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Newton did not fail. If you had a sense of history and Apples state at the time you would understand that.

As a technical innovation it didn't fail, as a revenue generating product it did.

I was at WWDC when Jobs talked about axing the Newton instead of completing the spinoff. I don't remember if that is when it was announced or just shortly afterwards. He made it pretty clear he did not like it. I remember him specifically saying he didn't like the stylus and couldn't understand why anyone would want to control a device that way. So a tablet using a stylus would be a 180 from what he thought then.
 
There are various levels of locked down.

I cannot believe it would be anything other than locked down tightly. Apple likes a revenue stream.

Chris

it would be easy for Apple to find a compromise level that would be acceptable to many. In any event I very much want an app store as that is one fantastic feature to have. That should not however prevent the intallation of alternative software.

I kinda think of it as the Linux model. Linux distros have their repositories which is usually the first place to look for software for installations or updates. Installing your own or a third parties isn't a problem either.

In any event i belive there is more to the focus on app store and the "I" devices than just revenue. Believe it or not many parents like the control app store provides along with the parental controls on the hardware. Even corporations like to take the mother hen approach with corporate cell phones. Cell phones are a different market as opposed to computers and tablets.

Dave
 
I'm really looking forward to see whatever Apple comes up with... Seriously doubting that it will be able to compete with a MacBookAir+iPhone combo though...
 
While a real version of Mac OS would be my clear preference, I doubt that this tablet device will be able to run Snow Leopard as is. It will likely end up being similar to the AppleTV--a stripped-down, locked-down strain of OS 10.6, with the same kernel, but a custom interface and locked applications. The biggest strength of the AppleTV hardware, however, is that it was (is?) standard x86, so one can hack the device to run standard Mac OS. The 'iTablet' will almost certainly be a proprietary ARM embedded-system solution, with everything (CPU, GPU, chipset, sound, networking, firmware, etc...) all on one piece of silicon.

I think the overall success of the device will depend upon just how locked-down it is. If Apple tries to make it one of those "cloudy" dumb-terminals that requires continuous network access for DRM lock-out verification, it will fail. Many companies have tried the dumb terminal tablet idea--basically, a device that is just a screen rigged to access non-local files via streaming--but none have ever succeeded in the market.
 
I'm thinking it has to be the "Newton Video" or the "Newton Color"... nothing else makes sense.

PDA's are dead, why would remaking one make any sense?

I predict, based on nothing but apples history, that this will be their 4th industry changing device. What it is in its entirety, I can't tell you, because as usual, its going to be something people didn't even know they wanted but after using it, couldn't imagine not having it.
 
Slow news day?

"Anything interesting?"
"No."
"Post some random crap about the tablet."
"You're a genius."
 
I think that this device would be best marketed as a student companion. I can picture students using this one device to replace all their textbooks, paper notebooks, and laptops at the same time. I can see it as a fabulous device for reading (and highlighting) textbooks. It could have a great touch friendly version of iWork and would connect to the internet with either WiFi or a mobile carrier data connection. Finally it would run iPhone OS app in a window that emulates the iPhone form factor.

And how do I type my papers on it? As much as I love my iPhone, I'm not going to want to give up having a keyboard on my main computer, this is my biggest concern about the Tablet.
 
and my guess is that it will be an instant hit for people who loved Kindles and people who want netbooks

Another thing telling me I won't have a use for it. :(

If I can write on it then :)
 
I think this would have to be priced in the $350 range or it will flop. No matter how cool it will be...

Doubtful. $800 at least. And it will not flop - not in the slightest. People like me who buy the latest iphone every year because of the upgraded features will gladly drop our Kindles and Sony eReaders and grab an Apple tablet.

(What? A new iPhone every year? Yeah, it's true. Some people blow their grocery and rent money on crack. I throw my rent money at new toys. It's a sickness I tell ya....)
 
$700 or less or bust.

Also, very very few people who already have iPhone will sign up to yet another contract. Maybe if the tablet could tether via. bluetooth to your iPhone that'd be sweet.

Oh and a seriously discounted educational version would go down very very well, I'm just waiting for this to replace all my textbooks as a medical student.

Watch movies as in free what is in ABC.com, Heros, flash forward, Lost (all free mind you or torrents downloading shows that are free), or as in $1.99- $2.99 via iTunes. Now for me, that would be a BuSt.

Peace. Be Safe and Healthy.
 
Steve Jobs hated the Newton because it was too big to be an effective PDA so I don't think this is designed for that purpose. Apple is pretty market driven they tend to design hardware around big markets that already exist with something better than what's out there already or they design for markets they think are going to explode at some point (MacBook Air/Apple TV.) Building a piece of hardware with just a hope that it will grab the low hanging fruits of several small market segments (EBooks/Portable Games/Netbooks) just doesn't sound like an Apple type move. I'm not sure what market they are targeting, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was games and the Tablet is intended to be an at home game system with a lot of other functionality built in for all of those smaller markets. They haven't acquired much in the way of in-house content development, but they have had more original games developed for the iPod Touch/iPhone in the last year or so than have been on the Mac platform ever. They may be trying to pull a Wii.
 
Two

Surely Apple would not alienate iPhone OS developers... nor OS X users...
So I still think there will be two... iPhone OS [10 inch] and larger form factors for OS X [13, 15 inch]...
If wrong well... tears in rain...
 
Isn't a article rehashing existing rumors without contributing anything new Page 2 material?
 
And how do I type my papers on it? As much as I love my iPhone, I'm not going to want to give up having a keyboard on my main computer, this is my biggest concern about the Tablet.

This is why I like the idea of microsofts Courier. Especially if it can record lectures and use dragon speaking to turn it into text. What would be more amazing though is if the Courier ends up being real and is a Microsoft only device, this would mark the first time they released a computer that they have 100% control over. Which in and if itself makes it harder to believe. However if trur, I have no doubt it would play flash movies.

Peace. Be safe and Healthy, everyone.
 
Nothing new just lame filler by some journalist who got FU over the weekend and had nothin for monday.

" I've got nothing........ that Apple tablet vapor's a sure thing.....Damn this headache"...:eek:

suckers :D
 
And how do I type my papers on it? As much as I love my iPhone, I'm not going to want to give up having a keyboard on my main computer, this is my biggest concern about the Tablet.

I thought about that and I don't really have an answer to you...just speculation...

Perhaps Apple has some amazing technology that makes a virtual keyboard feel more like a real one. Also remember, the screen on this device is bigger. This would allow for a bigger keyboard.

The other option would be that users could use a Bluetooth keyboard with it. Perhaps the device would have a "kickstand" allowing people to angle it in a position comfortable for typing.

I am just brainstorming. Remember, when the iPhone came out, it was beyond what anyone could possibly imagine.
 
I can easily see this as a flop if the rumors prove true. It would be big & bulky and would not likely suit the mainstream user. It would likely be more of a business product to work things like CAD and for the arts and also for students.

Does anybody wish apple would wait 1-3 years when flexible OLED displays become mainstream? It would be awesome to have a 7-10 inch tablet that folds up to the size of your checkbook!

Maybe this could be introduced as a major revision down the line. I just think if apple waits to release, they could use the hype to their advantage and truly release an earth-shattering gadget
 
Slow news day?
"Anything interesting?"
"No."
"Post some random crap about the tablet."
"You're a genius."

Ha. Similar to the Apple joke about Jobs getting getting out of a corner in an interview:

Interviewer: "So, Mr. Jobs, why is Apple acting as a walled garden... indeed, as Big Brother... with respect to the iPhone? Millions of readers want to know."

Jobs: "Well, ummm, you see it's like.... oh, hey, isn't that the new Apple tablet over there on my desk?"

Interviewer: (totally forgetting the last question) OOoooooooooooooo. Where? Where?!!
 
I can easily see this as a flop if the rumors prove true. It would be big & bulky and would not likely suit the mainstream user. It would likely be more of a business product to work things like CAD and for the arts and also for students.

Does anybody wish apple would wait 1-3 years when flexible OLED displays become mainstream? It would be awesome to have a 7-10 inch tablet that folds up to the size of your checkbook!

Maybe this could be introduced as a major revision down the line. I just think if apple waits to release, they could use the hype to their advantage and truly release an earth-shattering gadget

flexible oled mainstream in 1-3 years? not so much.
 
I wonder if due to apples push to get cheaper costing products out, it will offer a 3g contracted tablet, taking $300 or so off the price, but you have a 50 dollar bill each month. I could see that is how they advertise their lowest price.

Second I just want them to release it. I don't think I would buy a first generation, due to the track record of first generation products and updates. So the earliest it gets here, the sooner the second or third gen comes out that I will buy.
 
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