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One possibility is that all the "tethered ports" such as Ethernet, Mini Display Port, Firewire, optical drive, are all on a dock. Accessable to other machines via 801.11N.

The increasing use of dual channel wifi indicates this is the direction Apple is going.

I like the direction of the speculations about form factors and features are going in this thread.

Remember when the iPhone was released and it was three, three, three devices in one. Looking back at the App Store release and OS updates, it delivered on more than 10x what it originally promised.

Hang onto your hats guys. Buckle up for safety.

Rocketman

ATNN
 
I think they can split the device in two ways, and who knows--maybe they will have two versions of this thing, but I doubt it.

• Super iPT -- just an iPT/iPhone with some expanded capability for browsing and data entry as well as better connectivity between Macs and the tablet. Small drive, few ports, limited OSX. I would expect this to be well under $1000. $799 maybe.

• Trim notebook tablet -- like an iPT maxi, but more function like a limited air without a keyboard. Drives 64gb and more. This would be above $1000.
I think the distinction point between the mini-tablet and tablet is the usage of (an extended version of) iPhone OS vs. Mac OS X. Also given iPod/iPhone prices I would imagine mass storage capacity plays a good part in price. Might also explain the larger iPod touch rumor.

Or, it could be practically an in-between device like this, which I think may be better suited for a device around 10":

Take an iPod Touch, Pinch it to make it 10". Add a slightly different version of OSX. One that will run desktop apps (iWork/iLife) + AppStore Apps. Also, throw in 1 USB + 1 MDP + BlueTooth. Use an Ion Processor and make it dockable.

Like many have said in this thread--a large iPT would be an utter joke.
I am a big proponent of the "larger iPod touch"/mini-tablet, and just sticking a big screen on an iPod touch won't cut it.

So, this has to expand all capabilities, which also is good business to allow greater sales of apps. However, it makes the computer more and more expensive.
Hardware (CPU, RAM), OS (multi-tasking, window/split-screen), and apps (mobile iLife/iWork). Like you said, that would cost more, so maybe there could be a cheaper model with 16 or 32 GB* flash memory (like the iPod touch) to lower the price.

* When the iPod touch's capacities double, those numbers would too.
 
This is hands down the smartest move Apple can make at this point in time. That comment Apple made awhile back about netbooks being a type of market that Apple simply wasnt interested in was one of the most ridiculous statements I have ever heard come out of Apple and its nice to see that it was just a smokescreen for a later announcment. Netbooks are simply too big of a market for Apple to ignore especially with the ecomony hurting like it is. I have no doubt that Apple will now make the best netbooks on the market and it will become a valuable addition to Apples lineup.

I just picked up a nice chunk of Apple stock a few weeks back so this announcment makes me very happy indeed!

Apple never said that. Never. So why the outrage?

They said they were watching the market and (at that time) didn't know how to make one that wasn't junk (by Apple standards). Is that ridiculous?
 
One possibility is that all the "tethered ports" such as Ethernet, Mini Display Port, Firewire, optical drive, are all on a dock. Accessable to other machines via 801.11N.

Remember when the iPhone was released and it was three, three, three devices in one. Looking back at the App Store release and OS updates, it delivered on more than 10x what it originally promised.

Hang onto your hats guys. Buckle up for safety.

If Apple is aiming for better computing they will be aiming up. I agree with you--get ready for some amazing stuff in the function that might make regular netbooks look like the antiquated happy meal toys they potentially are.

Nothing Apple makes slips backwards. At worse it kind of stands still (recently with the hardware releases). As a new product line this will have to stand out, and the engineering is always improving.

At this time Apple could certainly use the Air/iPhone tech to make a very thin, very capable tablet. Woe be the price, though.

Your guess of a dock connection doing all the ports is probably certain. A dock connector and a USB, but I could even see a change to the dock having the USB port.
Hardware (CPU, RAM), OS (multi-tasking, window/split-screen), and apps (mobile iLife/iWork). Like you said, that would cost more, so maybe there could be a cheaper model with 16 or 32 GB* flash memory (like the iPod touch) to lower the price.
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I can see the logic of the thought if you were standing still and needed a device today that functions now, but I bet Apple is looking beyond and is making the device to be more than just the now with a little more screen space. Your projection of the engineered device would make it a nicely expensive iPT with 4x+ the screen space. It's a little depressing if that is the case, but it would have its use to a certain market.

Since Apple is being keen to slim down and miniaturize their computing I would take the next step as a limited Air with everything soldered onto a small as can be board under a 10" screen. It could run a trim OSX and handle many current apps.

I could be utterly off the wall. In the past I expected similar devices or advances from Apple and they never appeared or were even smacked down publicly by Jobs.
 
One possibility is that all the "tethered ports" such as Ethernet, Mini Display Port, Firewire, optical drive, are all on a dock. Accessable to other machines via 801.11N.

The increasing use of dual channel wifi indicates this is the direction Apple is going.

I like the direction of the speculations about form factors and features are going in this thread.

Remember when the iPhone was released and it was three, three, three devices in one. Looking back at the App Store release and OS updates, it delivered on more than 10x what it originally promised.

Hang onto your hats guys. Buckle up for safety.

Rocketman

ATNN

That would be such a great idea for this to be an ultra, ultra portable converging pod where all macs in the house could sync to with predetermined or selected on the fly items one would want to carry along very easily, just press and button and sync whatever you been doing on whichever mac to carry along with you, with some advanced syncing software, with some primitive ai, ..if that's what you are gettting at...hadn't thought of that...probably not going to see it though soon...:cool:
 
I predict.....

I do think it will be a bigger iPod Touch. A lot of people have said that. But...

The featured app will be its ability to remote in to your Mac or PC. It is basically the minimal useful portable UI for your regular computer (be it a desktop or even latop).

Beyond simple remoting, perhaps it would also provide some ability to work offline. (i.e. it maintains a synch'd local copy of your files) You would need to have mobile versions of your apps, though, so Apple will surely release mobile versions of iWork and iLife apps (probably pretty basic at this point), along with something to deal with Office documents.
 
I predict.....
Apple will surely release mobile versions of iWork and iLife apps (probably pretty basic at this point), along with something to deal with Office documents.

That something would be iWork. It "deals with" Microsoft Office quite nicely... in several ways.
 
Touch screen will be perfect, it's about time. Such a portable machine is exactly what I need. I find myself using my desktop less often and I'm getting most of my email and other internet related work using my iPhone.
 
I think Apple is going to take this with a Wi-Fi centered approach access your files from your other Mac/PC or Time Capsule via MobileMe. The Hard Drive size will be small with a SSD option. Full Mac OS X, with adapted touchscreen capabilities.

$699 is what it will cost

Ams.
 
I predict.....

I do think it will be a bigger iPod Touch. A lot of people have said that. But...

The featured app will be its ability to remote in to your Mac or PC. It is basically the minimal useful portable UI for your regular computer (be it a desktop or even latop).

I agree that this feature would be very useful, in fact, I already often use my laptop to remote into my desktop.

My issue with a large iPod Touch format would be the physical vulnerability of such an exposed large screen. The iPhone and iPod Touch fit in your pocket, protecting it from much accidental harm. A laptop folds shut to protect the screen and inputs.

That's why I'm hoping for a folding tablet. Again, notice the screens quote from the article. It may just be awkward wording, however, the article could've said The mini laptop computers will likely have a monitor screen that is between 9.7-inches and 10-inches, instead of The mini laptop computers will likely have monitor screens that are between 9.7-inches and 10-inches.
 
I get the awful feeling this is gonna end up being the 'iPod Touch XL' if this is the case I will be keeping my MSi Wind Macbook Nano. I really hope they just make it a basic spec macbook clone, 10" normal netbook form factor, smallish SSD and no optical drive. If they try too hard to be different with this then it will become some weird niche product that nobody wants. The amount of people running OSX on standard 1.6atom netbooks is huge, apple should take note and just make a better looking and better quality version!
 
I'm hoping for a full version of OSX in a cheaper device than a Macbook. When I travel I need a less expensive, small device for emails & skype over wifi.

The iphone doesn't do this:

1. Native Skype
2. Copy & paste. I write my emails when I have some down time and send them over wifi when I get a signal.

So the iphone is completely useless to me as a computing device for my travel needs and a Macbook is a bit too big.
 
Simple.... for 99% of what I use the computer for outside of work, this would fit the bill just fine. If I need to do more, that's what the laptop or desktop unit is for.
Thinking really, hard, and the only thing I need much local processing power for is some automation scripting in perl or shell, and even for most of that I can ssh to a unix box. And by any definition, I'm in a very technical position.

At home, the only thing I'd like good local processing ability for is music applications (midi, sequencing, etc.) And if this thing could run even a light version of iLife (including GarageBand), I'd be in hog heaven.

i understand what you're saying but if you've already got a laptop then it sounds like gluttony. if you carry it around the weight differential is meaningless and you'll still carry a bag regardless. we've already seen the failure of ultra mobile pc's. the only difference with this is that it's a touchscreen running os x.

i like the idea of this tablet but i don't see a place for it in most people's lives unless it's your primary computer (which for now will be greatly underpowered compared to a macbook) or a replacement/evolution of a laptop.

since most of apple's sales are already laptops this thing will have a small audience.
 
+1, My iphone's screen gets seriously smudged and sometimes hinders typing.

A virtual keyboard just requires a paradigm shift (I described the possibilities in an older thread). Those growing up using it will wonder what the fuss was all about. I'm reminded of Star Trek IV when Scotty sits down in front of a Mac and tries to talk to it. When nothing happens, the owner of the Plastics company intervenes and says "Just use the keyboard!" Scotty replies "A keyboard? How quaint."
 
While I have no real need for a netbook per se I would love to have a small portable device which could become the hub for my house streaming media. Add an NAS and a Squeezebox type device and I'm good to go.
I was thinking of using a Mini but that means having a screen and keyboard cluttering up my living room.
 
MacTouch
$899
WILL have keyboard, but can be used as a tablet with touch keyboard.
1.8 GHz, 1Mb RAM

Limited power/memory will prevent it from competing with Macbooks.

OH- and there will be a "new" feature unique to it that no other Apple product has.... further enticing current iMac/Macbook customers to want to buy it.

This is probably accurate, with an edu price of $799, and the unique feature being a built-in 3G modem for AT&T's network and GPS. The white MacBook will be discontinued when this device comes along. MacBook Touch? Mac Touch? MacBook Nano?
 
Apple never said that. Never. So why the outrage?

They said they were watching the market and (at that time) didn't know how to make one that wasn't junk (by Apple standards). Is that ridiculous?

Not true. I read a quote on here that specifically stated that they werent going to make netbooks because that wasnt the kind of market or computer for that matter that Apple makes. so yes imo it is ridiculous but again since it was nothing but a smokescreen then my comment obviously doesnt stand. If they had stayed out of this market for those reasons then again imo it would without a single doubt have been ridiculous. Its simply too big of a market to ignore regardless of ones standards. The current economic condition only makes that even more true. I didnt buy for a second, and still dont, that Apples engineers couldnt figure something out. They are some of the best engineers working today.
 
While I have no real need for a netbook per se I would love to have a small portable device which could become the hub for my house streaming media. Add an NAS and a Squeezebox type device and I'm good to go.
I was thinking of using a Mini but that means having a screen and keyboard cluttering up my living room.

The device in this thread probably wouldn't meet those needs.

(A Mini would -- if you consider the television is your monitor and you have another computer around and screen-share/VNC in to the Mini to make setup changes as needed. And if I were you, I'd use the MBP in your sig-line for that very purpose. I use my MB to screen-share with my living room Mini.)
 
In the October timeframe Intel will release Pineview, their Atom successor, which will do a much better job on power management. About that same time, they'll release the Atom in a "system on a chip" that is 10x power stingy. That would be a perfect time for Apple to release their take on a netbook. I'd be willing to bet their 1st generation netbook is something like:

- A tablet, about the size of the BT keybard.
- An old iPod like stand - (to charge/prop up at a desk)
- BT capability to work with
-- A BT keyboard (regular keyboard, always optional, like the old Fujitsu lifebook, only wisely done.)
-- A BT mouse
- A small (~32 GB) SSD running the full Snow Leopard OS
- 2 GB of memory
- Screen resolutions of at least 1080 vertically (need to play HD content natively)
- WiFi to stream or remote control ITunes content from a library
- 3G (optional) for on the go
- 10 hours of battery life
- And an on screen keyboard, for when you don't want to/ can't use a BT keyboard.
- no need for fans, as this will run cool
- pocketable in a big pocket

$599 (can't go higher)

I don't even think it's that big of a stretch. Sooner than you think. I don't think they'll wait for next January - as they'd miss the holiday rush, and netbooks are doing pretty good in this damaged economy.
 
Hi everyone...

of course i cant read all of the comments but i have one too...

1-The new device will have snow leopard on it. When you look at the history of Apple and Microsoft, you see they always release their os in the same time. And when you look at he specs of win7, you gonna see touch screen support. I think apple gonna release touch screen supporter version of 10.6.

2-Battery is a most important part of the device. Maybe Apple gonna use solar energy on this portable but big screen device. Remember;

http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/26/apple-files-patent-for-solar-cells-on-portable-devices/

3-Price. I think it will be about 599 for basic version. When you look at the functionality iPhone and iPod Touch family also check your mails, make you surf the whole web, access your social web sites and makes you play little but funny games like whole netbooks. But Apple Customers gonna think why i'm goin' to pay more? Apple gonna answer them like that;

599 for;

big screen
Real Mac OS X
USB-Ports
Battery Life.

As a result, with the worlds most eye candy and functional OS and the revolutionary designers Apple going to change netbook industry. 3 months after the launch there will be lots of ...book killer netbooks with only touch screen.

Thank you for reading.

Mert/Turkey.:apple:
 
my opion still: i want one for taking notes in class. i've said it 239427 times now, but trying to type out equations with integral signs, and drawing a quick diagram with a track pad... it sucks. And by the end of the semester, i'm carrying about 10 extra pounds (4.3 kg) of paper around from writing it all out
 
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