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Apple Tablet Hints: Virtual Keyboard, Camera, eBooks, More

levitynyc said:
I don't see how making this a $1000 product makes sense. If you are going to spend 1k, why not just buy a composite Macbook?

More likely we will see this in the 600-700 dollar range.
Click to expand...

I'm 100 percent with you on that. I think it's dumb to buy a $300 netbook when you can buy a $450 notebook with much more power. It'll be the same way with this and MacBooks.

Maybe it's my age —*I'm only 31! — but I don't see this being a primary computer for many people. Therefore, I just don't think a $1,000 price can work.

You're also competing against the e-readers on the market, which start at about $200. I've got my eye on a Kindle, so I can tell you that it would take a lot of potential and a lot of features in the box for me to want one of these. I have a MacBook Pro, I have an iPhone. Apple needs to sell me on the need to spend another whatever hundred dollars is. A Kindle at $259 is at the top limit of what I'd like to spend. $600 for a tablet/slate is about the same.
 
I want

...a StarTrek like pad, with an Uranium power cell, 100GB storage, WiFi (5GHz), 10Gbit Ethernet, FW1600, scratch-free touchscreen, motion sensors, GPS, webcam, microphone/speakers and an OS, that let's me download any files I want and use the pad as removeable device for other computer devices.

But what I could live with is this:
32GB storage, WiFi (5GHz), induction charged battery, scratch-free touchscreen, motion sensors, GPS, webcam, microphone/speakers and an OS, that let's me download any files I want and use the pad as removeable device for other computer devices.
 
digitalbiker said:
The tablet will be the only thing.

Apple knows what everyone is expecting and they are just toying with the press. Apple plans to blow away the crowd this time!
Click to expand...

I very could see a oh yeah 3GS 8GB for 99$ today since they will preview os 4.0 suposivly too. I do find it odd that the 99$ 3G phone went out of stock as soon as apple officially announced the media event.
 
Heres my vision of a day after tablet is in our lives

This is a bit long, but needed to give visualization. Sorry for any spelling or editing errors.


Imagine:

*You wake up in the morning to your favorite music on your tablet. A daily schedule pops up showing what you have planned for the day. Then a tv show schedule pops up, s
Giving you options when to download tv shows. Since its all touch this whole process takes less than 2 mins. Then you take shower, brush teeth, get dressed, while eating breakfast read the newspaper delivered to your tablet while you slept each story has a date and time constantly updated so its always current news. *You see a picture and touch it, it plays a video of that picture with sound listening to it by headphones by bluetooth or speakers. You head out the door to drive to school and play a podcast beamed from tablet to car speakers. You get to school head to your first class. You sit down, everyone has a tablet. *The teacher teaches the class but instead of writing on the blackboard or a projector , he writes on his tablet, and simultaneously everyone in the classroom sees what he types, draws, or presents. He asks the class to present their ideas of what he has shown them. You raise your own hand and he calls on you. You then present your ideas and thoughts and write, draw on your tablet that is seen by all the classmates to see. Your happy that you presented your ideas clearly. And durring this whole time the class was recorded by audio on the tablet so no notes needed to be written down. The teacher says if any of us want extra credit to touch the virtual sticky note that he sent us to explain what can be done on page 206. You go to lunch and decide to watch your favorite tv show in High Definition while eating lunch. Your next class you have a lab and your working on your experiment you need help and using your textbook on your tablet you touch a picture that shows directions on how to do the experiment. After school you start to get hungry but not sure what for so you open food app and touch the type of food and hit random. It says Jack in the box. You wonder if your friends would like to join you so you IM them and they recieve a IM sound and respond "sure sounds great" You all click on jack in box words in the IM and a map with directions show how to get there. Your waiting for your friends so you open the ebook app. And read a few pages. Afterwords you head home while listening to the podcast. You relax on the couch start surfing the web reading blogs, checking emails, then you get a IM "Hey you wanna play a few rounds of Nova?" so you tap "yes" it opens the "Nova" game app and have a blast with him and 7 others. Now you decide to work on your homework Math. As your doing math problems a calculator pops up to give you a hand. You calculate the problems and hit play on the media player to listen to music, while studying. You notice a video icon starts jumping at bottom of screen. You touch it and it reminds you your tv show is starting in 5 mins.

Thats an idea of how I see a day with the tablet.

Catrik007 * * * **
 
I am hoping against hope that it doesnt have a data plan attached to it. I do not want anything to do with a data plan unless it is a pay as you go sort of thing with no contract.
I want a tablet that is X times bigger than my Touch. Something that is comfortable in the size of screen for doing surfing but at least as powerful as the net books out there today.
Mostly, my main stipulation is that it doesnt need airflow. I want to be able to use it where I want to use it without having to worry about whether or not it is getting overheated.

So please, you-soon-to-be-tablet-pad-watchamacallit......No data plan, no air flow requirements and a screen that is at least 7 or 8 inches.

Thats it, I am done, if it has the above I will be getting one when they arrive.

Mandy
 
rwagoner said:
If the want the educational market, it's going to have to be a small fraction of $1000. I'd love it if they could. I wanted to help design one.
Click to expand...

Nope. $1000 would sell to the education market -- more precisely, to the parents of undergrads. Here's how it works:

Average textbook: ~$100
Average school year text costs: ~$1000
Let's assume that an iPad version of a text (with Apple DRM): $20

For next school year, buy Johnny or Jane an iPad: for $1000, you get a Mac version of a netbook. For just $200 more, you've got all your texts, plus the computer you were gonna buy Johnny anyway.

Next year, you pony up another $200 for texts. You've paid $1400; if you'd have bought paper texts, you'd have paid $2000 (plus whatever you'd have spent on a netbook). That's ROI in 3 semesters, and in the black by some $1200 at the end of Jane's sophomore year!

Offer network subsidies for 3G, and you have an even more compelling case (especially if you have a cell-phone tie-in for "bonus savings").

Everybody wins: Apple sells hardware, networks sell 3G, textbook companies sell texts (with lower costs, and without the margins being eaten into via the used textbook market).
 
catrik007 said:
This is a bit long, but needed to give visualization. Sorry for any spelling or editing errors.


Imagine:

*You wake up in the morning to your favorite music on your tablet. A daily schedule pops up showing what you have planned for the day. Then a tv show schedule pops up, s
Giving you options when to download tv shows. Since its all touch this whole process takes less than 2 mins. Then you take shower, brush teeth, get dressed, while eating breakfast read the newspaper delivered to your tablet while you slept each story has a date and time constantly updated so its always current news. *You see a picture and touch it, it plays a video of that picture with sound listening to it by headphones by bluetooth or speakers. You head out the door to drive to school and play a podcast beamed from tablet to car speakers. You get to school head to your first class. You sit down, everyone has a tablet. *The teacher teaches the class but instead of writing on the blackboard or a projector , he writes on his tablet, and simultaneously everyone in the classroom sees what he types, draws, or presents. He asks the class to present their ideas of what he has shown them. You raise your own hand and he calls on you. You then present your ideas and thoughts and write, draw on your tablet that is seen by all the classmates to see. Your happy that you presented your ideas clearly. And durring this whole time the class was recorded by audio on the tablet so no notes needed to be written down. The teacher says if any of us want extra credit to touch the virtual sticky note that he sent us to explain what can be done on page 206. You go to lunch and decide to watch your favorite tv show in High Definition while eating lunch. Your next class you have a lab and your working on your experiment you need help and using your textbook on your tablet you touch a picture that shows directions on how to do the experiment. After school you start to get hungry but not sure what for so you open food app and touch the type of food and hit random. It says Jack in the box. You wonder if your friends would like to join you so you IM them and they recieve a IM sound and respond "sure sounds great" You all click on jack in box words in the IM and a map with directions show how to get there. Your waiting for your friends so you open the ebook app. And read a few pages. Afterwords you head home while listening to the podcast. You relax on the couch start surfing the web reading blogs, checking emails, then you get a IM "Hey you wanna play a few rounds of Nova?" so you tap "yes" it opens the "Nova" game app and have a blast with him and 7 others. Now you decide to work on your homework Math. As your doing math problems a calculator pops up to give you a hand. You calculate the problems and hit play on the media player to listen to music, while studying. You notice a video icon starts jumping at bottom of screen. You touch it and it reminds you your tv show is starting in 5 mins.

Thats an idea of how I see a day with the tablet.

Catrik007 * * * **
Click to expand...

:apple:This sounds great to me! I would love to have that same functionality in this tablet! Cant wait to see what the 27th holds for Apple.:apple:
 
OpenWheelFan said:
Nope. $1000 would sell to the education market -- more precisely, to the parents of undergrads. Here's how it works:

Average textbook: ~$100
Average school year text costs: ~$1000
Let's assume that an iPad version of a text (with Apple DRM): $20
Click to expand...

That is a horrific assumption. They will still jack up the cost.

Also, why do you need an iPad to view the textbook? Why not just view it on a laptop or even a cheap piece of **** netbook
 
catrik007 said:
This is a bit long, but needed to give visualization. Sorry for any spelling or editing errors.


Imagine:

*You wake up in the morning to your favorite music on your tablet. A daily schedule pops up showing what you have planned for the day. Then a tv show schedule pops up, s
Giving you options when to download tv shows. Since its all touch this whole process takes less than 2 mins. Then you take shower, brush teeth, get dressed, while eating breakfast read the newspaper delivered to your tablet while you slept each story has a date and time constantly updated so its always current news. *You see a picture and touch it, it plays a video of that picture with sound listening to it by headphones by bluetooth or speakers. You head out the door to drive to school and play a podcast beamed from tablet to car speakers. You get to school head to your first class. You sit down, everyone has a tablet. *The teacher teaches the class but instead of writing on the blackboard or a projector , he writes on his tablet, and simultaneously everyone in the classroom sees what he types, draws, or presents. He asks the class to present their ideas of what he has shown them. You raise your own hand and he calls on you. You then present your ideas and thoughts and write, draw on your tablet that is seen by all the classmates to see. Your happy that you presented your ideas clearly. And durring this whole time the class was recorded by audio on the tablet so no notes needed to be written down. The teacher says if any of us want extra credit to touch the virtual sticky note that he sent us to explain what can be done on page 206. You go to lunch and decide to watch your favorite tv show in High Definition while eating lunch. Your next class you have a lab and your working on your experiment you need help and using your textbook on your tablet you touch a picture that shows directions on how to do the experiment. After school you start to get hungry but not sure what for so you open food app and touch the type of food and hit random. It says Jack in the box. You wonder if your friends would like to join you so you IM them and they recieve a IM sound and respond "sure sounds great" You all click on jack in box words in the IM and a map with directions show how to get there. Your waiting for your friends so you open the ebook app. And read a few pages. Afterwords you head home while listening to the podcast. You relax on the couch start surfing the web reading blogs, checking emails, then you get a IM "Hey you wanna play a few rounds of Nova?" so you tap "yes" it opens the "Nova" game app and have a blast with him and 7 others. Now you decide to work on your homework Math. As your doing math problems a calculator pops up to give you a hand. You calculate the problems and hit play on the media player to listen to music, while studying. You notice a video icon starts jumping at bottom of screen. You touch it and it reminds you your tv show is starting in 5 mins.

Thats an idea of how I see a day with the tablet.

Catrik007 * * * **
Click to expand...
/

I agree with a lot of it . The class room interaction thing was bit much. I think the teacher will always write on the board. but in a classroom full of technology this could be transmitted to the tablet device.

I think education is where this truly fits in. Textbooks are extremely over priced because of the sell of used Textbooks(the same thing thats happening with Video Games.) Highlighting notes and dragging them to word a document is a lot better than rewriting the passage. Video embedded in the textbook is another win(as long as they keep it short).



The one thing that will make this tablet fail above all else is if it don't have a way to physically input text. It is vital. I remember a while back an infrared keyboard that shone on the desk and it would track the fingers position for input. Something. But hunt and peck on tablet would be brutal.
 
levitynyc said:
That is a horrific assumption. They will still jack up the cost.

Also, why do you need an iPad to view the textbook? Why not just view it on a laptop or even a cheap piece of **** netbook
Click to expand...

OK... Even at $50 / text, you're still at ROI in the 4th semester.

Why not on another platform? If I'm Apple, I lock in a deal with the textbook publisher. Sorry, netbook owners. Sorry, PC laptop owners.

If I'm really nasty about it, I say that the publishers are subsidizing iPad e-texts (just like networks subsidize cell phones), and offer tiered pricing on iTunes, with discounts for iPad owners. Lock in the right deal with the publishers, and I pay X for iPad e-book, 2*x for other Apple h/w, and sign an agreement guaranteeing that no other e-book outlet (e.g., Kindle store) can sell it for less than 3*x. Big, big win for Apple.
 
levitynyc said:
That is a horrific assumption. They will still jack up the cost.

Also, why do you need an iPad to view the textbook? Why not just view it on a laptop or even a cheap piece of **** netbook
Click to expand...

Because an OLED screen will be much better looking, higher res, and better for printed material, less eye strain.

In addition, the tablet will be lighter, thinner, easier to carry around, with a longer battery life. You'll be able to bookmark pages and highlight and write notes directly on the book with the touch display.

This device will be designed from the ground up to be an ebook reader and will integrate the ebook functionality throughout the entire operating system and cooperate with other software.
 
digitalbiker said:
I would bet the white macbook is gone, the air is gone, and all that will be offered is the Macbook pro line and the tablet line.
Click to expand...

Ehhh, I can't see them dumping the white MacBook just yet. It is a huge hit with college students and a very competitive top end cheap notebook. (if top of the line and cheap make sense in your head)

catrik007 said:
This is a bit long, but needed to give visualization. Sorry for any spelling or editing errors.


Imagine:

<snip>

Thats an idea of how I see a day with the tablet.

Catrik007 * * * **
Click to expand...

You sold me. haha. But the whole classroom bit seems like something my kids will have, not me.
 
I can see a new iLife app to do with creative drawing (paint)

I really hope iWork is fully supported. That will be my next Mac
 
Mr. Gates said:
Nill, unless you use Skype
Click to expand...

What if for 10 extra dollars a month AT&T allowed you share the data package you have with your phone with the tablet? I.E 40 Dollars a month for unlimited access between the two devices. This would provide incentive for you to have both with the same carrier.
 
OpenWheelFan said:
OK... Even at $50 / text, you're still at ROI in the 4th semester.

Why not on another platform? If I'm Apple, I lock in a deal with the textbook publisher. Sorry, netbook owners. Sorry, PC laptop owners.

If I'm really nasty about it, I say that the publishers are subsidizing iPad e-texts (just like networks subsidize cell phones), and offer tiered pricing on iTunes, with discounts for iPad owners. Lock in the right deal with the publishers, and I pay X for iPad e-book, 2*x for other Apple h/w, and sign an agreement guaranteeing that no other e-book outlet (e.g., Kindle store) can sell it for less than 3*x. Big, big win for Apple.
Click to expand...

Make that at least $80. ;)
Apple is going to take it's cut, and the publishers won't want to make less money.
Oh, and BIIIIIING!!! will be the default search engine.
We all know it sucks, but it'll bring in a few extra bucks for Apple.
 
spillproof said:
Ehhh, I can't see them dumping the white MacBook just yet. It is a huge hit with college students and a very competitive top end cheap notebook. (if top of the line and cheap make sense in your head)
Click to expand...


It was a huge hit. Why would anyone buy a white macbook once the tablet is released?

The tablet would be nearly the same price and offer more functionality than the white macbook. Clearly the the tablet will be aimed at the educational market and will replace the need for the cheap laptop.

High-end laptops are another category, so Apple will carry the Macbook Pros and the tablet, dropping the white macbook.
 
I agree

Thanks for the comments,

Yes I agree a bluetooth keyboard would be needed in long typing sessions.

Im sure bluetooth keyboard support will be an option to use.

I had a meeting with our local hospital, asking doctors, clerks and nurses if they would buy and use tablets in the hospitals.

1) they were thinking they could get patients charts, blood pressure readings, medical history, allergies all live. Clerks could sent info to other Hospitals, with rich charts, color pictures, x-rays and so forth.

2) But to do this it would have to use a special type of wifi, that wouldnt interfere with other equipment.

3) they were all excited about the possibities being so connected could do for them and their patients.

Catrik007
 
rme said:
Make that $80 at best. ;)
Apple is going to take it's cut, and the publishers won't want to make less money.
Oh, and BIIIIIING!!! will be the default search engine.
We all know it sucks, but it'll bring in a few extra bucks for Apple.
Click to expand...

They sure will take less money. Cause every book that is distributed via this device cannot be resold. Hence, they make more money in the long run.
 
llurgy said:
I am hoping against hope that it doesnt have a data plan attached to it. I do not want anything to do with a data plan unless it is a pay as you go sort of thing with no contract.
I want a tablet that is X times bigger than my Touch. Something that is comfortable in the size of screen for doing surfing but at least as powerful as the net books out there today.
Mostly, my main stipulation is that it doesnt need airflow. I want to be able to use it where I want to use it without having to worry about whether or not it is getting overheated.

So please, you-soon-to-be-tablet-pad-watchamacallit......No data plan, no air flow requirements and a screen that is at least 7 or 8 inches.

Thats it, I am done, if it has the above I will be getting one when they arrive.

Mandy
Click to expand...

This would be the only reason I don't buy one. No way I'd pay $60 per month for 2 years just to have the tablet.
 
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