tweet by major German electronics retailer Media Markt (http://www.mediamarkt.de/), the Apple iPad will go on sale March 1st at a price of 499 Euros with contract with T-Mobile or 899 Euros without. In U.S. prices this would likely be around $500-$600 U.S. with contract and $999 without. We came to these numbers by comparing similarly priced Apple items sold in Euros and USD (Mac Mini: 549 Euros / $599 USD, MacBook 899 Euros / $999 USD).

The company, however, quickly deleted the tweet but not before it was retweeted (http://search.twitter.com/search?q=Media_Markt_de) a number of times. NetbookNews.de (http://www.netbooknews.de/12990/apple-ipad-ab-1-maerz-im-media-markt-ab-499-euro-899-euro-ohne-vertrag/) also picked up on the story and seems to believe that Media Markt would be in a position to know this information. The German site tells us that Media Markt is the biggest German electronics chain akin to Best Buy in the U.S., and has a dedicated Apple section.

Given Apple's secrecy, however, we're not convinced Apple would reveal such information to their retail partners ahead of the official announcement. That said, it's possible that mobile carriers such as T-Mobile have been briefed already due to the carrier agreements that must be put into place. Apple's Media event takes place Wednesday, January 27th.

Article Link: Apple iPad Pricing and Availability: $600-$1000, March 1st? (http://www.macrumors.com/2010/01/26/apple-ipad-pricing-and-availability-600-1000-march-1st/)

[Eidorian]

I want to see SKUs first.

[iliketomac]

$500-600 would be sweet, if true. :confused:

[Sambo110]

Oh god, it better not be an iPad, that just sounds wrong. iPad doesn't sound as good as iSlate, which I am now used to and actually like.

[kukheart]

what kind of contract? we already have phone contracts

[MinorBidoh]

That's the 21st Century German efficiency for you! Quick off the mark.

[Alvi]

ouch! tmobile, i hope it's a fake troller!

[lightpeak]

Great. We're getting closer and closer to the Ray Bradbury 'Fahrenheit 451' world as the 1960 creepy movie envisioned it. Just pop the (Apple) pills and watch "The Family" on "the wall set". :eek:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9n98SXNGl8

[arn]

ouch! tmobile, i hope it's a fake troller!

T-Mobile is the mobile carrier for the iPhone in Germany, so it's not a surprise here.

arn

[Virtuon]

Just wait for the announcement! Only 48 hours to go. Take sedatives if you need to get through the grueling waiting period. :rolleyes:

[archurban]

well, what kind of contract? you know it is not a phone. you don't need it even though you might need to use 3G internet with simcard. but it is still option. you can just use wifi just like iphone or ipod touch. I think that it is not true. what's important is that we don't know before Apple will show. so everything around this tablet thing is just bull ****. whatever, I won't buy it. it's not for me. iphone is enough.

[arn]

well, what kind of contract? you know it is not a phone. you don't need it even though you might need to use 3G internet with simcard. but it is still option. you can just use wifi just like iphone or ipod touch. I think that it is not true. what's important is that we don't know before Apple will show. so everything around this tablet thing is just bull ****.

It's not that hard to understand

$1000 - No contract, just use Wi-Fi
$600 - 2 year data contract. 3G + WiFi.

arn

[lightpeak]

well, what kind of contract? you know it is not a phone. you don't need it even though you might need to use 3G internet with simcard. but it is still option. you can just use wifi just like iphone or ipod touch. I think that it is not true. what's important is that we don't know before Apple will show. so everything around this tablet thing is just bull ****.

Because Apple's a master at tying a revoluntionary device to one carrier to pad their profits as much as possible, aggravation to its customer be damned.

[Abraxsis]

Personally, I think this is fake. The price point of 1000,00 is ridiculous and would push people away from the tablet to the laptop. Why spend a grand on a half-computer ... that is why netbooks aren't 1000.00 people. Not to mention Apple expecting to rope people in with yet another service contract? No. Look for a 500.00 tablet, sold via Apple, with the option of added 3G via a 3rd party device.

[iSee]

Do retailers ever get info ahead of time?
I'm not buyin'

[Casiotone]

NetbookNews.de (http://www.netbooknews.de/12990/apple-ipad-ab-1-maerz-im-media-markt-ab-499-euro-899-euro-ohne-vertrag/) also picked up on the story and seems to believe that Media Markt would be in a position to know this information.

I believe that Media Markt is in a position to pull a publicity stunt out of thin air.

[gibbz]

Because Apple's a master at tying a revoluntionary device to one carrier to pad their profits as much as possible, aggravation to its customer be damned.

They are a company. Profits are kind of the point. :rolleyes:

As far as the OP, I'd pay $1000 for the device with no contract.

[freeny]

I dont want another contract (+$$$) I only need wifi and $1000 prices me out.

Oh well, ill stick with me iPhone.

$600 and no contract and ill bite.

[iSkank]

It's going to be priced at $350. I promise ;) Yes, it does sound crazy, and Steve is expecting us all to be shocked at the priceline, as well as the product. We will look at it in disbelief.

[azsprty]

Absolutely not worth the price. 999 for no contract? this thing should be between 300-500 MAX. I see this as a fad and not a huge seller but I could be wrong

[Mydriasis]

I dont believe it. I live in Germany and know Media Markt, they're not your regular high tech electronic shop. They generally sell cheap comsumer goods and are not big on apple products. It takes them weeks before they carry new apple products. It's a fake!

[kiljoy616]

Its going to be so funny if finally it happens and its just a new ipod with camera, hahahaha, now that would be real news around the world :)

Can imagine the mac disciples going stir crazy, hahaha.

Of course its for real people, its not like apple would ever drop the ball :D

[Intense]

I don't think they'll have that kind of info
they must have definitely assumed all this stuff

wednesday is soon !
excited beyond excitement

this is awesome

[NAG]

Pricing is pretty much what everyone is expecting if true.

[Mr. Gates]

Never believe ANYTHING on Twitter

[Virtuon]

Personally, I think this is fake. The price point of 1000,00 is ridiculous and would push people away from the tablet to the laptop. Why spend a grand on a half-computer ... that is why netbooks aren't 1000.00 people. Not to mention Apple expecting to rope people in with yet another service contract? No. Look for a 500.00 tablet, sold via Apple, with the option of added 3G via a 3rd party device.

You could also say that the alloted $2500 for the high end Macbook is ridiculous, and the $600 for an unsubsidized iPhone. Truth be told, this is how :apple: rolls. As consumers, we feel that Apple offers products worthy of our every cent. The offerings of the tablet might justify this hefty sum; heck most of their products are justifiable.

[ShiftyPig]

I just tweeted from my iPad, why didn't MR write about that :confused:

Edit to add: $1000 is not ridiculous. In fact, it's about right in line. An unsubsidized iPhone is $599/$699, so it follows that something with a larger screen, faster processor, and longer lasting battery would be about $300 more.

[Virtuon]

Absolutely not worth the price. 999 for no contract? this thing should be between 300-500 MAX. I see this as a fad and not a huge seller but I could be wrong

You most definitely will be proven wrong! I don't know if you noticed, but the iPod Touch cost $400. Setting the price of the tablet at $500 isn't very profitable now, is it? Use logic: The screen is bigger, as is the processor, as will be the memory, as will be the body, and what else it might have to offer. Think about it!

[lightpeak]

It's going to be priced at $350. I promise ;) Yes, it does sound crazy, and Steve is expecting us all to be shocked at the priceline, as well as the product. We will look at it in disbelief.

Hope you're joking there. The fact that the 64GB iPod Touch costs $395 w/ a 3.5" screen, so the value now being???

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/subclass.asp?logon=&langid=EN&catid=25653

[arn]

Absolutely not worth the price. 999 for no contract? this thing should be between 300-500 MAX. I see this as a fad and not a huge seller but I could be wrong

An unsubsidized iPhone costs like $600. Therefore, unsubsidized Tablet will cost > $600.

arn

[LEStudios]

Oh god, it better not be an iPad, that just sounds wrong. iPad doesn't sound as good as iSlate, which I am now used to and actually like.

iPad sounds better to me! iSlate sounds like something on the Flintstones! :D

[Virtuon]

Hope you're joking there. The fact that the 64GB iPod Touch costs $395 w/ a 3.5" screen, so the value now being???

Case in point.

[MacDaddy901]

I'm just very skeptical of leaks like this anymore. When the company tweeted it they obviously new that it was going to bring them a lot of attention. And I have to imagine that a company this big would know better to do something like this.

[ShiftyPig]

$1000 is dangerously close to Segway territory:

Wow this is so cool! Wait, you want how much for it? ****** off.

[Sekots]

I really doubt Apple would release a product of this magnitude on a Monday. It doesn't line up with their history.

[Eddyisgreat]

Haha screw that. Alot of us already expected to pay over 600 but not 600 w/ the additional cost for ANOTHER data plan (since many already have an iPhone). I'll want to see the stevenote before I come to any conclusions but the card will go back in the wallet for a while if that's the case. 600 contract free is fine by me but I'd rather get a macbook for 1000.

I seriously hope @ that price it's not just a glorified iPhone that can read books and doesn't fit in my pocket. I'll be pretty disappointed.

[Peace]

It's evolutionary.

First the iPhone
Then the iPod Touch
The next logical step would be the MacTouch.

[SeattleMoose]

My GF will probably want a "case".......:eek:

[robfromabove]

Hurry up and announce the product, Steve! Before 'ze Germans' spoil all of your fun!

[Eddyisgreat]

The next logical step would be the MacTouch.

The next logical step, back.

[currentinterest]

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$999 sounds about right. I will probably buy two. I have been waiting years for this.

[MacTheSpoon]

I can't see too many being sold at those prices...

[billysea]

The price could easily determine if this will be another failure like MacBook Air or success like iPhone.

The price of the MB Air makes people question "why I should take this when I can have that?".

[Eddyisgreat]

The price could easily determine if this will be another failure like MacBook Air or success like iPhone.

The price of the MB Air makes people question "why I should take this when I can have that?".

You make it sound as if they took the MBA off the market as soon as it hit.

[billysea]

You could also say that the alloted $2500 for the high end Macbook is ridiculous, and the $600 for an unsubsidized iPhone. Truth be told, this is how :apple: rolls. As consumers, we feel that Apple offers products worthy of our every cent. The offerings of the tablet might justify this hefty sum; heck most of their products are justifiable.

Yeah, for the super hardcore Apple fans only. Like what your signature shown.

[cr0nite]

I believe that Media Markt is in a position to pull a publicity stunt out of thin air.

This is exactly what I thought.

[cdinca]

My mental cap is $799. Otherwise I'll just have to sit back and be jealous:(

[*LTD*]

Until Wednesday, TRUST NO ONE.

[bobob]

You could also say that the alloted $2500 for the high end Macbook is ridiculous, and the $600 for an unsubsidized iPhone. Truth be told, this is how :apple: rolls. As consumers, we feel that Apple offers products worthy of our every cent. The offerings of the tablet might justify this hefty sum; heck most of their products are justifiable.

Finally, someone dare speaketh the truth.

[iSkank]

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$999 sounds about right. I will probably buy two. I have been waiting years for this.

For $999 you'll be able to buy 2 1/2 iSlates. Or just 2 of the ones with higher memory.

[mj1108]

Is it just me or does the idea of having a contract for an e-book reader/media player/game machine seem really, really stupid???

[nycinhamburg]

I dont believe it. I live in Germany and know Media Markt, they're not your regular high tech electronic shop. They generally sell cheap comsumer goods and are not big on apple products. It takes them weeks before they carry new apple products. It's a fake!

I agree I live in Hamburg, Germany and Media Markt would not know about anything Apple they hardly have Apple products to begin with. Saturn, is the biggest Electronics store here and they would know before Media Markt. This is FAKE. Also Tmobile is the biggest phone provider here and are 10 times better than the US Tmobile. Service here is great. But that being said I dont see too many people signing another contract for the iSlate.

[theBB]

The price could easily determine if this will be another failure like MacBook Air or success like iPhone.
Define failure, please. Are there examples of laptops at that price point that sells like hotcakes? At that price, I think it sells well enough to bring in good profits for Apple. Otherwise, it would have discontinued it by now. I don't own one, as the weight of laptop is not that big a deal for me, but I know people who do, even though I don't know that many people who own an Apple computer to begin with. (I was going to say "very few people" but the list has been growing recently, as quite a few of my friends who used to make fun of "overpriced" Macs have decided to buy one for one reason or another.)

[ryanvalle]

Hope you're joking there. The fact that the 64GB iPod Touch costs $395 w/ a 3.5" screen, so the value now being???

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/subclass.asp?logon=&langid=EN&catid=25653

But the thinking in that is that the "iPad" will be a larger version of the iPod Touch. What if you're looking at it all wrong? (what if) It would be a completely new device, more like Amazon's Kindle with unique features that does different things from what the iPod Touch will do.

It's like saying buying a point and shoot camera for $500 when you can get a dSLR camera for the same price. Both are cameras, but used for two different purposes...

[ChocoTaco]

There are always cheaper Windows tablets out there to buy! LOL Have at 'em boys!

This is the secret to Apples success.. they aren't wizards that can make brilliant products for the same price as everyone else. They simply throw money at the problem... BUT they at least make the extra money spent worthwhile. If Windows developers tried the same it would probably just be more expensive garbage.

[Balty]

In my opinion, it's got to be less than the MacBook, at $999.

[foranor]

I agree I live in Hamburg, Germany and Media Markt would not know about anything Apple they hardly have Apple products to begin with. Saturn, is the biggest Electronics store here and they would know before Media Markt. This is FAKE. Also Tmobile is the biggest phone provider here and are 10 times better than the US Tmobile. Service here is great. But that being said I dont see too many people signing another contract for the iSlate.

Well, I live in germany, too.

You -are- aware that both MediaMarkt and Saturn belong to the Metro group, right? So one knowing something would make the other knowing it, too. And they both have roughly the same selection of Apple products.

Someone suggested T-Mobile might have known something, and I could imagine that to be the leak. T-Mobile talking to MediaMarkt to be a seller for them, like T-Mobile sold the iPhone in MediaMarkt as well as their own shops.
Just to prepare them for the rush once it's out.. 'You know, we'll be getting this iPad from Apple, it'll sell for 999 without contract, 699 with this one. We'd like to offer it in your store, too, like we did with the iPhone...' and already it is leaked.

[ma2ha3]

so ipad is an oversize iphone.

it is a phone, a tablet, a computer, a ipod, an apple tv, it has radio? it has newspaper, it has magazine, it can buy songs and movies.

it is apple newton 2.

if it has gps, it can be a tom tom too.

[lightpeak]

Define failure, please. Are there examples of laptops at that price point that sells like hotcakes? At that price, I think it sells well enough to bring in good profits for Apple. Otherwise, it would have discontinued it by now. I don't own one, as the weight of laptop is not that big a deal for me, but I know people who do, even though I don't know that many people who own an Apple computer to begin with. (I was going to say "very few people" but the list has been growing recently, as quite a few of my friends who used to make fun of "overpriced" Macs have decided to buy one for one reason or another.)

The Mac Mini is treated like a redhead stepchild and while it's still made today, it's by no means a success. The Air is what it is-- a small stone in the Apple retraining wall and things like the Mac Mini and the Air get cobbled into gaps and not given much thought.

The iPhone/iPod/tablet craze just shows you how short-sighted Apple has gotten in the past few years.

[dmula]

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Absolutely not worth the price. 999 for no contract? this thing should be between 300-500 MAX. I see this as a fad and not a huge seller but I could be wrong

An unsubsidized iPhone costs like $600. Therefore, unsubsidized Tablet will cost > $600.

arn

Why compare it to iPhone? iPhone is a phone and the extra. Bigger doesn't always have to be more expensive.

[dead76]

Why would I pay that when I can get a MacBook with a real keyboard for not much more and tether my phone. With lots feeling the burn from our current contract being extremely heavy around our ankles, why would they price their "next big thing" right out of the competive range? $1000, what so I can fondle the screen and run similar apps as my phone? I think it will be lower, no doubt. And if not, good luck getting people to read the paper on an overpriced toy.

[ts1973]

A very credible pricepoint, if not a little disappointing : there's no such thing as a free lunch :o

[RazHyena]

Is it just me or does the idea of having a contract for an e-book reader/media player/game machine seem really, really stupid???

Pretty stupid. Pretty disappointing, too. :(

Again, until Wednesday, TIS ONLY RUMORS!!

[lightpeak]

But the thinking in that is that the "iPad" will be a larger version of the iPod Touch. What if you're looking at it all wrong? (what if) It would be a completely new device, more like Amazon's Kindle with unique features that does different things from what the iPod Touch will do.

It's like saying buying a point and shoot camera for $500 when you can get a dSLR camera for the same price. Both are cameras, but used for two different purposes...

That's true. A super-sized Kindle is might pricey when you look at its dedicated function compared to what a maxed-out iPod Touch can do. And for the same chunk of change, you can get a very nice digital camera. You're right... it's about what you want it to do.

We don't know if it will be like a super-sized iPod Touch or half of a MacBook (full OSX, lots of memory capacity).

[matthew.russo]

iPad??...Sounds like a women's hygiene product

[lightpeak]

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Why compare it to iPhone? iPhone is a phone and the extra. Bigger doesn't always have to be more expensive.

Because we don't know if it's going to be an over-sized iPod Touch or half a MacBook in terms of OS. That can make all the difference in the world between sale, no sale.

But I challenge you (in a friendly manner) to give me an example where Apple made something bigger but wasn't more expensive. :)

[mj1108]

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Why compare it to iPhone? iPhone is a phone and the extra. Bigger doesn't always have to be more expensive.

It's being compared to the iPhone because this device seems to be an iPhone - the phone + e-book reader only a little larger in size.

Wednesday....Wednesday....Wednesday....

[ChazUK]

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No more contracts please! Why not let iPhone owners use their iPhones to tether as an added bonus in a iPhone/iPad 2 hit combo?

[lightpeak]

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No more contracts please! Why not let iPhone owners use their iPhones to tether as an added bonus in a iPhone/iPad 2 hit combo?

Hopefully, if they use logic, they'll open the iPhone to other carriers as one separate issue, but also use it as a springboard (hey, maybe call it the iSpringboard) to tether your iPhone to your iPad w/ whatever carrier you want. So you don't have a contract w/ AT&T for the iPhone and a different contract w/ Verizon for the iPad. Like how AT&T and Verizon have bundles (TV, Internet, wireless). Simplicity and value. That's IF AT&T can open up their tightly-closed fists to allow their customers to save a little. HA! Good luck w/ THAT one!

[iSkank]

Excuse me while I go yank $350 out of my piggy bank. Actually, make that $375, because I want $25 to spare to buy a book and some apps for my new iSlate after this announcement Wed.

-I'm considering buying the latest Harry Potter [as the Augmented Reality iSlate version].

[jodyfanning]

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No more contracts please! Why not let iPhone owners use their iPhones to tether as an added bonus in a iPhone/iPad 2 hit combo?

Just cos AT&T is screwing you doesn't mean everyone one is. Apple doesn't mind tethering, just AT&T. Tethering works fine just about everywhere else.

And speaking of stuff like that, I can get 3G SIM with 512kbit/s data rate for 10 EUR a month in Finland... And something like that would fit perfectly into a device like the tablet.

[lightpeak]

Excuse me while I go yank $350 out of my piggy bank. Actually, make that $375, because I want $25 to spare to buy a book and some apps for my new iSlate after this announcement Wed.

If you think it will be $350, even subsidized, then I better expect to see the price and the "cache" of a 64GB iPod Touch to be slashed. Because if $350 can get you a 10" tablet, a dinky 3.5" Touch would be the equivalent of going to an electronic store and buying a Coby brand MP3 player. :p

Or to put it in terms some MacRumors people would understand: I buy a MacBook Pro with X.35 processor in December of '09 and in January of '10, Apple speedbumps it to X.55 and charges the same the price.

[DrNelly]

Is it just me or does the idea of having a contract for an e-book reader/media player/game machine seem really, really stupid???

I think the same. Contracts and Big Telecoms are becoming the cancer of these types of devices that rely on constant data stream to actually have a functionality. I agree with the concept of using the cloud but I don't like to be tied to an specific carrier, I want options and freedom of choice, not falsely subsidized products that will be rendered useless way before their contractual ties are over.

i.e. I don't want another iPhone (1st gen), I want a Nexus One done well, contractually speaking.

[bobob]

Excuse me while I go yank $350 out of my piggy bank. Actually, make that $375, because I want $25 to spare to buy a book and some apps for my new iSlate after this announcement Wed.

-I'm considering buying the latest Harry Potter [as the Augmented Reality iSlate version].

I heard it's already available at the newsstand on Platform 9 3/4.

[Friscohoya]

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:5EugNQ-Xd449ZM:http://www.alessioproietti.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/drooling-homer.gifhttp://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:5EugNQ-http://www.alessioproietti.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/drooling-homer.gif

[tatonka]

What strikes me odd is that the complete L contract includes only limited data but also talk minutes (around 2 hours talk time each month). Who would replace their phone with a 10" slate? Weird

that said it was the german t-mobile who had pictures of the unibody MacBooks on their website first.

T

[Bassie1979]

I agree I live in Hamburg, Germany and Media Markt would not know about anything Apple they hardly have Apple products to begin with. Saturn, is the biggest Electronics store here and they would know before Media Markt. This is FAKE. Also Tmobile is the biggest phone provider here and are 10 times better than the US Tmobile. Service here is great. But that being said I dont see too many people signing another contract for the iSlate.

Ehhhh, Media Markt IS part of Saturn. I believe MM did the same when the 3G or 3GS was introduced. Turned out to be true...

Hmmm, interesting!

[iSee]

Is it just me or does the idea of having a contract for an e-book reader/media player/game machine seem really, really stupid???
+10

An ebook/media reader/viewer is a very tough sell at $599 without a contract.
A contract is going to add at least $1000 over two years -- more likely $2000+.

That's a crazy price for something that, between your phone and laptop, doesn't do anything new.

Maybe a significant number of people would be willing to pay an additional $10/mo on their existing contract.

[stu212]

Couldn't you just use your iPhone sim if you had one? Wouldn't that give you access to a data plan? or maybe someway of hooking an iPhone into it to tether it?

Edit: I love the fact that i am talking about this as if its real.

[inkswamp]

Because Apple's a master at tying a revoluntionary device to one carrier to pad their profits as much as possible, aggravation to its customer be damned.

Yeah, people are buying iPhones in the numbers they are because they're aggravating. :rolleyes:

The bouncing ball logic of forum trolls is what keeps me coming back to Macrumors.

[ziggyonice]

Absolutely not worth the price. 999 for no contract? this thing should be between 300-500 MAX. I see this as a fad...

You haven't even seen the damn thing. It might be worth a MILLION dollars for all we know.

Jeez, give 'em a chance to show us the product before you start complaining about price.

[mj1108]

+10

An ebook/media reader/viewer is a very tough sell at $599 without a contract.
A contract is going to add at least $1000 over two years -- more likely $2000+.

That's a crazy price for something that, between your phone and laptop, doesn't do anything new.

Maybe a significant number of people would be willing to pay an additional $10/mo on their existing contract.

There shouldn't be a contract on this, period -- unless they include being able to make phone calls with it (and in turn creating the largest cell phone ever which would no doubt be the endless butt of jokes). Look at the Kindle. It uses a 3G data connection and the price for using the data connection is built into the initial price of the unit. Apple really needs to take that route with carriers instead of trying to hook people into an additional contract.

Wednesday.... Wednesday.... Wednesday.

You haven't even seen the damn thing. It might be worth a MILLION dollars for all we know.


I hope it is. :D :P

[DonSqueak]

I agree I live in Hamburg, Germany and Media Markt would not know about anything Apple they hardly have Apple products to begin with. Saturn, is the biggest Electronics store here and they would know before Media Markt. This is FAKE. Also Tmobile is the biggest phone provider here and are 10 times better than the US Tmobile. Service here is great. But that being said I dont see too many people signing another contract for the iSlate.

You do know that both Saturn and Media Markt belong to the same company?

[lightpeak]

Yeah, people are buying iPhones in the numbers they are because they're aggravating. :rolleyes:

The bouncing ball logic of forum trolls is what keeps me coming back to Macrumors.

Okay, I'll spell it out for you. It's Apple's cozy in-bed relationship with AT&T that causes the aggravation to customers... all things considered (the volume of complaints against AT&T). Apple would rather keep it going than do something that could make using their product a more enjoyable experience. Putting profit over giving customers a device and an "experience" they can enjoy... just what the originally set out to do. Better now?

[Detlev_73]

Das ist mein Laden! Ich bin doch nicht blöd!

[MacFly123]

$1,000.00 even without contract is too much! :( The MOST I would pay for this without a contract is $799.00. But even that is too high if they want this thing to take off! The iPhone only costs like $500.00 without a contract and the hardware would be very similar except for a larger screen. Taking that into account, Apple should easily be able to get the price down to $799.00 or lower without contract!

I don't want another data bill, I only want WIFI, and from what I am hearing it sounds like MOST people feel the same as me!

I am going to start a poll!

[quinney]

Das ist mein Laden! Ich bin doch nicht blöd!

Was machst du in Georgien, dann?;)

[inkswamp]

Okay, I'll spell it out for you. It's Apple's cozy in-bed relationship with AT&T that causes the aggravation to customers... all things considered (the volume of complaints against AT&T). Apple would rather keep it going than do something that could make using their product a more enjoyable experience. Putting profit over giving customers a device and an "experience" they can enjoy... just what the originally set out to do. Better now?

Uh-huh.

Anyway, you should check your browser location. I know you think you typed "Digg.com" but you ended up here.

[SandynJosh]

It's going to be priced at $350. I promise ;) Yes, it does sound crazy, and Steve is expecting us all to be shocked at the priceline, as well as the product. We will look at it in disbelief.

With iPod touches selling for up to $399 I doubt the iPad will go as low as you predict unless it requires a contract.

If they step the touch prices down $100 each, it would leave a starting place for the iPad at $399 without a contract. However, with the addition of some other features (beside larger touch screen), they could opt to offer the iPad for $499 to $599 on the lower end.

If they offer a phone option in the iPad, I would expect it to price at just above the current iPhone's $299 price with a contract, and that would meet or be close to your predicted price point.

The idea that a non-contract iPad would sell for $1000 seems a bit too high for the market segment Apple is aiming for; which I believe is the top half of the NetBook market.

[mickhyperion]

No contract
No 3G
No subsidizing
Under $500 please
Wifi will do just fine, same as a laptop

If you want 3G, get some optional service

And I vote they revive the name iBook, as suggested by someone in another thread yesterday

[strangeday]

My GF will probably want a "case".......:eek:
LOL!!! :D

I hear that :o

[Yr Blues]

iPad,,,,,,,,well at least it's not MacPad which sounds like Maxi Pad :D

[thecoolone1]

I really hope this runs a modified version of Leopard. I don't like the whole idea if it ran a modified version of the iPhone OS but that's just my opinion. I also hope we're able to download things online other than "applications" from the famous app store. For instance other than Safari I would want to use Firefox, but again my personal opinion.

For $1,000, definitely not worth it when you can just buy a full running notebook (MacBook) less the Touch Screen interface. My take on this is $799 and not a penny more. If it's going to be a "tablet" or a "netbook" it would have to be under $999 since the MacBook is priced at that. This has nothing to do with a iPod Touch being $400.00 or an iPhone costing $600.00 retail. The truth is, if the Tablet cost $1,000 without contract, the majority of people would just pass it up and buy a Macbook or a MacBook Pro for that matter. Apple knows this and I'm sure they took the MacBook line into serious consideration when setting the price for the Tablet. Again, my opinion on this whole thing. No need for bashing me :). Of course people are going to "Think Different" but that's why we're all here!

[lightpeak]

iPad,,,,,,,,well at least it's not MacPad which sounds like Maxi Pad :D

Yeah, look at what you just wrote very carefully: MaxiPad ;)

Going to be a slight (!!) uphill battle to conquer the mentality "iPad" sounds like a feminine hygiene product.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxipad

But, we no longer think of "Pod" as a cheesy 1950's "pod people" sci-fi movie anymore, so I guess anything's posisble.

PS: Some people here scoff at Microsoft's use of the made-up word "Zune" and we're talking about this (an Apple tablet). lol

[aucl]

Personally, I think this is fake. The price point of 1000,00 is ridiculous and would push people away from the tablet to the laptop. Why spend a grand on a half-computer ... that is why netbooks aren't 1000.00 people. Not to mention Apple expecting to rope people in with yet another service contract? No. Look for a 500.00 tablet, sold via Apple, with the option of added 3G via a 3rd party device.

iPhone tethering would finally make sense when sharing the connection with the iSlate.

[0s and 1s]

Why do I have a feeling that if the variable price specs are true, then the 3G service will be based on tiered pricing?

AT&T (as recent reports mention) is fed up with the bashing of its 3G due to iPhone data consumption, Google (as of today) blamed Nexus One issues due to software and limited 3G capability, and Verizon is going forward with a wide selection of smartphones in the first half of 2010, not to mention Sprint. With two major US carriers dealing with 3G "issues" at the moment, how will they handle the 8+ million slates that analysts believe will be sold in 2010 alone!

Since $30 is the going rate for unlimited data for smartphones, I don't seem them charging the same amount for slate data usage. Enter tier pricing to limit usage and entice people to use wifi whenever possible. I'm sure that is probably going to be the biggest gripe we're going to have come Wednesday.

[iObama]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9700/5.0.0.442 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)

I sure hope this isn't true. Just make it a low price, period and let people choose if they want a conract or not, a la iPod touch/iPhone.

[crash8130]

It's not that hard to understand

$1000 - No contract, just use Wi-Fi
$600 - 2 year data contract. 3G + WiFi.

arn

I would just buy an Android phone cause it can turn itself into a wifi hotspot. Then connect the tablet through that. I refuse to have another $30 dollar a month internet charge.

[0dev]

I never buy contracts, so they'd charge me almost the price of a full MacBook for that, according to this!

Though, if you take out a contract, you'll pay double that in the end, I'm sure.

[Pigumon]

You most definitely will be proven wrong! I don't know if you noticed, but the iPod Touch cost $400. Setting the price of the tablet at $500 isn't very profitable now, is it? Use logic: The screen is bigger, as is the processor, as will be the memory, as will be the body, and what else it might have to offer. Think about it!

A laptop costs more than a desktop with monitor because they're using smaller parts.

A 2.5" hard drive costs more than a 3.5" because they're using smaller parts.

Following this line of logic the iPhone will cost more than the iPad because they're using smaller parts.

Hmm.... maybe the tablet WILL be cheaper if it's using larger, more common, more available parts.

[schimanke]

I don't think that MediaMarkt is in a position to know about future Apple products. Why should they? There's still plenty of time until March to announce it. By the way the mentioned T-Mobile contract is the same as the one that is currently used with the iPhone. So it is a contract aimed at voice services. This is definately fake.

[Yr Blues]

Yeah, look at what you just wrote very carefully: MaxiPad ;)

woosh :)

[crash8130]

Was machst du in Georgien, dann?;)

nevermind... Shouldnt have posted that

[Michael CM1]

what kind of contract? we already have phone contracts

The jack you get for $50 or $60 in the US to get a 3G dongle from a cell carrier. Even if you get the smart phone price of $30, that's something that most of us sane people who already have an iPhone aren't going to pay.

About the only sane thing about this device would be if I could tether it to my iPhone to use its 3G data signal. I know we wouldn't get any potential $300 discount, but what iPhone owner who already pays at least $75/month has another $30 to $60 to blow on this?

These are many of the reasons I doubt this thing will live up to the hype. It's unfair to expect it, really. I think it will be a very good device, but it's something else to carry. Many people with iPhones went from carrying a phone and iPod to carrying one device, which also had kickass Internet abilities and later added an awesome array of apps.

[W1LLk]

Until Wednesday, TRUST NO ONE.

Then, after Wednesday, TRUST NO ONE.

[FanboyE]

there is no way that I would pay a monthly fee for my iphone and tablet

[mac jones]

maybe...but given how everyone seems to be hallucinating wildly from this tablet it could be just the trip.

[Patchwork]

I do wonder whether the comparison with iPod touch and iPhone is valid as the cost of making components small enough to fit in these products must be expensive. Maybe the ipad (or what ever it will be called) won't have same issues, so could help offset cost of bigger screen etc. Having said that it wouldn't surprise me if it is expensive and if it does come in at $899 I'll be sticking with my iPhone and MacBook Air (yes I'm one the people who bought that so called failure:))

[crash8130]

iPad??...Sounds like a women's hygiene product

As Alex Lindsay said the really good iPad is the maxiPad

[Balty]

An unlocked, no-contract iPhone in Australia costs AU$879, for the 16GB model.
The 32GB model is AU$1,040.

A 64GB iPod Touch is AU$540.

A MacBook is AU$1299.

[celthic]

Good morning,

let me explain why this twitter post by "Media Markt" is most likely wrong.
First up "Media Markt" or "Saturn" are no real reseller. They do have Apple products but they only sell what they have ordered, so upgrades are normally not possible e.g. Also when Apple has a new product line in their stores it takes a couple of month until "Media Markt / Saturn" receives the new product line. For example I know quite some places where you still get the old iMacs. Also the price politic by "Media Markt / Saturn" is questionable because if Apple reduce prices they never update their own prices as long as you don't ask them to check on the Apple webpage.

Second reason why I do believe this information is wrong is the prices indicated. If a product costs without a mobile carrier contract 899,-€ and with a contract 499,-€ you would expect that the monthly price for the mobile carrier is quite low. But the indicated T-Mobile Complete L contract is 120,-€ a month, so there are no real savings. Even T-Mobile do have data contracts with unlimited usage for less than 30,-€ a month so if you calculate:

499,-€ + (24 month @ 120,-€=2880,-€)=3379,-€

or

899,-€ + (24 month @ 29,95€=718,80€)=1617,80€

So who would be so stupid and get an "iPad" or what ever name it will have, with that ridiculous Mobile carrier contract.

Also be reminded there are other carriers which are way cheaper.

These are the reasons why I do believe this is just a hoax.

Cheers from Germany

[offwidafairies]

contract?
i want to pretend i don't care about this product, but i must say im excited! i REALLY hope they update some of the computers soon too...

[netherfred]

Although this was posted in Germany, we in the Netherlands have a similar style T-mobile and Mediamarkt. There are a couple of reasons this could be real:
- Mediamarkt is a huge enterprise which is not run very tightly, so anybody that accidentally found this info could have posted it.
- T-mobile is also not bulletproof when it comes to security, you have to realize it's Europe and corporate culture is not a big thing, taken the fact that you almost cannot get yourself fired and there's a million jobs with low pay/low requirements. Def no loyalty to your employer.
- The price point, altough high, seems to be fair. Yes, €899 buys you the cheapest MacBook. But the 32Gb iPhone sells for €999 if you want a one year contract, two years alternative contracts you pay up to €479 with a €25 subscription or €289 for €30 subscription, both excluding internet!
- There is no competition. eBooks are cheaper (10" €699, 8" €599) but lack the features that this iPad would have (no permanent internet connectivity, no "operating system"). A 32Gb iPhone would cost up to €199 with the lowest 150 minutes and sms contract. 64Gb iPod touch is €369. So if you want an eBook reader, not a Macbook and find the iPod too small, you will really only have one option: the iPad.
- Forget about netbooks, they are not considered mobile devices here and you would have a ton of problems hooking that up to mobile internet, which would still be expensive.
- The only thing I could imagine (business) people using is one of those Nokia N900 Communicator thingies, but they are still €559 without a contract.

Conclusion: this is a market that's not been convered successfully in Western Europe, the price point is realistic and people at Mediamarkt and T-mobile are the kind of employees that would pull a stunt like this off.

[lightpeak]

woosh :)

You want to know what's funny? I always thought "iPad = Maxipad" a whole concept, but it wasn't until last night when someone here pointed out the "i" and the "p" are side-by-side. I never noticed. lol Yes, I'll be the first to admit I'm dense in that sense.

[saving107]

I just want to point out that the Kindle has 3G, and this is taken from Amazon.com


"Books in Under 60 Seconds: Get books delivered wirelessly in less than 60 seconds; no PC required

3G Wireless: 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle; no annual contracts, no monthly fees, and no hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots

Global Coverage: Enjoy 3G wireless coverage at home or abroad in over 100 countries. "

so if the Tablet does exist, what if Apple uses a similar strategy and offers free data on Books, Newspaper and Apps from the App Store under 10mb, all other data over 10mb needs to be downloaded over Wi-Fi (like it currently is for the iPhone). The Kindle lets you browse the Internet and check your e-mails, for an additional fee, but at no time are you required a contract with AT&T or any carrier.

also, the Kindle DX with a 9.7" diagonal E Ink display is currently on sale for $489, and Barns and Noble's Nook starts at $259 with free WiFi at any AT&T hotspot.

I figured this would be Apple Competition.

[Bonte]

Personally i would be very surprised if 3G is uberhaupt on the device, the networks can barely handle the iPhone let alone a bigger media centric device. 3G could be added via a 3G hotspot MiFi system. Also, a 1 GB data contract in Europe costs about 30-35 euro per month, that is not enough profit to take a 300 euro loss on the device and at the same time overload the network. The iPhone model works because its phone, text and data together.

For me it needs to be a $399 - $499 big ipod, the innovation mostly happens in the software and not necessary the hardware. Popular media tablets, netbooks and e-readers range from $150 up to $300, not even Apple can jack up that price to $999.

[iPhysicist]

Although it is highly possible that T-Mobile will be the mobile carrier (it one of the biggest carrier and part of "Deutsche Telekom"). I call this twitter a fake. Of course they have to remove this twitter message no matter if its correct or not. But I really doubt that some Media Markt employee yet knows the exact pricing.

The contract Complete L is 119€ (http://www.t-mobile.de/iphone/tarife/0,18383,22271-_,00.html) and as complete says MORE than just a data plan. I doubt anyone would accept to pay 119€ for two years if the product is only 800€. Hint to T-Mobile. Make it 399€ for Complete L with 4.Gen Iphone and Tablet! That would be the only way to sell it.

[inkswamp]

I realize Apple doesn't do "cheap" and these prices are probably accurate but I still hope it's substantially less. $600-1000 doesn't hit the sweet spot for any device that people are already going to view as a middle child product, not quite a full laptop, too much to be a convenient portable. Why would I spend $600-1000 for something like that?

Apple always wows people with their ideas, design aesthetics, implementation of UI concepts, but for once I'd love to see the crowd blown away by price. It would be great if Apple would position just one of their products as a loss leader and find some other way to profit, either through sales of content or via subscription based services tied to the device (cellular, music, .Mac type services, etc.) or by an inevitable halo effect that leads users to buy bigger and more expensive products from them.

Whatever the case, $600 seems insane and any contracts tied to this are going to bog it down, especially in an economic environment where people are trying to reduce monthly expenses.

[Bodypainter]

to me it looks like someone at t-mobile got seduced to try out this mechanism that EVERYTHING you write about an apple iPad/Tablet, you immediately get media attention. and it worked! mcrumors put it on the front side - yeah, don't you want to add yourself to the t-mobile twitter feed now? you won't get any new information, but t-mobile is happy to have more follower.

however, this price is ridicolous! the apple tablet's purpose is not comparable to a "real" mac book or pc, it is an addition. therefore everything above 399$ or 499$ is too much. also I can't believe that apple is forcing people into ANOTHER phone contract for this machine! as its size is so huge, it will mainly be used at home and a wifi sould be enough.

it looks like apple is going to place this machine into the niche market of people who have NO computer. a computer for everyone who doesn't want to learn difficult windows or mac os x user interface. it starts to make sense when you add the iLife suit. iLife + iPad is what you will get. a system that can handle your everyday life with. an ipod touch with larger display and the functionality that you don't need a host computer to "fill" it...

[thriller]

Yeah, great company that, with 600 followers on Twitter....hmmm looks unlikely to me. Just a bid for publicity I'd say

[Bodypainter]

there is no way that I would pay a monthly fee for my iphone and tablet

i totally agree with you!

if they really think there needs to be a contract, this is a proof that they think this machine is for people who have no iphone (yet) and even no computer at all. the logical consequence of this thought is that the machines concept is to replace a computer, so the ipad/mac touch will have iLife built in.

[Bonte]

so if the Tablet does exist, what if Apple uses a similar strategy and offers free data on Books, Newspaper and Apps from the App Store under 10mb, all other data over 10mb needs to be downloaded over Wi-Fi (like it is currently on the iPhone).

Every e-book download is almost $3 extra if bought outside the U.S., the media load for a big screen device with network enabled apps and games is just to big to handle via 3G.

Bigger screen = bigger downloads and more graphical media consumption.

Small apps and e-books via 3G but all LP music, movies, comics, graphic intensive magazines, e-mail, surfing, gameplay etc would need wifi. There is no logic in that, way to confusing and costly for some extra functionality.

[Prometheus2000]

What a news to start the day with.

But a retailer that has as main slogan "I am not stupid" on their posters, I would expect anything...

Us Germans again spoil it :)

[lightpeak]

I get the sentiment, Inkswamp, but I don't think Apple cares about the effects of recession on its customer base and has the ability to tie it to a carrier and make them the scapegoat. Yes, the carrier bears the brunt of it, but it's Apple who enters into exclusivity and long-term contracts as a way to make the product work to its maximum potential. A remote control car is no good without batteries and batteries alone are no fun without a remote control car. Apple gets their money, the carrier gets it money and it makes BOTH parties happy. The only person left out in the cold is the user who pays through the nose to get the maximum potential. You're held hostage.

[Bodypainter]

mac book
mac book pro
mac book air
mac mini

(i)mac
mac pro

iphone
ipod
ipod touch

missing: MAC TOUCH

[bigjohn]

doesn't matter the cost or if it makes me eggs every morning...

i still cannot come up with a use for this tablet thing.

i have a mbp, a hackintosh netbook, an octo mac pro, a mini and a 3gs

i have a gps device for the car, 2 drobos for storage, a popcornhour and a 42" plasma tv

a 10" version of the iphone would be 1) bulky, 2) something i'm always afraid will break in my bag, 3) so smudged with fingerprints, just wiping it on my shirt won't be good enough, 4) another $40-60 contract with a wireless carrier i don't need, 5) a $1000 remote control

i'm sure steve has a plan for me, but pinching and zooming photos on a tablet is not an activity i'm interested in at the moment

[swagi]

I agree I live in Hamburg, Germany and Media Markt would not know about anything Apple they hardly have Apple products to begin with. Saturn, is the biggest Electronics store here and they would know before Media Markt. This is FAKE. Also Tmobile is the biggest phone provider here and are 10 times better than the US Tmobile. Service here is great. But that being said I dont see too many people signing another contract for the iSlate.

Err...you know that Saturn and Media Markt are just different brands of the Metro Group? They are basically the same. Conclusion: Saturn and Media Markt have the same info.

And signing a 3G contract for the iPad. Why not? You're supposed to use it in the wild, i.e. more often in areas, when there is no Hot-Spot around. 3G nevertheless won't cost that much (check Vodafone or O2 for plain data flats).

[Padraig]

mac book
mac book pro
mac book air
mac mini

(i)mac
mac pro

iphone
ipod
ipod touch

missing: MAC TOUCH


I'd hope so; because that would imply Mac OS.

[Yr Blues]

To be honest, I can't afford what's coming tomorrow. I'm still in recession mode.

And I'd rather buy guitar stuff anyway. You can't get chicks with gadget porn. :D

But Apple is still the best available.

[Mattnh]

T-Mobile is the reason why I got myself a Nokia-phone.
Whatever it's going to be, no T-Mobile-device for me.
Thank you.

[sconnor99]

This thing had better tether to my iPhone for data or I'm going to be very annoyed

[Truffy]

That's a pretty steep mark-up for not wanting a 3G plan.

[iNick5]

pretty sure that this tweet didn't base on actual knowledge...The "Complete L" contract is a contract which includes minutes and text messages, so selling this with a teblet doesn't make sense at all

[oldwatery]

$1000 and it isn't a proper computer.
Not for this lad. :(

[interestedabit]

To be honest, I can't afford what's coming tomorrow. I'm still in recession mode.

And I'd rather buy guitar stuff anyway. You can't get chicks with gadget porn. :D

But Apple is still the best available.

Chicks still dig guitar players in 2010?

(hope so but..)

[mj1108]

From the New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/technology/26apple.html?src=twt&twt=nytimesbusiness

"It will run all the applications of the iPhone and iPod Touch, have a persistent wireless connection over 3G cellphone networks and Wi-Fi, and will be built with a 10-inch color display, allowing newspapers, magazines and book publishers to deliver their products with an eye to the design that had grabbed readers in print."

[mabaker]

The problem is here that for a price this high it will be the next MacBook Air - luxury product that you can't put in your pocket like the iPhone.

[TurboSC]

As mentioned earlier, it would not be wise to sell the tablet for $1000.

I hope someone cracks tethering the Tablet to the iPhone's 3G.

[moglee]

Media Markt want´s to be in the press - mission accomplished.

[norwaypianoman]

twitter is my girlfriend. Hey, stop bothering her! :mad:

[zacman]

1) 899EUR = 1266usd (http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=899+eur+in+usd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8)

2) Who would buy a 1000usd tablet with only a mobile os when the Freescale OEM tablets cost 200usd and support a fully featured desktop OS?

It reminds me of MacBook Air vs. netbooks. Apple thought that customers wanted a ultra thin and ultra light "notebook" but actually most just wanted a ultra small and ultra cheap netbook.

[abolition]

I dont know if it was told before, but mediamarkt is also in other countries like Netherlands or Spain...

[MacRumorUser]

Hopefully the unsubsidized version still has a sim and wwan functions so those of us with existing mobile broadband subscriptions can simply stick our 3g sim cards inside, edit settings and go.....

[macrescue]

It doesn't seem too unlikely that media markt already got some sales information about the "iPad". It is Europe's largest retailer of consumer electronics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_Markt) and belongs to Metro, the 5th largest retailer in the world (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/METRO_AG).

But as many of you already pointed out: The service plan mentioned in the tweet doesn't make sense at all. Here's why:

- "Complete L" is the biggest all-inclusive plan for the iPhone you can get in Germany from T-Mobile. It includes unlimited voice minutes, SMS, MMS and of course a data flatrate. Unless the "iPad" offers phone capabilities, T-Mobile would never advertise it with the Complete L contract (see chart).

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/6577/completel.jpg

- T-Mobile doesn't allow its partners to bundle the iPhone with any contract they like. That means media markt would only be allowed to offer the "iPad" with the plans t-Mobile recommends. The Complete L offer couldn't be a solo attempt by media markt.

- T-Mobile never advertises the iPhone in their biggest contract. Most of the time (on banners and print-ads) they use a midsize contract to advertise it. They don't use a contract like the Complete L that runs you 119.95 EUR = $170!

If the "iPad" doesn't offer any phone capabilities (what we all assume) T-Mobile would likely advertise it with a 3G data flat only.
For these reasons I believe that the media markt tweet is fake.

[ipadlove]

Here are my own hopes:

* A camera that can swivel to either face the user and help with video conferencing, or face the back to take large pictures and videos.
* An interface that has zero buttons, or physical keyboard. I really want to see a true tablet that i can type on, paint on, and sketch on.
* A simple elegant form factor, with minimal port and plugs. (however i dont want to see a form factor with absolutely no chance to plug in peripheral)
* I do NOT want to see a large scale version of the iPhone, I think this is very unimaginative.
* A wireless plug. Tethered to the socket because of the charger cable seems dated now, we receive information wirelessly, why not energy?
* Gestural commands. I should play 'charades' with my laptop - make a typing motion on the iPad and the keyboard comes up for example. No more F5 or F10.


More information on my blog (i cant advertise it however! so sorry guys, youll have to do some googling!

[zacman]

But as many of you already pointed out: The service plan mentioned in the tweet doesn't make sense at all. Here's why: (...)


It makes sense because you can get a MultiSim from T-Mobile.

So the contract works with both your phone and the tablet. And that makes absolutely sense for them because then everyone who doesn't have an iPhone but do want an iPad will have to get that plan.

[Cupertino95014]

With gross margins around ~40%, what's to doubt?

Do you expect them to sell the unicorn device for the same price as a 64GB iPod touch? This device isn't marketed towards people who own netbooks as their primary machines? People who share one computer between the family?

People with multiple computers, gadget freaks, or niche markets will be interested in this device. For 1st gen devices, Apple has never sold to capture the mass market. They've always pushed the envelope and there have been many flops (G4 Cube I'm looking at you) yet when you look at 1st gen iPod, a $399 MP3 player, a $599 phone? No way are those things ever going to sell!

Don't be quick to judge the unicorn device until you've played with it.

[kugino]

it would suck if we had to pay yet another carrier fee with this device. i think most who already have iphones would not want to shell out another $30-40/month for data for this device. i hope it has free data like the kindle's whispernet...at least for the first so many MB. this would make it easy to download the news and some books and apps...

[robby818]

it would suck if we had to pay yet another carrier fee with this device. i think most who already have iphones would not want to shell out another $30-40/month for data for this device. i hope it has free data like the kindle's whispernet...at least for the first so many MB. this would make it easy to download the news and some books and apps...

I think Apple will charge less than the iphone data plans..perhaps 15-20/month. Eventually, they will jack the price up (like the iphone) but initially I think they want to keep that monthly fee low. Still, I hate monthly fees, but it seems to be the pricing structure that everyone is adopting.

[wschutz]

Sorry Apple, I never considered a tablet, neither from you nor from any other manufacturer (because there are many tablets out there right now...)

But if this one is tied to a telecom company... you're screwed, iPhone IS enough. If someone needs a 10" screen size with 3G/3.5G/3.75G internet access then... probably won't mind a MacBook Pro 13" :) (bigger screen, more powerful,...) and a tethered iPhone or a USB modem.

I understand Apple wants to do the same as with the iPhone, but this won't work. There are many telecom companies offering small computers (with a contract of course), and it's not working; they are selling very few...
And if you think you "need" a tablet because you're going to use it at all times or everywhere... then it's because you do need a laptop instead :D

[mj1108]

it would suck if we had to pay yet another carrier fee with this device. i think most who already have iphones would not want to shell out another $30-40/month for data for this device. i hope it has free data like the kindle's whispernet...at least for the first so many MB. this would make it easy to download the news and some books and apps...

I'll just say it right now: a carrier fee will be the kiss of death for this device. From the New York Times article I quoted above it just mentions a persistent 3G connection....so here's to hoping it follows the way the Kindle is.

[little.pm]

For me this looks like a content developer at "media markt" just made a mistake. The pricing seems not reasonable as is and i dont believe that the resellers do know per now about pricing details.

However, it seems, that Apple gave a heads up to its resellers as the german distributor gravis (see http://www.gravis.de) removed their offer for the modbook (that reconfigured macbook with a touch display), which they sold for quite a long time.

[Aribus]

doesn't matter the cost or if it makes me eggs every morning...

i still cannot come up with a use for this tablet thing.

i have a mbp, a hackintosh netbook, an octo mac pro, a mini and a 3gs

i have a gps device for the car, 2 drobos for storage, a popcornhour and a 42" plasma tv

a 10" version of the iphone would be 1) bulky, 2) something i'm always afraid will break in my bag, 3) so smudged with fingerprints, just wiping it on my shirt won't be good enough, 4) another $40-60 contract with a wireless carrier i don't need, 5) a $1000 remote control

i'm sure steve has a plan for me, but pinching and zooming photos on a tablet is not an activity i'm interested in at the moment

Stop thinking that it is a computer in the old sense.
This is a streaming device for magazines, music, games and film.
It won´t even have a big hard-drive.

[gnasher729]

Personally, I think this is fake. The price point of 1000,00 is ridiculous and would push people away from the tablet to the laptop.

You are actually complaining about the price of a product that you have never seen, based on rumours with completely unknown reliability. If I told you that the new Porsche will sell for $79,999 do you think it is cheap, just right or too expensive?

[SirHaakon]

Stop thinking that it is a computer in the old sense.
This is a streaming device for magazines, music, games and film.
It won´t even have a big hard-drive.
Where are we supposed to save those HD movies?

[mj1108]

Where are we supposed to save those HD movies?

Depending on price I'm guessing it'll have 32 or 64 gigs of flash memory.

[Jelite]

$999 (the same price as a macbook) for a big ipod touch LOL.

[limesmoothie]

I'll just say it right now: a carrier fee will be the kiss of death for this device.

You speak a world of truth. I am THE early adopter but I already stump up for a wireless data plan on my phone and Wi-fi in my home. I've no intention of laying out yet more money for something non-essential. If the device without a carrier tie-in is as high as has been suggested (899EUR/$1200), this is a non starter for me.

[gnasher729]

I'll just say it right now: a carrier fee will be the kiss of death for this device. From the New York Times article I quoted above it just mentions a persistent 3G connection....so here's to hoping it follows the way the Kindle is.

Mobile Internet is just a very slow, very expensive Internet connection that works almost everywhere as a redeeming feature. WiFi on the other hand is fast, cheap, but it only works at my home, or at my office, or at a few thousand other places, sometimes free, sometimes for money, sometimes for lots of money.

On the other hand, O2 will sell my a mobile Internet connection on a USB stick where I can pay either daily, or for a week, or for a month, without any contract, as I need it. For me, that seems to be a much better solution and I hope it is available for whatever Apple shows us tomorrow.

[Aribus]

Where are we supposed to save those HD movies?

Why would you want to save something when you can have access to a ******** of content for a monthly fee? Thousands of movies, millions of songs, hundreds of games and so on.
And that´s just the start.

Why would Steve think a computer withou a keyboard is the most important thing he ever done?
Changing the paradigm for real is - and streaming it is.
They will make the big money on being a content-distributer.
Just think about it - all media running through your veins - cash keeps pouring in like rain...

[consoleboi]

All sheeps get your Visa card ready =) $1000 is a hefty price to pay for an ARM based processor...

[ansirone]

just a few more hours, just wait!

[SirHaakon]

Why would you want to save something when you can have access to a ******** of content for a monthly fee?
You must be one of those "death to physical media" people.

What if you want to watch a movie while on a plane flight? I think that would be a completely acceptable use for this kind of a device... where's your "streaming media" then?

Streaming has it's place, but it's certainly not a blanket solution. The two worlds co-exist rather nicely.

[NAG]

* A camera that can swivel to either face the user and help with video conferencing, or face the back to take large pictures and videos.

I doubt the company that extolls the virtues of the iPhone lacking buttons would suddenly put in something as clumsy as a rotating camera. It is in complete contradiction to the rest of your wants.

More information on my blog (i cant advertise it however! so sorry guys, youll have to do some googling!

I'm pretty sure I can live without reading another wish list. :p

[Aribus]

You must be one of those "death to physical media" people.

What if you want to watch a movie while on a plane flight? I think that would be a completely acceptable use for this kind of a device... where's your "streaming media" then?

Streaming has it's place, but it's certainly not a blanket solution. The two worlds co-exist rather nicely.

Of course you can. Just like the way Spotify works on the iphone.
You can download it to your harddrive and watch it offline - as long as you have the subscription - and the space for it - but with a 32 or 64 gb storage - on a streaming device, that won´t be a problem.

And I´m not one of those "death to physical media".. I still buy CD:s & LP:s.
But you know by heart that this is where all media will go - and this is the device to rule them all..

[peterdevries]

It's not that hard to understand

$1000 - No contract, just use Wi-Fi
$600 - 2 year data contract. 3G + WiFi.

arn

I really hope they will sell it with and without contract (it would seem very logical to do this anyway). I'd rather pay a bit more to be free in stead of beaing bound to a contract with T-Mobile (Netherlands) for another two years. Their network is so crappy that in the large populated areas 3G reception is abysmal. I would be able to live with Wifi only for a tablet device..

[SirHaakon]

You can download it to your harddrive and watch it offline.
Right, thanks for proving my point. You still need to be able to save things to a hard drive.

Streaming is a nice pipe dream if everyone had persistent Wi-Fi all over the place no matter where they went. Obviously, that's not the case. Asking consumers to subscribe to yet ANOTHER 3G plan with spotty service and terrible download rates isn't going to win anyone over.

[iZac]

As long as the unsubsidised version isn’t SIM locked in any way, so I can throw in my current "mobile broadband" SIM in it, I'll be a happy bunny.

Still, if this is a just turns out to be a glorified net browsing ereader, (which its looking that way) i'm not sold.

[peterdevries]

Depending on price I'm guessing it'll have 32 or 64 gigs of flash memory.

starting at 64 maybe, but 128 gigs should be possible.. 32 is definitely too low..

[trustbyte]

Who hopes for 500€ no contract,free of worries iPad is daydreaming.

When did apple tried to get to the mases selling a premium product dirt cheap?!


I belive the product will be worth it but it's not for my wallet.

In the fall of 2010 i want my 9" Sipix b/w pdf reader 8000 pages/charge at 250€ maybe wifi NO 3g NO contract no nada

[eyekyu]

outside of the US I'm not sure how well this would sell if it requires a other 3g contract. alot of providers still don't offer alot of data on the plans, so I can't see this streaming data unless apple can reach some sort of deal with carriers worldwide (very, very unlikely)

with that being said, if it was closer to the 350 price point and you could get subscriptions foe things like comics or technical books, I'd buy one in a heartbeat

[netherfred]

Ok, €120 monthly fee plus a €499 device is too steep.
But €899 and a free choice of contract (even from T-mobile) is not that bad.
Since I still don't have an iPhone or eReader, I'd for sure be contemplating such a device. People saying you would use a netbook or laptop to read from for long times in a relaxing physical position obviously don't read a lot. eReaders are too expensive for their limited use (just reading) and the iPhone is too small. I still think there's some market share to cover.
Edit: and don't forget that people would pay to not have any hassles (hackintosh netbook etc.)!

[little.pm]

I doubt the company that extolls the virtues of the iPhone lacking buttons would suddenly put in something as clumsy as a rotating camera.

technically you dont need a rotating camera. You can use 2 cameras and algorithms (as in quicktime) to resemble an image as it would be seen from any point on a line between those two cameras. (as well as recording stereoscopic images)

But i doubt that apple would put 4 cameras (2 front and 2 back) into such device. :-)

[Balloonless]

If this runs on an iPod/iPhone OS, then that's going to be very dissapointing. It will be a large iPhone and a rival of eReaders, not a rival for Slate PC's

This is an Archos 9 tablet, it has a full version of Windows 7 and Office and has a 10" screen, this is available for $449 - http://www.archos.com/products/nb/archos_9/win7.html?country=gb&lang=en http://www.archos.com/img/archos_9/Archos-9-seven.jpg

If they had and sense, they'd add a full version of Snow Leopard and cost it at around the $600 mark.

No Snow Leopard = No interest.

[SirHaakon]

No Snow Leopard = No interest.
+1

[Bonte]

If this runs on an iPod/iPhone OS, then that's going to be very dissapointing. It will be a large iPhone and a rival of eReaders, not a rival for Slate PC's

This is an Archos 9 tablet, it has a full version of Windows 7 and Office and has a 10" screen, this is available for $449 -

Agreed, Apple can match this price because they will sell millions more than Archos, the innovation is in the services and software.

[champ01]

I hope that Media Markt gets punished badly for speaking before the release.

Media Markt is one of the worst companies out there.

Media Markt is made with nazi money.

Don't believe me, go take a good look on the internet. ;)

All there employees don't know shizz, and all they do is kill the smaller retail businesses.

No more Apple at Media Markt :mad:

[trustbyte]

that archos shows that price in british pounds that translates in over 750 us dollars..

[Balty]

This is an Archos 9 tablet, it has a full version of Windows 7 and Office and has a 10" screen, this is available for $449

You mean £459.77...
http://cld.ly/831687

So that would be $741.148 USD.

[Digitaldruglord]

http://www.freakybytes.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/f4723_apple-tablet-islate-1.jpeg
http://www.freakybytes.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/f4723_apple-tablet-islate-2.jpg

Interesting.

[PeterStillman]

This blogger actually rang the press office of 'media markt' and they have confirmed that it is not an official company twitter account. Even the background image is outdated and not in line with their current advertising. So this one is busted.

http://www.basicthinking.de/blog/2010/01/26/apple-ipad-ab-499-euro-bei-media-markt-tut-mir-leid-ist-ein-super-fake/

[agkm800]

$999 without contract sounds about right for an Apple tablet.

[Balty]

http://www.freakybytes.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/f4723_apple-tablet-islate-1.jpeg
http://www.freakybytes.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/f4723_apple-tablet-islate-2.jpg

Interesting.

Refer to this (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=853725&page=3).

[limesmoothie]

There's a part of me wondering seriously whether to wait for the Microsoft Courier before pulling the trigger on a tablet purchase. Particularly if Steve Jobs says 'One more thing - give me the GBP equivalent of $900+ or sign up to a data contract you don't want/need'

[trekkie604]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7D11 Safari/528.16)

This is an Archos 9 tablet, it has a full version of Windows 7 and Office and has a 10" screen, this is available for $449

You mean £459.77...
http://cld.ly/831687

So that would be $741.148 USD.

Switch the region to US and the price is $549

[Aribus]

Right, thanks for proving my point. You still need to be able to save things to a hard drive.

Streaming is a nice pipe dream if everyone had persistent Wi-Fi all over the place no matter where they went. Obviously, that's not the case. Asking consumers to subscribe to yet ANOTHER 3G plan with spotty service and terrible download rates isn't going to win anyone over.

Well, I think the mainthing is at home where you have wifi, I mean the device is small, but maybee not carry-around everywhere you go small.
But even so - if you have an iphone you can just use that with tethering via bluetooth to get 3g access.

[locust76]

So that would be $741.148 USD.

If you switch to the US store, the price drops to $549.99

[Balty]

If you switch to the US store, the price drops to $549.99

So, it would appear that the Brits are getting ripped off... :rolleyes:

[trekkie604]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7D11 Safari/528.16)

If the apple tablet requires a data plan and contract, it will be a non-starter for me.

[Jason Lee]

No Snow Leopard = No interest.

Why would you want a full OS on a slate device?

I'd rather have a specific OS and a marketplace that'll change at least the publishing industry.

[Bonte]

...

[Balty]

Why would you want a full OS on a slate device?

I'd rather have a specific OS and a marketplace that'll change at least the publishing industry.

Something similar to this (http://blog.graphicpeel.com/post/345918873/apple-tablet-the-concept-ui) maybe...

[locust76]

Why would you want a full OS on a slate device?

I'd rather have a specific OS and a marketplace that'll change at least the publishing industry.

Specific OS = Limited functionality and yet more time spent suckling at Steve's teet, begging for "basic" functionality that the competition has had from the get-go (like copy/paste, multitasking, 3rd party apps, etc.. etc..).

For a phone, there's not much more you can add, but for a Tablet, you're entering a realm occupied by not only other Tablets, but Tablets that are basically full computers in a slim form-factor.

So Apple would have a Tablet that you spend 800 bucks on to read books, while everyone else prices their Tablets at 400-500 bucks and you can do, well, whatever the hell you want to with it.

[Fatum]

It is a fake:

T-Mobile Complete L, is the name of the largest german iPhone contract. It includes minutes bundle, data bundle, sms, mms, hot spot access.

The data contracts are called Web'n'Walk.

Why would you need a phone contract for a tablet?

[Maldini]

If Apple wants the tablet to be a "Game Changer" they should drop the price significantly, TBH a 1000$ tablet is not, why dont they retail it with a price that is lower than the production cost, like the ps3 or xbox? they will profit from subscriptions and itunes sales.

[Aribus]

Specific OS = Limited functionality and yet more time spent suckling at Steve's teet, begging for "basic" functionality that the competition has had from the get-go (like copy/paste, multitasking, 3rd party apps, etc.. etc..).

For a phone, there's not much more you can add, but for a Tablet, you're entering a realm occupied by not only other Tablets, but Tablets that are basically full computers in a slim form-factor.

So Apple would have a Tablet that you spend 800 bucks on to read books, while everyone else prices their Tablets at 400-500 bucks and you can do, well, whatever the hell you want to with it.
No. Apple would have a tablet that let´s you do what ever you wanna do by downloading the app that makes whatever you want to do (in the cloud).
I think you also should consider this to be a consumer product in pretty much the same vein as a TV or a game-consol. It´s not so much for making tv-shows on - it´s about watching TV-shows, it´s not about programming games - it´s about playing games. And so on.

[Lesser Evets]

The next logical step would be the MacTouch.

Mac iNtouch

[Aribus]

If Apple wants the tablet to be a "Game Changer" they should drop the price significantly, TBH a 1000$ tablet is not, why dont they retail it with a price that is lower than the production cost, like the ps3 or xbox? they will profit from subscriptions and itunes sales.

Think about it this way: You have a product that´s pretty much more simple than people anticipate it to be. What do you do?
You spread a rumor of a much higher price than it will actually be.
So - when you demo it - and it has less "power" to it - you tip them over by the much lower price - and then you pitch the device into a whole new platform - of consuming media - instead of a device to construct media.

[sishaw]

Okay, I'll spell it out for you. It's Apple's cozy in-bed relationship with AT&T that causes the aggravation to customers... all things considered (the volume of complaints against AT&T). Apple would rather keep it going than do something that could make using their product a more enjoyable experience. Putting profit over giving customers a device and an "experience" they can enjoy... just what the originally set out to do. Better now?

You've forgotten the whole history of the iPhone, where Apple went to different carriers but they rejected it. The exclusive contract was the price of getting a foothold in the market. I'm sure Apple would like to sell iPhones on as many carriers as possible, as they do in many countries.

[juulie]

If Apple wants the tablet to be a "Game Changer" they should drop the price significantly, TBH a 1000$ tablet is not, why dont they retail it with a price that is lower than the production cost, like the ps3 or xbox? they will profit from subscriptions and itunes sales.

That wouldnt be enough.

Sony and Msoft made money because of the licenses they sold to developing companies.

[illian]

for me this is very simple..if this new tablet cannot replace my subnotebook, i won't buy it. yet another device to carry around? no thanks!

i need tablet i can really work with...but we'll know soon enough ;)

[iRACK]

First of all: MediaMarkt would not know. For shure! They are a huge reseller of electronics in germany but they are targetting a different crowd. They still sell 24" iMac for the price of the new 27"!

Secondly: WAIT UNTIL WEDNESDAY.

One more thing.....

With all these rumors floating around but NO EVIDENCE whatsoever on LOOKS ore FUNKTION or CONTENT. There ether is no tablet at all or the APPLE Secrecy reached a new level.

[limesmoothie]

So, it would appear that the Brits are getting ripped off... :rolleyes:

No change there then :mad:

[tomjleeds]

You mean £459.77...
http://cld.ly/831687

So that would be $741.148 USD.

Well, yeah, but it really doesn't work like that - we (Brits) pay a lot more than just the currency conversion.

[tonmischa]

Media Markt tweet is a fake.

http://translate.google.de/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.basicthinking.de%2Fblog%2F2010%2F01%2F26%2Fapple-ipad-ab-499-euro-bei-media-markt-tut-mir-leid-ist-ein-super-fake%2F&sl=de&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8

Also golem.de updated their news:
http://translate.google.de/translate?hl=de&sl=de&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.golem.de%2F1001%2F72646.html

Short translation:
The twitter account "Media_Markt_de" is not an official account maintained by the company. This was confirmed by their press lady.
She also pointed to the completely outdated background of the Twitter page. It refers to the 30th anniversary of the company which was in December 2008.

[skate71290]

I just tweeted from my iPad, why didn't MR write about that :confused:

Edit to add: $1000 is not ridiculous. In fact, it's about right in line. An unsubsidized iPhone is $599/$699, so it follows that something with a larger screen, faster processor, and longer lasting battery would be about $300 more.

Apple rip the piss out of the UK currency - $600 for a Pay as you Go iPhone!!! they are £550 here....

[CChrisG]

It was a Fake. The twitter tweet is faked and not from the company!

Source:

http://www.golem.de/1001/72646.html

[limesmoothie]

Apple rip the piss out of the UK currency - $600 for a Pay as you Go iPhone!!! they are £550 here....

Exactly - even factoring in VAT @ 17.5%, they jack the price of each device up by a huge additional amount.

[Erwin-Br]

I agree I live in Hamburg, Germany and Media Markt would not know about anything Apple they hardly have Apple products to begin with. Saturn, is the biggest Electronics store here and they would know before Media Markt. This is FAKE. Also Tmobile is the biggest phone provider here and are 10 times better than the US Tmobile. Service here is great. But that being said I dont see too many people signing another contract for the iSlate.


Media Markt and Saturn are the SAME company, dummy. :rolleyes:

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_Markt

[ts1973]

I'm starting to think this Mediamart stunt is nothing but an orchestrated test to see how we will respond to a (ANY) pricing tier. If we all bash hard enough maybe Apple will cut it by a $100 (no likely), or if enough people say "well allright, could be worse" they'll increase it by a $100.

Remember : Apple is planting leaks all over the place to create hype and watch response.

[Truffy]

:mad:there have been many flops (G4 Cube I'm looking at you)
The Cube was my first Mac and, while not perfect, it served me well at the time. And it was a damned sight easier to upgrade than the mac mini! :D

[Mastidon]

I have no problem believing this is real. I live in Germany and the Media Markt near me has an Apple store in it. They are the German Best Buy.

Comments on price - all EU electronics have a 2 year warranty BY LAW so they always cost more here than in the US where warranty is 90 days. iPods cost 50% more or higher as a result. That said, T-Mobile subsidizes everything. My iPhone 3GS with 32 Gigs cost $30 (20 Euros) with a 2 year contract. The reported pricing is directly in line of what would be sold in the German market.

What I am more concerned about is the March 1st date. This means that as an iPhone developer I have to test and release new versions of my apps with 4.0 features in the next 2 weeks to make launch. That simply doesn't seem reasonable or fair on Apple's part.

[limesmoothie]

I'm starting to think this Mediamart stunt is nothing but an orchestrated test to see how we will respond to a (ANY) pricing tier. If we all bash hard enough maybe Apple will cut it by a $100 (no likely), or if enough people say "well allright, could be worse" they'll increase it by a $100.

Remember : Apple is planting leaks all over the place to create hype and watch response.

OK, well hear this, ye minions of Steve Jobs who are watching the 'buzz' on the forums. Suggested pricing is a joke. If you want to change the game, actually try and change it.

If you think you'll be able to punt loads of these to cash strapped punters then pricing it like anywhere near the MacBook is gross stupidity. Remember the MacBook Air? No, neither do most consumers of electronic goods - it was spec'd like a £200 netbook and priced like it had been dipped in gold and diamonds. And that was when the economy was in good shape.

If priced right, this thing will ship as many as the iPod in all its variations. Most kids have one. Most adults have one. Then make the real money through apps/streaming/downloads/peripherals.

[dooyou]

Comments on price - all EU electronics have a 2 year warranty BY LAW so they always cost more here than in the US where warranty is 90 days. iPods cost 50% more or higher as a result.

Sorry, but this is ************! The price differences between for example america and germany, are not depending on the warranty length. It depends on currency conversion, sales tax, purchasing power of the country, and so on.

[zgh1999]

what kind of contract? we already have phone contracts

You touched it with a needle.

Contract for your SOUL.

[fukuhela]

No Snow Leopard = No interest.

I wouldn't be as categorical as that but if the OS doesn't allow other things than iPhone + eReader then I'm not going to buy either.

If they have come up with another OS that allows for other applications such as iWork etc. I would feel more compelled. Since I could use it as a subsitute for a large bulky computer netbook while travelling. I don't see it as succeeding unless it to some degree substitutes a normal netbook.

[lachs99]

People, it's definitely fake.

The already mentioned blog (http://www.basicthinking.de/blog/2010/01/26/apple-ipad-ab-499-euro-bei-media-markt-tut-mir-leid-ist-ein-super-fake/), the obviously faked twitter account (http://twitter.com/Media_Markt_de) (since a few hours its even completely emty, compared with google cache (http://209.85.129.132/search?q=cache:bUjrzk5w5uAJ:twitter.com/media_markt_de+http://twitter.com/Media_Markt_de&cd=1&hl=de&ct=clnk&gl=de&client=firefox-a)) and the indicated price points and non-sense contract options (see previous posts and T-Mobile plans (http://www.t-mobile.de/iphone/tarife)) ...
Even golem.de (http://www.golem.de/1001/72646.html) (well-spread IT-news service in Germany) says it has official confirmation from MM that the twitter account does not belong to the company and the published information does not origin from MM.

Although it could still be kind of a marketing gag by MM to gain attention, to me it's more likely that someone just wanted to heat up the rumors before 2morrow even more ...

[tdream]

Where are we supposed to save those HD movies?

You're not meant to. You're supposed to stream them over and over again .... KA-CHING $$$$

[Mastidon]

Sorry, but this is ************! The price differences between for example america and germany, are not depending on the warranty length. It depends on currency conversion, sales tax, purchasing power of the country, and so on.

Maybe you need to learn math. Let me give you an example -

iPod Touch 64 GBit is 339.95 Euros on Amazon Germany. At today's exchange rate that is $479.33. This compares to a 64 Gbit iPod touch sold by Amazon US at the price of $357.

There is a major uplift in price. Anyone who is in the electronics industry (which I am) will tell you that EU prices are higher due to extended warranty.

[tdream]

All sheeps get your Visa card ready =) $1000 is a hefty price to pay for an ARM based processor...

Dual Core A9. 10 inch screen. PowerVR graphics. Balance of power and battery life. Too much power low battery life, too little power device becomes unusable. Then add Apple OS and itunes service. Maybe $600-$700 seems about right.

[tdream]

Maybe you need to learn math. Let me give you an example -

iPod Touch 64 GBit is 339.95 Euros on Amazon Germany. At today's exchange rate that is $479.33. This compares to a 64 Gbit iPod touch sold by Amazon US at the price of $357.

There is a major uplift in price. Anyone who is in the electronics industry (which I am) will tell you that EU prices are higher due to extended warranty.

A country the size of Germany would be the same size as a state in the US. And so potential uptake will be similar of a state sized country. Look at box office receipts for example, the US is always miles ahead because of the number of potential customers. So the product is priced accordingly. For the tax, transport, currency conversion etc.

[fun173]

I was going to. Buy this for fun but for 1k I can just buy a new macbook. Will they sell the douchepad as an accesory?

[SirHaakon]

Well, I think the mainthing is at home where you have wifi, I mean the device is small, but maybee not carry-around everywhere you go small.
But even so - if you have an iphone you can just use that with tethering via bluetooth to get 3g access.
If I bought a Tablet, I would absolutely expect it to go everywhere with me. The whole point of this thing is mobility... if it's gonna sit in once place, I'll just get a MacBook Pro that can do a whole lot more.

As for tethering, AT&T *still* doesn't offer it.

If AT&T did offer tethering, they'd want to charge for it above and beyond their "unlimited" data plan for the iPhone, defeating the point of needing to tether. You might as well just buy a data plan for the tablet, then, which is exactly what people *don't* want to do.

The better solution is to have included 3G access, ala the kindle, and have the cost of wireless built into the purchase price of the music, games, movies, and other digital content you use the device to download.

I have a feeling the tablet really will be nothing more than a giant iPod touch, which is extremely underwhelming considering all they could have done with it.

[dooyou]

Anyone who is in the electronics industry (which I am)

:rolleyes:


There is a major uplift in price. Anyone who is in the electronics industry (which I am) will tell you that EU prices are higher due to extended warranty.

:rolleyes:

Apple offers a one year warranty in the US, same in germany.

[sanford]

Do retailers ever get info ahead of time?
I'm not buyin'

Apple's own store managers don't get info ahead of time.

[jazz4ivo]

If this iPad turns out to be just a glorified iPhone with a bigger screen I am not gonna take the bite at all. Especially if it cost 1000USD or tries to tie me in into a 2 year long contract. I've already signed my life away for 2 years for an iPhone so i aint doing that again.

You might aswell buy a MacBook at least that way you get to run the full OS X and not some limited version as the iPhone OS.

If Apple does not get the pricing right for this thing, it will not take off at all...

As for games you really can not compare gaming on a touch screen vs a dedicated games controller or a keyboard. Gaming on my iPhone is so frustrating with the lack of sense with a touch only buttons.

[Peter Harrison]

Absolutely not worth the price. 999 for no contract? this thing should be between 300-500 MAX. I see this as a fad and not a huge seller but I could be wrong

People are hilarious.

This thing should be worth X? What thing? You haven't seen it. You don't know what it does. How can you decide what it is worth? Not only have Apple confirmed no details regarding the tablet, they also haven't confirmed that the new product even is the tablet. What you're doing is like debating the length of an angels wing.

(I'm not singling azsprty as the only hilarious individual. I just chose to quote him rather than loads of different quotes. These thoughts have been repeated countless times in this thread and others by many people.)

[Mastidon]

A country the size of Germany would be the same size as a state in the US. And so potential uptake will be similar of a state sized country. Look at box office receipts for example, the US is always miles ahead because of the number of potential customers. So the product is priced accordingly. For the tax, transport, currency conversion etc.

Germany may be the size of Texas but it has the population of more than 1/4th the US (82 million people) The population of the EU is over 500 million so that argument is mute.

As for transport, everything is shipped from China, not the US. Costs the same to send it here as it does to New York.

The only difference is the warranty.

[omegaphil6]

$500-$600 no contract price is a no brainer. with $299-$399 on contract maybe?

For a $1000 they are once again missing a market and creating their own niche, like they did with the Macbook Air. No one will compete because they wont have to because every other product that is similar will be priced much less.

[iOrlando]

i highly doubt that tweet.

so apple made this product one of the most secret projects ever, but it then goes and tells a german retailer the name and pricing?

sounds like a perfect page view attack by this retailer.

[dooyou]

The only difference is the warranty.

As I wrote before, Apple offers a one year limited warranty. In germany, also in the usa and other countries.

You haven't a clue.

[sanford]

for me this is very simple..if this new tablet cannot replace my subnotebook, i won't buy it. yet another device to carry around? no thanks!

i need tablet i can really work with...but we'll know soon enough ;)

If it's a giant iPhone/iPod touch, it's just something else to keep the battery charged. I'd read newspapers and magazines on it. But no movies or books. I prefer TVs and dead trees. I have an iPhone for music. It makes most sense Apple intends this as a netbook replacement. Which with a couple of the right apps a giant iPhone would do that. In that case sell it for $500 or $600 w/o contract, WiFi only, 3G as an option, though not 3rd party but inbuilt, or 3G in all of them but owner's option to sign up for 3G data service.

I don't think it will revolutionize anything. Not in a hurry. I don't think Jobs necessarily thinks it will, either. But he's not going to SAY that. And it doesn't have to be revolutionary to sell a lot to people who don't already have $1,500+ MacBooks and iPhones who might be in the market for a netbook. Why not make something a little pricier and a lot more attractive to pike the netbook market off Windows?

Oh I should add, YES, I'm considering buying one. But if it doesn't sync with my iPhone, if it's something else to sync w/ my MacBook and doesn't act as its own hub for the iPhone, photos, etc., no. I already have a more modestly sized iPhone. Don't need a bigger screen. If my MacBook Air had an eight-hour battery I wouldn't even be considering a tablet. Especially not for a penny over US$500, unsubsidized. A netbook that WILL hold 160GB of media and sync with iPods and iPhones, and connects to TVs for streaming media playback with a simple VGA cable of which I have a couple spares, only runs $300. Battery life is dismal, but if it's a $500+ premium for an eight-hour battery, I'll gladly plug in the netbook.

[SirHaakon]

You're not meant to. You're supposed to stream them over and over again .... KA-CHING $$$$
See post #163.

[Robert M.]

$500-$600 no contract price is a no brainer. with $299-$399 on contract maybe?

For a $1000 they are once again missing a market and creating their own niche, like they did with the Macbook Air. No one will compete because they wont have to because every other product that is similar will be priced much less.

I agree! This thing needs to be no more than $600-$700 without a contract. So yeah at $1000 they're missing the sweet spot for the average consumer imho....

[sanford]

Gaming on my iPhone is so frustrating with the lack of sense with a touch only buttons.

Amen. Gimme my PS3 any day. Gaming is nice peripheral use for an iPhone or Apple tablet, another reason to buy something that already does things you need or want to do. But it's not a reason to buy one.

[iZac]

So, it would appear that the Brits are getting ripped off... :rolleyes:

Nothing new there then. *sigh*

[Shivetya]

$1,000.00 even without contract is too much! :( The MOST I would pay for this without a contract is $799.00. But even that is too high if they want this thing to take off! !

Worse, I expect a contract with someone will still be needed to access the full functionality of the product. Meaning, sure you can buy it without a contract but you still need to use one of the listed carriers to use the full capabilities and it just so happens for the same monthly price.

[MacModMachine]

The price could easily determine if this will be another failure like MacBook Air or success like iPhone.

The price of the MB Air makes people question "why I should take this when I can have that?".

the most informative post in 2010....

the air was no failure, it sells plenty bud.

thats why its still in there line....

[thecartoonguy]

what kind of contract? we already have phone contracts

I was thinking the same thing. There is no way I will have another contract for 1-2 years. Ugh just can't see myself doing such a thing...again.

[adamvk]

Could this be the "Project Black" that T-Mobile reportedly said that would push them to the same rankings as Verizon and AT&T a few months ago?



http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/10/07/t.mobile.may.have.game.changer.news/


http://gizmodo.com/5381852/rumor-t+mobile-project-black-isnt-a-phone--its-a-rescue-plan

Maybe...

[yawa]

See post #163.

Spot on and something people keep seeming to miss.

[schimanke]

I just received word from a Media Markt official that the mentioned twitter account does not belong to Media Markt and that the tweet about the iPad is fake: http://translate.google.de/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schimanke.com%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F1263-Gefakter-Media-Markt-Tweet-zum-Tablet.html&sl=de&tl=en&swap=1

[Mastidon]

As I wrote before, Apple offers a one year limited warranty. In germany, also in the usa and other countries.

You haven't a clue.


Maybe you need to stay out of the EU because we offer protection here for our residents. EU law states 2 years on all devices - http://www.wak-tt.com/tt/2yearwarranty1.htm

For more information see this thread - http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=783762

You are the one who doesn't have a clue.

[Derwood]

There will be greater-than-usual education discount with falling price for bulk orders of escalating thresholds.

Leverage the education sector to get the ball rolling.

Derwood

[MacModMachine]

Maybe you need to stay out of the EU because we offer protection here for our residents. EU law states 2 years on all devices - http://www.wak-tt.com/tt/2yearwarranty1.htm

For more information see this thread - http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=783762

You are the one who doesn't have a clue.

maybe you should hire a lawyer to read the real document for you.

you will be surprised when you find that it is only covered if it does not work from workmanship, not if hardware fails in 6 months out of the year.

stop reading stuff from uncredited sites and taking them to heart.

read the note at the bottom of the page....

[dooyou]

You are the one who doesn't have a clue.

Wow, first guy on my ignore list. Congratulation, noob!

[vtbean]

It will DEFINITELY cost less than the MacBook. I say the price will be $998!!! The TRUTH!!!

[peterdevries]

Specific OS = Limited functionality and yet more time spent suckling at Steve's teet, begging for "basic" functionality that the competition has had from the get-go (like copy/paste, multitasking, 3rd party apps, etc.. etc..).

For a phone, there's not much more you can add, but for a Tablet, you're entering a realm occupied by not only other Tablets, but Tablets that are basically full computers in a slim form-factor.

So Apple would have a Tablet that you spend 800 bucks on to read books, while everyone else prices their Tablets at 400-500 bucks and you can do, well, whatever the hell you want to with it.

It has been said many times here, but just for the sake of it.

Apple makes their products not only based on cutting edge hardware or software specs, but tries to make a perfect marriage between the two, which would/should result in a perfect user experience. (I'm not saying here thatthey always succeed).

Apple does not make products (anymore) for people that feel the need to customize their own experience. Apple makes products for the kind of people that want shiny things that work together when they are taken out of the box. Most average users (and no all people that read this, is not an average user of Apple hardware) do not care about copy-paste, multitasking or jailbraking. I know many, many people with an iPhone, and many just frown when I show them the copy-paste function or shrug if I tell them about jailbraking. The iTunes APPs are sufficient for them. They would like it for example if Apple would update the springboard with a status screen, but don't even know now that they miss it. The iPhone is revered by the large majority, because you can pick it up and use it. Try to find and change settings in Winmo and you will see the difference. The same holds true for OS X and Windows.

If you feel that you must be able to run office, customize etc etc. on a tablet than I fear that Windows is a more suitable platform for that.


However. The fact that the Tablets you speak of are so wildly unsuccesfull is because they are crap at everything that they advertise as an advantage:
Full windows OS: try clicking with sausage-fingers on a 4 pixel box. The OS has not been adapted in any way, safe for a software keyboard.
Full Office functionality: again, too many buttons in the interface, no use of multitouch or whatever touch. And how in *** are you going to be doing any serious text-editing or slide production on a tablet the size of a piece of paper that needs to be set on the table.Most people own already a computer, so they would do these things on that one anyway.

The same concept will apply to the tablet. It is not a viable alternative for a full featured laptop or PC. The existing tablets prove this theory. So, it should be geared at those things that you would be able to do better or equally good on a tablet than on a laptop. The things I'm speaking of are the consumption of content. You don't need a keyboard to watch a movie, read the Esquire or read a book. You don't need a full physical keyboard to write the usual private emails, instant messages or updates to facebook, twitter etc.

[bobob]

You haven't a clue.

You are the one who doesn't have a clue.

Wow, first guy on my ignore list. Congratulation, noob!

Good to see that the forum civility readout has stabilized lately...

[Dooger]

Turns out that the story's a hoax anyway. Move on folks.
http://www.techcrunch.com/2010/01/26/media-markts-ipad-confirming-tweet-turns-out-to-be-bogus/