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

Apple Tablet Computer?

liven2 said:
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...
Click to expand...

Much as I like this idea, I just can't buy into it. The new iMac will have a G5, as stated by Apple in their earnings report. If you are correct, then the new iMac basically doubles as a portable, replacing the iBook (sans keyboard), and putting a portable G5 in the hands of the consumer market before it gets in the PowerBook line.

My guess is that it is a device that acts as a remote control for Airport Express, controlling iTunes, accessing multimedia files via file sharing, and also acts as an iPhoto frame for pictures. Prices to sell at a paltry $600. Either that, or smoke and mirrors from Apple to give us something to chat about and misdirect the competition.
 
There's already a desktop computer w/a detachable display. I saw it in CompUSA ~2 years ago. I've been trying to Google for it but I can't remember if it was a Sony or Viewsonic :(

Anyway, I don't think it's as useful as it seems. Most of the time you can just call someone over and say "hay look what's on the screen." People who really want portability buy laptops.

Unless it's really cheap (under $1000 for everything needed), I don't think it'll do well. Sorry Apple. :(

----------------

EDIT: Found a few things.

http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,109549,00.asp
Sony Tablet TV -- Sounds like something Apple would do, admittedly

http://www.viewsonic.com/support/mobilewireless/airpanelsmartdisplays/airpanelv110p/
This is what I was talking about ... the portable computer monitor (it's Viewsonic)
 
Motorola

We were wondering why Apple and Motorola are back together.

"Software-defined radios" Motorola is the expert in this area.

The iPad can have a software defined radio in is that provides the following functions:
UWB - Ultra-wideband radio for the remote-display functions. "Firewireless"
802.11g
Bluetooth
CDMA and GSM cellular.

Running a low-power FreeScale system-on-a-chip this device runs Panther at 800x600x32 with Inkwell as the input system. With a LiPolymer battery and a 1.8" 60GB hard drive, the iPad gets twelve hours of battery life.
 
while we're indulging in wild speculations, what i want is a 15" powerbook with a wireless detachable display that's like a cintiq 15x interactive display but with a much thinner bezel and higher resolution.
 
ericmooreart said:
Perhaps Apple had a change of heart when Sony announced that at the end of this year they will no longer sell their PDAs in the US?
Click to expand...

I read a rumour yesterday that Sony plans to come back with a new PDA, but it won't be a Palm-based one. Probably Symbian.
 
interesting...

on the imac in the back thread... the majority of us hate it. In this *book thread we can't wait... In home portability. The way many of us use our powerbooks (granted my powerbook is a 1400). I don't write much sitting at the iMac, and would love to be able to draw away from the desk as well. What if these machines are one in the same? Call it P.C. compatible, and iMacs are selling as an extension to the digital hub for everyone. Make people think of their P.C. as a server in your home, maybe even offload work to it. P.C. users could end up with a true Apple experience.
I still like the idea of the iPod Hard drive being the initial purchase or bundled for those who don't already have it. Dock it and type away on your bluetooth keyboard.
Since I'm ranting, maybe this leaves room for the pizza box/cube/mini tower in the future. Consumers who have ipods get the Pod/*book/iview (or whatever), then later see the other part at the store and feel compelled to complete the set..
omg we are going to be known as the Pod people!
 
<2cent>

a) this is just the new imac. and the drawings are not to scale
b) this is some sort of thin client.

They adapated remote desktop to act something like X windows. So all this thing needs is some custom display chips, a Wifi connection, and a battery. Bingo. its cheap to make, and has a long battery life.

</2cent>
 
Sure. But Why not.

Well...

The falioure of the tablet PC was couse of price. I have used one and it is way cool and useful. But it was too pricey. But Apple has proven that it can put on a higher price than most ;)

Also remember that MP3 players were not that successful unti iPod. Now everyone has one. And some sort of an iPad would answer the question of the mistery product addon for the iTunes/Airport area of things.


But am I the only one that remembers a different patent Appli filed a short while ago regarding Pads. Something about rotation of screen and related. Everyone thought it was some old Newton thing just being patented now.

I'm not saying on or off about this. I'm just saying that there are is no reason to dismiss it immediatly.
 
iPodVideo

Its the big brother of the 4G iPod:
- same ARM based chipset
- 40G to 60G HD
- 12'' colour display
- loudspeeker
- touch-pad
- microphone
- WLAN
- Firewire (to Mac/PC and other 4G iPods)
 
Everyone's saying there's no market for a Tablet Mac and the success would be similar to that of the TabletPC;

Just remember what was said about the iPod when it was first introduced, now look at it...
 
Mac Classic screen was 9"

biederman said:
Assuming that the description is correct, and this device will have a 10" screen, it's hard to imagine what this could be used for. A 10" screen is not large enough to use as a general-purpose computer, nor a decent video player, and yet it's probably too large to be a universal remote. The real test, I think, is whether this device has its own hard drive (like an iPod), or is simply a wireless-enabled client device.
Click to expand...

Excuse me, but that's just wrong. My Mac Classic has a 9" screen, which was perfect for basic wordprocessing.

btw, some sources say the screen will only be 8".

I would love a device with a screen that size, esp. if it would play mp3s and movies, have an internet connection and run basic programs like Word, Excel and Safari/Mozilla!

I wouldn't like to pay more than $1000 for it though.
 
agree

pourhadi said:
Everyone's saying there's no market for a Tablet Mac and the success would be similar to that of the TabletPC;

Just remember what was said about the iPod when it was first introduced, now look at it...
Click to expand...

I agree with you. Apple is coming into being as a defacto authority on cool. If they can swing something that appeals to many different people on several different levels, they can make people re-think their stance on any pertinent topic.
 
Powerbook?

I think that it is the screen of a new powerbook(g5), and you can disconnect the screen when you want, and it is connected to the PB with wireless FW/ something something wireless. It selv is a Screen with minimal mini cpu soc (system on chip) no need for a motherbord, some ram and other things. Just powerfull to see a film, and stuff like that. And there is the 60GB harddrive.

But you can get the screen (but not the same if you don`t buy a powerbook.
 
ClimbingTheLog said:
Actually, they've just jumped on the VNC bandwagon with the current ARD.
Click to expand...

there you go.

wifi + tcp/ip stack + vnc(jpeg codec right?) + touch lcd= new mac remote

and it can made cheap (400-500) the price point of the old 40GB ipod ?
 
Qunchuy said:
The name iPad seems a natural choice for this.
Click to expand...

That was the first thing I thought of when I started reading this.

A lot of you are talking about no optical drive on the back of the screen. No optical drive. Doesn't that ring a bell? (Hint: educational iMac)

Squire
 
MondayNgt said:
I think artists are generally ignored when it comes to judging the demand of the tablet PC.
Click to expand...

Exactly, and I'm surprised more people aren't picking up on this. I think it's more likely that this is the non-launched PDA, but a pressure sensitive tablet computer would be great for many designers.
 
For all of you dumping on the inability of a Tablet or how worthless it might be, have you actually used one or owned one?

Don't knock it till you try it. It might be more versatile than you think.
 
I found it!

Here's what it will look like...right?

c9_1.JPG
 
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.
Click to expand...

Frankly, it doesn't look like a tablet to me. I think it's a wireless system to allow you to interact with a desktop/laptop within a network. This would act as the missing AirTunes remote and and allow you to move around the house while still allowing you to take advantage of (for example) a dual G5 for processor heavy work (you couldn't use the wireless system for this).
 
Not the new iMac

This is not the form factor of the new iMac. It is very much believed the new iMac will be an AIO screen with CPU elements behind it, built in speakers, etc.

The device in question is much smaller compared to even an iBook. Last year Matt Rothenberg talked about prototypes of a tablet-style device having an 8 inch screen. This seems to be that product. I believe it will be something that will be a remote control device, viewer of photographs (via WiFi from your computer - using Airport or Airtunes, etc.) and an extension of your computer. One other thing. When filing for design patents, the party filing will sometimes disquise or simplfy the actual device to keep others from knowing exactly what the final form factor is. I understand that Apple filed a patent for the click wheel with an illustration showing it as part of a computer mouse.
 
Perhaps Apple will be first out of the gate with a wireless firewire link between an iMac base unit and detachable screen - the screen unit could be very light and cool as the cpu will be in the base unit. There's quite a buzz about wireless video at the moment, so this would be fantastic, as tablet PCs have always been underpowered for the money. Play your games, surf the web, control airtunes etc on maybe even a touch-screen?....

The problem with Windows tablets was people just didn't know what they could do with them, whereas Apple seems to have put all those bits in place to provide a nice rounded multi-media / home entertainment solution.

Let's face it, the iMac needs an edge to be competative and the rumoured specs released today aren't enough to justify the wait, so there must be more to the new iMac...

I'd be absolutely amazed if it was just a revised 'iLamp' iMac.
 
And there's one more thing...

iMeowbot said:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/13/apple_tablet_mac/

And the sketch appears to have an iPod dock connector.

Assuming that (a) that little square thing is an iPod dock connector and (b) the drawing is to scale, this thing is about 5.75 by 8.25 inches, about .625 inch thick, with about a 10 inch diagonal display
Click to expand...

Nothing could be sweeter than Steve Jobs talking up the new iPod, announcing a few new countries for iTMS, unveiling the new iMac, previewing a new killer app from Tiger on said iMac and then saying "there's one more thing." That place would go crazy.
 
IFIIFI FI FII F IFI F II FIFI FI I FII FIFIIIIFIFIF I FI FI FI FI f

IFIF

This tablet comes out artists the world around will chear!

I have a pc windows tablet, I had to buy it since Apple was not going to make one. On first work with alias sketchbook I would all power over art work and the computer. The tablet Instant feedback of pokeing the screen was MaD H@ppy POW3R!

The ONLY problem with the tablet is the fact that it is a windows OS so everything is weird and ugly GUI design and missing apps and candy of apple.

So when I F IF IF IFI Fi Apple brings it out they will have me sold. Unless it is 3000 BA! It better not be ! Mine was 1200. I don't want to pay any more then that , they are just a labtop with a wacom tablet under the screen.
 
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