Apple Touchscreen Netbook to Launch in October at $800?

[tallguy]

i dont think they would sell a touch screen notebook for only 800 dollars.
I would be really happy for a touch screen desktop from apple, because i really like the HP desktop that is touch screen!

I really don't understand the point in having that hp desktop. I mean I have played around with them a bit and the touchscreen is pretty awful. Besides why would you use it when it would be faster and more efficient to use the mouse and keyboard. I guess it's something that they will just continue to evolve and hope that it will catch on.
On the other hand I'm sure Apple's first touchscreen computer will work like an overpriced dream.

 

[Tallest Skil]

because i really like the HP desktop that is touch screen!

Have you used the touchscreen exclusively for an hour straight? How are your arms?

Vertical touchscreens will never, EVER be the future.

 

[Eidorian]

I had a chance to try out Dell's Studio 19 with the touchscreen at Sam's Club. It was fun to a certain extent but I can't imaging using it for a prolonged period.

 

[kdarling]

I really don't understand the point in having that hp desktop. I mean I have played around with them a bit and the touchscreen is pretty awful.

As a touch developer, I have many touch computers around the house, and two HPs. We use the HPs extensively as family one-stop computers... for everything from calendar to lookup to acting as a picture frame.

They have a nice touchscreen, because it uses cameras to watch your fingers, instead of having any overlay that obscurs the LCD. Actual touch isn't required. You might be talking about a slow application response.

Besides why would you use it when it would be faster and more efficient to use the mouse and keyboard.

Yes, and the same goes for notebooks and tablets. Without the right software, it really is easier to use keyboard and mouse for even casual tasks. (And it goes without saying that most professional uses require those anyway.)

I guess it's something that they will just continue to evolve and hope that it will catch on. On the other hand I'm sure Apple's first touchscreen computer will work like an overpriced dream.

I'd love to see an Apple-styled "kitchen" touch computer done right. Be even better if it integrated with non-Apple devices.

 

[puffnstuff]

The thing that is going to make this different from other tablets I think is how Apple is going to tackle the issue of no pen and no screen keyboard. Or atleast a different on-screen keyboard then the one we are seeing.

I honestly cannot wrap my mind around how they are going to get it to work yet once I see it I am sure I will say "Oh!"

 

[Marx55]

The ultimate mobile computing (see first picture, the iNetbook and the iNetbook rerendered):

Next Apple moves will be Books and Games…
http://spidouz.wordpress.com/2008/09/03/next-apple-moves-will-be-books-and-games

Amazing!

 

[J&JPolangin]

...Vertical touchscreens will never, EVER be the future.

...and keep your cat's away from them

 

[Michael CM1]

After actually using a netbook today (an Asus model), I must say I don't see the love of this platform. You can find a lot of PC notebooks around for about $500 that don't cramp the keyboard down to a size that only kids can use. I can't tell you how many times I hit the F2 and delete keys when aiming for a row below.

What does this tell me? Netbooks may be good for your VERY casual user who has never owned a computer, who hunts and pecks for keys, or who has very tiny hands.

The design easily said "this ain't Apple" with what I guess is the battery pack sticking out in the back. But the rest of the design was OK for a $400 computer. The use of the decades-old analog monitor output was kind of comical. No, I wouldn't expect a monster DVI out, but why not HDMI or DisplayPort? I mean DP is a STANDARD, right? However, seeing more USB ports on this thing than on my then-$2000 MacBook Pro irked me. But I guess with ExpressCard I can add two more.

So Apple would have a lot to do to not make such a product a waste of money. $800 still doesn't say "netbook," but if it uses a touch interface then maybe it's in the area. I don't understand why these things have to be SO TINY. I mean couldn't Apple just develop an underpowered MacBook (Atom CPU, integrated video, 1GB RAM, small hard drive, no optical drive) and drop the price down about $300? Then you have an actual keyboard and don't have such a tiny screen. It should save production costs (no completely new case needed, no extra screens needed) and you can boast the 13.3" screen.

 

[J&JPolangin]

After actually using a netbook today (an Asus model),...

...which one, they have so many different models and the 10"+ screens are 92 - 95% of a full size keyboard...

I actually type faster on my netbook and Dell keyboard so far as I'm not used to the chiclet keys yet...

 

[techbuoy]

This could be an epic win for Apple. The problem most of the people here have with current touch implementations is that the interfaces they are using are not touch optimized. Have you ever felt you needed a keyboard and mouse for your iPhone? I know I certainly haven't. Provided we see the same level of interface in this new touch device while remaining compatible with normal OSX apps I think this will be a killer device.

Jeff
www.techbuoy.com

 

[scades]

SD game-changer?

Things are beginning to come together. Why the SD slot on the MBP 13" and 15"? Because the intro of the Tablet (whatever it will be called) now expected in October will be also the announcement of one or more studios (Pixar? Disney?) that they will henceforth distribute movies on SDs. It's true that an individual appropriately-sized SD is more expensive than a DVD, but by the time you add in the packaging, shipping, and distribution costs, the SD may turn out to be cheaper.
What's the weight-saving value of a video player--which is also a full-fledged computer and super iPod Touch--worth? Add a cheap blue-tooth keyboard as an extra for those who want it, and you've got a heck of a package for road warriors, as well as for other categories of user who would benefit from an Apple-quality tablet.
Could be another Apple game-changer.

 

[Shake 'n' Bake]

Things are beginning to come together. Why the SD slot on the MBP 13" and 15"? Because the intro of the Tablet (whatever it will be called) now expected in October will be also the announcement of one or more studios (Pixar? Disney?) that they will henceforth distribute movies on SDs. It's true that an individual appropriately-sized SD is more expensive than a DVD, but by the time you add in the packaging, shipping, and distribution costs, the SD may turn out to be cheaper.

Not happening. The SD slot is there because not many people used the ExpressCard slot, according to Apple. SD is slower than molasses in January. The largest card in any SD subformat is 32 GB, which is, IMO, not enough for mostly uncompressed HD video and audio along with the obligatory special features.

And didn't we just get done (OK, awhile ago) with the new optical disc war? We've got Blu-Ray now. A single-layer Blu-Ray holds 25 GB, dual-layer 50 GB. And it's fast. Much faster than SD. You also can't inhale/ingest it, so you don't lose it.

 

[AidenShaw]

The largest card in any SD subformat is 32 GB, which is, IMO, not enough for mostly uncompressed HD video and audio along with the obligatory special features.

Those BDs are actually very highly compressed - but at a high quality setting.

A two hour 1080p movie is about 2.7 TB at 24-bit RGB. (Over 50 BD dual layer discs)

 

[Shake 'n' Bake]

Those BDs are actually very highly compressed - but at a high quality setting.

A two hour 1080p movie is about 2.7 TB at 24-bit RGB. (Over 50 BD dual layer discs)

I thought they were mostly uncompressed. Thanks for the info.

2.7 TB seems a bit much to me, but uncompressed stuff is huge.

 

[scades]

I needed to refresh my memory about comments I'd seen about distribution movies on SD cards. You might want to check this out:



When I posted earlier, I had no idea that some studios were already committed to this format.

 

[Rot'nApple]

I wonder if the Apple Tablet can handle applications like Adobe InDesign for typesetting projects or is that better off left done on an Apple Laptop or Desktop?

Would the tablet be just for Safari, Mail and App Store type apps?

 

[manhattanboy]

Have you used the touchscreen exclusively for an hour straight? How are your arms?

Vertical touchscreens will never, EVER be the future.

I beg to differ, check out the touch screen user below.

 

[WLS]

I wonder if the Apple Tablet can handle applications like Adobe InDesign for typesetting projects or is that better off left done on an Apple Laptop or Desktop?

Would the tablet be just for Safari, Mail and App Store type apps?

Probably not on the former and probably yes on the latter question.
I think Apple is going to put their own ARM chips in this and to that regard it is going to be more like a Touch than a MacBook. Even though it may run a flavor of OSX any Mac programs are gong to have to be re-compiled for ARM.
It will do what it does with great style and as usual there will be the complaints that it does not do everything. Among the fanboy's living in their parents homes disappointment is a constant. The rest of us will be delighted and will want and get one..