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Apple Tablet Computer?

Chip NoVaMac said:
Speed in "preview" can be handled by PDF's. I would like "reasonable" speed for changes to the ad content. I have BIG hopes for the Toshiba 60gb HDD's. Since they did not show up on the new iPod releases.
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I think those 60 GB drives aren't in iPods yet simply because they aren't available yet. It would be a questionable move to put a drive like that into a larger device with display, because slightly (physically) larger drives with higher capacities and lower cost are easy to get.

I suppose the little drives would make sense if the unit was to be about the same size as an iPod, but that's kind of silly for enjoying photos and such. Might as well use a camera's viewfinder.
 
Chip NoVaMac said:
Thank You! I was hoping that I was not alone here.

I di play with Inkwell and found it to be much better than the PocketPC.
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Yeah, Apple saying no video ipod and no 60 gig ipod, mean they have something else in mind, and something the size of a 12" ibook/pb design for multimedia and low to medium use as an entry (non education) level or secondary machine would be very welcome now that the whole of the desktop (non edu) line is moving to G5.

I think the "tablet" will be G4 (and I note recent mention of staff discounts for G4 manufacturer suggesting relationship is still strong) with standard BT and AE. 60 gig hdd (to accomodate many photos, music and movies), 256 RAM (possibly not upgradable...), DVD ROM CD-R/W (no super option), 32 maybe 64 VRAM. 2xUSB 2 and 2xFW 400. Headphone jack. Possibly audio in... Power. No modem. No network card (you use AE and maybe BT for networking OR better yet 10/100 not giga). No DVI, No s-video (although for a machine like this that would be useful). Speakers in top of sides not front, but otherwise much like PB. Purchase option to get wireless keyboard and mouse.

Anyway thats my dream and at a reasonable price point...
 
iMeowbot said:
I suppose the little drives would make sense if the unit was to be about the same size as an iPod, but that's kind of silly for enjoying photos and such. Might as well use a camera's viewfinder.
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An 8" to 12" screen is far superior obviously to a little 2-2.5" camera screen. The need for a really small HDD might be for the depth, weight and maybe power consumption...
 
I really don't see the use in a tablet computer.

If you need something small just get a 12' iBook. The pics of the tablet look to be the same size as a 12' iBook so like i said i don't really see the use of it and it would probably cost about the same as an iBook.
 
iFaulder said:
If you need something small just get a 12' iBook. The pics of the tablet look to be the same size as a 12' iBook so like i said i don't really see the use of it and it would probably cost about the same as an iBook.
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Maybe about the cost but sans keyboard, no expansion capability (ram etc), means that production and supply costs would be reduced. Furthermore putting in the low end G4 cuts costs as such a device would be more about convenience than power.

Not sure about the touch screen thing...still to soon to do cheaply.

If is was specifically designed to lever off airtunes and wireless networks, extending its access to the net etc from other machines, and acting as a small second monitor when not used indepdantly, I think it might find a market.
 
Chomolungma said:
the device that you are describing here has virtually no practical use. I can't imagine carrying a iPhoto frame around with me. prints in a traditional album is still the prefer way. iTunes remote? what does this function solve? If I can't think of a way to use it immediately, it is a bad sign. Light email access? Just go to your desk or laptop for this. How hard can this be? Okay, if you have a weight problem, and find it difficult to get off the couch.

I think sometime we forget the one rule in invention i.e. if a machine or device fails to make our life easier; it will never make it off the drawing board.
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What are you talking about! No immediate use for an iTunes remote, speak for yourself I'm tired of trecking all the way upstairs in my house to change music on my G5 to hear it on my stereo downstairs. If you don't have an airport express and a desktop Mac you would'nt understand. Think before you write!
 
izzle22 said:
What are you talking about! No immediate use for an iTunes remote, speak for yourself I'm tired of trecking all the way upstairs in my house to change music on my G5 to hear it on my stereo downstairs. If you don't have an airport express and a desktop Mac you would'nt understand. Think before you write!
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But would said remote be worth $1000+ to you?
 
1984 all over again!

slughead said:
The tablet didn't work for anyone else, why would it work for Apple?
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Um... Remember Xerox Park? Back in the late 70's and early 80's nobody saw a graphic interface as viable. It got canned. Remember the Lisa?

But then came along the Macintosh 128K. WoW!!! 128 Kilobytes of RAM! And a graphical interface to boot! Black & White. Small screen. And a big success that lead to the Mac512, Plus, SE, II and beyond. Apple succeeded where others failed. Where even Apple had failed with their first attempt with the Lisa. They learned from the errors and did better and succeeded. Eventually the Evil Empire, er, I mean Micros*cks, jumped on the bandwagon and copied the MacOS making the infamous Windows. (Eek! Run screaming! Hide the children!)

Others failed. Apple succeeded and showed how to do it right. Others copied them and still haven't gotten it right. Which is why we're still using Macs after 20 glorious years.

Cool. A MacTablet! I can't wait!

-Walter
Still using a boosted Pismo 500 which has not
been exceeded to date by anything new.
 
Why not make the next Powerbook a convertable tablet? That's the direction laptops should be going anyway. Apple should uses it's design smarts on making the convertable effective. I have a new Toshiba tablet, and it works well both ways. They're getting better, and Apple should really hit a home run if they put their mind to it.

That would make the next Powerbook a huge winner. Can you imaging G5 and a tablet?

I'd buy one...
 
They could release a new hybrid cpu to replace the emac call it the itab, short for itablet :)
 
musicpyrite said:
I don't think that Apple will release a tablet computer, because of what's been happening to all the tablet PCs on the Windows side.

But I'd like to see one.
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Well thats true but the PC Music Stores, MP3 Players, etc are nothing compared to Apple... I think the will soon have a EVT Verstion or simalr. I know Apple will be able to sell them if they did I would pay uptp $700 for one... But thats just me.
 
IMHO, a tablet seems like the natural thing for apple to produce - eventually, at least.

Imagine a household with one or two desktop machines on a wireless network. With a wireless tablet you could browse the web, communicate via email, and control your networked sound-system as you wander from room to room. But with enough ram, you could also run heavy apps like photoshop by distributing the processing over the network!

At first, it seems to me like computing will go in one of two directions: (1) your data becomes ultra-accessible and you carry around only the input devices (as in a networked tablet) or (2) input/display devices become ubiquitous and you just carry around your data (as in a wifi ipod-like device) . . . but I think that eventually both of these will happen and you will just have to carry around your identity. Of course in the utopian neverland no data is "your data" because all human knowledge is made free and human effort is put toward everybody's well-being. Oh well.

Charlie
 
C-Mezak said:
in the utopian neverland no data is "your data" because all human knowledge is made free and human effort is put toward everybody's well-being.
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I assume this includes your personal diary, credit cards, bank info, top secret projects for world domination, christmas list, etc. Bleck! That isn't my idea of utopia. I like my privacy.

How about a better idea, implant the computer into the brain. All your data is stored in your head and you can access the wireless net and backup to your home server nightly.

Now I lay me down to sleep,
If I should die before I wake,
Restore from backup.

-Walter
in Vermont
where I have privacy
and like it that way.
 
izzle22 said:
NO! But maybe $500 if it had a screen to show pictures and a few other features. No one said this so called device was $1000
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I know no one said that, but it's quite possible that the "mystery device" this thread is referring to will be pretty steep. I hope my comment didn't come across as insulting, because it wasn't meant to be. I would love a remote for my Airport Express too, though personally I would not pay more than $100 for it. If it had other features, I would definitely consider paying more. If the remote was a one-trick pony, I would want it to have a backlit b&w screen, wifi, and that's it, for $50. I doubt that will happen though.
 
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