Apple Working on a Tablet Mac?

[MacRumors]

Crave revives a long-running rumor that Apple may be working on a Tablet Mac.

The latest claim comes from "friends at Asus" who told Crave that "Asus is helping Apple build a Tablet PC." Further information from their source indicated that it will not be based on existing Asus designs and will come from a completely new blueprint.

While Apple Tablet rumors have been running for years, the possibility of it seems more likely now than ever with all of Apple's research into touch-based interfaces. The last rumor of an actual "Tablet Mac" came from Smarthouse.com.au in late 2006 in which Apple was said to be working on an Intel-based Tablet Mac with docking station and HDMI output. More recently, however, Appleinsider described a project inside Apple that was described as a PDA but would carry a form factor about "1.5 times the size of the current iPhone" which we could see as early as January at Macworld San Francisco 2008.

Rumors of a Tablet Mac hit an all time high in 2003 when multiple sources pointed to the existence of a Tablet device from Apple, but for whatever reason was never released.

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[koobcamuk]

Maybe I'll be getting a MBP next year then... no ultraportable? You can't get all your work done on something 1.5* iPhone size.

[happydude]

Originally Posted by koobcamuk

Maybe I'll be getting a MBP next year then... no ultraportable? You can't get all your work done on something 1.5* iPhone size.

what would be the benefit of a tablet mac. i know the idea sounds cool and it (as is apple fashion) would look awesome, but what would one actually do with a tablet? just be able to draw/take handwritten notes vs. only type? isn't that why more and more college students are taking laptops to school - so they don't have to take handwriting notes?

maybe i'm off on practicality, but i'm just not seeing it . . .

if you want compact, bring on the 12" MBP!!!

[impierced]

Originally Posted by happydude

what would be the benefit of a tablet mac. i know the idea sounds cool and it (as is apple fashion) would look awesome, but what would one actually do with a tablet? just be able to draw/take handwritten notes vs. only type? isn't that why more and more college students are taking laptops to school - so they don't have to take handwriting notes?

maybe i'm off on practicality, but i'm just not seeing it . . .

if you want compact, bring on the 12" MBP!!!

I couldn't have said it better. Give me my 12" laptop back!!!

A tablet would be great for presentations and an initial wow factor. However, that's about it.

[Spades]

I hope we get some solid news on an ultra-portable Mac soon. The Asus Eee is hard to resist.

[r-sparks]

Originally Posted by Spades

I hope we get some solid news on an ultra-portable Mac soon. The Asus Eee is hard to resist.

I've got an Eee and would warn others away from purchasing them unless they know what they're getting themselves into. If you want an ultraportable internet device then buy one. For checking email on the move, or browsing the web in coffee shops, it's ideal. Even working on the move is possible.

If you want a full computer in a small form factor then it's not for you. The OS is ugly, the keyboard will give you hand cramp, and the screen is too small to be useful. It's not a "full time" computer. It's just for part-time use. Some Eee users will probably disagree but, frankly, going back to my Macbook after using the Eee feels like pure luxury.

[Jdot]

Originally Posted by happydude

what would be the benefit of a tablet mac. i know the idea sounds cool and it (as is apple fashion) would look awesome, but what would one actually do with a tablet? just be able to draw/take handwritten notes vs. only type? isn't that why more and more college students are taking laptops to school - so they don't have to take handwriting notes?

maybe i'm off on practicality, but i'm just not seeing it . . .

if you want compact, bring on the 12" MBP!!!

How about the ability to perform photo touch ups immediately like no other device could before?

Using ARM processors would not be a bad idea, especially if they could put in dual processors or dual core without a significant decrease in battery life. But on the software side, why settle for anything less than the full desktop OS X? For that matter why a built-in modem. Include a PCMCIA slot (or whatever it was replaced with, I forget the name) so people can use the modem of any carrier. The iPhone is already a special purpose tablet. Anything new should be general purpose. And would likely not be pocketable.

Dual core processors actually use less power period if you look at power requirements even a quad core uses even less power then a dual core. So multi-core processors would be ideal for this type of device one can only hope for 8+hours of usage =D

[Westside guy]

Hmm, size factor makes it sound just like that Origami PC Microsoft launched, what, a year ago? Yeah, we've all seen how that's taken the world by storm.

It's a terrible form factor - I don't care if it's got OS X on it or Windows. It's too big and heavy for your pocket, and too small to do much that's really useful on it. The iPhone/Touch are likely as good as can be for the size, but even there you're dealing with significant tradeoffs; they're light and fit in a user's pocket, though, so people accept it.

[EagerDragon]

Originally Posted by happydude

what would be the benefit of a tablet mac. i know the idea sounds cool and it (as is apple fashion) would look awesome, but what would one actually do with a tablet? just be able to draw/take handwritten notes vs. only type? isn't that why more and more college students are taking laptops to school - so they don't have to take handwriting notes?

maybe i'm off on practicality, but i'm just not seeing it . . .

if you want compact, bring on the 12" MBP!!!

Your hands and fingers are a lot more accurate than a mouse.
Organizing items in your folders, editing photos, editing video, taking the good old note, writting comments on a document including what corrections should be made, browsing the web, you name it. Set aside the mouse, wash your hands and just imagine actualy interacting with the Mac in one of the most natural ways. Distord a picture by pulling/pushing on the nose, wipe a background like you wipe something on a blackboard (no eraser handy) with your hands, etc. Add stars, pull the moon like in one of those "All Mighty" movies.

Imagination is the key, Apple is full of it, now we need to use ours.

[asphalt-proof]

Originally Posted by EagerDragon

Your hands and fingers are a lot more accurate than a mouse.
Organizing items in your folders, editing photos, editing video, taking the good old note, writting comments on a document including what corrections should be made, browsing the web, you name it. Set aside the mouse, wash your hands and just imagine actualy interacting with the Mac in one of the most natural ways. Distord a picture by pulling/pushing on the nose, wipe a background like you wipe something on a blackboard (no eraser handy) with your hands, etc. Add stars, pull the moon like in one of those "All Mighty" movies.

Imagination is the key, Apple is full of it, now we need to use ours.

But that is kind of the point: WE have to think of some reason to use it. With the iPod its pretty much a given as to what the product is for, how to use it, etc. WHen the consumer has to come up with ideas as to how to use a product, usually the consumer goes looking elsewhere. This is why the Origami project was a non-starter. The producers were never able to convincingly show what niche the idea fit into. Sure it has nice characteristics for the medical community or warehouse workers etc. But those don't translate into consumer products very well. Its actually worse than consumer-beta testing. Your asking the consumers to come up with a reason to buy your product instead of providing one to them.

Maybe Apple (if this rumor is 'true') will come up with a compelling reason for buying an iTablet, but don't expect them to make one and then have us come up with a reason to buy it.

[Wild-Bill]

I'd rather see Apple paying attention to their existing product line (both hardware and software) than venturing into the tablet scene.

There are many things they could be working on, like updates, bug fixes, freezing issues, etc....

[wizard]

Originally Posted by asphalt-proof

But that is kind of the point: WE have to think of some reason to use it. With the iPod its pretty much a given as to what the product is for, how to use it, etc.

Likewise the iPhones cell feature. This is why I think any device that Apple offers up must have either or both of these features.

WHen the consumer has to come up with ideas as to how to use a product, usually the consumer goes looking elsewhere. This is why the Origami project was a non-starter.

I tend to agree and rather like how you expressed the above. I will state though that net access and E-Mail access are now becoming consumer needs in and of themselves. Apple has been very smart in this respect as they focused on these features.

I do not believe however that most consumers will be happy with a device that only does E-Mail and net access in their pocket, It needs the functionality of other devices specifically mp3 playing or cell capability.

The producers were never able to convincingly show what niche the idea fit into. Sure it has nice characteristics for the medical community or warehouse workers etc. But those don't translate into consumer products very well.

On the other hand low cost consumer products can have application in industry. A $300 dollar web access device is better than a $3000 one. The only place that Apple messed up with here is the internal battery.

Its actually worse than consumer-beta testing. Your asking the consumers to come up with a reason to buy your product instead of providing one to them.

Well I tend to have an exception here with respect to that statement. When speaking about computing devices consumers often do come up with a reason to buy the hardware. That is one of the reasons that the supply of new apps for PC's seems to be endless.

Maybe Apple (if this rumor is 'true') will come up with a compelling reason for buying an iTablet, but don't expect them to make one and then have us come up with a reason to buy it.

I think the reasons are there. Combining cell phone and net access is very compelling if you look at the success of iPhone. Adding in the abilty to run the apps of your choice makes for a better product.

Now the problem is that one has to agree that net access is a compelling reason to have one of these devices. I'd have to say that it will be in the future and for many is now. It is a significant part of the equation. To sum up I believe these devices will be successful if marketed correctly. So we need the following:

1. Audio media player functionality
2. Cell phone access or at least the option.
3. Video play back.
4. E-mail
5. Web Browsing.
6. The applications of your choice.
7. Bluetooth

It should be noted that this sounds a lot like the Touch now. It would not take much to produce a slightly more enhanced version of Touch that adds the communications features. What it comes down to is a touch similar device with a larger screen - should be easy.

What demonstrates that there is potential here is the number of people that want their devices to do more and in the case of the Touch jailbreak the machine to get that. So in a sense they are showing Apple what is needed in a tablet.

Dave

[EagerDragon]

Originally Posted by asphalt-proof

But that is kind of the point: WE have to think of some reason to use it. With the iPod its pretty much a given as to what the product is for, how to use it, etc. WHen the consumer has to come up with ideas as to how to use a product, usually the consumer goes looking elsewhere. This is why the Origami project was a non-starter. The producers were never able to convincingly show what niche the idea fit into. Sure it has nice characteristics for the medical community or warehouse workers etc. But those don't translate into consumer products very well. Its actually worse than consumer-beta testing. Your asking the consumers to come up with a reason to buy your product instead of providing one to them.

Maybe Apple (if this rumor is 'true') will come up with a compelling reason for buying an iTablet, but don't expect them to make one and then have us come up with a reason to buy it.

The product has not been released and does not exist in the market yet. When it is out Apple will show you how to use it. Just like the iPhone, nobody knew how to use something they have not seen and had no idea how to put a multitouch interface to use. Just like the new email under Leopard, before it was released people had no idea how to get bits of data in the emails to create ToDo lists, to add some bits to AddressBook and to add other bits to Calendar.

Until you see it and see how it works and what the possible interactions are, how can you "value" it?

We are speaking of a "virtual device" aka vaporware whose function and implementation we do not know and are only taking not-so-educated guesses at.

[EagerDragon]

Originally Posted by asphalt-proof

Maybe Apple (if this rumor is 'true') will come up with a compelling reason for buying an iTablet, but don't expect them to make one and then have us come up with a reason to buy it.

Apple always does. They come up with solutions to problems you did not know you had. They are genious at marketing, at showing people why they need the product. Have faith.

Look at the iPhone, we had browsers in computers, we have millions of phones, we have music players, sounds like nothing new. The trick is making them work together and provide you an interface that makes it easy to manage all of those capabilities. Apple provide:
a) Kool factor
b) New easy interface
c) convergence of the devices.

Now those iPhones (which are not needed, and do not solve world hunger) can't rest 5 minutes on the shelves.

They will show you and make you want it until you are ready to sell your first born to get it.

[happydude]

Originally Posted by EagerDragon

Your hands and fingers are a lot more accurate than a mouse.
Organizing items in your folders, editing photos, editing video, taking the good old note, writting comments on a document including what corrections should be made, browsing the web, you name it. Set aside the mouse, wash your hands and just imagine actualy interacting with the Mac in one of the most natural ways. Distord a picture by pulling/pushing on the nose, wipe a background like you wipe something on a blackboard (no eraser handy) with your hands, etc. Add stars, pull the moon like in one of those "All Mighty" movies.

Imagination is the key, Apple is full of it, now we need to use ours.

now, that's a pie-eyed apple fanboy wetdream of a description if i've ever heard one!! such an romantic as you surely are on SJ's speed dial.

[psychofreak]

Originally Posted by happydude

now, that's a pie-eyed apple fanboy wetdream of a description if i've ever heard one!! such an romantic as you surely are on SJ's speed dial.

From seeing Jeff Han's work, this does not seem so unfeasible for Apple...

[EagerDragon]

Originally Posted by happydude

now, that's a pie-eyed apple fanboy wetdream of a description if i've ever heard one!! such an romantic as you surely are on SJ's speed dial.

Yea and he makes me pay for dinner every time. His pants are too tight with all the iPod Nanos and iPhone to cary his billfold.

[headfuzz]

Originally Posted by happydude

bring on the 12" MBP!!!

Amen.

[twoodcc]

here we go again.....

i really hope it's true though. and it does make sense, with the iPhone and all. only time will tell

[xUKHCx]

Suppose the iPhone can be seen as a testing bed for multi-touch that will no doubt end up in ths product. Along wth sensing pixels to allow you to scan documents on the go this when it comes (and it will, after all the iPhone eventually made it out) will make it killer.

But friends at asus, reminds me of a recent thread where a newbies cousin was big at apple.

[BornAgainMac]

I tried a Windows-based PC with a touch screen and it was pretty cool. I would like to see Apple have something like that. In 2008/2009, I hope these are more common. Multi-touch would be sweet.

[idea_hamster]

I would love a tablet Mac -- if only to be able to turn my screen around and show the person sitting across from me what's on my screen!

[luminosity]

Good lord, this again?

I wish it would just go away.

[macfan881]

this sounds good and all i just hope this isnt gonna turn out like all the 1000 report rumors for the iphone again...

[chicagostars]

Originally Posted by quietmind

Good lord, this again?

I wish it would just go away.

Was going to say something similar, but you beat me to it.

January has the potential to be fun and exciting, but let's not get too far ahead of ourselves.