Jobs "Extremely Happy" with Upcoming Apple Tablet and a Surprise?

[cmaier]

That's why they said PalmPilots (Treo's, etc.) would outsell iPhones.

Not.

That's not why they said that 'Twas the keyboard.

 

[firewood]

There are only two main user groups for tablets right now, AFAIK:

...

Apple will have to create a new tablet market, whatever that is.

I consider the iPod Touch to have created that market already... except that I (and perhaps a lot of potential new customers) need reading glasses to use one easily.

A larger device would satisfy that growth demographic (and maybe also sell into the two tiny vertical fringe groups you mentioned).

 

[firewood]

That's not why they said that 'Twas the keyboard.

Not quite. Handspring/Palm's market research said that about half of their potential customers preferred keyboards, and the other half preferred using the stylus. That's why Treo's supported both.

But according to current sales, it looks far more likely that a multi-touch display is really what at least half the market now wants, with the lions share of the remainder going for tiny keyboards, not stylii. Over 30M PalmOS devices were sold, but as a former developer for that platform, I know how far and fast that app market has completely collapsed.

 

[cmaier]

Not quite. Handspring/Palm's market research said that about half of their potential customers preferred keyboards, and the other half preferred using the stylus. That's why Treo's supported both.

But according to current sales, it looks far more likely that a multi-touch display is really what at least half the market now wants, with the lions share of the remainder going for tiny keyboards, not stylii. Over 30M PalmOS devices were sold, but as a former developer for that platform, I know how far and fast that app market has completely collapsed.

I also developed for PalmOS. Positively antiquated.

 

[MorphingDragon]

I also developed for PalmOS. Positively antiquated.

Palm is dead now so we can sleep easy at night.

 

[str1f3]

There are only two main user groups for tablets right now, AFAIK:

1) Field applications. Sales and service employees are often given a tablet with highly customized software.

2) Medical students. Apparently a tablet with MS One Note on it, is a popular note taking and learning aid.

Apple will have to create a new tablet market, whatever that is.

Well said. I think that Apple can serve both those markets while creating a new market. The problem with many tablet OS's is that the OS wasn't properly redesigned to take advantage of the hardware. Well that and they were overly expensive.

 

[Kwill]

The power of charisma

Imagine what it would be like to make headlines merely because someone quotes you as being "extremely happy" about anything.

 

[LagunaSol]

Imagine what it would be like to make headlines merely because someone quotes you as being "extremely happy" about anything.

I think maybe you missed the reason behind the "extremely happy" feeling, which was the only reason this is a headline at all.

 

[Eric S.]

I think maybe you missed the reason behind the "extremely happy" feeling, which was the only reason this is a headline at all.

Good point but still, if Jobs were extremely happy with his haircut it would also make the news.

 

[ildondeigiocchi]

If Jobs is excited, I'm excited! Can't wait to see what the tablet offers.

 

[lilo777]

Good point but still, if Jobs were extremely happy with his haircut it would also make the news.

Besides, has Steve ever been unhappy (on public) about any Apple product? It's called "spin". Was not he happy about MacBook Air and Apple TV? We'll see but I am pretty sure that Apple will use term "revolutionary" to describe new tablet or whatever it is

 

[kdarling]

Besides, has Steve ever been unhappy (on public) about any Apple product?

Not an Apple product per se, but when he introduced the ROKR phone, he was clearly not in love.

Jobs shows off the ROKR

Small wonder that a Verizon exec wasn't excited about the idea of another "iPod phone", when they were approached six months later.