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

Well, this thing should be interesting to see at least. But I personally think they may have trouble placing it - ESPECIALLY for $800 plus. Let's face it - a netbook may not look as pretty as the Apple Tablet, but I can guarantee you it is far cheaper and far more functional, at least as a computer. And heck, you can get a fully stocked DELL Inspiron with a Core 2 Duo and a video card for $800. Again, it doesn't look as pretty, but form over function can only get you so far.

It will be too big to fit in a pocket, it will EITHER be black and white, which kills it's usefulness as a media device OR not be e-ink, which kills it's usefulness as an e-reader. It will not have a keyboard, so any kind of text processing (IM, word processing, etc) will be a pointless endeavor.

So yeah, it will be interesting to see, but I will be surprised if it is extremely successful at that price point. Get it cheap enough to be a techno-gadget (under $500) then maybe, but over $500 and people will actually stop to think what they will actually USE this for - and probably won't buy it.

Of course, I also recognize some people's use patterns may be different than my own. But I've always felt your needs should compel the device, not your desire for the device cause you to try to think of why you need it. And for me a tablet is decidedly in the latter category.
 
napabar said:
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:
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LOL, well said. They are the ones with the pitch forks heading to the castle usually ;)

BUT ... even if it were true Apple won't fail! I paid close to $500 each for two iPod 60 GIGs years ago. They are still used almost daily and we never regretted the purchase but they are only MP3 players! The same cost for something right out of Star Trek ... sign me up :)
 
NXTMIKE said:
yeah but if its $1,000, for almost the same price you've got yourself a polycarbonate MacBook. Sure it'll be an inch thicker, but you get soooooooooooo much more for the same price.
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But you still don't knoooooooooow what this tablet is going to feature. So the $1000 might sound reasonable after we do know. People shouldn't dismiss this thing just cause it sounds like a high price for what they're assuming it's gonna be doing.


Remember, an unsubsidized iPhone is $500. If a subscription isn't required, this leads me to believe that it's going to cost $700-$900.
 
Whatever finish they choose, I'm sure it will be shiny, scratch easily and show fingerprints all over it just like their other products.
 
MacRumors said:


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.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.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.
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It sounds like a few major details like case material and screen size are still up in the air. I don't see how Apple can fabricate the parts and ramp up production fast enough for March shipping with these details still to be decided. Even if it's March 31 that is less than 90 days from today.
 
bobob said:
Aluminum and... actual slate?
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I like it... a Pet Rock for today's generation. :)

How about for the second material, they use the stuff mood rings are made out of, to appease those that like color iPods.

Though we'll probably get:
picture-6.png
 
If it's over $700-800 (and Canadian!!), I'll pass. Can't afford it right now and I would prefer spending my dough on something else. Could always wait for the next generation which I will likely do since I don't want the first one anyway.
 
ELScorcho9 said:
But you still don't knoooooooooow what this tablet is going to feature. So the $1000 might sound reasonable after we do know. People shouldn't dismiss this thing just cause it sounds like a high price for what they're assuming it's gonna be doing.


Remember, an unsubsidized iPhone is $500. If a subscription isn't required, this leads me to believe that it's going to cost $700-$900.
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Sure but an unsubsidized iPod Touch 64GB is $360, and Apple has terrific margins on those. If Apple squeezes their margins on the tablet to make a marketshare killing price point it's easy to see it at $600. Of course that assumes the tablet is going to be more like a Touch than a MBA.
 
The iPhone was how much when it first came out? Anywhere near $1000, the tablet will sell fine for Apple. It's a computer.
 
If this thing costs $1000 and it is basically just a media device with built in 3G, I'd have a touch time justifying buying it. I'm hoping there is much more to it than that...
 
I'm Getting Ready To Buy One !

IF it's $1000 then all I have to do is rob ten 7-11's and average a $100 a pop. An easy two night's work. Do they have WiFi in prison????:p
 
Newton second coming?

What was the MP2100 original price point, $599 or $699? I forget, but that's reasonable, considering other Apple and 3rd party options at 1K, and net books at $3-400, with a 10-12" screen.
--
/los "I was a teenage net-random"
 
we're talking about apple..they are not chopping from their profit margins to sell a billion

it ain't gonna be cheap. don't even think about it.

let's just hope it has all those functions everybody is dying for.

maybe a super strong battery, 64GB nand minimum, GPS, wifi+3g and some neat new skills in the OS 4.0

anyway it's not for me, i just managed to get the damn ipod touch @ 32gb, 3rd generation or whatever, hope it will support the os 4.0 or i'll go loco
 
Not saying there isn't a tablet coming, but these rumors are nothing more than an attempt for media outlets to gain attention to their website. No one from Apple briefed the WSJ. That's so retarded. This should be page 2 at best. :rolleyes:
 
Ahhh I can see it now....

* Apple introduces the new and revolutionary iSlate for $1000. Everything's great about it, people love. Media outlets say the price is too high and don't know if it will be a great success. It'll be the thing that we absolutely need but don't. Fanboys (myself included) will be obsessed with it. Those with disposable income line-up for it in March and buy it. First Adopters WHORAH!

*Critics not sure if price is worth it, skeptical about sustained growth. Meanwhile momentum builds, and they are still selling, just not as fast as the iPhone.

*Just 3-4 months since the product goes on sale, Apple decides to get "aggressive" and marks the prices down a few hundred dollars. Early adopters in uproar, this time Apple doesn't issue a $100 credit.

*Sales reach millions, market share increases, 10 million units shipping each quarter, Apple did it again!

......just my predictions for 2010.:)
 
Funny..

You guys kill me. It will be between $1000-$2000 and all of you will happily pay that.

You'll start using all the usual fanboys phrases like "Steve doesn't want to play in the low end of the market", and telling us how "elegant" and "delicious (I've already seen that one posted in this thread)" the tablet looks. I'm sure it will be a "game changer" and will "change everything". You'll all be skating to "where the puck is going to be"...... And of course, any product without an Apple Logo will be "clunky", "crappy", and "junky"....

You are seeing why Apple doesn't care about Market Share... They can sell 1/10 of the product as does the rest of the world and make a hefty profit (margin).... Not hard when you're selling $300 gadgets for $1000 and all the customers care about is "Apple's Margin"....

I love my Apple Products, but I didn't buy an iPhone till it was $199 and bought the rest of my stuff use.. Oh, and by the way, I CAN afford to pay whatever - But having money to purchases thing doesn't make one stupid/...
 
NXTMIKE said:
yeah but if its $1,000, for almost the same price you've got yourself a polycarbonate MacBook. Sure it'll be an inch thicker, but you get soooooooooooo much more for the same price.
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Wait, are you suggesting Apple is going to sell a 0.08" thick tablet ?
 
People are getting pretty uptight around here. Hey, it's a rumors joint -- take it easy.

As for the Wall Street Journal, good ol' Rupert Murdoch believes the future is in constructing paywalls between you and your content . . . and you are going to believe anything coming out of a Murdoch publication?

Today Skiff announced that they are introducing a new reader at the Consumer Electronics Show. Their reader, while pretty cool, would require you to sign up with Sprint, is monochromatic, and I don't think can display video -- though I could be wrong. Read about it on my site.

In the meantime, let's wait until Apple actually gives us the details before proclaiming whether you will consider buying it or not. I have a funny feeling a new Apple tablet might just spark a few sales from the Macrumors crowd. After all, if MR readers won't buy it, who will?
 
mytdave said:
At this point it's all speculation, but preemptively I must say that pricing is going to be a major concern depending upon this thing's capabilities... things are different now, because this is not new tech... the iPhone and MacBook tech exists now...

So, to support a $1k price tag Apple will have had to dream up some new killer tech that nobody's thought of or brought to market before...

If it's basically a tablet version of a MacBook, then the price better not exceed $799...

If it's basically an overgrown iPhone/iPod, then the price better be in the $399 range...

Whatever it ends up being, I am highly unlikely to purchase one at a $1k price.
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Dude, seriously.

A Macbook already costs $999. Why would you think one with a touch screen would cost less?

An iPod Touch maxes out at $399. Even if this thing was nothing else but an iPod touch with a 10 inch screen, why do you think it would be the same price?

Dude, seriously....
 
Aeolius said:
I for one would not pay $1,000 if it ends up being a giant iPhone. I see that as a scratch waiting to happen. How do you carry the thing? Microsoft's Courier has the right idea; two screens that fold together to make a journal. I have desktop Macs, notebook Macs, Mac Minis, and iPhones. I do not need an additional device that duplicates the functions of them. The iSlate needs to have a "wow" factor that no one has yet to mention.
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Microsoft's Courier looks like ass. No thanks.
 
I love it when apple directs me on how to spend my money

I'm so excited for this device. I have been holding off on buying a laptop to see what this device will be. I'm hoping that this will have all the basic functionality of a laptop. Let's keep our fingers crossed. If it is like the iPhone I hope that iPhone portion will be more like the Front Row application where you just launch that app and it will give you all the functionality that you get with the iphone. But then if you want the full OS it defaults with that. My leanings are getting closer to a larger iphone. I hope not, but I will have to live with it if it is. I just hate the limitations of the iPhone interface. I want more power and functionality on a small platform. The iPhone interface "locks" the functionality.
 
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