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Apple Touchscreen Netbook to Launch in October at $800?
- Thread starter Divine Comedy
- Start date
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That's what it's going to be ... an iTouch
back in may, I posted a prediction. it would just fit in what we might have learned from today's rumors:
apple's next new product will be spectacular, it will define a new category of products and - most importantly - it will cannibalize neither the iPhone business, nor the MacBook sales. it will be the next, the fourth pillar of Apple's success.
it will be a MacTouch.
- a 10 " tablet, nine times the screen size and resolution of the iPhone, resembling the iPhone from the looks an being roughly as thick
- thus immediately working with every existing iPhone app
- combining everything from the iPhone (3G, WiFI, Bluetooth, AppStore, iTunes synching) with everything from the mac (iLife and iWork will work with new preinstalled specialized versions for touch control) - OS X Snow Leopard is the key - that's why they focus on performance.
- it will be touch controlled with a large visual/virtual keyboard, but of course the existing sleek Apple wireless Keyboard will work immediately using Bluetooth
- it will have 1 or 2 (micro)USB-ports making it the ideal device for storing, presenting and basic editing of photos and videos while on holiday, for watching videos with the family (for eventually it will be possible to import our DVDs in iTunes just like our CDs ...)
- it will have a front camera and microphone for video-conferencing or for putting your face into games or for making fun photos with photo booth
- it will be THE new gaming device for groups, playing all the famous board games on a screen large enough lying in front of you and sitting on every side of it (like chess with touch control and animation)
- it will be THE new book reader (though i have some doubts concerning readability in sunlight and battery life when compared to e-ink devices like the kindle), especially making it possible to produce "books" with integrated video and sound content
- it will have a stand to work as a notebook screen when typing with the keyboard or to use as small display to watch videos or digital tv or for presentations (maybe a protective cover doubles as a stand when flipped over ..)
- it will have a bluetooth remote control, reasonably good speakers and - hopefully - a SD-card reader built in
- it will be gorgeous, lightweight and affordable without being cheap and crappy like the windows netbooks
- it will be priced between the iPhone/ iPod touch and the MacBook - let me guess: somewhere between $ 499 with 8 GB and without iWork and $ 799 with 32 or even 64 GB and including iWork
- it will be THE product to present your creative work on the go, to watch video and photos in a group, to work on documents with basic editing while sitting in the bus or on the plane, to check and write emails and much more
- we will be allowed to use our existing apple software on this product without an extra fee
- it will work and synchronise with iTunes on a PC, thus being the entrance to the real mac world for old time PC-customers (they simply will want to buy an OS X-system next time a new notebook or desktop will be needed)
- it can be used like the iPhone, but it can't replace it (because of size), it can be used like a MacBook but it can't replace it (because of lack of keyboard, processing speed, lack of large storing space, limited display resolution, limited connectivity)
- it is simply the perfect companion in between.
- it will be revolutionary
- it will be presented in a special event this summer by Steve Jobs, celebrating his return to the public
- it will be available in time for the holiday season
what do you think?
back in may, I posted a prediction. it would just fit in what we might have learned from today's rumors:
apple's next new product will be spectacular, it will define a new category of products and - most importantly - it will cannibalize neither the iPhone business, nor the MacBook sales. it will be the next, the fourth pillar of Apple's success.
it will be a MacTouch.
- a 10 " tablet, nine times the screen size and resolution of the iPhone, resembling the iPhone from the looks an being roughly as thick
- thus immediately working with every existing iPhone app
- combining everything from the iPhone (3G, WiFI, Bluetooth, AppStore, iTunes synching) with everything from the mac (iLife and iWork will work with new preinstalled specialized versions for touch control) - OS X Snow Leopard is the key - that's why they focus on performance.
- it will be touch controlled with a large visual/virtual keyboard, but of course the existing sleek Apple wireless Keyboard will work immediately using Bluetooth
- it will have 1 or 2 (micro)USB-ports making it the ideal device for storing, presenting and basic editing of photos and videos while on holiday, for watching videos with the family (for eventually it will be possible to import our DVDs in iTunes just like our CDs ...)
- it will have a front camera and microphone for video-conferencing or for putting your face into games or for making fun photos with photo booth
- it will be THE new gaming device for groups, playing all the famous board games on a screen large enough lying in front of you and sitting on every side of it (like chess with touch control and animation)
- it will be THE new book reader (though i have some doubts concerning readability in sunlight and battery life when compared to e-ink devices like the kindle), especially making it possible to produce "books" with integrated video and sound content
- it will have a stand to work as a notebook screen when typing with the keyboard or to use as small display to watch videos or digital tv or for presentations (maybe a protective cover doubles as a stand when flipped over ..)
- it will have a bluetooth remote control, reasonably good speakers and - hopefully - a SD-card reader built in
- it will be gorgeous, lightweight and affordable without being cheap and crappy like the windows netbooks
- it will be priced between the iPhone/ iPod touch and the MacBook - let me guess: somewhere between $ 499 with 8 GB and without iWork and $ 799 with 32 or even 64 GB and including iWork
- it will be THE product to present your creative work on the go, to watch video and photos in a group, to work on documents with basic editing while sitting in the bus or on the plane, to check and write emails and much more
- we will be allowed to use our existing apple software on this product without an extra fee
- it will work and synchronise with iTunes on a PC, thus being the entrance to the real mac world for old time PC-customers (they simply will want to buy an OS X-system next time a new notebook or desktop will be needed)
- it can be used like the iPhone, but it can't replace it (because of size), it can be used like a MacBook but it can't replace it (because of lack of keyboard, processing speed, lack of large storing space, limited display resolution, limited connectivity)
- it is simply the perfect companion in between.
- it will be revolutionary
- it will be presented in a special event this summer by Steve Jobs, celebrating his return to the public
- it will be available in time for the holiday season
what do you think?
Avoid the mistakes of the past at all costs.
I would suspect that two devices of the same size would be a big no no. On the other hand I see no problem with a smaller ARM based machine and a larger tablet for the Mac OS crowd. I just can't see Apple being real successful with a Mac OS based tablet. It would end up in histories scrap heap. An ARM based device simply has the capability to offer up more in a small box while at the same time offering good battery life. This especially the case if Apple tailors an ARM based SoC to the product. Atom takes up to much space and to much juice. Of course Apple could be waiting fir a next generation device from Intel or it's Atom partners which would throw all of the above out the window.
Dave
Dave
Well not bad, I use Newton2 for a devices with a screen smaller than about 7". I guess that a mini-Tablet could be anything larger that is also smaller than a sheet of paper.I use "mini-tablet" for the rumored iPhone OS-based larger-than-iPod touch with possible additional features device, is that close enough?
The price really isn't an issue, remember what an unlocked iPhone costs. On the other hand I agree that the size is awkward. As to iPhone IS that can be easily modified to leverage the screen. Just think of the Dock in SL, it makes multi tasking on small screens easy.
I'm not sure why people knock iPhone OS as it is the basis for an excellent OS offering for small battery powered devices.
Already supported! Apple advises developers to make sure thier apps are not resolution dependant. Though zoom might not be the right phrase here.
This is also certainly possible and many of the canned interface elements do this already. Scroll lists are an example here.
This would require the addition of a higher level Windows manager. Not at all impossible but there are alternatives.
Yeah all sorts of issues pop up if a legacy OS is used. You end up making all the mistakes made in the past all over again. Mac OS on a tablet or small clam shell is a big mistake in my mind.
I would suspect that two devices of the same size would be a big no no. On the other hand I see no problem with a smaller ARM based machine and a larger tablet for the Mac OS crowd. I just can't see Apple being real successful with a Mac OS based tablet. It would end up in histories scrap heap. An ARM based device simply has the capability to offer up more in a small box while at the same time offering good battery life. This especially the case if Apple tailors an ARM based SoC to the product. Atom takes up to much space and to much juice. Of course Apple could be waiting fir a next generation device from Intel or it's Atom partners which would throw all of the above out the window.
Dave
Dave
If I were to buy an expensive (i.e. $500) Apple netbook, it would have to be because of the touchscreen feature. Otherwise I'd simply buy a $300 Acer and install Ubuntu on it.
If it looks anything like the slick CrunchPad prototype, but with a custom OS X operating system then I'm sold.
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/03/crunchpad-the-launch-prototype/
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/03/crunchpad-the-launch-prototype/
Actually i'm really hoping this device could double as an input device for your mac, immagine a touch screen device, that when close to your computer becomes a very evolved trackpad with screen and multitouch (i'd love to be able to have some of finalcut or photoshop tools on it), then when far from "real" computer it's a cool internet device with some working capabilities.
Contradiction.
Okay, go ahead and put an ARM processor in there if you want. No one would buy it.
Immediately? Dreams.
Nope. Apple doesn't use Micro USB. It would have one USB-A, if anything.
So an iSight.
Uh, no.
So an iSight.
Except OS X doesn't suit itself to games.
Made my day.
Three months ago I'd have laughed. Now this seems possible.
Definition, please?
Thank you. You just made my day AGAIN.
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA. YEAH! RIGHT!
Is September summer? Because that's the soonest it would happen.
And the screen would be an oval. Like this!
Attachments
Looks very nice, except it seems a bit too big for me. If the screen size is less than 10" (diagonal), then I'm sold too.
I agree with most of this. I also think they will announce a version of iWork (or online version on MobileMe) to run on it.
I'm not sure on the keyboard though. Part of me thinks it will have a physical keyboard. The iPhone virtual keyboard was designed to type with your thumbs while holding both sides of the device. That wouldn't work on a larger tablet. I expect some Apple magic in the keyboard department which will cause the Apple-haters to scoff, and the Apple-lovers to say Wow!, and the rest of the public to say "what? there's a big iPhone?"
Really? Cause an Apple employee told a friend of mines that the iPod Touch was being phased out.
Not buying it. There must be something else.
The problem is the screen size.
A 9" screen is too small for conventional desktop Mac OSX. Single apps might work fine, but the general purpose windowing system ends up being cramped. A 9" Apple device will not be running conventional Mac OS X.
At the same time, a 9" screen is much too large for the iPhone OS. All the current apps are designed around a single display format and resolution. A 9" Apple device will not run iPhone OS.
The 9" format is neither pocketable, or good for desktop apps. The worst of all worlds.
So if Apple *are* making such a device, it is targeted at an entirely new role.
It could be textbooks and e-reading. Perhaps aimed at the education market.
But the current generation of readers have awesome battery life thanks to e-ink displays. E-ink means losing color and interactivity. But we know that it's a touch screen device. It is not going to sport an e-ink display.
So none of this makes sense. There is something missing from the picture.
Apple might well be making some kind of touch screen device. But whatever it is, it has to be something entirely new. It will have to offer best-in-class functionality at something or other. It has to have a compelling unique selling point.
And for the life of me, I can't imagine what that might be. And no one has posted anything that sounds vaguely credible.... yet.
C.
The problem is the screen size.
A 9" screen is too small for conventional desktop Mac OSX. Single apps might work fine, but the general purpose windowing system ends up being cramped. A 9" Apple device will not be running conventional Mac OS X.
At the same time, a 9" screen is much too large for the iPhone OS. All the current apps are designed around a single display format and resolution. A 9" Apple device will not run iPhone OS.
The 9" format is neither pocketable, or good for desktop apps. The worst of all worlds.
So if Apple *are* making such a device, it is targeted at an entirely new role.
It could be textbooks and e-reading. Perhaps aimed at the education market.
But the current generation of readers have awesome battery life thanks to e-ink displays. E-ink means losing color and interactivity. But we know that it's a touch screen device. It is not going to sport an e-ink display.
So none of this makes sense. There is something missing from the picture.
Apple might well be making some kind of touch screen device. But whatever it is, it has to be something entirely new. It will have to offer best-in-class functionality at something or other. It has to have a compelling unique selling point.
And for the life of me, I can't imagine what that might be. And no one has posted anything that sounds vaguely credible.... yet.
C.
Well, it won't exactly be like that I suppose. But I'm sure the product will be very close and perhaps even better.
Given that the latest Snow Leopard build has a virtual keyboard on the toolbar - I'm thinking that gives more credence to the rumor.
I hope they run the full OS and can easily be driven by a BT keyboard when you're at a desk, or using a touch gesture while you're walking around...
I hope they run the full OS and can easily be driven by a BT keyboard when you're at a desk, or using a touch gesture while you're walking around...
That's basically what I've been thinking too. Especially iLife, iWork, and the eBook reading capabilities, which I consider to be very important to this device.
I was thinking about iPod touch prices but yes you do have a point with the unlocked iPhone.
I was trying to think of a better word but it didn't come to me.
iPhone OS also has lower hardware requirements than Mac OS X, which means less specs are needed for it to run just as well. Those two combined mean a device that's thin, cheap(er), and with good battery life.
You can if you use a virtual keyboard. Apple has the technology and the expertise to provide users with a completely satisfactory solution, just like they do with the iPhone now. I would immediately buy anything like this, provided input capabilities are good enough; it's time to replace my ol' iBook G3 with something newer...
Last but not least, this device will automatically DOMINATE the market that currently exists for ALL those ridiculous netbooks offered by other crappy PC makers...just like the iPhone did for cell phones, Apple is gonna reinvent demand and absorb 80% of it. GO APPLE!
I was hoping it would be $300-$400. I wish Apple would make something for its not-bathing-in-money fans. I want to prove to my grandfather that Macs are not sucky.
I don't get it. What the hell would be the point of a bluetooth keyboard on such a device? Apple is not going to allow this. If you want one then get the 13 inch macbook pro.
Don't bother with the white macbook though. More than likely it is being phased out.
I was hoping it would be $300-$400. I wish Apple would make something for its not-bathing-in-money fans. I want to prove to my grandfather that Macs are not sucky.
At that price, the margins would be zilch, profits would drop, and the stock would tank.
Please forgive Apple for wanting to make money, have profit, and keep the stockholders happy.
I want to prove to my grandfather that Macs are not sucky.
He has problems if the cost of an item denotes "suckiness".
How about this?
Build a tablet device with:
--all the major cell radios
--WiFi
--universal SIM card and supporting firmware
This device could be sold by:
--Apple
--Any/all carriers
--retail stores from botiques to big-box
--vending machines
And have various price models:
--subsidized, tied to a specific carrier
--un-subsidized not tied to any carrier
--bulk purchases
The subsidized, single-carrier user would purchase, activate and use as he does today with the iPhone.
The un-subsized, universal user would:
--purchase anywhere, anytime
--activate online through app store
--activate with multiple carriers if desired to get lower rates
--pay-per-use for actual use (at higher rate) on best carrier signal currently available
The universal firmware could be set to automatically find, set and switch carriers based on signal quality, speed, cost-per-minute, minimum usage minutes remaining, location, time-of-day, etc.
World travelers could avoid switchings SIMS and/or roaming charges.
Dick