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New Analyst Mockup and Sales Estimates for Apple's Tablet
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I think the biggest question in everybody's mind is what OS? To me, the answer is based on the price point. Apple does not want to devalue Mac OSX. And, they don't want to cannibalize Macbook sales. I don't think there's any way they would release a product after all these years, a premium product, that would run OSX for less than a Macbook Air. So, if you want to buy this at a price that could compete with netbooks, it's got to run a souped up iPhone OS. Expect to pay at least $600. Plus, the desktop cradle will set you back another $200.
As I've said before, Steve expects you to buy a Mac, an iPhone, AND the tablet.
I think the biggest question in everybody's mind is what OS? To me, the answer is based on the price point. Apple does not want to devalue Mac OSX. And, they don't want to cannibalize Macbook sales. I don't think there's any way they would release a product after all these years, a premium product, that would run OSX for less than a Macbook Air. So, if you want to buy this at a price that could compete with netbooks, it's got to run a souped up iPhone OS. Expect to pay at least $600. Plus, the desktop cradle will set you back another $200.
As I've said before, Steve expects you to buy a Mac, an iPhone, AND the tablet.
It's too early to tell, folks ....
These analysts live off of the attention they get writing articles ... despite knowing no more (or less!) than the typical MacRumors "regular" does about Apple's plans.
Realistically, I think it's very possible that the "Macbook" line of notebooks will disappear around the time this product is released. They've already created a new line of Macbook Pro notebooks with 13" displays, that are priced like a Macbook was traditionally priced, and seem to offer a feature-set that used to only be found in "Pro" models. (Same aluminum casing, firewire 800 ports, etc.) Especially with prices plummeting on the Macbook Airs, they would make a good substitute for anyone seeking a cheaper Apple notebook, if they don't care about having loads of processor power or more ports, integrated optical drive, and so forth.
Then, your options will be Macbook Air, Macbook Pro or tablet. People seem to quickly forget that the iPhone and iPod touch actually DO run OS X, but with a re-engineered GUI over the top of the OS. Apple has all sorts of options for creating a "hybrid" OS that would retain many features of the OS we're familiar with in the iPhone, while adding capabilities to make it work more like standard OS X (multiple apps running in their own windows on the bigger 10" screen, for example, and ability to use a wireless bluetooth keyboard if you have a lot of keyboard input to do on it).
I don't know any more than anyone else does, as far as "inside knowledge" of what Apple is actually doing. But common sense dictates to me that one reason this tablet has taken so long to come to market is because Apple is developing a custom OS for it. Maybe you can add RAM to the tablet like you do a regular notebook, for example, and maybe it will allow an SSD type hard drive in it like the Macbook Air has, so you can store more on it? Those things would require a "hybrid" version of an OS, if they want to retain the multi-touch capabilities now in the iPhone/iPod touch.....
These analysts live off of the attention they get writing articles ... despite knowing no more (or less!) than the typical MacRumors "regular" does about Apple's plans.
Realistically, I think it's very possible that the "Macbook" line of notebooks will disappear around the time this product is released. They've already created a new line of Macbook Pro notebooks with 13" displays, that are priced like a Macbook was traditionally priced, and seem to offer a feature-set that used to only be found in "Pro" models. (Same aluminum casing, firewire 800 ports, etc.) Especially with prices plummeting on the Macbook Airs, they would make a good substitute for anyone seeking a cheaper Apple notebook, if they don't care about having loads of processor power or more ports, integrated optical drive, and so forth.
Then, your options will be Macbook Air, Macbook Pro or tablet. People seem to quickly forget that the iPhone and iPod touch actually DO run OS X, but with a re-engineered GUI over the top of the OS. Apple has all sorts of options for creating a "hybrid" OS that would retain many features of the OS we're familiar with in the iPhone, while adding capabilities to make it work more like standard OS X (multiple apps running in their own windows on the bigger 10" screen, for example, and ability to use a wireless bluetooth keyboard if you have a lot of keyboard input to do on it).
I don't know any more than anyone else does, as far as "inside knowledge" of what Apple is actually doing. But common sense dictates to me that one reason this tablet has taken so long to come to market is because Apple is developing a custom OS for it. Maybe you can add RAM to the tablet like you do a regular notebook, for example, and maybe it will allow an SSD type hard drive in it like the Macbook Air has, so you can store more on it? Those things would require a "hybrid" version of an OS, if they want to retain the multi-touch capabilities now in the iPhone/iPod touch.....
The he better make sure the tablet doesn't run mobile safari. AFAIAC, Mobile safari on a tablet = epic fail. I know everyone is going to flame me, but I have a MSI wind that I put OSX on, it is definitely usable for what it is. A small internet/email/chat device. How much horsepower do you need for those things? Atom is fine, dual core atom will be better.
The iPhone (Apple Tablet Nano) was special because it had HARDWARE features enabled in software over time by developers. It has an accelerometer, proximity sensor, high resolution display, relatively long life battery, wifi, blue tooth, 2.5G in the case of the original iPhone and 3G in the case of the 2nd and 3rd generations.
It had software that brought smart phone features and a select group of desktop applications to the hand top and the pocket and purse.
The mini-tablet or Apple Tablet Not Nano (ATNN) will have additional HARDWARE features not offered by iPhone for developers to exploit in addition to vastly increased effective screen real estate to add value to the device.
What additional hardware features it will offer is speculation. Similar features to iPhone plus more are an excellent bet. Possibilities?
USB connectivity (possible old school modem?)
Card reader
Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless (4G)
802.11n wifi
Wimax
What I see as the defining characteristic of the device is the capability to engage in "convenience applications" from the desktop, in addition to "multi-homing" to allow a connection to the internet in a wide variety of ways. In addition, it is a "Fat terminal" capable of quite impressive local applications separate from a connection, such as games, calculation, graphics, and many others.
Finally it is a video media display and player.
It hopes to be many things to most people and those who can also afford it will enjoy the benefits.
It will be pricey. But still far cheaper up front than a Macintosh Plus was!
Rocketman
It had software that brought smart phone features and a select group of desktop applications to the hand top and the pocket and purse.
The mini-tablet or Apple Tablet Not Nano (ATNN) will have additional HARDWARE features not offered by iPhone for developers to exploit in addition to vastly increased effective screen real estate to add value to the device.
What additional hardware features it will offer is speculation. Similar features to iPhone plus more are an excellent bet. Possibilities?
USB connectivity (possible old school modem?)
Card reader
Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless (4G)
802.11n wifi
Wimax
What I see as the defining characteristic of the device is the capability to engage in "convenience applications" from the desktop, in addition to "multi-homing" to allow a connection to the internet in a wide variety of ways. In addition, it is a "Fat terminal" capable of quite impressive local applications separate from a connection, such as games, calculation, graphics, and many others.
Finally it is a video media display and player.
It hopes to be many things to most people and those who can also afford it will enjoy the benefits.
It will be pricey. But still far cheaper up front than a Macintosh Plus was!
Rocketman
Yah I feel the same way Im looking for a portable computer that I can upload HD videos from and do some minor editing not just to surf the web, also if this iPhone OS thing is true there may not be flash support =OI would have really like this based on Mac OSX - not the iPhone OS
If Apple do produce tablet, I wonder how it will stack up to the Samsung Q1U series, seen here. I am not sure I would use a tablet PC as a consumer device, but it sure would come in handy at work, where I have to access various databases in different locations and find that the screen resolutions of smart phones (including the i-phone) aren't quite enough. I'd go for the Samsung model now, but it's very expensive....
I'm just waiting for such a thing as a tablet Mac/iPad to get launched only because I want to see the inevitable threads of:
"What features did you want in the iPad that weren't included?" or "Poll - what features do you want to be in the next revision of the iPad in 2011?"
some people really are short of a life!
Happy that no one at Munster broke a sweat on that mock-up - it must have taken almost two full minutes to knock it out.
disappointment will ensue if this product does indeed have an altered iphone OS, we all know MacOS is not a resource hog.. I mean come on.. people are running OSX on Dell minis..
at least there may be hope that "software manipulation specialists" will be able to "alter" this device to run full OSX if need be
at least there may be hope that "software manipulation specialists" will be able to "alter" this device to run full OSX if need be
It would need to have a Mac OS and not an iPod Touch OS, or else with 3G, it would be competing with the iPhone. People that already have an iPhone would not want to pay a monthly 3G fee for the Tablet. And, people who buy the Tablet with 3G service would then not buy an iPhone. This is the whole reason that Apple never made a netbook. It is too close to the iMacs and would cut into sales. If Apple does make a Tablet, it needs to be part of the Macbook Air line of computers. And, 2010 is good because right now they need more and more and more people to buy and get used to iPhones, or else the Tablet could cut into iPhone sales ... people will just have a regular no-frills cell phone and a Tablet with 3G. To prevent this from happening, Apple needs to sign up tens of millions of more people on iPhones before they release the Tablet. And, 3G should be an option and not a requirement. People who want to replace their MacBook Air with a Tablet and use it on WiFi only or else tether it to their cell phone should be able to.
Here is a photo of it: http://i.zdnet.com/blogs/macbook_tablet.jpg
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Here is a photo of it: http://i.zdnet.com/blogs/macbook_tablet.jpg
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Here's an idea I haven't read yet. Maybe tablet will run leopard but not snow leopard so as to avoid MacBook pro canibalization! That's why they had to hold this product until after SL was released!
Here's an idea I haven't read yet. Maybe tablet will run leopard but not snow leopard so as to avoid MacBook pro canibalization! That's why they had to hold this product until after SL was released!
Nah. That'd be Apple following Microsoft's lead. We all know it's always the other way around
I was thinking the same thing. At the same time, by needing a touch keyboard (or maybe it will have a real keyboard that pops out James Bond style, optional), it would have to incorporate a different OS, plus it would be touch screen.
Nah. That'd be Apple following Microsoft's lead. We all know it's always the other way around
Good point. Instead of installing an older OS, Apple would create a whole new OS for the Tablet. ...or would they? The rumored Tablet is close enough to a MacBook Air. It should just be an extension of the MacBook Air line. How to keep it from cannibalizing Mac sales? Just like the MacBook Air, make it cost as much as a regular MacBook.
I would have really like this based on Mac OSX - not the iPhone OS
Are we sure it won't have an OS other than the iPhone OS?
Are we sure it won't have an OS other than the iPhone OS?
Anyone who says they ARE sure of anything about this project (the device details, even just the existence of the device) is probably lying through their teeth
(that, or they're part of the project itself, but those people probably wont be commenting AT ALL)I can tell what _I_ am sure of:
1) If it has an iPhone OS X, as opposed to just an iPhone UI, then I wont buy it. The ideal would something like a new UI mode on top of desktop Mac OS X, such that you can do everything the full Mac OS X can do, but with a finger interface. But it would be acceptable if it's a 3rd OS X, somewhere in between iPhone and Mac (the distinction being that it might not be able to run desktop apps themselves, either due to extensive UI changes, or CPU architecture).
2) If it doesn't have an open application interface (ie. I can download some apps from the general internet without having to go through a store), I wont by it. A store would be nice (for both this device, and for the desktop Mac OS X for that matter), but being able to download apps without going through a store is _mandatory_.
3) If it doesn't have USB Host/OTG ports for input devices (at least a keyboard, mouse would be optional), then I wont buy it. It would be nice if it also had a display output port, the combination of which would allow me to effectively use/treat this like a standalone computer.
4) I can understand if it doesn't let me externally access my music data ... but all of the rest of the data (my notes, documents, etc.) must all be exportable/syncable/accesible, or I wont buy it. Preferably accessible via mounting it on my desktop device in a storage mode (like the way you used to be able to do with classic iPods), and/or having this accessible user data be stored on a removable SDHC card (so, applications and iTunes data on internal, non-accessible, storage -- and an SDHC card slot that gets exported to the desktop when you connect for syncing, that stores all of your user created data, and can be user upgraded/etc.).
(it would also be nice if the USB ports from #3 could work with #4 to allow for connections of external storage devices, like SD card readers, USB hard drives, etc.)
Yup, this is it!
If we all settle for junk and have no sense of style.
Seriously that thing is fugly.