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Apple Tablet Scheduled to Begin Shipping in March? Two Different Material Casings Being Considered?

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Apr 12, 2001
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The Wall Street Journal reports (subscription required) that while Apple is expected to introduce its tablet device at a media event reportedly scheduled for later this month, the tablet will not begin shipping until March.
Apple Inc. plans to unveil a new multimedia tablet device later this month, but doesn't plan on shipping the product until March, people briefed by the company said.

While the shipping time hasn't been finalized and could change, people briefed on the matter said the new tablet device will come with a 10- to 11-inch touch screen.
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The report also details information received from a source indicating that Apple has been working with two different materials for the device's casing, although it is unknown whether it plans to release models with both types.
One of the people briefed on the matter added that Apple was working on two different material finishes for the tablet, though it was unclear whether the Cupertino, Calif., company was just testing them or planning to come out with multiple versions of the device at different prices.
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The remainder of the report summarizes previously-rumored information about the tablet, citing analyst claims of a price point near $1,000 and a multifunction nature catering to those interested in video, gaming, and electronic book, newspaper, and magazine content.

Article Link: Apple Tablet Scheduled to Begin Shipping in March? Two Different Material Casings Being Considered?
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2010/01/04/apple-tablet-scheduled-to-begin-shipping-in-march-two-different-material-casings-being-considered/
While many people would probably like to see it sooner than March, I want to see Apple get it right, so that the tablet is both durable and reliable.

Also that might give developers of apps enough time to port some of their apps over to the larger screen size format...
 
Sooner would be better (if it turns out I want one after seeing the presentation), but at least waiting until March will give me time to save up some cash after I blow it all gambling at CES later this week.
 
1,000 bucks or not if they get it right as a device, I will prolly buy a new one every year.

For the same reason I buy each iteration of the iphone.
 
MacRumors said:
[ a multifunction nature catering to those interested in video, gaming, and electronic book, newspaper, and magazine content.]
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As was said on the "what's the point of the slate" thread yesterday:

Originally Posted by Flavioparentiq
Here you go:
- The iphone was "Phone, Music player, Internet."
- The Islate will be "Media, News, Games."

Well spotted that man!
 
$899-$999 will be a tough sell. Might as well get a MacBook if you're going to spend near $1,000. And MacBook has all the news, games, media you need too.
 
I would pay no more than $700 for this thing IF it had a color e-ink screen with crazy fast refresh rate. Not gonna happen since, AFIK, such a screen does not exist (certainly not anything that's ready for a mass market). Wake up, Apple!, why would any sane person pay a 1000 bucks for what is essentially a small laptop without a keyboard and with limited storage?
 
Think before you say 1000 dollars is too much: What if this device will do everything a notebook should do, except the more advanced things? What if it's an almost full-featured and very usable notebook-style device? Then it's practically a revolutionary netbook right? What if it's an amazingly good "netbook"? So it costs twice as much as a netbook, does the same things but has revolutionary technology, it's not made of lame plastic, and it's Apple, sounds kinda normal to me!
 
Is $1,000 really that much (not that I don't want it cheaper!)?

A Kindle, which is only B&W has no video capabilities (among many other things it lacks) is over $300, and that's a huge seller. For a reader! Supposedly, the iSlate (or whatever it's called) will be a reader, a video player, a gaming tablet, has the potential to sub as a netbook, etc. You're looking at $700-$800 for a decent netbook and a Kindle. I'd rather have it all in one and not have two things to carry around when I travel.

No, it certainly won't be for everyone. Might not even be for me. However, I can see there being a market for this.
 
$1,000 is too much for me. I'll wait for the 2nd or 3rd version and something around $500 to $600.
 
doubts!

I doubt they'll talk much about iPhone OS 4.0 this time…
They've got a lot to release:
iWork
iLife
new macbook pros with arrandale processors. (Which are going to be thinner)
new Macbook Air, with Arrandale Processor.
New Mac Pro with 6 and 12 cores, and massive amount of possible RAM.
and The Tablet.

Once the tablet is announced they'll take like half an hour demoing it.
After that I think they'll let people take it in for a while before they talk about the software side of things.

Maybe they'll just talk very little about it…
Like hey devs new tools available for you, get to work. Works pretty similarly as for the iPhone. start making your apps compatible..
 
adamw said:
While many people would probably like to see it sooner than March, I want to see Apple get it right, so that the tablet is both durable and reliable.
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The days of users getting thoroughly tested hardware are over. That's one of the problems with being secretive, few people have access to the new stuff for testing end thus fundamental flaws are not discovered.

For $1000 though... well the iPhone was expensive too at first.
 
sampro said:
ya me too, at $1,000 no one will buy it, stocks will go down at that price and apple will loose money...
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People (including me!) said almost the exact same thing about the iPod!

All I can say for sure is I won't buy it at $1000. :(


I would sure love to see this device though. It will be a big source of techno-lust for me.
 
baryon said:
Think before you say 1000 dollars is too much: What if this device will do everything a notebook should do, except the more advanced things? What if it's an almost full-featured and very usable notebook-style device? Then it's practically a revolutionary netbook right? What if it's an amazingly good "netbook"? So it costs twice as much as a netbook, does the same things but has revolutionary technology, it's not made of lame plastic, and it's Apple, sounds kinda normal to me!
Click to expand...

If it's too this to the Macbook, wouldn't Apple be hurting there own laptop sales?
 
AnthonyCM said:
Is $1,000 really that much (not that I don't want it cheaper!)? A Kindle, which is only B&W has no video capabilities (among many other things it lacks) is over $300, and that's a huge seller. For a reader!
Click to expand...

Actually, the Kindle 2 is $259. You have to go to the large-form Kindle DX to get over $300.
 
AnthonyCM said:
, the iSlate (or whatever it's called) will be a reader, a video player, a gaming tablet, has the potential to sub as a netbook, etc. You're looking at $700-$800 for a decent netbook and a Kindle. I'd rather have it all in one and not have two things to carry around when I travel.
Click to expand...

this is exactly how the tablet is gonna be marketed, but it's gonna be too expensive at first, the price will drop at least $200 within the first 6 months guaranteed
 
Oh how history repeats itself.

"Who would pay $399 for an iPod?"

"Who would pay $599 for an iPhone?"

Although neither really took off until they reached $199 respectively. I'm going with $899 for the iSlate. MacBook stays at $999.
 
Why does everyone assume the $1000 price tag is legit? It's a RUMOR site for crying out loud! And yet many of you are screaming FAIL at Apple for something you don't even know is true.

The Jackassery in these forums continues unabated......:rolleyes:
 
AnthonyCM said:
Is $1,000 really that much (not that I don't want it cheaper!)?

A Kindle, which is only B&W has no video capabilities (among many other things it lacks) is over $300, and that's a huge seller. For a reader! Supposedly, the iSlate (or whatever it's called) will be a reader, a video player, a gaming tablet, has the potential to sub as a netbook, etc. You're looking at $700-$800 for a decent netbook and a Kindle. I'd rather have it all in one and not have two things to carry around when I travel.

No, it certainly won't be for everyone. Might not even be for me. However, I can see there being a market for this.
Click to expand...

Trouble is, it's the e-ink which is the "killer feature" of a true reader, immature as the technology may be. I don't see how any device that features a traditional backlit screen can compete - it can provide a compromised alternative for e-reading I agree, but for one I always carry my Kindle as well as by MBP when travelling, even though I could read on the MBP's screen if I chose.

Incidentally (and this comment isn't aimed at AnthonyCM), I'm always amazed at how many people will discuss e-readers and compare them with PDAs, netbooks and laptops who clearly don't even realise that e-readers use a completely different display technology and think it's a PDA that you can only read books on.
 
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