Foxconn to Manufacture Tablet for Q1 2010 Launch?

Poff said:
Not needing to find your laptop to surf the web? Having one of these conveniently placed in your living room will mean you're always accessible.
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Yeah, but how lazy would I have to be to go spend hundreds of dollars on a tablet for the purpose you stated, instead of just walking to the back of the house and carrying my enormously heavy MacBook to the living room? :p
 
I'm guessing e-book functionality will be exploited thru iTunes?

Also, what is the benefit of carrying around this tablet AND an iPhone?
 
cswiger1 said:
I'm all for this tablet thing (probably), but there's not going to be a 'printing revolution' when this thing comes out (ie: interactive charts and stuff built into the text). Publishers already have a means of pushing this type of stuff to the consumer. It's called a web browser
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That is akin to saying dumbphones have internet access. They do, but it is so terrible that it will only be used if absolutely necessary.
 
colmaclean said:
How long before someone says it better come with OS X?
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yep i'll say that.... or at least have Page, Keynote and Numbers support and full keyboard like the iPhone, i would like to use this in lectures to take notes and view Slide Presentations :D i would quite happily sell my Air if the tablet did this :D
 
I just don't see what the big deal about this is. Between my MBP and iPhone, how much more connected can I be? This will not be a blockbuster product, but a device that will compete with Kindle and Sony EReaders, offering more than just reading. Plus, I'm pretty sure they'll exploit the iTunes store with this.
 
sishaw said:
Amazon has reduced the price of the Kindle to $259. If Apple can produce a full-color reader and media device that doesn't cause eyestrain and is priced in competitive range with the Kindle, allowing for a larger screen and color, it may kill the Kindle. The question for readers will be can Apple provide as much content as Amazon.
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are you kidding? This thing will cost $500 minimum! It better have a near e-ink experience for me to dump my kindle consdering how much it's going to cost.
 
xhambonex said:
If I had to guess, the tablet would be at least double the price of the kindle. An iPod touch costs the same as a kindle, theres no way a more full featured 10 whatever inch display tablet is going to cost $259.
...
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I would say $499 would be about right (assuming it is an e-reader/media device), which means that Apple will charge $699--and I'll buy it anyway!! ;-)
 
iWear said:
from http://www.fargonebooks.com/leary.html

"I don't think the novel, just as letters mass-produced in printing presses is the real way to communicate now. Anyone who writes a book now, half of it should be a videoed, multimedia book." - Tim Leary
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I agree wholeheartedly. I can't see this being just a way of reading text books; I think Apple is trying to create a media-rich reading environment.

Imagine reading a media Lord of the Rings on the tablet; with maps and illustrations. Perhaps it even plays dramatic background music while you're reading about the battle scenes. It could even offer dynamic text and page effects; so if you're reading about a city burning down and turn the page, the page starts to burn into ash (rather than just flipping over); or if you're reading the inscription on the ring, it disappears as you read it, just as in the film. All the text and graphics are optimised for the tablet's screen size; so no scrolling involved.
 
paradox00 said:
A 10.6" capacitive touchscreen device for $699 from Apple?
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It could be $699 with contract on a provider network which would make it even more to buy outright.

If they have been developing it for over five years it's almost beyond belief that it would just be an oversized touch, but I suppose it's possible.
 
whooleytoo said:
I agree wholeheartedly. I can't see this being just a way of reading text books; I think Apple is trying to create a media-rich reading environment.

Imagine reading a media Lord of the Rings on the tablet; with maps and illustrations. Perhaps it even plays dramatic background music while you're reading about the battle scenes. It could even offer dynamic text and page effects; so if you're reading about a city burning down and turn the page, the page starts to burn into ash (rather than just flipping over); or if you're reading the inscription on the ring, it disappears as you read it, just as in the film. All the text and graphics are optimised for the tablet's screen size; so no scrolling involved.
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I see you're sold on the idea then?
:p
I must admit a media-rich environment would be great… if it was possible to do plain vanilla reading as well…
Perhaps there are some days you just want to read without pages burning and dramatic background music. ;)

Mind you, I imagine the porn industry would grab this with both hands. So to speak.
 
So, to summarize:

- It will be made by FoxConn
- No, it will be made by Quanta

- It will have a 10.6" screen
- No, it's 9.6"
- No, 11"
- No, 7"
- No, multiple models with all of the above!

- It will run iPhone OS only
- No, it will run OS X

- It will be tied to a 3G contract and carrier subsidy
- No, it will be standalone
- No, both pricing options will be available

- It's going to be the e-book killer
- It's going to be the mobile video killer
- It's going to be the viewing-your-CD-album-art-killer!

- It will be released in Q1 2010
- No, Q2-Q3 at the earliest
- No, Steve Jobs hasn't even signed off on the final approval yet

Does that about cover it?
 
jmpage2 said:
It could be $699 with contract on a provider network which would make it even more to buy outright.

If they have been developing it for over five years it's almost beyond belief that it would just be an oversized touch, but I suppose it's possible.
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I agree that it would be possible subsidized, it could possibly cost less than $699 with a subsidy. Looking at other devices on the market like the archos tablets, I don't think a $699 unsubsidized price point is reasonable.

It's not like this is going to have the same processor as the kindle, and it will have to at least appear to be more fully featured than an iPhone. ebook functionality may be part of that, but it won't be limited to that either. I think the major change on the ebook end will be Apple getting into the distribution business and the tablet would be the best Apple branded device to read those ebooks on, but that wont be its only selling point.
 
notjustjay said:
So, to summarize:

- It will be made by FoxConn
- No, it will be made by Quanta

- It will have a 10.6" screen
- No, it's 9.6"
- No, 11"
- No, 7"
- No, multiple models with all of the above!

- It will run iPhone OS only
- No, it will run OS X

- It will be tied to a 3G contract and carrier subsidy
- No, it will be standalone
- No, both pricing options will be available

- It's going to be the e-book killer
- It's going to be the mobile video killer
- It's going to be the viewing-your-CD-album-art-killer!

- It will be released in Q1 2010
- No, Q2-Q3 at the earliest
- No, Steve Jobs hasn't even signed off on the final approval yet

Does that about cover it?
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I think someone is hoping that their guess will be correct so that they can tout their accurate "predictions" when they really just got lucky.
 
These folks who say they can't see a use for it - do they just not have any imagination? I can think of many, many uses. I would basically keep it with me all the time. My main uses would be for web browsing, email, reading eBooks (which I do now with the Kindle App), watching videos I download from iTunes - it would basically replace my laptop (if I had one). I have been wanting a portable device for some time now, but want something with a larger screen than my iPhone. I keep up with a number of TV shows thru iTunes, but the iPhone screen is just too small for good video viewing and I get tired of sitting at my Mac mini. I had been planning on buying a MacBook, but that just seems so old fashioned when compared to a possible Tablet. I just hope it doesn't cost over $900 (but wouldn't be surprised if it did).
 
For all those people tired of the rumors - you know you could always exercise some self control and not open the thread. It's that easy.
 
sishaw said:
I would say $499 would be about right (assuming it is an e-reader/media device), which means that Apple will charge $699--and I'll buy it anyway!! ;-)
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I really don't think it will be that cheap, knowing Apple. I predict $899 and wouldn't be surprised at $1000.
 
arkitect said:
I see you're sold on the idea then?
:p
I must admit a media-rich environment would be great… if it was possible to do plain vanilla reading as well…
Perhaps there are some days you just want to read without pages burning and dramatic background music. ;)
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Of course.. for those who just want to read the text, there's the "Vanilla Old Fogey Bah Humbug" mode without transitions, animations or music! ;)

The example above was just off the top of my head; for a technical publication you'd have the option of having blueprints & rotatable/zoomable 3D models; a cookery book could include how-to videos, built-in timers so nothing gets burnt etc..etc..

Nothing that can't already be done with a laptop, but it would be the packaging and marketing focus; along with the size of the device which should make it attractive.

arkitect said:
Mind you, I imagine the porn industry would grab this with both hands. So to speak.
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Both hands? That would never work.. obviously. Get a grip..
 
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