Apple Tablet Computer?

[liven2]

This is the new imac

How much you want to make a bet that this is the form factor of the new imac.. Looking like an ibook or powerbook with only the screen and guts in the back.. It will be a mountable or a mobile unit. That is my thoughts...

 

[mfacey]

One of those multimedia remotes would be pretty cool! I've seen a few around, but they're more like fat pdas with lousy GUI's. I'm sure apple could make something interesting out of it.

I'd be willing to pay $300 - $400 for one. But I guess it'll be a more, it doesn't look like a cheap device!

Maybe a surprise for the Paris Expo??!!


EDIT: Yeah, come to think of it. It might be the new iMac!

 

[Dr. Dastardly]

I don't really see this as happening but just to play devils advocate, if this were used in the new imac as a detachable screen that could be used as a tablet but used the home base computer as a sort of media docking station it might just take off. It would be a totally different animal then the tablet itself.

But how on earth Apple would have made this as a some sort of detachable computer display is beyond me. It really doesn't even seem feesable.

 

[liketom]

i think that the new G5 iMac will have this wireless display lol where you can take it around the house and work !! mmm sounds lke something bill gates once said about some rubbish they was working on lol

 

[ifjake]

I don't really see this as happening but just to play devils advocate, if this were used in the new imac as a detachable screen that could be used as a tablet but used the home base computer as a sort of media docking station it might just take off. It would be a totally different animal then the tablet itself.

But how on earth Apple would have made this as a some sort of detachable computer display is beyond me. It really doesn't even seem feesable.

i agree this isn't happening unless the above is true.

 

[applekid]

I doubt this is a tablet in the traditional sense -- my guess is that it's more a "wireless home media display", a remote way to watch streamed video, look at photos, and control iTunes. Think of it as the remote control for your digital hub.

I also have a similar thought.

There's plenty of reports that Apple wants to add a remote for AirPort Express. A tablet could it.

But this tablet isn't really a computer. It's more of a remote, as you said. It'll only have a few core apps. Preferably, I'd like to see Safari, iTunes, QuickTime, iPhoto, Address Book, iCal, iSync, and a program for scribbling notes. These mini apps are extensions of existing apps. Hook up to your Airport Express/Extreme/regular network and surf the web, look at photos, control AirTunes, play movies, check out your address books, check your calendar and jot a few notes all on one tablet. Use iSync to sync your Mac and iPod to it all. When it's not in use, it doubles as a digital picture frame.

I can see Steve Jobs saying, this new tablet is an extension of your Mac.

Make it sub-$800, and I'm in.

But, The Register lacks accuracy and this may be just wishful thinking. 🙁 Paris Expo is starting to look gloom with very consumer-like iMacs (I was hoping more prosumer style and perhaps a little gaming ability) and no other rumors of apps or devices.

 

[gorkonapple]

The windows XP tablet is next to worthless. Frankly the only area that really benefits that much from tablet technology is health care ... a tablet is a nice thing to have for a doctor making his rounds.

With 2% market share for PC I can't imagine Apple actually wanting to get into such a small market ...

My Dr's office is using them and we at the college I work for are also beginning to deploy these, They are perfect for anything that's web based.

 

[wdlove]

I thought Steve commented on never making another tablet type device. We have less than three weeks to find the answer.

 

[Dr. Dastardly]

If this is the new imac sketch then it would probably not be protable at all. I see as the all new all in one enclosure and have everything in the back of the lcd screen. But if the screen is 17" - 20", that doesn't sound very portable to me. And wouldn't you think if the thing had the G5 specs currently rumored about that it would have a thicker back than something that can be considered portable.

 

[MondayNgt]

I think artists are generally ignored when it comes to judging the demand of the tablet PC. I would personally love a Tablet PC so I could digitally ink my art for my online comic, but they are too expensive not to mention run a Windows OS (barf). Seperate drawing tablets like Wacoms just aren't the same, I just can't get used to drawing on those. I would love to see an Apple tablet (it would be too perfect with Alias Sketchbook), but I'm not sure how successful it would be considering how horrible the Tablet PCs have sold. On the other hand, they haven't exactly been marketed right either (I've only seen one in my life, a non-working display at Comp USA).

--
Patrick Shannon
My War With Culture
The Positively Eclectic Online Comic!

 

[dongmin]

The return of the iWalk?

But this tablet isn't really a computer. It's more of a remote, as you said. It'll only have a few core apps. Preferably, I'd like to see Safari, iTunes, QuickTime, iPhoto, Address Book, iCal, iSync, and a program for scribbling notes.

But it is a computer, or it will have to be, if it's gonna run all those apps. Obviously, if this thing runs all those iApps, it'll have to be a full-featured OS-X-running computer, i.e. an ibook minus the optical drive, keyboard, and with a smaller display. The difficulty with a product like this is that it ends up in this ambiguous area between a PDA and laptop where it'll seem too small/limited for full-time computer use and too expensive for a PDA.

There is potential for success here but Apple needs to provide some "killer apps" for a small portable device like this. I can think of a few:

1. Video conferencing. Build in a mini iSight cam and you have a portable video phone that you can take anywhere.

2. Obviously, remote control for ALL media apps. I should be able to control the DVD player, iTunes, iPhoto (for slide shows), EyeTV, Quicktime, etc. all displayed on my 23-inch HD Cinema Display from my couch across the room.

 

[Doctor Q]

Steve Jobs has publicly gone on record saying that he didn't see the PDA as being a viable option for Apple...

I don't think Apple will produce a PDA or tablet, but if they do, Jobs could simply call it something other than "PDA" or "tablet", and claim whatever distinctions it has set it far apart from the type of products he disclaimed. Reality distortion would come in handy.

 

[Chobit]

I think artists are generally ignored when it comes to judging the demand of the tablet PC. I would personally love a Tablet PC so I could digitally ink my art for my online comic, but they are too expensive not to mention run a Windows OS (barf). Seperate drawing tablets like Wacoms just aren't the same, I just can't get used to drawing on those. I would love to see an Apple tablet (it would be too perfect with Alias Sketchbook), but I'm not sure how successful it would be considering how horrible the Tablet PCs have sold. On the other hand, they haven't exactly been marketed right either (I've only seen one in my life, a non-working display at Comp USA).

Agreed.. first thing I thought when I saw that was.. If i can mirror that with my G5, and use it to control photoshop, I'll never buy a wacom again. I'd immediately sell my iBook to buy one if they were to come out tomorrow. Think of it as ultra-newton meets wacom. Or at least I can hope.

 

[HumanJHawkins]

Prediction: This is what Apple is Doing

I can't believe Apple will bring out a Tablet computer seeing what a financial disaster they have been on the PC side (admitted even by Steve Ballmer).

Here's why: They aren't going to release a tablet computer. They are going to release a new iMac that has all of the guts built into the back of the display. The display (and guts) are going to be detachable from the frame so that the iMac will BECOME a tablet computer if/when you want it to be. However, for most users most of the time, it will just be a regular iMac.

I don't have any inside information and this could be completely wrong. But it seems so obvious given the combination of rumors about the design of the new iMac and the patent sketches. Doesn't anyone else see a connection here?

 

[COS]

Stand-alone music buying device/portable Mac

I've been thinking about how Apple might parlay its sucess in selling the iPod and iTunes to a system that would allow it to sell more machines running OS X... even if it was a really slimmed down version of a Mac, it would count as a genuine Mac because it ran OS X, and with several other add-ons could be a full fledged computer.

What I was thinking is that this could theoretically be a tablet-style computer that was an inexpensive interface to interact with the iTunes music store. When sold with an airport express, it would allow consumers to instantly buy music, store it digitally on their tablet thing... and then have the music streamed to the stereo via the airport express.

If sold for $300 but allowed for the afformentioned add-ons to make it a full fledged computer (additional $300), Apple has sold a product that reinforces its music initiative while also increases its market share in desktop operating systems and computers.

 

[Max12]

OK, we need a new vote!

How much would you be willing to pay for a "remote control for your digital hub"?

300 tops. and it would have to display dvd content and double as a wi-fi hub (like the airport express)

 

[wdlove]

I don't think Apple will produce a PDA or tablet, but if they do, Jobs could simply call it something other than "PDA" or "tablet", and claim whatever distinctions it has set it far apart from the type of products he disclaimed. Reality distortion would come in handy.

That is very true Doctor Q. Steve Jobs could offer whatever design he wants "PDA" or "Tablet" and then use whatever name he thinks will be good for marketing. I just hope that it will be a popular as the iPod.

 

[HumanJHawkins]

Tablets and Art?

I think artists are generally ignored when it comes to judging the demand of the tablet PC. I would personally love a Tablet PC so I could digitally ink my art for my online comic

Take a look at your Wacom tablet... I'm guessing it is worn down to the wires (well not quite). Anyway, most artists I work with quickly add visible wear to their Wacom tablets, and it gets progressively worse from there. Would you really want to do this to the display of a $1500 computer?

Maybe Apple will come up with a super high tech innovation like including (or selling) a cheap replacable plastic layer that could be dropped over the display. Anyway, I haven't seen a good solution for this yet.

 

[iMeowbot]

But it is a computer, or it will have to be, if it's gonna run all those apps. Obviously, if this thing runs all those iApps, it'll have to be a full-featured OS-X-running computer, i.e. an ibook minus the optical drive, keyboard, and with a smaller display.

Well... If this thing is more of a terminal, it doesn't need a general purpose operating system. They could very well be using Pixo again; the iPod's processor does have the capability to power this sort of device.

 

[newnomad]

domotica terminal style 2 way remote for digital hub

tablet pc's are not hot. Domotica is.
Think www.crestron.com and AMC.
Digital hub...

 

[iMeowbot]

Maybe Apple will come up with a super high tech innovation like including (or selling) a cheap replacable plastic layer that could be dropped over the display. Anyway, I haven't seen a good solution for this yet.

I don't think that thing is made to be used with a stylus anyway; no receptable for one is shown, and Apple's design patent drawings tend to show every little port and detail. All that's shown is a single rectangular port thingy.

 

[deepkid]

Tablet..new imac

A friend just provided another use for a tablet device besides use with Airport Express/Airtunes.. restaurants could use them for enhanced menus..to show pics of the food, etc.

Also interesting, Think Secret has info on the next imac..let's hope it doesn't look like the Sony Vaio mentioned in the article

http://www.thinksecret.com/news/imacg5specs.html

 

[dahacouk]

It's a remote display!

Just a display with wireless remote. That's my guess. No real processing power or memory. Just a remote control. Minimal cost...

Now what I'd really like is a 10 inch 16:10 screen fully functioning PowerBook. No need for a PDA. Just give me the real thing and make it super light. Happy if it has external CD/DVD. I will pay extra for the small form factor. That's on my wish list. I'm not asking too much, am I?

Either that or I'll have to get a Vaio! :-(

Cheers Daniel

 

[AoWolf]

Gosh this would be cool but really do any of you see apple doing this. No it's not like them . They would surprise us with a microwave before a pda.

 

[fflipper]

I don't think that thing is made to be used with a stylus anyway; no receptable for one is shown, and Apple's design patent drawings tend to show every little port and detail. All that's shown is a single rectangular port thingy.

I agree. my hope if this is a real device is that it is a remote that allows me to control my home stereo and tv as well as get content from my mac to said home theater. The port shown reminds me of the port on my air panel (current remote for my theater) that would allow it to plug into the base unit for recharge/faster connection to the base computer.