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Apple Tablet Launch to Coincide With iTunes Digital Album Enhancements in September?

Why is everyone so quick to diss an Apple tablet. With the "death" of the newspaper soon upon us, I would think that the print media would love something like an Apple tablet. Imagine if you could subscribe and download your favorite papers, magazines, and books for the iTunes store. Sure the Kindle can do that, but not with the processing power the iTablet would have. It would also be great to have something capable of handwriting recognition for note taking, as well as something for drawing and graphics, not to mention watching movies, tv shows and surfing the web.
 
Tallest Skil said:
"NOBODY wants a stylus... so let's not use a stylus..."

-Steve Jobs
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M [Walt Mossberg]: A lot of people think given the success you've had with portable devices, you should be making a tablet or a PDA.
J [Steve Jobs]: There are no plans to make a tablet. It turns out people want keyboards. When Apple first started out, "People couldn't type. We realized: Death would eventually take care of this." "We look at the tablet and we think it's going to fail." Tablets appeal to rich guys with plenty of other PCs and devices already. "And people accuse us of niche markets." I get a lot of pressure to do a PDA. What people really seem to want to do with these is get the data out . We believe cell phones are going to carry this information. We didn't think we'd do well in the cell phone business. What we've done instead is we've written what we think is some of the best software in the world to start syncing information between devices. We believe that mode is what cell phones need to get to. We chose to do the iPod instead of a PDA.
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http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/Steve_Jobs_No_Tablet_No_PDA_No_Cell_Phone_Lots_Of_iPods/ (circa 2003)

I really love the internet.
 
miiles said:
I still don't see the point to a tablet.
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You don't have to.

It's not for you.

You are typing stuff into MacRumors, and Apple probably already has your money from buying a MacBook, iPhone, Touch, or other Mac.

That's not the target market. That's a minority of people with money anyway.

It's for people who don't want a PC or laptop with a keyboard, maybe don't write or type much at all, and want something easier to read magazines and web pages on than a Touch or iPhone.

Think Kindle, except for faster-rendered full-featured magazine and web pages in full color (instead of just grey books), and for maybe casual games and apps as well. Watch a short video like you'd read a book or magazine.

In addition, something like tablet-like would be good for vertical markets where workers don't want to be looking for a place to put something down before they can look something up (full page sized, without hunting for the reading glasses).

Two markets, one device. A completely new market of people who don't currently buy MacBooks.

Also:

J [Steve Jobs]: There are no plans to make a tablet. It turns out people want keyboards.
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That's before the runaway success of the iPhone (and iPod Touch). No physical keyboard buttons.

The Newton was too far ahead of it's time. It was architected way before wifi/3G became pervasive, before web browsers became a major platform, and before capacitive touch color displays could be put on something a thin, light and cheap as an iPod Touch.

imho
 
All I am really wondering is if it will have a full OS like OS X or Leopard or if it will be something like the iphone/ipod touch OS. If its a full OS def count me in for one! But if it is simply a 10 inch ipod touch then count me out. Either way its exciting, I will def. be looking forward to this!
 
ericinboston said:
That is untrue. I work in hi-tech selling to the healthcare industry. You've been watching too much Star Trek. :)

More like 5% of hospitals/clinics/doctors' offices use such devices...and even then, they are more beta-testing and field-testing rather than some kind of mass rollout/adoption.

Healhcare needs to fix their Business Process problems first (by computerizing and removing paper for examples) and then will go mainstream into individual tablet-thingies later.

Your quote should really be re-written as "most uses of a tablet are in the hands of individuals like hospital staff to replace a clipboard"...but that brings up my earlier point that there really aren't many uses for a tablet to go mainstream into consumer land.

-Eric
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You are wrong, the good hospitals already have years ago. I know one hospital that uses tablet computers and has all their records on computer. If you want the ULTIMATE in computers though and them integrating into medical care, take a look at what Mayo Clinic has done. Very well done and implemented, but they are the best in the world so you would expect such.
 
Now that there are no more Apple appearances at MacWorld I just wonder what Apple will do as an annual replacement to the event. I'd speculate that Apple would release a tablet in 2010 to coincide with Verizon's LTE roll-out.

September will be a busy month for Apple with the roll-out of new iPods and a new iPhone OS and getting close to the holidays we'll see a new iMac.

I just don't see Apple releasing the tablet form factor until all their partners are ready and I believe AppleInsider's sources are correct that Verizon will be the main carrier.
 
Michael CM1 said:
Yeah, touch screens are nice, but to get anything done quickly, an actual keyboard is a must.
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Something done quickly means a few text messages to the twitter generation, and they can send those out from their iPhone before you can even boot whatever is attached to your current (full-sized) actual keyboard.

Done.
 
I have a feeling if its a tablet it'll be the first apple device (besides apple TV) that I don't get excited about : /


Tablets are just too useless for all but a few niche industries.
 
I will get a tablet or pad.

My wife will get a tablet or pad.

My mother in law will get one too.

My brother will get another..

on and on... ah, we have the money saved too. :)

we can't wait. The laptop is so passé... and cumbersome (think airplane).
 
Kindle blows...

If the Tablet has the smooth seemless feel of the iPhone... Kindle blows...

That nice smooth touch interface feel...

Hmm I wonder if they managed to get a front facing camera hidden behind the screen :rolleyes:

More importantly... is OLED screen on the table for this beauty???? :D
 
meagain said:
I agree. The posts here not 'getting it' - amaze me.
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it's going to be hugest!

really though - there can be a market - i hope they change processors - i don't believe a large screen of that size can play hi def videos with an ARM processor.

again we will have 2 see
 
meagain said:
I agree. The posts here not 'getting it' - amaze me.
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There's nothing not to get. Tablets are not popular because people like to type on a physical keyboard, not on a screen.


Tablet PC's have been around for years its just that you never hear about them because no one is buying them. I used to work years ago at Circuit City and Best Buy when gateway (I think it was gateway) had some tablet PC's out. None were sold and had to be shipped back to the company. There was also HP trying to bring out its touchscreen desktop. Again, none sold.


People don't like having to write on the screen (handwriting recognition is spotty at best) and clicking with a stylus is a pain for most people. Also, lots of mac programs use keyboard shortcuts. For this you'd have to have an onscreen keyboard and you'd be laying the tablet on your lap to try and use it which would be a pain.

Granted there are a few users who will love the tablet but if it doesnt also have a physical keyboard I'm pretty sure it'll sink.
 
chrono1081 said:
There's nothing not to get. Tablets are not popular because people like to type on a physical keyboard, not on a screen.
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iPhone.

And...Thread 500.

You SOOOOOOOO don't get it and y'all prove it with every word you write.

There's a winning combo, though I doubt anyone on this thread has stumbled across it. But once it gets unveiled (and Apple isn't necessarily the one who'll do it), we'll look back and say, "Damn. It was so obvious."
 
chaosconan said:
Big difference between iphone or ipod touch and kindle. You did notice their difference in size. Amazon has no interest in getting into the PDA market.

Answer this question, why hasn't Amazon introduced a software version of kindle that runs on PC's and Mac like Mobi Pocket Reader? Because if they did they'll lose huge sales on their kindle to customers who prefer to just download the software version of kindle that you can download and install on your netbook or PC.
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I dunno. I remember Amazon's C.E.O. saying something to the effect that Kindle will not just be hardware and they will give themselves competition and be on as many places and devices as possible.

I guess we'll see what happens when the Tablet comes out.
 
gwangung said:
iPhone.

And...Thread 500.

You SOOOOOOOO don't get it and y'all prove it with every word you write.

There's a winning combo, though I doubt anyone on this thread has stumbled across it. But once it gets unveiled (and Apple isn't necessarily the one who'll do it), we'll look back and say, "Damn. It was so obvious."
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The iPhone is a SMALL device you can hold in your hand and type with your thumb or fingers. A 10 inch (if the specs are correct) is NOT small enough to hold in your hand and type with your fingers without being akward.


And for everyone saying that "we dont get it" maybe its cause people who write that "we dont get it" do not ever EXPLAIN what we don't get. ;)
 
joeshell383 said:
If Apple can get it on Oprah's "favorite things" list and Oprah is shown swiping through "photo albums" and passing it to her friends at the coffee table, it will sell BIG TIME!!!
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Umm.. the only thing needed to get anything on Oprah's show is money so I see no problem there for Apple.
 
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