Steve Jobs Also Overseeing Apple Tablet or Netbook Device?

[MacFly123]

A touch device based on Mac OS X would require a lot of reworking the underlying GUI. Such a device can't really be "released to the masses" without developer input and retooling.

It will run the iPhone OS and have the App Store!

Why in the WORLD would they take on such a monumental task of completely reworking OS X when they already have done that, and have an app store and developer support and a hugely powerful infrastructure already in place???

That's my problem... is there a market for a 8-10" touchscreen? As far as I can imagine, touch screens are useless for any real productive use (notes, presentations, etc.). Apple must be designing this touch thingy for a particular type of consumer... but who?

You are all thinking about this inside the box... The demographic of netbook user here is secondary. The main target for this product is to tie in with the Apple TV and Media hub that is in the works! Everything it needs is already in iPhone OS 3.0 and ready to go!

 

[kas23]

What if a company such as AT&T subsidized the device? Wouldn't this then allow Apple to release a high end product with a lower price tag?

This is the only way we see this below a $500 price tag. And tying netbooks to a carrier seems to be in vogue now. Apple will likely make more money overall if they tied this to an exclusive carrier (the same way Apple used to get a portion of every monthly bill).

 

[kas23]

It will run the iPhone OS and have the App Store!

Why in the WORLD would they take on such a monumental task of completely reworking OS X when they already have done that, and have an app store and developer support and a hugely powerful infrastructure already in place???

Uggh. I hope not. I wouldn't want pay a premium for a computer that is just as crippled like the iPhone. I tolerate it with my iPhone because, after all, it's just a phone. To have Apple totally control my experience with a bonafide computer/netbook would be too much.

 

[BJWanlund]

I have to think this is more of a 12" Powerbook-style device.

Apple said they had "interesting" ideas for the netbook space. So, why not have a 12" Powerbook style of device with a different name (possibly MacBook Mini) for a Mac Mini-style price point ($499 or $599)?

BJ

 

[applealex]

if you were to design this device what would you put in it?, I think I would just include everything my iPod touch has besides the 3 inch screen and tiny battery and well 8GB of storage

I mean what would you put on this things besides more storage, bigger screen, and bigger battery?. the only thing I can think of is maybe a USB port so you can plug in your camera and transfer your photos to like a mini iPhoto and iMovie

oh and a sensor so you can control your TV with it, not TV but real TV

 

[michael.lauden]

well you remember when we first heard about plans for a phone way back when - if they can make something that epic out of a cell phone.

imagine the tablet interface.

however... if it's just a touchscreen 12" computer... count me out

 

[SandynJosh]

I hope it'll still have a keyboard --

I'm wondering if they aren't already shipping the optional keyboard for this new device with the Mac Mini.
.
Imagine something that is highly portable, acts like a iPhone/iTouch and works with any handy bluetooth device or not, as available.

My money is on it running iPhone-ish OS so it can hit the street with +15,000 applications ready to go.

By avoiding the netbook route, Apple can continue to redefine what the customer demands and leave all the squabbling about who can make the cheapest POS that runs MS POS OS.

Apple's focus seems to be on creating something that delivers the most bang for the pound. To do that they need to avoid all the battery-sucking specs like background processing, large screens, and off-the-shelf architecture/clockspeeds. As long as one stays away from the "me-too" products, then Apple's products can't be compared to Orange's specs.

Twenty-five years after the first Mac hit the market with a 9" screen, we end back there with as revolutionary a product as it was then...again with a 9" screen.

 

[gonnabuyamac]

netbook...

actually, if they just dropped the price of the macbook air to something reasonable, it would be close enough to a netbook for me

 

[synth3tik]

I'm starting to get annoyed with Apple's hard on for multi-touch devices.

The iPhone and iPod touch are one thing, but these trackpads, and I fear what Apple would release as a "tablet" are another story and quite angering.

 

[MikeTheC]

I thought Apple already had a netbook. You know, something called the MacBook Air.

 

[synth3tik]

I thought Apple already had a netbook. You know, something called the MacBook Air.

The Air was not marketed as a netbook, it was marketed as a laptop you could fit into an envelope, then forget where you put it.

A.K.A. the MBA is a party favor.

 

[SandynJosh]

What if a company such as AT&T subsidized the device? Wouldn't this then allow Apple to release a high end product with a lower price tag?

...and what if Verizon were to market this one, not AT&T?

As a businessman I always carry my planner with me. So do business women. Student have their book bags, most females have their purses. So all one needs to bring up to their face is the bluetooth headset. Something small and flat that fits in a planner, or goes well with other book-shaped form-factors would be easy to tote; especially if it's lighter and smaller than a netbook and has phone/internet capabilities.

 

[kindablue09]

You are all thinking about this inside the box... The demographic of netbook user here is secondary. The main target for this product is to tie in with the Apple TV and Media hub that is in the works! Everything it needs is already in iPhone OS 3.0 and ready to go!

Interesting idea, although I am not too sure about media machines... but I guess that's what apple does; tries to shape the market.

 

[Michael CM1]

Wirelessly posted (Apple iPhone 3G 16GB White: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5H11 Safari/525.20)

I'd be really interested at what price point they would offer such a device. Netbooks usually fall in the $300 price range. A multi touch netbook would surely cost more than that.

I noticed that Sony's netbook is about $900. Since they both seem to go for quality above base-level cheap crap, I'm betting Apple will go the same route. I really think Apple needs to hit that $500 price point somehow, even if it's with a subsidy with 3G service.

 

[mac jones]

ah the gratuitous tablet rumor of the week

Life is good : )

 

[mikeinternet]

UNLESS.................,

unless Steve is able to solve this problem and somehow make this device have a larger screen AND still be very pocketable. Oh my, how would one be able to make such a device? *puts finger to lips like dr. evil*

Make pockets bigger???

 

[Anghammarad]

Not a small MacBook. Not a netbook. Not a crippled computer.

A media and surf device.

Iphone and iPhone touch are still crippled when it comes to surfing, reading books and watching films. They are simply too small.

I'll buy one in an instant.

 

[SpaceMagic]

Look. Apple. I understand the Netbook market is exploading - I'm even considering a Win XP machine right now. The point is, we pay around £250 for one in the UK. If Apple were to make one, they'd charge around £500. It would only be successful with a percentage of the already existing mac fan base. I.e. A very small market.

If you can't make it £300 - don't bother.

 

[MacFly123]

A touch device based on Mac OS X would require a lot of reworking the underlying GUI. Such a device can't really be "released to the masses" without developer input and retooling.

That's my problem... is there a market for a 8-10" touchscreen? As far as I can imagine, touch screens are useless for any real productive use (notes, presentations, etc.). Apple must be designing this touch thingy for a particular type of consumer... but who?

Uggh. I hope not. I wouldn't want pay a premium for a computer that is just as crippled like the iPhone. I tolerate it with my iPhone because, after all, it's just a phone. To have Apple totally control my experience with a bonafide computer/netbook would be too much.

Crippled.... OR... Completely revolutionary and creator of the mobile computing revolution. I guess it depends on how you look at it.

 

[kas23]

Crippled.... OR... Completely revolutionary and creator of the mobile computing revolution. I guess it depends on how you look at it.

I say "crippled" because the actual hardware is capable of much, much more than firmware 2.2.1 allows. Only a fool would deny that.

Yes, mobile OS is revolutionary...for a cellphone. It would be laughable in a netbook.

Would you want a netbook that couldn't download files from Safari, could only install certain Apple-approved apps, didn't have file manager?

 

[iPhoneNYC]

A tablet would be cool. But it's the price that matters. There are already products in the line to look at: a bigger iPhone has it's place but priced at 4 - 600 bucks with a big monthly bill I don't think would become a "thing." A big Touch is interesting but would lack a phone - could one include a non ATT Skype package on other than wi-fi? Or, it could be made of chocolate, cost 10 bucks, and I'd give it to my kids for Easter.

 

[yayitsezekiel]

heck a netbook with osx would be great. Although i heard that apple has been working on OLED stuff, so it would be pretty cool if they could implement their multitouch and OLED into a netbook. If they're going to be more expensive than your average netbook, it better be innovative and have features that will draw people towards it.

 

[robbyx]

Netbook? No. Tablet? Yes.

I don't see Apple releasing a Netbook. It just doesn't fit. They've never shown an interest in cheap, low-margin items. Furthermore, they like to LEAD, not follow.

It's all about iPhone 3 - and the App Store. I dare say the Knowledge Navigator might become reality in some form or another. Whatever they release (I think it will be a multi-touch tablet) will definitely not run the full OS X, but rather the Touch OS. iPhone 3, from what we already know, adds critical features like Cut/Copy/Paste, as well as support for hardware devices connected via the Dock connector (can you say printer?).

In my mind it's pretty clear what they're working on. Imagine an iPod Touch with a 10" screen, high resolution video camera for conferencing, support for printers and other hardware devices, a virtual full-size keyboard, etc. More than an iPhone or iPod touch, but less than a laptop. It will probably run between $500 and $1000, but definitely not less than $500.

Remember, it's all about the App Store! Apple makes a lot of money on the App Store. They're never going to put the genie back in the bottle on the Mac platform. It will remain open. But you can rest assured that they are going to push the Touch OS in all sorts of new directions and the App Store is a key component of the strategy. Apple likes control and with the Touch OS and App Store, they finally have their dream platform. It's totally vertically integrated. Internet distribution makes it possible.

Personally, I love the way my iPhone augments my Mac. I'd seriously consider a Touch OS-based device with a larger screen and more horsepower. It also opens up all sorts of new possibilities for developers. It'll be the iPhone gold rush all over again.

 

[Otaviano]

Steve Jobs is going to come out on stage like Moses carrying two Mac tablets.

I don't see Apple releasing a Netbook. It just doesn't fit. They've never shown an interest in cheap, low-margin items. Furthermore, they like to LEAD, not follow.

They will lead by making their netbook the device you describe, and it will be cheap because it will come subsidized from various mobile operators throughout the globe.

I would put money on it.

 

[leez]

This is my guess and concept .