No Apple Tablet Introduction at September Keynote Event?

[macintoshtoffy]

"Verizon seems really eager to launch that LTE network! We’re not sure if the company will manage to roll it out in the first quarter of 2010 but Big Red is planning to launch trials in Seattle and Boston later this year. If everything goes well, and we hope it does, Verizon will launch the new 4G network in up to 30 markets in 2010. That’s not exactly nationwide but it’s a healthy start. By 2013 Verizon plans to have 100 points of presence by 2013. Whether the whole LTE rush is related to Apple’s future tablet or not remains to be established later on. In the mean time, if you live in Boston or Seattle and if you’re a Verizon customer, then you might enjoy some LTE action later this year!"

The world is now standardising on UTMS; In New Zealand (Telecom), Australia (Telstra) and the US (AT&T) they've standardised on 850 and 2100 - 850 for coverage and 2100 kicking in for extra capacity in urban areas. I wouldn't be surprised if we start seeing Apple sell the phones directly from Apple Store in the future given that you can buy an iPhone directly from the Apple online store in New Zealand and use it with 2 Degrees, Vodafone, or Telecom XT Network.

 

[Maserati7200]

I don't understand what all the hype over this tablet is, tablets are not too popular.

Believe it or not, a lot of people will buy something if it's shiny and made by Apple.

John, George and Ringo are alive. Paul is dead.

I really hope that was sarcasm

 

[DELLsFan]

Believe it or not, a lot of people will buy something if it's shiny and made by Apple...

Give consumers a little credit will you? If a product is made (designed) by Apple, this implies the product will be a meticulous marvel of engineering, design and impossible attention to detail. It'll be easy-to-use, innovative and ground-breaking for the genre ... like the iPod Touch and iPhone were. Since Jobs has been in command at Apple recently, has there been a product that wasn't magnificent (albeit expensive)?

 

[KnightWRX]

Give consumers a little credit will you? If a product is made (designed) by Apple, this implies the product will be a meticulous marvel of engineering, design and impossible attention to detail. It'll be easy-to-use, innovative and ground-breaking for the genre ... like the iPod Touch and iPhone were. Since Jobs has been in command at Apple recently, has there been a product that wasn't magnificent (albeit expensive)?

Apple TV. Macbook Air.

A tablet just makes no sens. It's just not ergonomical or practical. The iPhone/iPod Touch is more portable for web browsing on the go, and a laptop makes for a much more comfortable experience taking notes in class.

 

[DELLsFan]

Apple TV. Macbook Air.

A tablet just makes no sens. It's just not ergonomical or practical. The iPhone/iPod Touch is more portable for web browsing on the go, and a laptop makes for a much more comfortable experience reading email and sending IMs instead of paying attention taking notes in class.

Fixed that for you.

I can't agree with your examples. I love my Apple TV. Many others love theirs too. The MBA is an incredible feat of engineering and design - not for everyone - but great for those who need something light and powerful (albeit at a premium).

 

[Target362]

some Schools require a tablet device. Tablets are great for taking notes. notes from your hand writing can be converted to text.

I think it good apple will create a tablet device, but much like they did with the iPhone, the tablet will stand out from other tablets and might even change how tablets are made. (like the iPhone, now all we see is touch screen phones)

 

[KnightWRX]

Fixed that for you.

I can't agree with your examples. I love my Apple TV. Many others love theirs too. The MBA is an incredible feat of engineering and design - not for everyone - but great for those who need something light and powerful (albeit at a premium).

You can't agree, but the truth is, the AppleTV is far from a big success. It may be sleek and well design, but most people just don't find a use for it, and as such, it has not been a big seller.

Same for the Macbook air, it's great design wise, it's just that the cons have been too much for people to actually buy them and as such, it's not a great seller.

I see the tablet in the same way. The thing just isn't a laptop, and wouldn't be comfortable to type on. The extra portability against a Macbook would be moot if you're a student, and while you think messing on IM and reading e-mail in class is the only use for a notebook, I know plenty of people that use them to actually take and organise class notes.

And on the run, having to drag out a tablet from a backpack to get some info on the Web is much less practical than an iPhone or iPod Touch in your pocket (granted the iPhone is much more useful in this regard with 3g). It means you have to drag a backpack everywhere.

So basically, a iPhone+Macbook combo is much more practical than a Tablet and that's the problem I see with it. It's not the best of both worlds, it's the worse of both worlds without the best thrown in.

some Schools require a tablet device. Tablets are great for taking notes. notes from your hand writing can be converted to text.

I don't think so. Having to scoot your head down to read what you're writing is nice on paper with a pen. But doing it on a virtual keyboard, I'd rather have the screen propped up and the keyboard laid flat... Like a laptop. The position is much better and less tiring, especially for a 2-3 hour course.

And usually, hand writing to text can be a bitch. I type much faster than I can write something legible by the computer, especially considering that many of the letters require special strokes which I have to memorize (muscle memory is not as developped for those as it is with normal hand writing and typing).

 

[Target362]

I don't think so. Having to scoot your head down to read what you're writing is nice on paper with a pen. But doing it on a virtual keyboard, I'd rather have the screen propped up and the keyboard laid flat... Like a laptop. The position is much better and less tiring, especially for a 2-3 hour course.

And usually, hand writing to text can be a bitch. I type much faster than I can write something legible by the computer, especially considering that many of the letters require special strokes which I have to memorize (muscle memory is not as developped for those as it is with normal hand writing and typing).

FYI, I'm talking about college and not your middle or high school..

Also, I think you missed the point on Text to handwriting, but since you didnt get the school deal, its pointless to even explain it to you

 

[KnightWRX]

FYI, I'm talking about college and not your middle or high school..

Also, I think you missed the point on Text to handwriting, but since you didnt get the school deal, its pointless to even explain it to you

I don't see what I missed. You think a tablet is great for taking notes, I argued that the ergonomics of a laptop are superior for extended periods. I don't quite get your high school comment, since I never had a 3 hour course in high school, but I've had plenty of those in college, where the whole 3 hours were spent taking down notes.

And handwriting to text or OCR isn't all it's crack up to be, even now, so again, I fail to see your comment. A laptop is a superior note taking device than a tablet.

 

[DELLsFan]

You can't agree, but the truth is, the AppleTV is far from a big success. It may be sleek and well design, but most people just don't find a use for it, and as such, it has not been a big seller.

I see. You now speak for "most people"? YOU won't buy one because YOU don't/can't find a use for it, don't you mean? It doesn't sell well and is a huge failure because you didn't buy one? Clearly more people are buying iMacs than Mac Pros and Minis. So to extend your logic, that must mean the MPs and Minis aren't big sellers either, right?

Same for the Macbook air, it's great design wise, it's just that the cons have been too much for people to actually buy them and as such, it's not a great seller.

I see. This would explain why Apple, the most powerful and successful computer company in the world, decided to revisit the design and internals of the MBA and is still offering them?

Look, maybe the ATV and MBA aren't the big successes that the new 13" MacBook Pros are, but apparently they are successful enough to continue offering them. The ATV happens to be due for a refresh soon, I would say - so I suspect we'll see how committed to these products Cupertino is in a year or so. I am happy with my ATV. Because you don't want one or a MBA, doesn't somehow make either product inferior or a failure.

I see the tablet in the same way. The thing just isn't a laptop, and wouldn't be comfortable to type on. The extra portability against a Macbook would be moot if you're a student, and while you think messing on IM and reading e-mail in class is the only use for a notebook, I know plenty of people that use them to actually take and organise class notes.

So you and the dozen or so "students" actually taking notes on one can stick with your laptop. Good luck and best wishes. Meanwhile, outside of class, there are certainly plenty of uses for a tablet form factor for other folks - like me. There are compelling reasons why the tablet would be an improvement over the iPod Touch or iPhone. If Apple does release a new tablet, I'm certain it will revolutionize the genre and enhance the mobile computing market, not detract from it.

Your preferences and desires as a student obviously influence your opinion on your ever wanting one. That's ok. I've never argued the utility of the tablet as being the ideal product for "note-taking" in class. The MacBook seems to be a great alternative toward this end. I'm saying there is certainly more utility outside academia than you're willing to admit. Soon, hopefully, we'll both find out how MUCH more.

 

[KnightWRX]

Look, stop being a total fanboy. Look at the sales number for the Macbook Air and Apple TV. Everything that comes out of Apple isn't great and must have. Sometimes they do stumble and they are far from perfect. That's not negative, that's reality. No one ever truly understand market forces.

So far, the Macbook Air and Apple TV have been profitable if not successful, that's why they are still sold. Notice how they don't get as many updates (especially the Apple TV) than their brethren though.

So you and the dozen or so "students" actually taking notes on one can stick with your laptop. Good luck and best wishes. Meanwhile, outside of class, there are certainly plenty of uses for a tablet form factor for other folks - like me. There are compelling reasons why the tablet would be an improvement over the iPod Touch or iPhone. If Apple does release a new tablet, I'm certain it will revolutionize the genre and enhance the mobile computing market, not detract from it.

Such as ? Remember, you're going to have to drag it around in a bag everywhere, not your pocket like a phone. Portability is less than a iPhone, so what would make it so much more compelling ? Other than "it's Apple's new gadget, must have!".

And I have my college degree. Today I use a laptop because I can drag it all over the house and to the garage or to work If I need to show something to a co-worker. And no, a tablet won't be better for any of that since I don't feel comfortable not typing with my two hands and typing on something that's laying flat on its back doesn't appeal to me.

 

[DELLsFan]

Look, stop being a total fanboy.

Now that's gotta be a first. Tell you what ... stop being contrary and I'll consider your request.

... Look at the sales number for the Macbook Air and Apple TV. Everything that comes out of Apple isn't great and must have. Sometimes they do stumble and they are far from perfect. That's not negative, that's reality. No one ever truly understand market forces.

It sure does sound like you do though. If you had your way, Apple would not be allowed to sell such a silly device - like a tablet ... am I right?

... So far, the Macbook Air and Apple TV have been profitable if not successful, that's why they are still sold.

So you might begin to understand my confusion with your mixed signals here, considering how not "magnificent" these two products were in your earlier opinion.

... Notice how they don't get as many updates (especially the Apple TV) than their brethren though.

I have ... which absolutely proves how much of a failure these products have been, right?

Such as ? Remember, you're going to have to drag it around in a bag everywhere, not your pocket like a phone. Portability is less than a iPhone, so what would make it so much more compelling ? Other than "it's Apple's new gadget, must have!".

The larger screen is a big factor for me. As for portability, I should think it would be more portable than a Macbook or even the MBA. If the video capabilities on the Apple tablet are adequate, I think I'll prefer this to using a heavier, larger laptop or the smaller iPhone in-flight.

This is not to say I don't appreciate the capabilities of my iPhone. I do use it ... a lot. However, when traveling, I prefer a larger form factor for email and internet without the weight, bulk, and expense of a laptop. Sure, it won't fit in my pocket, but it will fit into my budget and lifestyle.

... And I have my college degree.

Congratulations. You appear to have used your laptop effectively in class. Sadly, I think on the whole, you were probably more an exception than norm. I believe most undergraduates today are not nearly as scrupulous with their technology in class as they could be. Hence my sarcasm earlier.

... Today I use a laptop because I can drag it all over the house and to the garage or to work If I need to show something to a co-worker. And no, a tablet won't be better for any of that since I don't feel comfortable not typing with my two hands and typing on something that's laying flat on its back doesn't appeal to me.

Well there we go ... finally - some argument to explain how and why a tablet might not work for you. I can appreciate your view. It's sad the reverse doesn't seem to be the case - given your passion on the matter. I'm a non-touch typist, so I'm already use to the constraints of single finger touch-screen typing. I'm looking forward to the tablet rumor coming true.

 

[KnightWRX]

Read this paragraph you wrote again :

Give consumers a little credit will you? If a product is made (designed) by Apple, this implies the product will be a meticulous marvel of engineering, design and impossible attention to detail. It'll be easy-to-use, innovative and ground-breaking for the genre ... like the iPod Touch and iPhone were. Since Jobs has been in command at Apple recently, has there been a product that wasn't magnificent (albeit expensive)?

While a good niche and a nice product, the Apple TV is not ground-breaking for the genre. Nor is the Macbook Air. I'd go so far as to say the Macbook Air genre never quite took off and the Netbook genre completely blew it out of the water.

This is what I was saying. Apple is hit and miss too. And no, I don't pretend to know market forces better than anyone, but I can look back at what happened and see when something was a huge success and when something was simply a miss.

And I'm not a touch typist either. My fingers are all over the keyboard when I type, I don't do the asdf jkl; thing. However, typing with one hand while the other holds a clunker of a device like a clipboard doesn't seem appealing to me. And with a 10" screen, this thing won't be able to be held like a iPhone. This is why I put portability under con for it and ergonomy too. A Macbook makes for a much better typing experience, a iPhone makes for a better portability. I don't want to drag my backpack everywhere I go, even it if is hip and trendy with it's diagonal single strap (yeah, like I'd have one of those...).

 

[nicuk]

Deleted

Deleted

 

[DELLsFan]

...While a good niche and a nice product, the Apple TV is not ground-breaking for the genre. Nor is the Macbook Air. I'd go so far as to say the Macbook Air genre never quite took off and the Netbook genre completely blew it out of the water.

There is some truth to your assertions here, but I think both the ATV and MBA are really fantastic devices.

My DELL Vostro A90 is a netbook. Though while I really love it, it can't be compared to a MacBook Air. The MBA is not a netbook, it's much more powerful of a computer with features unique to its genre - its niche market. The MBA may not be selling as much as Apple would like, but it's an amazing device nonetheless.

I disagree with you on whether it was groundbreaking, however. Nothing out there is as thin and powerful as this computer, right? Did we see mainstream inclusion of solid state drives in Mac computers before the MBA? Definitely groundbreaking, but I think it's priced still way too expensive. Apple conceded this point very recently by dropping the price significantly. It's a start. If they dropped the price further, perhaps it would sell better - but I digress.

This is what I was saying. Apple is hit and miss too. And no, I don't pretend to know market forces better than anyone, but I can look back at what happened and see when something was a huge success and when something was simply a miss.

Try looking at it differently than baseball. If you swing and miss the ball pitched at you, THAT'S a miss. If you are playing darts and hit the board, but not the bulls eye, is this a miss? The MBA and ATV may not have been bulls eyes, but they did score ... enough points in the dart game analogy to continue making them - to keep playing. As they improve upon their designs, and acquiesce on price, Apple's aim (and score) may improve.

... I don't want to drag my backpack everywhere I go, even it if is hip and trendy with it's diagonal single strap (yeah, like I'd have one of those...)...

hah ... granted. Hey, it's all good. I don't profess to be a trendy technophile. I do admit to loving Apple's products and expect ease in use, and a satisfying experience after purchasing them. I think it's a great thing to add options to an evolving handheld computing market. Apple is wise to take the lead here and I think their tablet will do this and still meet the needs of folks like me and others. It's clear you have different needs ... and that's ok too. Yours appear to have been met.

 

[mjteix]

Look at the sales number for the Macbook Air...
So far, the Macbook Air and Apple TV have been profitable if not successful, that's why they are still sold. Notice how they don't get as many updates (especially the Apple TV) than their brethren though.

Such as ? Remember, you're going to have to drag it around in a bag everywhere, not your pocket like a phone. Portability is less than a iPhone, so what would make it so much more compelling ? Other than "it's Apple's new gadget, must have!".

And I have my college degree. Today I use a laptop because I can drag it all over the house and to the garage or to work If I need to show something to a co-worker. And no, a tablet won't be better for any of that since I don't feel comfortable not typing with my two hands and typing on something that's laying flat on its back doesn't appeal to me.

I like you to point us in the direction were we could actually get those numbers for the MBA. Apple doesn't disclose them, so anything you say about the MBA being a failure is pure imagination. Anyway not every product is made to be sold to everybody. There is no "holy grail" in computers or anything for that matter.

Then in the following paragraph you're stating that the MBA has been profitable. Isn't that all that matters? Anyway, the MBA has received as many updates as the MB/MBP since its launch, it uses the latest cpu/chipsets available. That's all that matters.

Well, if the tablet is a thin, light, 10" device, of course it will be less portable than an iPhone/iPod touch, but it will also be more portable than any MB/MBA/MBP, about half the size of a 13" MBx. And it will offer a better viewing experience than the iPhone/iPod touch for things like surfing the web, watching movies or displaying anykind of document.

For the usages vs a regular notebook, we'll have to see what it is capable of. Right now we know nothing, so it is useless to try to compare. And we also don't know how well it will integrate with Mac OS X computers.

All of your usage/concern seems revolving about typing. That's OK. If a notebook is what you need/suits you the best, OK. Apple has plenty of devices you can use (starting at $999). Now some people may not use computers/devices mainly for typing, but for, let's say "consuming" data/media, watching/examining/listening to things. They may not feel that a hardware keyboard is a requirement.

Like you said yourself, the "point and click interface" is what slow us down. Don't you think that multitouch is a mean to accelerate/change the way we "point and click"? I'll give you just an example in my line of work: try freely/manually moving two (or three or more) faders at the same time in the Logic Studio mixer or adjusting the frequency and the level of an EQ at the same time... You can't, because of the "point and click interface", yet it's is something that I can do on a $20 radioshack hardware mixer (or a $100,000 SSL mixing console). Multitouch would allow this kind of interaction and more. More natural interactions. You can do more with 10 fingers than just typing. So maybe this new device from Apple is their second step in the multitouch environment. It could allow not only new/different apps vs the "desktop" ones, but also better ones.

Don't dismiss a product/technology (that isn't released yet) just because you can't see YOURSELF using it (for whatever - good or bad - reason).

 

[KnightWRX]

Don't dismiss a product/technology (that isn't released yet) just because you can't see YOURSELF using it (for whatever - good or bad - reason).

Tablet products are already out there : http://www.samsung.com/uk/business/b2b/products/notebooks/ultra_mobile/q1.htm.

You can think Apple will great and different, I'd rather be skeptic and say it'll be the same in a glossy package.

 

[mjteix]

Tablet products are already out there : http://www.samsung.com/uk/business/b2b/products/notebooks/ultra_mobile/q1.htm.

I was talking about Apple's rumored multitouch tablet not tablets/UMPCs in general, and the Q1 is not even multitouch.

You can think Apple will great and different, I'd rather be skeptic and say it'll be the same in a glossy package.

It will never be the same because it won't run windows to begin with. You're not being skeptic since you have NO doubt "it'll be the same in a glossy package" or "useless". Me, I wonder what it will be capable of. One thing's for sure is that Apple is probably the only company that can make this work, even for people like you.

 

[nikaru]

http://www.engadget.com/tag/appletablet

lol

 

[KnightWRX]

It will never be the same because it won't run windows to begin with. You're not being skeptic since you have NO doubt "it'll be the same in a glossy package" or "useless". Me, I wonder what it will be capable of. One thing's for sure is that Apple is probably the only company that can make this work, even for people like you.

I'm not skeptic about my use for a tablet. I know that I won't need one and certainly won't rush to the store to buy one. I have way more need for a sissy bar and fender rack on my bike and that's where my money is going this fall.

I'm skeptic about the success of such a product. I'm thinking this tablet thing, for all the hype and drooling is getting, is going to be one of those "Must buy! Must unbox! ... erm... Must Sell!" type things. Not a lot of people have a true need for it, just a "WANT!", until reality sinks in of course.

That is what I'm skeptic about, people are going to be disappointed when they find out that it is a Samsung Q1 with multi-touch screen.

Heck, though I do understand the iPhone/iPod touch hype, I still haven't even come close to getting one. My Phone doesn't do Internet nor do I want it to really, just no need for it. However, I understand why people that need Internet on the go do, it's called consolidation, just how I just love the fact that since my SE phone has a Walkman software, I don't need to drag around my iPod anymore.

This tablet sounds like the anti-thesis of device consolidation. It doesn't replace your iPhone/iPod, it's yet another device you have to carry around. I think there's much to be said for 1 device that does it all and iPhone/Android/Windows Mobile could solve that 1 problem once they are the be-all, end-all of gadgets.

 

[iMacmatician]

Tablet products are already out there : http://www.samsung.com/uk/business/b2b/products/notebooks/ultra_mobile/q1.htm.

You can think Apple will great and different, I'd rather be skeptic and say it'll be the same in a glossy package.

That is what I'm skeptic about, people are going to be disappointed when they find out that it is a Samsung Q1 with multi-touch screen.

One significant difference is the likely usage of a mobile OS designed for multi-touch instead of a desktop OS.

 

[KnightWRX]

One significant difference is the likely usage of a mobile OS designed for multi-touch instead of a desktop OS.

If it does use iPhone OS, then it's just going to be an unportable iPhone. And that's exactly what a lot of foaming at the mouth "gimme tablet NAO!" people don't want (see this very thread for details, a few pages of arguments over the OS and why iPhone OS is bad bad bad!).

If it uses Mac OS X with a multi-touch interface, then it's a desktop OS based tablet.

See why I am skeptic about this now ?

 

[albusseverus]

Wouldn't it be a disappointment if iProd was just the code name for the new iPod Touch. Has anyone reported screen sizes from the browser logs for this device? We've seen that previously, but not lately.

I still think there's both a netbook and a reading tablet in the works, and unfortunately, Steve is going to introduce the tablet at CES in January.

Would be nice if one of them had an OLED touch screen.

tv proves that Apple will charge whatever they like for a device with limited functionality (You want how much for an HDMI interface??)

And if mjteix doesn't want a Touch device, there's 50 million people who do…

 

[mjteix]

And if mjteix doesn't want a Touch device, there's 50 million people who do…

LOL. Good one.

 

[cwfrederick]

macbook touch + "cocktail" + karaoke app = game over

apple doesnt need to crowd its lineup for the holiday season. i think it will sell well even post-holiday, especially if they come out with a karaoke app to go along with that 'cocktail' thing.