While I think we'll always have virtual keyboards, the iPhone keyboard does suck! I'll predict they'll have an optional slide out keyboard soon (I'm sure it will be cooler than anything else today).
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More Sources Point to a Touchscreen Apple Netbook in 2009
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While I think we'll always have virtual keyboards, the iPhone keyboard does suck! I'll predict they'll have an optional slide out keyboard soon (I'm sure it will be cooler than anything else today).
Oh - I forgot - an iTunes store for these apps as well. Can you imagine a Kindle app on this type of device? Although Amazon would need to get out of the hardware business, I'm sure the book business would pop for the holiday.
Whether this is a tablet or netbook or netbook with touchscreen is irrelevant to me. I think Apple is trying to make something that's in-between an iPhone/iPod Touch and MacBook. Just like how Asus has the Splashtop quick-launching system, I think Apple wants to mimic something similar to that. Imagine a MacBook that could boot up into an interface like the iPhone/iPod Touch's. You'd have access to your bear essentials (like music and web browsing) without dealing with a full OS. While that's good and all, I think a full, robust version of Mac OS X is a necessity. I don't mind dealing with most of those iPhone/iPod Touch apps, but if I'm writing an essay or coding for computer science, I want my regular text editors and access to the Terminal and copy and paste and all of that good stuff that the real Mac OS X gives you.
Basically, I'm expecting a hybrid laptop and iPhone/iPod Touch. I hope it gets made because I would like an Apple-style netbook for next school semester when I'm commuting by train. I could deal with an iPhone/iPod Touch-style OS or separate interface to take advantage of the alleged touchscreen, but I hope it'd be more robust and closer to the normal Mac OS X and a full keyboard.
And I hope it has support for Boot Camp for fun.
Basically, I'm expecting a hybrid laptop and iPhone/iPod Touch. I hope it gets made because I would like an Apple-style netbook for next school semester when I'm commuting by train. I could deal with an iPhone/iPod Touch-style OS or separate interface to take advantage of the alleged touchscreen, but I hope it'd be more robust and closer to the normal Mac OS X and a full keyboard.
And I hope it has support for Boot Camp for fun.
GotMyOrangeCrus
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I agree and this is almost exactly what I was thinking myself. The only thing I disagree on is the use of a SSD. I would prefer it if they did use a SSD but considering they will be trying to keep this thing down in price, well we will just have to see.
What I would really like to see from Apple next is a line of solar chargers. Maybe even incorporate solar into some of thier future notebooks and netbooks. Considering how serious they are about the environment and designing enviromentally friendly computers, it seems like an obvious next step imo.
If they don't price it into the stratosphere, I will definitely buy one.
Shortly thereafter, I will conduct a small, quiet retirement ceremony for my trusty little 12" Powerbook.Taps will be played.
Agreed, Apple must price it below $800, unless they make it a super premium product that yet again appeals to the rich and people that want shiny objects.
A 'tablet' style 9-10' touchscreen, with multi-touch, a foldable stand which props it up like a picture frame, and which connects to the apple bluetooth keyboard would be ****ing perfect. Yes, it won't fit everyone's need, but it would be a form-factor that would be extremely useful for many applications, and without a keyboard, it would differentiate it enough from the laptop line to make it a unique product with a unique appeal.
The big question is what processor they will use. If we knew that we could probably pin point where they were heading with the function and design.
The more I think about it, the more probable it is that this device will be a very thin sub-notebook which is more notebook than iPT/iPhone.
Going forward to a September release date (let's assume), it would be off the wall for Apple to have an expanded computer platform offering smaller drives than the tinker toy iPT.
The more I think about it, the more probable it is that this device will be a very thin sub-notebook which is more notebook than iPT/iPhone.
By the time this comes out we'll have 64GB iPTs for $399. The chips are so small and compact they don't add a lot of space or weight to a tablet if you have 64gb built in behind a 10" screen.
Going forward to a September release date (let's assume), it would be off the wall for Apple to have an expanded computer platform offering smaller drives than the tinker toy iPT.
I can see Apple going in three different directions on this.
1) Build a competitively priced (sub $500) "Netbook". It would have the bare minimum requirements to run OS X and the iLife suite. 10" crappy screen. No touch screen. No optical drive. 80 gig HD.
I don't really see Apple releasing such a product as it would be too poor in performance to wow loyal Mac users away from the entry level MacBook. It also wouldn't be cheap enough to wow any new customers away from other NetBooks priced cheaper.
2) 10" Mac Tablet. Runs OS X. Similar specs to the MacBook Air. $2000.
Again I cannot really see Apple releasing such a product. I don't believe the Air is selling all that well and as much as it would create a large "WOW!" factor I cannot see that many people buying it.
3) 7-10" Mac Tablet. Runs "pumped up" iPhone OS. Built in GPS navigation with both Wireless and (as an extra) AT&T G3 internet service. Priced $799+
This would be the most interesting product. A "pumped up" iPhone OS should be powerful enough to run internet browsing (including Flash) and basic word processing. There's also the feature of being able to sell AT&T G3 service for people who want wireless "anywhere". Developers could also write Apps directly for the Tablet and sell them through iTunes. Like the Kindle, one could download new apps from "anywhere". Built in Bluetooth would allow the product to be used as a pseudo desktop.
1) Build a competitively priced (sub $500) "Netbook". It would have the bare minimum requirements to run OS X and the iLife suite. 10" crappy screen. No touch screen. No optical drive. 80 gig HD.
I don't really see Apple releasing such a product as it would be too poor in performance to wow loyal Mac users away from the entry level MacBook. It also wouldn't be cheap enough to wow any new customers away from other NetBooks priced cheaper.
2) 10" Mac Tablet. Runs OS X. Similar specs to the MacBook Air. $2000.
Again I cannot really see Apple releasing such a product. I don't believe the Air is selling all that well and as much as it would create a large "WOW!" factor I cannot see that many people buying it.
3) 7-10" Mac Tablet. Runs "pumped up" iPhone OS. Built in GPS navigation with both Wireless and (as an extra) AT&T G3 internet service. Priced $799+
This would be the most interesting product. A "pumped up" iPhone OS should be powerful enough to run internet browsing (including Flash) and basic word processing. There's also the feature of being able to sell AT&T G3 service for people who want wireless "anywhere". Developers could also write Apps directly for the Tablet and sell them through iTunes. Like the Kindle, one could download new apps from "anywhere". Built in Bluetooth would allow the product to be used as a pseudo desktop.
I can believe all of this except for the 10 hour battery life and the price.
If a netbook had 10 hours of battery life, everyone would buy it and forget about having a MacBook that gets 5 hours of battery life. And a battery with that kind of technology would probably be very expensive to produce.
$599 would be a very low price if it was compared to the new Mac Mini. I am thinking that the price should be about $899 or maybe $999 since it will have the touch screen. What you need to think about is this netbook will be replacing the White MacBook that is currently still being sold. I think Apple would want to keep this netbook in a similar price range.
I like the idea of having no fans and the SSD though. It would make it seem more like a large iPhone. I would guess that you could either get an 64GB SSD or a 120GB Hard Drive though.
Here's the way I see it - today, SSDs are a luxury. By October a 32GB SSD in a 1.8 (or smaller) drive could be bought in bulk by apple for little $$$. If you can put a 32 GB in an iPod Touch today, you can put it in this device tomorrow.
Regarding green, check this out:
http://www.engadget.com/tag/lincroft
That type of low power consumption will get more bang for the buck than some type of alternative energy source. If I could build a netbook that lasts all day on a charge, I think I'd be able to call it green.
I hope this isn't spamming, but check this out:
http://www.engadget.com/tag/lincroft
"Moorestown consists of a Lincroft micro-architecture that integrates the 45nm processor, graphics, memory controller, and video encode/decode functions onto a single, tiny chip with 10x less idle power draw than those first-gen, Atom-based MIDs and UMPCs."
That's coming down the pipeline, into our grubby, little, recession-breaking hands by Christmas... I'd like to think Apple will be on that train.
Now as far as the price.... If Apple tries to charge more than $599 for it, I'll bet you see the hackintosh market really take off.
Good luck with that. (How much does a 1920x1080 touch screen cost, anyway?)
That would work too, and maybe iPhone apps could run right in Mac OS X. And I'm assuming that the "iPhone OS mode" would have longer battery life and stuff like that. If the device ends up with just iPhone OS, I can only see an extended version with Mac OS X features not in the regular iPhone OS. Probably quite a bunch, given the supposed 10" display size.
I'm sure Apple would make it thin and that can mean it would be (even) more expensive.
I would assume such a device would run mobile (iPhone OS) versions of iLife and iWork too, although advanced features would be missing.
You are taking into account that (a) it's 10x less idle power (although the device would presumably be near-idle much of the time) and (b) the display will drain a lot of battery, right?
Guess it's time to get rid of my 1st gen MacBook Air, and put that dough to work for this SWEET sounding Netbook. I just bought one of the new Macbooks last month, so this will be the perfect companion. Actually...I may get rid of my 2007 iMac, use my Macbook as a desktop replacement, and use the Netbook as my notebook on trips. Woo-hoo! Apple sounds like you're going to come through for the masses! Go and whip those cheapos *sses!
Nobody has any real idea what this "netbook" is going to be like. All this writing is mere speculation at where they might be aiming the product and what people hope for.
I saw another post from a real genius earlier that thought we were making up stuff and convincing ourselves it actually exists. That's not the case here, but don't let the speculation make you think it is real.
No prob. Sounds like you might hit the upper end of Numbers.
Your point on notes is exactly what I've encountered and wonder why Apple hasn't run in this direction sooner. A LOT of people need a hand writing recognition note pad which saves time and space and effort in organizing notes. I feel Apple has had eyes only on music/video with smaller devices so far. If they made the laptops smaller, simpler, and with better input via hand writing, I believe they'll have something wonderful.
And something of this size can also compete with the Kindle, which can help contain text books, books, newspapers, magazines, etc. A tablet from Apple could be potentially beyond awesome.
If I were Apple I'd say - "Bah!" - They don't want to cannibalize sales, and they don't want to draw needless power. This is a companion device, not a replacement. They can run the full OS, but properly cripple the thing as a replacement device by relying on those other devices for that kind of connectivity. You'll need an iMac, MacMini, MacPro or TimeCapsule to actually store your media.
Sure, if the DOW was at 15,000 and our houses were all worth $1,000,000, they could do that, but we're in a recession....
My mistake. That was actually from the poster I quoted here, I copied and pasted the quote, and when I broke it up with the quote tags, that part somehow ended up by itself (no quotes around it).
Anyway, both that poster and I believe that such a device is unlikely.
I think this will be great. Sure it will be expensive, but I can't stand the iPod Touch I have. Glad I got it for free, I would not have purchased one otherwise.
Surfing the web or watching anything on the Touch is more work than its worth. Some of the Apps are nicely configured for the screen size but this iTab would be much better overall.
Looking forward to more news on this and I hope its not too far out of my price range.
Surfing the web or watching anything on the Touch is more work than its worth. Some of the Apps are nicely configured for the screen size but this iTab would be much better overall.
Looking forward to more news on this and I hope its not too far out of my price range.
Hey now. I just posted this in the first thread. Cool Stuff, huh?
Anyway, I said that my money is on this:
Truth be told, if it's good enough for me to do some real mobile work... (2ghz + 1gb ram) ... I'll buy that and a MacPro.
Problem with a touch keyboard is you really have to LOOK at the keyboard since there is no tactile feedback. And if it's meant for real typing (not just thumbs) then it would be even more necessary to look at it if it's not full size. At least full size the keys would be where you expect for the most part. In this example you've made, I think the keyboard would be too small for real typing, and too large a reach for just thumbs.
I seriously hope they come up with an apple version of the netbooks by acer and HP. The HPs cost from $399 to $599, so don't expect Apple to charge less than $599. But I'm guessing $699 or even $799. The Apple product will be better and more innovative and have OSX. If they go above $799, then it will compete too closely with the MacBook. Too cheap and it competes with the phones and touches. It needs to hit that void between microcomputing (the touch) and laptop (the macbook.) A super thin, super small macbook air is really my thought. And I could see them adding 3G tech and connections built in.
External monitor + keyboard for iPhone/iPodT
Instead of a full netbook I would love to see an extension for the iPhone/iPod Toch. A 10" display together with a small keyboard in the shape of a tiny MacBook Air from the outside, but thinner, because the actual computer will be the iPhone/iPod. Connection via dock adapter and as soon as it is connected to iPhone/iPod will be just a trackpad.
What do you think?
I don't think many people would by a netbook from Apple, for all the obvious reasons mentioned in this forum. I mean, if it's good quality and useful it will be just as expensive as a macbook or macbook air, but with compromised display and keyboard, so people would buy one of the latter. If it is cheap like 300-400 bucks, it will be as limited as a iPhone or iPod Touch, but clumsier to carry, thus people will buy the iPhone or iPod...
Instead of a full netbook I would love to see an extension for the iPhone/iPod Toch. A 10" display together with a small keyboard in the shape of a tiny MacBook Air from the outside, but thinner, because the actual computer will be the iPhone/iPod. Connection via dock adapter and as soon as it is connected to iPhone/iPod will be just a trackpad.
What do you think?
I don't think many people would by a netbook from Apple, for all the obvious reasons mentioned in this forum. I mean, if it's good quality and useful it will be just as expensive as a macbook or macbook air, but with compromised display and keyboard, so people would buy one of the latter. If it is cheap like 300-400 bucks, it will be as limited as a iPhone or iPod Touch, but clumsier to carry, thus people will buy the iPhone or iPod...
Am I the 'real genius' here? I was thanking someone for their help with an inquiry about iWork. The part at the end about the note taking was an after thought on what I hope to get out of the speculated product. I wasnt taking anything about the thread as a fact.
Hence it will leverage their BT (or maybe even wired usb) keyboard, or they will find a way to attach a keyboard to the device as a cover. Kind of like how you can take a cover off of a TI-8x but slip it right back on the back.
I said it in the first thread, and someone else said it in this one, but I also imagine some sort of stand, where you can prop the device up and use it as a monitor. BT keyboard + device used in monitor style = perfect portable typing (where you have a desk
).