Do not agree with you in return.
Steve was talking at the time about set sized phones. Times have changed and Apple have moved on.
"the 4.7 and the 5.5 are the proper larger screens soon arriving"
In your opinion. There are rumours to say Apple will and will not release pahablets soon. So we'll find out soon enough which set of rumours are correct.
"Netbooks are not the same category as iPads."
This is 100% correct. And that I think was the idea. Netbooks are good for nothing so they went into a different category to create their netbook beater. And the iPad can do so much more than just content consumption. The iPad was designed as a blank slate and the users and 3rd party devs are paving the way for what the iPad can be used for.
"Apple wont create a phablet beater, they will create an iPhone phablet."
In your opinion.
I hope Apple makes something that is better than a phablet. But only time will tell.
We agree to disagree.
Steve was talking at the time about set sized phones. Times have changed and Apple have moved on.
Set sized phones? Don't follow what you mean. He said that mid 2010. Engadget article noted "We're assuming he's likely talking about the latest crop of 4-, 4.3- and 5-inch phones that include the Galaxy S series, the EVO 4G, Droid X, and Dell Streak, even going so far as to call them "Hummers""
Apple haven't moved on as far as screen size is concerned, but rumours (I call them leaks these days) show a 4.7 and 5.5, so later this year Apple will catch up.
The iPad can off course consume and create, but you would baulk at spending any great period of time creating Word documents, spreadsheets, editing videos, etc, etc. You need a full OS, file system, mouse, keyboard. Can be done, but too hard. Surfing, email, video, reading, great.
Phablet. Again, a leak/rumour, but seems highly likely. They may even reduce the iPad Mini, and add phone hardware. I am unsure how they or anyone can make a better phablet. A LARGE phone or a small tablet is the same thing, the only requirement for a tablet/phablet is size. The only other phablet feature that I have seen is a stylus.
The concerns I have with the rumoured 4.7 and 5.5 is form factor. I fear they will be worst in class, that bothers me. (Larger form factor than other 4.7 and 5.5 screen sized devices)
My suggestions for the best phablet is reduce upper/lower bezel, make the home button thin and rectangular with touch feature, ignore thinner and lighter and put those gains towards battery. If the 4.7 and 5.5 were close to other form factors and not thin and not light buy big on battery, that is a big win.