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Meh, they say a lot of things - for example, "we won't compete in this low cost market". If these rumors are true, well... thats all credibility lost.

I don't see the contradiction in a statement like "we won't compete in this low cost market" and "we are going to release a netbook/tablet" (whatever it may be in the end)

Even if apple would release a netbook with specs like a high end EEE PC, they won't sell it for less than a high end mac mini price => no competition in "low cost market".


I think more like:

32GB to 64GB and not SSD
1GB RAM should be enough
USB and maybe a display port
10 inch would be perfect
Not fully OSX more like a ipod touch type of interface
No physical keyboard (its not a laptop)
Wifi & G3 wireless connections
price: easily 900,- dollars

I think $800 is a more reasonable price point. This is will be smaller and less powerful than their cheapest MacBook; it can't be more than $1000. Somewhere between the faster Mac Mini model and the cheapest MacBook.

If it's not using the full OS, it doesn't really need 32GB, does it? 16GB (SSD for additional speed) will be fine in the base model.

I don't see an optical drive of any kind (you could either wireless transfer files or use a dock to your real computer) or G3 (or cell phone anything) capabilities in this, either. I don't see it as a desktop or laptop replacement by any means. It'll be an oversized iPod Touch, essentially.

If this rumored device is nothing more than a bigger ipodtouch, i will LMAO.
what is apple thinking? Who needs a bigger ipodtouch these times? that would be a bad joke and i don't see a real "benefit" for the user. OK you have a bigger screen. but what else? IF it is going to be a big ipodtouch, anything beyond 300-400 would be a huge joke and only the true fanboys would be buying this.

IF it is not going to be a bigger ipodtouch, it must feaure a full OSX and it will cost you the price of the cheapest white macbook, at least.
 
We can say this about it right now:
  1. everyone will complain about features the device is missing :confused:
  2. everyone will bitch about the price :mad:
  3. everyone will proceed to buy it anyway :)


Yep that sounds about right. I wouldn't mind having one. But I just got my iphone in May and the touch screen is already gone. Yesterday it bit the dust. Since it was a refurb it is not under warranty. So the touch screen kind of messes me up on it. Through the refurb warranty mess I would definitely buy it new and apple care with it.
 
If it has touchscreen and accelerometer, I bet compatibility with app store. Would be quite a hit to play all those games on 9-10 inch screens. + with the rumours about some 20$+ games on the store... I dont think i'd pay 20$ to play Need for speed on the iphone, but maybe I'd pay to play on a apple Touchbook, iTouch, or Mac'n'touch :eek:

just an idea:

hook this bad boy up to a full screen and use iPod Touches and/or iPhones for controlers in mutiplayer games. Not just little novelty games, but bring back all those games that moved from computers to game councils.

it goes along with that "expanding apple into new markets" quote we heard a while ago.
 
I still think 10" is too big. If its a tablet, that means that its going to require a fully conscious gripping of the device when carrying. And if its glass, a 10" device would be quite heavy, particularly if its going to be structurally solid.

It may not be 'pocketable', but its going to have to be 'purse-able', and 10" is just too big.

We'll see.
 
$499 or less and I am def there. I'd LOVE a small machine to take with me everywhere. Especially back and forth from my daily home-->work-->school routine. :)

Need for learning Cocoa Touch, increasing...


$499? keep dreaming... I think it will be more around the $899 at the cheapest (proly a lot more) :(
 
What are you smoking? $900 doesn't buy you a normal laptop with a 2.4 C2D and a 200GB drive, for that you need to pay $1599. If you want all of that and a touchscreen, look closer to the $2000 range. If Apple came out with something in the $900 range that was touch-based, expect Atom processors and best case scenario a 64GB flash drive, with the option of a 128GB for more. Apple prices their stuff more equivalently than that.

jW

No you do not! Best Buy had a C2D notebook with 220GB HD, 3GB RAM and 14.1" wide screen for $599 in this weeks Sunday ad!

You can get GREAT deals on PC notebooks and even netbooks. I picked-up a Dell Mini 9 for $219 with everything needed to use for the intended purpose. Please CHECK before you post about pricing. The notebook from Best Buy was a Compaq. Many others were LESS with AMD CPU's.

D
 
No you do not! Best Buy had a C2D notebook with 220GB HD, 3GB RAM and 14.1" wide screen for $599 in this weeks Sunday ad!

You can get GREAT deals on PC notebooks and even netbooks. I picked-up a Dell Mini 9 for $219 with everything needed to use for the intended purpose. Please CHECK before you post about pricing. The notebook from Best Buy was a Compaq. Many others were LESS with AMD CPU's.
Which of them came installed with Mac OS X?
 
I still think 10" is too big. If its a tablet, that means that its going to require a fully conscious gripping of the device when carrying. And if its glass, a 10" device would be quite heavy, particularly if its going to be structurally solid.

It may not be 'pocketable', but its going to have to be 'purse-able', and 10" is just too big.

We'll see.

Just a screen at 10" is around 9"x7". That's a thin printed book format. Handbagable is the key here.

I am curious about the glass as well. If this thing is over 2lbs. it is made of fail, but I am sure they are going to release something under that weight... otherwise why even try?
 
Typo??

Hi, I noticed that there is a typo in the original post. The Taiwanese company that is rumored to be producing the screens is 'Wintek' and not 'Winktek.'

Note, this exact same mistake was made in the previous topic with the original rumor of this happening (Touch Panels for Apple Netbook Ordered?), despite the company name being spelt correctly earlier in that posting.

Come on MacRumors, you're better than that! :)
 
If this is an ARM device, then it might be able to run iPhone games, and whatever apps Apple ports over, but it isn't likely to be able to run standard OS/X apps.

Do I really want a "netbook" that cannot run standard OS/X apps? I don't think so. I mean I wouldn't be trying to run Photoshop or Final Cut Pro on it, but the standard Office / iWork suites would be essential. Expense reporting apps (or anything work-related) certainly would be nice. I have probably a dozen apps from small developers I'd want to run on it as well.

But maybe it won't matter anyway if everyone's app is not usable on such a small screen. It just seems like a non-starter if we have "yet another device" that developers would have to code to. Of course, apple could give developers the ability to produce "fat binaries" that would run on Intel/PPC/ARM.

That would be pretty amazing now, wouldn't it?

They've done it before.

I'm talking out my ass here, because I'm not a dev... however, I'd think that native OS X apps written in Cocoa could be recompiled very quickly if Apple has its act together. I mean, isn't that part of what the APIs are intended for, and why coding for the iPhone is so easy for veteran OS X coders?

I think apps like RapidWeaver, Delicious Library, and other well coded OS X apps would port quickly. Photoshop, no... but maybe lightroom. Of course the biggie would be Office. Apple would probably have to do it for MS :rolleyes:
 
We're not talking about 20" here. Half that.
Actually it's a quarter the area. But that further supports your point.

If this is an ARM device, then it might be able to run iPhone games, and whatever apps Apple ports over, but it isn't likely to be able to run standard OS/X apps.

Do I really want a "netbook" that cannot run standard OS/X apps? I don't think so. I mean I wouldn't be trying to run Photoshop or Final Cut Pro on it, but the standard Office / iWork suites would be essential.
I don't think there's much reason why there can't be mobile versions of iLife/iWork apps for this device. The CPU power would limit the advanced functions, but that could also apply to a netbook.

We're not talking about something that is greater than an iPod Touch. We're looking at a bigger screen, more Ram and slightly more storage. But the functions are the same. Web Browsing, email and maybe some typing. Not much more power is needed. The Atom processor is perfect for that job. You don't need a DDR3 1066 MhZ FSB (All the things that make a laptop not a netbook/small tablet.) or anything like that. Just plain and simple.

No way should it cost anywhere near $1K.
I think it looks like an extended iPhone OS mini-tablet would cost $500 or a bit more, while a Mac OS X-based netbook would cost closer to $1000. Also keep in mind that Apple likes to make things thin, which could increase the price compared to a thicker device.
 
But you seem to be negating the existence of the AIR. That has less expandability and ports than a $999 Macbook and it is well over twice the price. Look at the whole picture.

You'll be hard tempted to sit it out if the product is good enough. I know I'll be.

We're not looking at it being crazy thin + 13". We're looking at a 10" screen and an inch think. There was a lot of R&D that needed to go into it being that thin. It's simply not needed to such an extent here.

My honest to goodness guess is somewhere between $650 - $900. Not more than a MB, but more than an iPod Touch.
 
No you do not! Best Buy had a C2D notebook with 220GB HD, 3GB RAM and 14.1" wide screen for $599 in this weeks Sunday ad!

You can get GREAT deals on PC notebooks and even netbooks. I picked-up a Dell Mini 9 for $219 with everything needed to use for the intended purpose. Please CHECK before you post about pricing. The notebook from Best Buy was a Compaq. Many others were LESS with AMD CPU's.

D

Umm, I didn't think we were talking about PC crap here. Apple will keep their pricing structure consistent, so if they charge $1599 for a 2.4GHz laptop, don't expect them to then turn around and sell a 2.4GHz tablet (a more expensive technology, btw) for half that price.

As pointed out, btw, none of those come with OS X.

jW
 
i understand why the average person wants a netbook. they only use a computer for the most basic things. i don't understand why anybody on this forum would want one. i would suspect that the people on these threads use their computer to its' fullest extent. these things are vastly underpowered. i wonder if the current processors (such as atom) could even handle something like imovie well.

if apple would make a touchscreen tablet, it will be low-spec and pricey.
-10" touch screen
-intel atom or arm cortex
-32gb or 64gb SSD hard drive/120 gb hard drive
-1gb ram
-more than likely non-replaceable battery
-possibly locked into app store
-boot camp will probably not come with it
-this thing may not even come with bluetooth if apple does one of it's things where it leaves something major out that leave people mind-boggled

this would cost close to a grand ($799-$999) because of the touchscreen alone. i think that this is where all apple laptops are headed but i use my macbook pro to its potential. it would be hard for me to take a seriously low-end spec laptop/tablet. this will essentially kill of the macbook air & mac mini.

i like the idea of touchscreen tablet but wake me up when it's a macbook pro that can be turned into a tablet or a with just a screen for $2,000.
 
You know a great name for this as it's about the size of a paperback would be the mac...book, oops done that.:D
 
We're not looking at it being crazy thin + 13". We're looking at a 10" screen and an inch think. There was a lot of R&D that needed to go into it being that thin. It's simply not needed to such an extent here.

My honest to goodness guess is somewhere between $650 - $900. Not more than a MB, but more than an iPod Touch.
-.O? Not even the notebooks are an inch thick any more. I don't think Apple is trending to bulkier any more. You have to remember that this is a small device too, so it will have to be under .5". Why? It can NOT be heavy in any way (if a tablet) so it can be easily held and handled for long periods of time.

My prediction is that it is closer to the form of an iPT where it's super compressed technology. But, I hope for the processor function closer to a notebook. It definitely won't be more than a MB, but if it was 3/4 the processor speed and capability I would be darn happy.

Due to the iPhone and iPT, I suspect Apple has realized MOST people in the world just don't need all that capability forced into the current laptops they have. 90% of people probably never even do complex video editing or gaming that requires more than a sooped up iPT (which is about as fast as an old iBook clamshell).
 
Thought I'd add this:

So what would a 10" touch screen cost to produce? $50? Fine. Sell it for $150. A 10" tablet can still cost in the $600 - $800 range.
 

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So...here's a question.

Why?

What purpose is this device going to serve? How would you use a netbook/touch tablet?

Despite what most people believe, Apple doesn't exactly create new markets for products. They find an existing market, and create a far superior product. Neither the iPod or the iPhone was the first to market in their respective market segments.

So what is the current market for netbooks? Cheap? Sub-$500? Would Apple really sell a device larger than an iPhone and use the same price point?

Is there an existing consumer market for tablets?

I'm just not entirely convinced this device is what anyone thinks it is.

It's not what people think it is and there is a huge market already.

Here's what I think it is and I've been saying it for 2 years!!

It will have 802.11N :
Real world use in business:

You're at home and you finish that great presentation for your company. It's finally finished so you sync it to your main computer at home. It slips in your jacket or purse or carrying case. You take it to work. If you happen to be on a bus you can watch videos or listen to music or do email etc..

When you arrive at work you can sync it to you workstation computer if you so choose or.

You take it into the meeting room and you play the presentation via the Keynote Remote onto the meeting room big screen that has WiFi or an Apple TV connected to it. Everybody is happy. WooHoo!! The company's up 10 points. You get a raise.

At the end of the day you go home. But wait! You decide to meet the wife/significant other for dinner. You use the built in Google maps to find the right place to eat. Make reservations and go there and life is wonderful.

You go home all tired from a long day.

You want to watch some sports or some buying channel on TV or some other form of entertainment. Well

Have a seat on the couch and just tap on the entertainment button and up pops Apple TV with a new interface and more choices like streaming HULU because you missed that show you wanted to watch. While you're watching it on you wide screen you wonder what might be on later so while the stuff you're watching on the big screen is playing you simply pick up the "8-10 device" and scroll through the various media you have on your main computer because it's synced with it already, Remember? you did that before you went to work.

Uh oh! You have to take a flight the next day to China for a big merger meeting. You don't want to watch that boring movie AirChina is showing. You pick up that "8-10" device" and tap on the itunes button,plug in your ear pods and relax to the soothing music of AC/DC.

It's plugged into the power jack that most airlines have now so the power level is back up to 100%.

You go to the big meeting and show them the same Keynote presentation but uh oh! They don't speak english. What DO you do?
Surprise!! The "device" has a built-in translator for many languages. You show off the keynote and get that $124 million contract. All is well.
It's dinnertime in Shanghai what do you do ??
You "touch" the Google Maps button and look for a good restaurant that's at least 4 stars and find one real close to the hotel. You call a taxi and he takes you there. etc...

This device has many uses. And with Snow Leopard's multi-touch interface built in it's very easy to do just about anything from just about anywhere.

802.11N
It's got it's own Apple Processor that they have been working on for over a year now.
Small 1.5" Hard drive
nVidia graphics
2 GB memory
Ethernet port
Audio I/O

Multi-touch interface.

I've been saying this for 2 years. and that's probably about how long Apple's been working on it if not longer.
 
I am just hoping that there is a real keyboard (yea yea, I'm sure the screen typing is just phenomenal -sarcasm-)

As a frequent traveler, most people have an i-pod/touch/phone, I'd like to see the same for this new bit of apple tech but making the input option bluetooth kb only would make it not usable in the air and carrying around an extra keyboard w/you may not be as feasible as some may think.

now if they made an onscreen kb, with the seam in the middle (as the posted pics) or a flat larger (kindle size maybe) single piece....

think for a moment how you would hold/type on the device. this is the major challenge I see on apple's part.

sidenote: for all of those that want a stylus for data input, do you just not type enough where your penmanship is second to that of a chicken on crack?
(yea mine is that bad)
 
Padd from Star Trek becomes Apple Reality...

I have been wishing for something like this for some time.

Slate tablet. If you need a clam-shell, buy a laptop.

No built-in keyboard, not sliding, not folding. again, buy a laptop.

Full wireless, WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G cellular, network shared optical drive from other machines, or USB external drive.

Full cable connections, at least 2 usb, (I would prefer even an un-powered micro 1394/FW, but not holding my breath) miniDisplay Port, gigabit ethernet, even if it is on a retractable X-jack type connector, Audio in and out, ExpressCard slot, magsafe power of course.
A kensington lock port, or something to secure the device.
Perhaps even an iPhone speaker or two for the device to play audio without headphones. a small laptop-like mic for Speakable Items commands.

Full multi-touch, 4-finger gestures, plus stylus compatibility for drawing/precision.

Full MacOS, with interface modification, to make the interface more useable on a small screen with finger contact, basically full Mac OS capability, with the ease of use of the iPhone/iPT, on a 10" screen. A nice touch would be the ability to run iPhone/iPT apps, and the AppStore as well.

MacBook Air like tapered bottom, except port connection area, and glass top, one solid piece.

ARM (maybe dual-ARM?) or modest intel Core2 + Nvidia graphics processing.
DDR3 RAM like the laptops have, up to 4 GB.
2.5" SATA Solid-state drive, 32, 64, or 128 GB BTO.

Fingerprint reading capability for security access and FileVault... built into the edge-to-edge black glass surface. iSight camera built in, as well. Maybe two, one on the back side, video capture capability.

Perhaps software and a bluetooth headset could allow skype-like phone service to the device via internet connection, including 3G... but the device would not be a phone primarily, such as not having a SIM card, unless someone wanted to put a SIM card device into the expressCard slot or a USB port, and enable the device as a super-iPhone via a cell carrier. (package that option via AT&T?)

If the iPhone can be a real analogy to the Star Trek tricorder/communicator, then this tablet device would be more analogous to the PADD device. A full computer in a larger flat size, and very portable, light weight, and unobtrusive.

Add a small brace or stand, and you can set it as a small monitor with a wireless, or wired desktop keyboard and mouse, for more involved use.

But for a quick email-response, typing a URL, etc... most light web use and information recall, an on-screen virtual keyboard would be great, and the device would be lighter and less complex, hardware wise.

Such a device would be an amazingly utilitarian tool, as well, for network diagnostics, screen sharing into servers and larger systems, and all sorts of quick, portable work, that a folding laptop can get slightly cumbersome to handle without some sort of surface to set it on. Holding and working on a laptop, in your hands only is not very conducive.

A tablet device could be fitted with a tether strap or hand grip, or something, that would grip the device around it's corners and edges, or by VESA pattern screw lugs on the back... and be easy to hold with one hand, or wrapped to your forearm, and using the interface with the other hand, then taken out of that attachment and used in any number of other ways.

It can be used as home-automation control, quick server access, inventory control with an attached bar-code scanner, a head for a cash-register with added capability beyond that. (look at how AppleStore already uses hand-held bar-code devices for checkout-less store arrangements...), small kiosk displays, car-environment computing for citizens, or even law enforcement... and on and on and on.
 
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