Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

And... Tablet Rumors Revived: Larger Mac-Like Tablet in the Works?

Well I'm pretty confident this rumour is simply not true. As has been discussed to death in this thread (and elsewhere) already the mouse-oriented desktop metaphor is just not a good match for a touch input system (whether multi or single). Try using a graphics tablet instead of a mouse for a while (without hover mode) to see how awkward it would be.

The trouble is the input mechanism is so deeply entrenched in the desktop world (including laptops, of course) that for most apps there would be a high impedence mismatch, even if the OS was tweaked. That's not to say that you couldn't write new apps (or modify existing ones) to play better.

If we do see multi-touch come to the desktop OS world (and I think that is likely - it's just a case of when) I believe it will start out as a supplimentary input method. I certainly don't think you can jump straight in with a tablet and have a seamless experience.

Of course, in a way, the dedicated multi-touch devices (iPhone, iPod touch, iPad) are leading the way in training us in the multi-touch metaphor. I think it's more likely that we'll see that platform grow to take on more of the desktop like features that it's missing (but needs) until there is no reason to continue with mouse/ desktop systems. That could be some time off yet and I believe even so we are still going to have highly focused (and, yes, locked down) devices like the iPad.
 
MrCubes said:
Well I'm pretty confident this rumour is simply not true. As has been discussed to death in this thread (and elsewhere) already the mouse-oriented desktop metaphor is just not a good match for a touch input system (whether multi or single). Try using a graphics tablet instead of a mouse for a while (without hover mode) to see how awkward it would be.
Click to expand...

Exactly.

Applications that are re-coded for multi-touch interfaces are one thing. But existing Mac OS X apps which are robbed of the keyboard and mouse would be unusable.

There would need to be an entirely new set of human interface conventions and new UI features in Mac OS X before such a device could be released.

C.
 
Someone needs to sack this Arn guy and let Eric write all the articles. Arn is so bad - his articles have spelling and grammatical errors and are so badly written they're really quite tricky to read. The Eric (Slivka?) guy is much better.

But back to the thread - I also think 15" is a little too big, but love the OS X idea. iPad is not for me - too basic. They can price this at whatever they want and I'll buy it.
 
ss957916 said:
Someone needs to sack this Arn guy and let Eric write all the articles. Arn is so bad - his articles have spelling and grammatical errors and are so badly written they're really quite tricky to read. The Eric (Slivka?) guy is much better.
Click to expand...

Since Arn runs the site, I am sure he will get any suggestions you throw in the Site and Forum Feedback, which is where such critiques should be placed.
 
gibbz said:
Since Arn runs the site
Click to expand...

I'm hoping that's a joke...?

I had just read the article and wanted to comment on it and couldn't help put in a note about the way its written. But thanks for the idea, I might go and do that.
 
PVguy said:
The low end iMac is a pretty powerful computer since Apple does not want to play in the low end; but they still need a product in the low end. And I've seen increasing numbers of Atom based systems for sale on the desktop, as they are fast enough for light use.

I think that apple is changing the form factor of the netbook, or trying to.
Click to expand...

I think the iPad (with the optional keyboard) is much better for "light use" (mail, web, chat) than those Atom based netbooks. A netbook with Win7 takes some time to boot whie the iPad is instantly on.

If you need more and an iMac is too expensive, Apple has something else: The MacMini. It is not much more expensive than the iPad, but it adds all the powers (and the complexity) of a full and open OS capable of multitasking.

My question is: Is it possible to use an iPad as your only computer? Or do you need a Mac or PC at least for some activation process?

Christian
 
christian_k said:
My question is: Is it possible to use an iPad as your only computer? Or do you need a Mac or PC at least for some activation process?
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure you need a Mac/PC as well for the purposes of file transfer etc. but I may be incorrect.
 
an apple tablet with osx, at least macbook performance, with 15inch multitouch and a pen(wacom)
and i am sold

happy to pay 2grand for that
but the less the better :)
 
i refuse to participate on this. i dont want it to turn out false again and be disappointed one more time.
 
HiRez said:
I agree. This is the beginning of the end for traditional desktop OS X. Apple surely sees that fewer and fewer people are using desktop machines with each passing year, and they're increasingly not going to pay $2000-$3000 for them anymore either. They realize their future is replacing Sony by making sexy, affordable consumer gadgets, with an OS tailor made for that, which is iPhone OS, not OS X desktop.

I'm more the type that would need the use a desktop machine than the average consumer (Adobe CS, 3D rendering, programming, video editing, gaming) and I can see the use of my own desktop Macs dropping dramatically over the last 5 years or so, and as soon as I can get my hands on an iPad that's going to drop even further. 5 years ago I probably did 80% of my web surfing on my desktop Mac, in another 1-2 years with an iPad at hand, I can easily see that going down to close to 0. Why bother going to the desktop when I can pick up a light and mobile device, which will already have the web page up faster than I can wake the desktop from sleep, and which I can take with me?

Like the floppy disc, I don't think desktop OS X is going to disappear overnight, it'll take years, but make no mistake, it's on its way out.
Click to expand...

The problem is if you use internet as a tool to work, not only to consume information, in this case the ipad can't be very useful.
I can't count how many times i've downloaded images/sound effects/projects/help files/video files to use them DIRECTLY in my 4 programs running behind firefox (AE, PS, Cubase, Final Draft). The ipad can nowhere give such experience to a user who need the internet for more that just watching video/new/social networking.
 
edit:

as someone has pointed out the existence of the modbook, it surely asks a question:

If an apple approved FULL OSX tablet has been around for 3 years and none of us has ever seen one, doesn't that speak volumes about how many people ACTUALLY want something like this?
 
Flavioparentiq said:
The problem is if you use internet as a tool to work, not only to consume information, in this case the ipad can't be very useful.
I can't count how many times i've downloaded images/sound effects/projects/help files/video files
Click to expand...

the iPhone lets you save images in camera roll and edit in PS, so the iPad will do too.

As for "sound effects/projects/help files/video files" - the fact that iWork has been developed shows that a file system will be included.
 
Eidorian said:
The iPad is a transitional and destructive element. I still think Apple wants to hold off on Touch OS X on a notebook or desktop for some time.
Click to expand...

No, the iPhone was the transitional element. The iPhone's OS can almost be called OS XI (OS 11). It's the next stage of the platform's evolution.

Basically, Apple believes multi-touch mobile systems are the future. The desktop market is shrinking and natural user interfaces are just so much easier and better to use. Aqua is already a bit of a dated UI, and isn't going to have much of a role in the long-term future of the platform. The iPhone's UI system is simple to use, optimised for touch, and in terms of users, at least as mature as Aqua. The iPhone's system also has an ambitious amount of cloud integration, making it useful as a platform for the future.

That's why it makes sense for the iPhone's UI to grow and eventually take over from Aqua. It needs to develop further -- multitasking is an obvious point, as is external device support (e.g. USB drives).
 
Journojulz said:
the iPhone lets you save images in camera roll and edit in PS, so the iPad will do too.

As for "sound effects/projects/help files/video files" - the fact that iWork has been developed shows that a file system will be included.
Click to expand...

There has always been a file system - it's just not been fully accessible (without jailbreaking). What the iPad does appear to offer that is new is access to a folder that is shared between applications. (note: I haven't explored that within the simulator/ SDK docs yet, and if I had I would be under NDA on it anyway).

Back to the OP's point, though. For "professional", technology-oriented work such as collecting sound effects, videos etc that's really stretching the scope of a device like the (current) iPad. It may be useful for initial, exploratory, browsing (assuming it doesn't need to rely on Flash content, of course ;-) ), but I think that will really require a full blown desktop metaphor computer. The iPad is not (yet) trying to assimulate all uses of modern computers!
 
Surklyn said:
" Namely, it could run a version of OS X much closer to the traditional version that runs on Macs."

At what point do you start to piss off developers who now need to develop for 3-4 different platforms. (iPhone, iPad, OS X, OSX/Hybrid)? As interface issues between the iPhone and iPad are slightly different (different screen sizes..they are essentially the same, but different platforms, IMO).
Click to expand...

I wouldn't be pissed off. I would be able to modify my old app, add a few features and make another killing again. Or perhaps my app didn't do well on the iPhone but it does better on the iPad just with a few tweaks. The days are gone for just the Windows platform only. Lots of popular platforms that share a common environment is what is needed.
 
I've been thinking, if they took the macbook pro, removed the keyboard and dinky trackpad, and instead installed an ipad, with an on-screen touch keyboard and touchpad, you could still use the computer like a laptop...

but then you could also rotate it 90deg to portrait, and use the other [wacom-penabled] display for drawing, sketching, notetaking, whilst fingering the ipad side to browse files, play movies, browse the web, whatever.

As well, you could rotate it Wacom-side down, to draw upon (since you draw flat), while the touch-side becomes a heads-up display. With a nearby finger, you can reach forward to quickly flip through reference materials relating to your handwritten or drawn work, & keep working with the pen. ...or just be distracted by a movie while you try not to get any work done.

Best of both worlds in one device.

Like a dis:
 

Attachments

  • Concept.png
    Concept.png
    506.7 KB · Views: 124
Journojulz said:
the iPhone lets you save images in camera roll and edit in PS, so the iPad will do too.

As for "sound effects/projects/help files/video files" - the fact that iWork has been developed shows that a file system will be included.
Click to expand...

Later they could add multitasking, installation w/o App Store, advanced configuration options, installable third party device drivers, scripting languages, a terminal window and an on device c++ compiler and more, more, more. I am sure each of these features would be the "killer argument" for some users.

The iPhone OS would finally evolve into a full blown desktop OS. With the same power, but with the same complexity and with all the same possible causes of problems.

What would be the benefit? You can have that now (ModBook).

Why not just accept the iPad for what it is designed to be - something between a smartphone and a notebook. Usefull to a lot of people, but it won't replace your Mac Pro. It can also be a great second device: Why not use an iPad to view the online library reference manual while you are coding on a large screen computer?

Christian
 
ThunderSkunk said:
I've been thinking, if they took the macbook pro, removed the keyboard and dinky trackpad, and instead installed an ipad, with an on-screen touch keyboard and touchpad, you could still use the computer like a laptop...

but then you could also rotate it 90deg to portrait, and use the other [wacom-penabled] display for drawing, sketching, notetaking, whilst fingering the ipad side to browse files, play movies, browse the web, whatever.

As well, you could rotate it Wacom-side down, to draw upon (since you draw flat), while the touch-side becomes a heads-up display. With a nearby finger, you can reach forward to quickly flip through reference materials relating to your handwritten or drawn work, & keep working with the pen. ...or just be distracted by a movie while you try not to get any work done.

Best of both worlds in one device.

Like a dis:
Click to expand...


Although this would be a dream device, i doubt Apple would make it until they can develop tactile feedback on the screen, because no one would be stupid enough to make a full size keyboard without ... oh wait ...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back