Apple Tablet Coming in 2010?

[MacRumors]

Silicon Alley Insider reports on a note from Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster claiming that Apple's rumored "media pad" or tablet computer will not arrive until sometime in the first half of 2010. Munster also claims that the device will be more dramatically different from the iPhone and competing netbooks than most analysts and investors are expecting. The complexity of the operating system, reported to be a hybrid between the iPhone OS and full-blown Mac OS X, is apparently the primary factor holding up release of the device.

Don't get your hopes up for one of those devices this year, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster writes in a note today. While Munster thinks Apple is indeed working on these sorts of devices -- running a third version of OS X "more robust" than the iPhone but optimized for multi-touch screens -- he thinks they're not going to launch this year, as some had predicted.

"We expect the development of such an OS to be underway currently, but its complexity, along with our conversations with a key company in the mobile space, leads us to believe it will not launch until CY10," Munster says.

AppleInsider provides additional detail on Munster's report, revealing that the tablet is expected to be priced in the $500-$700 range and thus bridging the gap between the iPod touch and the entry level MacBook. The tablet would utilize a display somewhere between 7- and 10-inches and would be well differentiated from existing netbook offerings, which Apple has repeatedly said it has no interest in duplicating due to the poor user experience such devices offer.

More specifically, the analyst said these investments will likely culminate with the launch of a touch-screen tablet with a display somewhere between 7- and 10-inches at a special event sometime in the first half of 2010. Such a move, he added, would be consistent with management's comments that Cupertino-based company has no interest in catering to the existing segment for "cheap" miniaturized notebooks and its spoken desire to differentiate in a market currently dominated by cramped computers with razor thin margins and a subpar user experience.

Article Link: Apple Tablet Coming in 2010?

 

[brad.c]

Introducing iProcrastinate, the new product release scheduling application by Apple.
Coming soon. iPromise.

 

[linuxophile]

iTablet iRedux iWait.

 

[Andronicus]

But I want one now!!

 

[twoodcc]

well i was hoping for something like this at wwdc, but better late than never i guess

 

[TraceyS/FL]

This is a product that i'd like to know officially is coming.... otherwise, i'll be spending money elsewhere.

 

[kolax]

Apple Tablet .. one of the longest running rumours.

 

[sammich]

Introducing iProcrastinate, the new product release scheduling application by Apple.
Coming soon. iPromise.

Doesn't someone here have an iPhone app called iProcrasinate?

Would be interesting to see how accurate this tablet screen would be, and maybe have some basic pressure sensitivity.

 

[dizzy13]

I think I'll stick with my iPhone and 13" MacBook, but I can see how this would work for some people.

 

[Apple Ink]

I tell you this is going to continue until the day Apple finally gives in and makes something that can remotely be labelled as a tablet! Jeez..

And this makes Front Page. Wow! And that too some crap from Analysts who do nothing but grumble!!

 

[sterlingindigo]

Not sure about a tablet...really. Or even a combination tablet/netbook. Large iPod? Hoping this one is not true.

On a positive note, Apple seems to be able to do now wrong when a product actually comes out so I will just wait and see on this one.

 

[iPhoneNYC]

Want.

 

[HudsonsHalfHour]

7" makes more sense than the previously rumored 10" tablet, given that it will be a touch screen keyboard, it would have been hard to hold up something of that size and type. something so big would have to be rested on a surface and the user experienece would suffer. i can see people holding the 7" itablet with one hand and typing on it with the other

 

[sushi]

Didn't Apple purchase a large number of 10.4 inch LCD screens?

 

[brad.c]

Doesn't someone here have an iPhone app called iProcrasinate?

Figures somebody beat me to it.

 

[damnyooneek]

no way $500-700. more like $1000. This is Apple, anything that they think is "innovative" will always be released at a ridiculous price. look at the iphone and macbook air.

 

[bytethese]

Holy crap. My wallet just jumped out of my pocket with my credit card sticking out.

 

[talkingfuture]

2010 is so long, good Munster is nearly always wrong!

 

[Ori]

Off topic

Don't know where to post this, but why is Macrumors allowed a scam advert on its home page. (the miami gazette scam linking to google scam)

On topic. Love the idea of a proper touch screen tablet. If Apple get it right it could be amazing.

 

[jmann]

I think I now know what I'm going to invest in next year.

 

[ipoppy]

Didn't Apple purchase a large number of 10.4 inch LCD screens?

Thats what I thought. I think WWDC will be more interesting this year than usually. But I think it might be too early for this. One way or another that will be similar to iPhone in terms of popularity.
Saving another $700

 

[DipDog3]

Hasn't this been rumored for years?

Don't believe it.

Sorry!

 

[Warbrain]

Didn't Apple purchase a large number of 10.4 inch LCD screens?

They were touchscreens if I recall.

 

[Lesser Evets]

I'm not sure about the validity of the old rumor about a large order of iPodish 10" screen for summer 2009...

But, assuming that rumor is true, I doubt Apple is going to sit on that technology for 9 months before releasing a product. If they do, I would be shocked and amazed.

As for the rest of the rumor, it makes sense. The bastardization of OS to fit such a device would streamline everything for more limited processing power but might allow bigger apps to run.

The rumors make this device silky. Can't wait to see what Apple reveals. Why do I feel as if they won't reveal anything, ever?

 

[iSee]

Ugh. Does anyone else have "rumor fatigue" re an Apple Tablet.
I'm just tired of hearing about it.