why an OS X tablet makes sense
I agree that Apple shouldn't/won't enter the PDA market. However, I think it's entirely feasible - and desirable - for Apple to develop a new device between the handheld PDA and the iMac ... and I think that such a device could be a tablet.
I've been in lots of business meetings (and worked on a graduate degree) over the past few years and I've been struck by the fact that everyone who used a PDA also brought along a pad of paper. The PDA was used for reference (schedules, emails, etc.), with some minimal editing, while the pad of paper was used for gathering new information, entered by hand. Folks with laptops similarly tended not to use their laptops so much during meetings, lectures/presentations, etc. They took notes on pads of paper. Don't get me wrong, I've loved having a Powerbook G4, but I generally only used it when I was effectively alone (you can only watch so many DVDs on flights). This has been the main reason I haven?t bought a PDA for myself (though I?ve tried them) ? a pad of paper has been ultimately more useful (and cheaper), though lacking in ?coolness?.
Now, an xTablet, with a appropriately pruned version of OS X that uses a low power 600 MHz G3, with an iBook-type of battery, and an iPod type of drive, would be a good start. Handwriting recognition is a must. I?d like a color LCD touch display, but would settle for greyscale. Firewire and 802.11g-compatible Airport would provide excellent connectivity. I?m not so keen on the voice recognition as a primary input means, suggested by a prior posting, because voice recognition doesn?t allow much for privacy. I would, however, like to be able to digitally record lectures/presentations/meetings (I think that Apple missed out by not including this in the iPod ? I ended up getting an Olmypus DM-1 digital recorder/MP3 player) and occasional voice notes (for subsequent recognition?). Add audio input to an iPod and that could be the invput device for this. I wouldn?t mind a small ?handscanner?, built-in, that stores material for later OCR or processing of images.
The main thrust of the xTablet would be to help me gather information as I go throughout my day ? like a multimedia ?pad of paper?. I don?t really need to do extensive processing while I?m away from my ?digital hub? G4 ? if I did, I?d use a Powerbook. When I got home, it?d be great if my xTablet would automatically sync/back-up with/to my G4.
Now, a feature that I think could really drive sales of an xTablet would be its ability to act as an input device for other computers. Like a Wacom tablet, it could emulate a mouse but there?s no technical reason why it couldn?t also emulate a standard keyboard as an input device, say via a USB port (or some sort of wireless dongle). Instead of writing long drafts on paper first, I?d write on the xTablet and it would send keyboard-like commands to my G4. It would, in effect, be a ?dual processor? system, with one processor that you could carry with you. In fact, there?s not much reason, that I can see, why the xTablet couldn?t emulate a lot of keyboard interfaces ? in multiple languages - with a ?virtual? keyboard displayed on the touch display (perhaps with a plastic overlay to reduce wear and tear?).
And, to further drive sales, enable the xTablet to emulate a PC keyboard by connecting to a PC. That way, I could move seamlessly between my Mac environments at work and home and my PC environment at school. Just think of it as a way to get millions of PC users to buy Macs ? a ?foot in the door?, as it were ?
The component parts, based on existing products, would cost around $900, but I?m betting that Apple could drop that to $700 or so (perhaps by making an xTablet the default keyboard for Apple?s professional desktops?). I?m living mostly on a grad student income right now but would gladly pay $800-1000 for such a device. A Palm PDA with a keyboard and wireless Ethernet already costs more than that. And I think it makes good sense: it responds to existing practices (rather than trying to force people to change), the potential market is huge (it can be justified in the business marketplace ? something the iPod can?t), and it could be a winning entry point for current Windows users.
The G4 Cube was positioned between the iMac and the G4 and didn?t sell well ? in spite of its visual appeal ? because people had a lower option with sufficient usefulness. With an xTablet, there would be nothing in Apple?s computer line below it ? if folks needed more, they?d buy up to an iMac.
would that be a PDA???
