Foxconn to Manufacture Tablet for Q1 2010 Launch?

[EagerDragon]

Somehow I doubt that, as even just an iPT for $50 is a really good value.

But I would not use it. It would be given to someone or sit collecting dust and I would carry only devices of use to me. The iPhone has the same features plus phone which makes it more valuable to me.

In my dreams, I can see a table to replace the iPhone and a laptop. I do not do data entry for a living so I do not need to write 400 words per minute. I need to write down ideas, snippeds of a conversation, draw a concept on the screen, edit or crop a photo, send emails, read documents, read and bookmark lots of PDF files, fill out web forms, get files from home while on the road.

I would use a bluetooth headset for phone calls or even the iPhone ear plugs. The tablet would sit in my bag, briefcase, or my hand while talking on the phone and would be just like carrying a pad of paper like I do when I attend a meeting.

800-1200 fine with me for the above

for an overgrown iPhone I would pay 400 to 600 with contract.

For an overgrown iPod Touch, I would pay nothing.

 

[paradox00]

You seem to suggest an overgrown iPod Touch for 800 bucks?

Yes, I would carry this device if it had the functionality of a laptop and full OSX with me as I would leave my laptop home and would be willing to pay 800 to 1200 for it.

Most times I would carry it if it has full laptop functionality, minus keyboard, minus dvd. In the rare occations I would not carry it, I would move my SIM to my iPhone and just carry that. However I can see me carry it just like carrying a standard physical pad of paper. Just one thing ... I am thinking about the convenience in a business situation and since I have my own company, I am always at work even when sleeping.

I have no use for an iPod Touch replacement, but could use it as an iPhone replacement for the advantage of the larger screen to write into and for the ability to see more of a web page or document in size large enough to read without zooming. One large pad of electronic pad of paper that gives me phone capability also.

An overgrown iPod Touch would not be of value to me given that I already have an iPhone. Would not buy it even for $50 bucks. But replacing the iPhone or even better replaceing a laptop and iphone with this would be of great value to me.

I don't even know where to begin with you. I don't know what your assumptions regarding iPhone OS are and I don't know what you need other than you need it for business. All I can suggest to you is to think outside the box a little. Remember that iPhone OS is an ever evolving product and the iPhone itself could have different functionality by the time a tablet is released, the potential of an iPhone OS powered tablet is really only limited by your own imagination. When we heard that Apple was working on an iPod phone, most people thought phone + clickwheel. That isn't what we got. In much the same manner, the tablet will not be a supersized iPod touch even if it does run a variant of iPhone OS.

 

[SLCentral]

Has DigiTimes EVER been right? I don't mean rarely, I mean EVER. I don't even know why they're still used as a rumor source after literally half a decade of bogus stories.

 

[paradox00]

But I would not use it. It would be given to someone or sit collecting dust and I would carry only devices of use to me. The iPhone has the same features plus phone which makes it more valuable to me.

In my dreams, I can see a table to replace the iPhone and a laptop. I do not do data entry for a living so I do not need to write 400 words per minute. I need to write down ideas, snippeds of a conversation, draw a concept on the screen, edit or crop a photo, send emails, read documents, read and bookmark lots of PDF files, fill out web forms, get files from home while on the road.

I would use a bluetooth headset for phone calls or even the iPhone ear plugs. The tablet would sit in my bag, briefcase, or my hand while talking on the phone and would be just like carrying a pad of paper like I do when I attend a meeting.

Edit: One idea in favor of having a tablet and an iPhone would be to allow the iPhone to become a remote control for the tablet. Say a tablet version of PowerPoint is created. You could plug the tablet into the projector and run the presentation from the iPhone.

800-1200 fine with me for the above

for an overgrown iPhone I would pay 400 to 600 with contract.

For an overgrown iPod Touch, I would pay nothing.

A couple thoughts to chew on:
-A tablet would likely receive multitasking before an the iPhone due to its superior hardware.
-Everything you do on an iPhone could be done quicker and easier on a tablet running a variant of iPhone OS (minus phone calls of course).
-They could potentially allow tethering so your iPhone can provide an internet connection for the tablet, so you don't have to pay two data plans.
-There will very likely be tablet only apps, possibly touch optimized versions of Office or iWork.

If anything, the tablet would be so attractive that you might not need your iPhone and you could opt for a cheaper, smaller dumbphone. However, the iPhone will always have the always with you advantage. And seriously carrying an iPhone and a tablet would be little different from carrying just a tablet. The iPhone hides in a pocket and I personally forget it is there since i don't feel it at all.

 

[JosUK]

Won't replace Kindle

If Apple Tablet does not have e-ink or equivalent technology it won't replace the Kindle. E-ink is easy on the eye and good power consumption

 

[hiimamac]

How long before someone says it better come with OS X?

IT BETTER COME with OSX!

Seriously though, if MSFT courier is real and comes out first, while two different products, I could see a lot of people getting it, with Apple once again not getting a lot of share like they did with the iphone, especially if the courier can do some of the same things.

Time will tell.

 

[Ping Guo]

You can't really go by what an iPhone costs unlocked. The 64GB iPT is $400, and it's an iPhone without the camera, phone, and GPS. Not a lot of a difference, hardware-wise.

OK, but $900 is more or less the price of the 3GS in countries where it is sold factory unlocked - Hong Kong, Italy, etc. So whatever the reason for the price difference between the Touch and iPhone, a tablet would most likely have 3G and GPS, so at the very least we can assume that with a 10" touchscreen and minimum 64 GB SSD, the tablet would cost somewhat more than an unlocked iPhone.

Additionally, going by what other similarly-sized tablet computers cost, any price point under $1K seems unlikely, given that this will A. most likely be sleeker and contain more expensive miniaturized parts, and B. be made by Apple.

 

[pimentoLoaf]

I hope there would be a WiFi-only device, as a wireless phone version only would be too expensive for me -- and probably many other people.

 

[hiimamac]

Thanks for that insight Mr. Balmer. Trust me, if this device is more than and different from a mega-iPhone it will have a market at $799-899. It may not be the biggest thing since the iPod, but it has plenty of potential with the Apple brain trust behind it. Remember the original iPod, the one with 5GB of storage and no iTunes as a selling point was $399 and plenty of Apple FanBoys mocked it. Good thing they were not on Apple's management team, eh.

You know the drill - High price to early adopters, followed by new model w/ steep price cut. Plus if Apple pawns off a subsidized model to Verizon or ATT it could be a stampede out of the gate. Don't give short shift to a tablet just because M$ failed. M$ is the WORST marketer of all time because they have big biz boxed in with Win and Office giving them a lifetime supply of profit which Apple doesn't have backing it up.

Did anyone read the comment about the prototypes being nothing more then a large iphone for reading in the net in the bathroom? What's wrong with that? I do that all the time. LOL LOL LOL.

 

[paradox00]

If Apple Tablet does not have e-ink or equivalent technology it won't replace the Kindle. E-ink is easy on the eye and good power consumption

It won't replace the kindle in the same way that the iPod wont replace the Zune. Some people came about the higher audio quality (so I'm told, I've never tried a Zune) that the Zune provides while most others prefer the increased functionality of the iPod touch. Most people would choose a multifunction device over a dedicated reader, even if the dedicated reader was easier on the eyes and lasted longer.

 

[rtdunham]

... 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.

I suspect IF and when a product's released, your question--how does it slot between the iPhone and MBP (or, "do i need this third device?) will be the question we'll all ask. What's the niche? I hope there's a good answer.

I'm not sure it could succeed if it's just a Kindle competitor. I wouldn't bet on apple offering a broader selection of titles than Amazon. Apple hasn't impressed me with the movie selection it offers on AppleTV.

 

[paradox00]

IT BETTER COME with OSX!

Seriously though, if MSFT courier is real and comes out first, while two different products, I could see a lot of people getting it, with Apple once again not getting a lot of share like they did with the iphone, especially if the courier can do some of the same things.

Time will tell.

Have you seen the prototype pictures? It isn't coming out first.

 

[ctdonath]

A 10.7" display with iPod Nano resolution is full 1080p HD.

 

[dernhelm]

Why would anyone think a tablet would just be a really big iPod Touch? How long would that take to develop? If Apple wanted to release a large iPod Touch, they'd have done it years ago.

Clearly there is more to it than that.

 

[Moof1904]

Let's not overlook the liver factor

Yes, SJ has said in the past that he's not interested in a mobile reading device because nobody reads any more but let's not overlook that he has a new liver now. I suspect that the previous owner of Steve's new liver was a bibliophile and the organ is slowly taking control of Apple's strategic direction.

 

[splintah]

If it runs full osx and has proper 3d (geforce9400) i buy it immediately

 

[Chupa Chupa]

SSD HDD = Silent Laptop.

My 128GB SSD and my Unibody MBP are silent.

Yes, but they still weigh 4-5lbs (I know I also have a 13" MBP w/ SSD) - not to mention a decent 128 SSD costs $300 alone. I love my MBP dearly, but there are times its more than I need or want for reasons I noted in earlier posts. A tablet complements a laptop, it's not a replacement.

 

[RazHyena]

Can't wait for the iPod Touch XXL.

Put a full OS X on it, and I might bring it to the coffee lounge instead of my whitebook.



.....you know, so I can look cool and everything.

 

[NT1440]

All of these conflicting reports have me excited, usually when they are so all over the board apple truly pulls out the unexpected and wows us. I'm very interested to see what happens

 

[omahajim]

removed

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Why would anyone think a tablet would just be a really big iPod Touch? How long would that take to develop? If Apple wanted to release a large iPod Touch, they'd have done it years ago.

Clearly there is more to it than that.

It's not really all that clear to me. There was a time when SJ said flash memory music players were not any good because you couldn't see what was playing or easily switch to a song you wanted...until of course Apple came out with the first iPod shuffle, then it was what everyone wanted...so he said.

Of course Apple could have come out with a flash player years before. The very first MP3 players were flash after all. So while logically you are correct, there is no logic when predicting what Apple will do.

 

[xhambonex]

Have you seen the prototype pictures? It isn't coming out first.

No but we've seen concepts from Microsoft. I have seen artists concepts for Apple, but nothing from Apple yet. They are both in relatively the exact same place, concepts. Though I would argue that Microsoft seems to be thinking something completely different than Apple.

A couple thoughts to chew on:
-A tablet would likely receive multitasking before an the iPhone due to its superior hardware.
-Everything you do on an iPhone could be done quicker and easier on a tablet running a variant of iPhone OS (minus phone calls of course).
-They could potentially allow tethering so your iPhone can provide an internet connection for the tablet, so you don't have to pay two data plans.
-There will very likely be tablet only apps, possibly touch optimized versions of Office or iWork.

If anything, the tablet would be so attractive that you might not need your iPhone and you could opt for a cheaper, smaller dumbphone. However, the iPhone will always have the always with you advantage. And seriously carrying an iPhone and a tablet would be little different from carrying just a tablet. The iPhone hides in a pocket and I personally forget it is there since i don't feel it at all.

The same logic Applies with tablet to laptop.

My biggest concern is this...if I already have a smartphone, or more specifically an iPhone, what feature is this tablet going to offer that I don't already have on my phone. Keep in mind you already take your phone with you everywhere, so we are talking about something that would actually convince you to carry a second device (an expensive device). Its not convenient to carry something that I have to hold.

Print media would be great on a tablet no doubt, but if I'm not going to use my iphone, which already does this stuff, and will carry around a second device (the tablet), why would I spend the X amount of money on an Apple tablet when I could get a kindle or other e-reader for a fraction of the cost? Its not worth a couple hundred dollars to own a second device, a less portable device, that simply duplicates features available to the iPhone on a larger screen. I'm not implying that the tablet is going to be a big iPhone/iPod Touch, but no doubt it will be offering the same access to all the apps, media, internet and what not.

It needs an x factor if you will, and at the moment its not their, or simply Apple isn't going to let anyone find out what it is. Oh and yes I know this product will most likely not be marketed at me and I will most likely not buy it.

 

[Undecided]

I don't even know where to begin with you. I don't know what your assumptions regarding iPhone OS are and I don't know what you need other than you need it for business. All I can suggest to you is to think outside the box a little. Remember that iPhone OS is an ever evolving product and the iPhone itself could have different functionality by the time a tablet is released, the potential of an iPhone OS powered tablet is really only limited by your own imagination. When we heard that Apple was working on an iPod phone, most people thought phone + clickwheel. That isn't what we got. In much the same manner, the tablet will not be a supersized iPod touch even if it does run a variant of iPhone OS.

I think his point is not so much OS X vs. iPhone OS, but rather OS X applications vs. iPhone OS apps. The underlying OS matters, sure (see Windows vs. OS X), but the key thing is the applications (and screen size).

Given his business needs, certainly he'd want "real" accounting applications, word processing, spreadsheets, etc. not to mention the ability to connect a keyboard, mouse and screen. That makes one think of OS X instead of the iPhone OS, but it's really the apps and if/when those types of apps are available for the iPhone OS, then the concern over what OS the tablet would run would disappear.

 

[firewood]

Amazon:

Note that Amazon has a Kindle app for the iPhone, and it's very popular. They probably aren't too worried, as they want to make money by selling digital books. Device hardware isn't their core competency. They'll probably be glad for Apple to develop a nice tablet, as long as Apple allows them to put a Kindle app on it. More devices == more Kindle book sales.

OS X:

The iPhone OS is OS X, a customized version of Snow Leopard with the Cocoa Touch UI. The Intel/Cocoa/Finder version would require a device too heavy or with too little battery life, and using that UI without a desk would be a huge pain. No one carries an MacBook Air in their purse. But lots more people (among the "other" 60%) carry paperback books .

Don't want one, or FAIL:

It's not for you. It's not for people who want to use a MacBook or iPhone/Touch instead. Apple's already got your money. If this tablet exists, it's to grow the market among people for whom a MacBook is too heavy/expensive/complicated and a Touch is too small to read what they want (book and magazine sized web pages and other content (plus apps!)).

 

[paradox00]

I think his point is not so much OS X vs. iPhone OS, but rather OS X applications vs. iPhone OS apps. The underlying OS matters, sure (see Windows vs. OS X), but the key thing is the applications (and screen size).

Given his business needs, certainly he'd want "real" accounting applications, word processing, spreadsheets, etc. not to mention the ability to connect a keyboard, mouse and screen. That makes one think of OS X instead of the iPhone OS, but it's really the apps and if/when those types of apps are available for the iPhone OS, then the concern over what OS the tablet would run would disappear.

Ultimately if the demand for an app was there, an app would be developed. The biggest restriction on apps on a tablet would be the hardware, not iPhone OS. Full OSX would lead to a user experience that in my opinion doesn't meet Apples standards. Navigating OSX programs designed for a cursor and more powerful processors could be very troublesome and annoying. Looking at what iPhone OS is now and only the currently available apps is just very short sighted in my opinion. I would rather wait for a properly designed app than be stuck with an unintuitive (for touch input) and sluggish program forever.

iPhone OS is Apples touch platform right now. As hardware improves, iPhone OS will simply borrow more and more from OSX.