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Apple Touchscreen Netbook to Launch in October at $800?

No keyboard. Two 9.7" screens. Hold it like a book... a real book.

Wrap in it cloth or leather while your at it.

Among other things, this would blow away kindle and the rest as the ultimate ebook reader and textbook replacement, and satisfy all of us book designers who design by the 2-page SPREAD, not a single page at a time.

I hope Apple offers two touch screens as the standard, or as the not-too-much-more-expensive version of its tablet. When not reading a book or magazine, the added screen could be at times be a keyboard, or other apps, or just an extension of the desktop.
 
ddTaylor said:
It is not rude nor an attack. Since when can you NOT call someone ignorant for making a comment that is, well, ignorant? Do you know what the real definition of that is? It means uninformed. I would say that to you in person or the person I replied to - do I now have that right? The post was silly and uninformed based on the fact that he may have used a netbook. I explained my points and defended them - I did not post a two sentence comment about a netbook being crap and good for on-line work only. He did not stand behind his comment and chose to suck and cover. I stood-up for my opinion and called it like I saw it. The no offense was satire and I realized there would be people like you who could not see the intent of the comments I made. Take it for what it is worth - I claim not to be presumptuous or attacking. I made a statement and stood behind it - period. Nothing more to it...regardless of your thoughts.

D
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polaris20 said:
The problem is you haven't a clue as to what his background is to be making claims of his ignorance, and yes, you are rude doing it.

Sorry you lack the social skills to realize that.
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I'll say what I said several pages ago to set things straight.

I've used one. I find them worthless for all but the most mundane of tasks. I have not used a Hackintosh one. I would not purchase one, but if I were given one, it would be made into a Hackintosh. Perhaps running OS X is good for crap hardware, as it runs better; I don't know. I also have not used one running Windows Seven, which I have heard is also good for slow hardware.

Now, you can't do any real work on a netbook. You can word process, surf, put a presentation together, listen to music and probably sort photos and watch video content that is less than 1920x1080.

But you can't render, you can't design, you can't post-produce, you can't mix; you can't do anything on a professional level.

They don't exist to do that, and rightly so; they cannot. They are perfect for everything above that I said they could do, which is what they were designed to do.

As a pro, they can't be your main computer, and it's almost nonsensical to justify having one for your work as a pro; even as a client computer.
 
What if you don't own both?
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Well then what Utility gap would it bridge there?

Usually, when a device bridges the gap between two it gives up minor features of both in order to provide the major functionality, thus replacing for many users the need for two devices.

I can see how it can build in phone connection and 3G internet, replacing the iPhone, but how about replacing the mac? Without a keyboard it cannot provide a BASIC computer function of writing papers/typing stuff in a comfortable way.

Sure you can have an on-screen keyboard or buy a bunch of accessories to create some way of typing semi-comfortably.

At this point, I think even a cramped netbook keyboard would be more comfortable and convenient than an on-screen only keyboard for typing longer things. And having to carry around another keyboard and stand for the computer to simulate a proper experience would be way too inconvenient for most people.

Through the Kindle for iphone app on my ipod touch, I've been introduced to the world of ebooks and discovered:
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What you want is an eBook reader if you want to read eBooks. That means an e-Ink display which minimizes eye strain and preserves battery (to the point where even during regular use you only need to charge once a week).

It is possible to browse the net on an eBook device, if it had a proper web browser. It would not be the same convenience or features as a computer but with a well engineered solution it could be acceptable for reading forums, news sites, etc.

I seriously don't think Apple will be releasing an $800 device whose primary purpose is to read eBooks and compete with Amazon. I mean sure if it is a giant iPod Touch then having a cool eBook app would be useful, but as a selling point for the device it is not.

If you personally are interested in reading eBooks a lot, I recommend either the kindle or the Sony reader (I owned the prs-505). It is a much BETTER experience than any LCD-screen based solution with lots of benefits. Give it a couple more years and the e-Inks will rock your world.

The future of eBooks is e-Ink (and coming soon, Color e-Ink), not LCD.
 
macerroneous said:
I forgot to say: I also believe multitasking was omitted from OS 3 because they want to limit this feature to the tablet, which really would need it. That'll be another reason for you to buy the tablet even if you have the iPhone already.
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Another good point. No dock, no multitasking on the iPhone. Hmmmm...

iMusicalMommy said:
Just as Apple took digital music and made it "mainstream" and "every man's" commodity, I see Apple taking digital books/texts/magazines/newspapers and making it "every man's" commodity. I know Mr. Jobs has said that reading is dying but isn't he known to throw in red herrings to throw people off? and Mr. Jobs is very supportive of anything "educational". Perhaps he wants to revive book reading again. You might not be much of a book reader now--but such a device might change that. Newspapers and magazines are now selling digital subscriptions. You might not read fiction, but I bet you read magazines and newspapers. Imagine having it delivered to you wirelessly and you can read it standing on the bus when you wouldn't be able to open up a laptop?
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There's been significant speculation about eBooks in this new device and basically I agree here. PDF reading would also be good (I don't know if the iPhone can already do that, but a larger display will help) since many documents that aren't books are on PDF.

Also, I'd like iWork support on the device because I would like to edit documents on the go (and on a good sized display) without carrying around a notebook and its case. More editing features for iTunes/iLife would be good too, and the bigger display would really help for web browsing. It would definitely serve as a complement to my MacBook Pro and would mean that I don't have to take my laptop around as much.
 
How times change..

It was just two months ago when I was on here saying that I can't see any room for a netbook as I have an iPhone to check emails when I'm out. But now that my business has been taking off, I'm finding it more and more painful to be away from my laptop. I can't even go to the gym the past couple of weeks w/o calling my partner to check up on orders and emails for me - the iPhone is great, it's just not fast enough to navigate the net and my website CMS without eating up a lot of time.

What I really need is something bigger than my phone, but small and DURABLE enough to stick in a jacket pocket or backpack. It has to have nice battery life as I'd be keeping it on hibernate or another setting for fast startup when I'm out.
 
flybynite said:
No keyboard. Two 9.7" screens. Hold it like a book... a real book.

Wrap in it cloth or leather while your at it.

Among other things, this would blow away kindle and the rest as the ultimate ebook reader and textbook replacement, and satisfy all of us book designers who design by the 2-page SPREAD, not a single page at a time.

I hope Apple offers two touch screens as the standard, or as the not-too-much-more-expensive version of its tablet. When not reading a book or magazine, the added screen could be at times be a keyboard, or other apps, or just an extension of the desktop.
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I love it! I've seen some mockups of this kind of thing and 9.7" is perfect. I read a few graphic novels and mangas on the computer (fan made translations of mangas are so much better...) back in the day. Double-tab to zoom into one frame (like Safari on iPhone) would be great for comics. One display could show the whole page and the other one the zoomed in frame. I generally like the idea of zooming in to enlarge small print or to make ridiculously large print more readable. :)

I also like the leather idea. Or at least some system how 3rd party vendors could firmly attach leather covers.
 
Tallest Skil said:
.....................................................Now, you can't do any real work on a netbook. You can word process, surf, put a presentation together, listen to music and probably sort photos and watch video content that is less than 1920x1080.

But you can't render, you can't design, you can't post-produce, you can't mix; you can't do anything on a professional level.

.................................................................
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now at that point it becomes a discussion what "pro-work" is.

anyway, i agree with your point because even powerpoint presentations are a pain to do on a netbook. and even sorting pictures is a pain because it's slow and not enough space for a decent picture library. and forget about image editing being fun.

i would use a netbook as an email/wordprocessing/websurfing machine at best.

apples netbook would have to be fantastic at that and in addition would also have to allow MS office programs to run smoothly to be interesting to me. that means it would need some sort of dual core cpu and a fantastic screen. then we talk about $1000. at that point i'm going to buy a 13"MBP.

it will be really interesting if apple can position such a device in the market to make me buy it. i know I want to.:eek:
 
andiwm2003 said:
now at that point it becomes a discussion what "pro-work" is.
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What? No. The discussion goes surreal if that is limitation on what professional work is. Professional work is what you get paid to do.
Any other attempt to narrow down "pro-work" to just a handful of niche professions is ignorant. Professional means what the dictionary says it means. Turning that into a "codeword" with implicit connotations is only going to inhibit communication. There are tons more paid communicators/writers/etc. using computer-like devices as critical work tools than there are folks doing audio/video work.

Is a netbook going to be useful for all professions? No.
Does it have to be universally applicable in order to be a significant commercial offering? No.


anyway, i agree with your point because even powerpoint presentations are a pain to do on a netbook. and even sorting pictures is a pain because it's slow and not enough space for a decent picture library. and forget about image editing being fun.
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These are some questionable assertions since.

1. 5-7 years ago folks were doing powerpoint on portable computers with similar RAM, persistant storage space and CPU horsepower. There is a limitation of screen real estate but that is even more substantially true of smartphones. If talking alleviating the problems on those you have gone from impossible/impractical to painful but can be done.


Trying to assert that netbooks are not desktop replacements is to create a misdirected discussion.

2. With older machine people didn't run 2-3 1GB applications at the same time and expect great performance. Run one app at time (or tolerate switching time between them along with no background tasks ) and the performance will most likely meet expectations.

The original Mac did just fine where you could run just one app at time. iPhone OS is doing just fine running primarily one app at a time. One problem folks run into with netbooks is that they try to crush them with running apps. Any computer can be crushed if just run a high enough workload on it.



Match the rumors that there is a ARM processor here what you have is a tablet that gets around several of the limitations of the iPhone/Touch which are associated with cramped screen real estate that is required for doing basic classic communication that is done with computers.



i would use a netbook as an email/wordprocessing/websurfing machine at best.
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Like those.


apples netbook would have to be fantastic at that and in addition would also have to allow MS office programs to run smoothly to be interesting to me.
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Given there will be a variation of Office 2010 is going to run on the web, even could do this on 9.7" screen iPhone OS system running Safari probably.
Could you create a super-disco, 50 slide powerpoint presentation? Probably not. Could you view and put feedback commentary (or do last minute touch ups after left the office, but before the presentation.... latest breaking sales estimates. ) somewhat likely. If can store docs locally and securely use with web Office 2010 (no storage of document on remote site) even more likely true.


that means it would need some sort of dual core cpu and a fantastic screen. then we talk about $1000. at that point i'm going to buy a 13"MBP.
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1. What in Office needs a dual core CPU? What were people doing in Office for the 15 years that predates the widespread distribution of dual core CPUs?

[ Perhaps a dual core ARM.... but a dual core Intel chip with largely unmodified MacOS X? Not as likely. ]


2. This very likely is positioned against the iPhone/Touch (and other 3" screen, or less, smartphones , PDA, Newtons ) than against the MacBook or MBP 13".

Put a Gobi (or equivalent multi cell service compatible ) card into it:

http://www.qctconnect.com/products/gobi.html

http://www.gobianywhere.com/index.html
http://www.gobianywhere.com/gobi2000_overview.pdf

And not hooked to just one Cell Service vendor (expect to get the associated firmware/software update to match specific service protocols/identification. )


The relatively big 9.7" iPhone device gives them a chance to work out bleeding edge stuff before consolidating it into a smaller number of chip packages and rolling it out on the 3" devices. (like the Mac Pro vs. the iMac technology "hand-me-down" relationship. )
 
No Netbook. No Tablet. No Macbook Mini.

You want a new rumor... so here's one: "Apple will introduce a revolutionary new game device (with a touch screen running OS 4.0) later this year – a small number of games will be available from day one, from a refreshed iTunes App store..."

Adding a netbook, tablet or MacBook Mini don't make sense. At least to me. The iGame however could quickly become Apple's next money machine – they could even make it (partially) backward compatible with the iPod Touch/iPhone (to let current developers help expand sales and give it a flying start) :D

I would most likely purchase four of them for the kids. Heck maybe even five and keep one for myself.

The main problem for Apple night become the price, which has to be reasonable. Very reasonable even for most non-apple customers, and that might look impossible for Apple right now... but they could easily change strategy and cash in a little later, with help of the game store.
 
Master Chief said:
No Netbook. No Tablet. No Macbook Mini.

You want a new rumor... so here's one: "Apple will introduce a revolutionary new game device (with a touch screen running OS 4.0) later this year – a small number of games will be available from day one, from a refreshed iTunes Game store..."
... Mini don't make sense. The iGame however could quickly become Apple's next money machine – they could even make it backward compatible with the iPod Touch/iPhone
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What? You have simply substituted new words for what already exists to a large extent.

iTunes Apps store == ITunes Games store
iPodTouch == iGame

If talking about the hand held gaming market... Apple is already in it with the Touch. ( That isn't its sole purpose, but way out there if think this isn't competing with many folk's limited budgets for DS and PSP like devices. )

Of course the iPod Touch is remarkably compatible with the iPod Touch already. ;)

Not sure a 9.7" screen is going to do much for hand held gaming. In fact having to deal with multiple screen sizes will probably through many games for a loop. More than a few are probably hard coded to the Phone/Touch screen sizes.

If talking some kind of stationary game machine. Very minuscule chance. Apple already has a "hobby" machine for their limited attention span: AppleTV. Between Sony, Microsoft , and Nintendo no way they want to get that bloodbath battle for gaming console.

What may happen to some extent is that some vendors may take some iPhone games to Mac OS X ( if the UI controls have some reasonable mapping.) That may bring more games to Mac OS X longer term.


If the rumor (really "I wish Apple would build this for me" ) is at its core about Apple bringing desktop/laptop gamer oriented personal computer (bleeding edge graphics, etc. ) to market ..... don't hold your breath.
 
deconstruct60 said:
What? You have simply substituted new words for what already exists to a large extent.

iTunes Apps store == ITunes Games store
iPodTouch == iGame
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The first one was just a typo (fixed/thanks). And no the iPod Touch – another great Apple product – is not a real game device. These people simply have no other choice than to use a small screen device.

deconstruct60 said:
If talking about the hand held gaming market... Apple is already in it with the Touch. ( That isn't its sole purpose, but way out there if think this isn't competing with many folk's limited budgets for DS and PSP like devices.)
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The other companies are not sitting still, and one cannot compare the iPhone or iPod Touch with let's say the Sony PSP. And Apple knows this, and they told major stock holders (or someone is lying) that they are looking into it.

deconstruct60 said:
Not sure a 9.7" screen is going to do much for hand held gaming. In fact having to deal with multiple screen sizes will probably through many games for a loop. More than a few are probably hard coded to the Phone/Touch screen sizes.
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I'm not saying that there won't be some device with a 9.7" (touch) screen in the near future, but WinTek employees told me that they aren't working on anything close to 9.7" for Apple.

deconstruct60 said:
If talking some kind of stationary game machine. Very minuscule chance. Apple already has a "hobby" machine for their limited attention span: AppleTV. Between Sony, Microsoft , and Nintendo no way they want to get that bloodbath battle for gaming console.
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You mean like Apple entered the mobile phone war? Which of course Apple did, simply because they revolutionized their product. And AppleTV... don't get me started.

deconstruct60 said:
If the rumor (really "I wish Apple would build this for me" ) is at its core about Apple bringing desktop/laptop gamer oriented personal computer (bleeding edge graphics, etc. ) to market ..... don't hold your breath.
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I don't play games, ever, and the kids are happy with their Sony PSP's so that's not it. Nope.

And of course this was just another rumor :D
 
Tallest Skil said:
Now, you can't do any real work on a netbook. You can word process, surf, put a presentation together, listen to music and probably sort photos and watch video content that is less than 1920x1080.

But you can't render, you can't design, you can't post-produce, you can't mix; you can't do anything on a professional level.
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Umm, most "professionals" use the computer to "word process, surf, put a presentation together, listen to music and probably sort photos and watch video content"

I think its the opposite, the minority of people, who need a more advanced machine.
 
manhattanboy said:
Remember these are the same folks who stood in line for days to drop $600 on a phone!

Mac users are crazy. period.
And also apparently crazy wealthy.
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I am one of these nuts! #16 in line at the Roosevelt Field Mall. Not wealthy though...Apple is the greatest cult with the best tasting Cool Aid;)
 
Jelite said:
I've no interest in this now with the 13" MBP.
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I've tried to take this attitude too, it's a beautiful machine, but it's also practically a 15" computer, nearly 2 inches wider than a 12" G4.

Still, I doubt I'll be interested in this product either. When traveling I like to buy DVD's and watch them on my region-free internal drive, or burn some pictures to disc and pass them to a fellow traveler. Either a tablet or netbook isn't enough, we need a real computer with drive, just smaller than the 13.
 
Master Chief said:
The first one was just a typo (fixed/thanks). And no the iPod Touch – another great Apple product – is not a real game device. These people simply have no other choice than to use a small screen device.
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Hard core gaming no, but casual gaming isn't one of the driving factors. I think the single primary use distinction is going to blur as more horsepower is put into these handhelds. They become more flexible usage computers than dedicated devices.


The other companies are not sitting still, and one cannot compare the iPhone or iPod Touch with let's say the Sony PSP. And Apple knows this, and they told major stock holders (or someone is lying) that they are looking into it.
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Don't think Apple is going to block any games from going to the App Store in the meantime either though. ;)

Apple shouldn't want to be pigeoned holed into just a gamer category. Additionally don't want to be blinksided by the established game vendors wondering into iPod/internet-handheld space either.


I'm not saying that there won't be some device with a 9.7" (touch) screen in the near future, but WinTek employees told me that they aren't working on anything close to 9.7" for Apple.
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Maybe they don't want to get shot by the Apple firing squad for releasing secrets. However, yes. Looked at there LCD panels currently offer when this rumor came out :

http://www.wintek.com.tw/products_tft_lcd.asp

They currently don't manufacture anything in the 9" size range (or anything 1/2 that size) Maybe someone just injected Kindle DX dimensions into the rumor at previous stage.

Not impossible but that appears to be a new big jump for them.


You mean like Apple entered the mobile phone war? Which of course Apple did, simply because they revolutionized their product. And AppleTV... don't get me started.
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Apple is/was only shooting for 10% of the phone market. As a gaming platform what kind of developer buying going to get when shooting for just 10%. Second, the "Cadillac" console gaming platform in the latest round, PS3, has done the worse.

Apple came into but didn't quite revolutionize the space. Apple came into the very high end of the phone space that was doing OK. Sure some aspects were new but there already were smartphones playing music with apps. Apple's refinement has unique aspects but it is more evolutionary. Not even the first touch screen.

The high end of the console/game space isn't ( unless counting gamer PC rigs... which also isn't as much of a growth as folks wanted it to be. ) doing so hot.


AppleTV is Apple's self stated hobby machine. If they give it up then Pippin has been followed by AppleTV..... which again why is the game console so much different ? [ IMHO not sure why Apple wouldn't buy Tivo and make that what they want AppleTV to be. but that is likely a whole another long discussion thread. ]


For a handheld game... similar as console game in terms of price point to come in at. iPod nano are closer in price to PSP/DS prices. ( the Go is high, but we'll see how well it does. Repeat of the PS3 in term of momentum build or breaks out. )
 
Tallest Skil said:
Because tying your customers to a telecom is the most intelligent thing you can do. :rolleyes:

Keep the 3G card off, please, Apple.
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fun173 said:
yes!
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Apple, please include a 3G card so that your customers can choose whether they want their Apple netbook to be a netbook - that is, always on the net.

A silicon chip and antenna cost very little. If the customer doesn't want to be always connected, and prefers to wander about hunting for 802.11 hotspots - then fine, they don't activate a 3G plan.

And please, Apple, be like Dell and use a Gobi chipset that not only works with all carriers (CDMA+GSM), but includes a GPS receiver at no extra cost.
 
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