That's probably exactly what some executives were saying at RIM, Nokia, Samsung, Palm, Nintendo, etc. a couple years ago. Then the iPhone and iPod Touch came along, and sold 30M+.
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Steve Jobs Also Overseeing Apple Tablet or Netbook Device?
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That's probably exactly what some executives were saying at RIM, Nokia, Samsung, Palm, Nintendo, etc. a couple years ago. Then the iPhone and iPod Touch came along, and sold 30M+.
opposite
Nah, see I'm the other way 'round. This will be a great gap filler for me. Something between the MP and the iPhone. Something I can tote around without a lot of trouble and sketch on. For me:
iPhone = too small to sketch on
netbook = pointless because of iPhone
laptop = nice but huge
I would freaking LOVE a portable OSX sketchbook, so:
10"
tablet = perfect.
I bet Ive has been using one of these for years now!
Oh, right, IMO!
Nah, see I'm the other way 'round. This will be a great gap filler for me. Something between the MP and the iPhone. Something I can tote around without a lot of trouble and sketch on. For me:
iPhone = too small to sketch on
netbook = pointless because of iPhone
laptop = nice but huge
I would freaking LOVE a portable OSX sketchbook, so:
10"
tablet = perfect.I bet Ive has been using one of these for years now!
Oh, right, IMO!
truth
Thank you.
So, pleaaaaaaaase, I beg of everyone, for the sake of sanity, DO NOT log in to MacRumors and spill gallons of virtual ink complaining on page after endless forum page about how expensive the "iTablet" is.It's going to be about $500 more than you'd like to pay, so just consider yourselves warned.
Thank you.
Unfortunately I you might be right.
A bigger iPod touch would be the dumbest thing ever... too big to be a useful iPod, too small and awkward to be a useful computer!!It would probably be one of Apple's biggest mistakes of all time if they do not release a price-competitive netbook. They can go after all those who pine for a mini MacBook (like the 12" PowerBook), they can get into the growing netbook market and they can grab new users due to an attractive price. Why would they NOT do this?
Got to think this will be a tablet-like thing
I'm amazed that there are over 175 comments yet no mention of the Kindle. I've got to thing this new thing will be kind of a coffee table tablet. You can read books with it (Apple will try to do to books why they did to music) or pick it up when you are lying on the couch to surf the web or play games. In the morning you can use it to read the paper and when driving you can load a video on it to keep the kids entertained. And on planes you will have your own inflight entertainment system. I doubt this will be an earth-shattering device but it will make several everyday tasks more enjoyable.
I'm amazed that there are over 175 comments yet no mention of the Kindle. I've got to thing this new thing will be kind of a coffee table tablet. You can read books with it (Apple will try to do to books why they did to music) or pick it up when you are lying on the couch to surf the web or play games. In the morning you can use it to read the paper and when driving you can load a video on it to keep the kids entertained. And on planes you will have your own inflight entertainment system. I doubt this will be an earth-shattering device but it will make several everyday tasks more enjoyable.
I'm thinking Palm Foleo
I don't think Apple will introduce a netbook or a tablet. I think all they're going to do is introduce a keyboard and bigger screen to hook up to an iPod Touch or iPhone, similar to what Palm tried (and failed) to do with their Treos a couple of years ago. It was called the Foleo, and while the execution was bad, the idea was interesting.
iPhone 3.0 introduces the idea of hooking up external devices. So, what if you have a device that looks like a very, very thin netbook with a keyboard and 9" touchscreen, but hook that up to your iPhone or iPod Touch? And all you're doing is controlling the iPhone/iPod Touch with the external keyboard and touchscreen?
It solves a lot of problems:
With no memory, hard drive, and main microprocessor, it could be cheap - well within netbook range. All the power is in the iPhone or iPod Touch.
There is no confusing it with a regular laptop, so there won't be cannibalising of MacBook sales.
It would leverage everything they have done to date with the iPhone and iPod Touch, including the App Store, while solving the two main problems with the iPhone - bigger screen for better web surfing and physical keyboard for email and messaging.
The device would be instant on - something very few netbooks can achieve now.
They can target consumers - Apple's main focus - and sell to their huge existing iPhone/iPod touch base, while attracting new customers who may be considering a netbook.
For consumers, they don't have to buy yet another expensive device, and try to sync their information and keep everything up to date.
FInally - and I think this is important - it will be different and nothing like it in the market.
I don't think Apple will introduce a netbook or a tablet. I think all they're going to do is introduce a keyboard and bigger screen to hook up to an iPod Touch or iPhone, similar to what Palm tried (and failed) to do with their Treos a couple of years ago. It was called the Foleo, and while the execution was bad, the idea was interesting.
iPhone 3.0 introduces the idea of hooking up external devices. So, what if you have a device that looks like a very, very thin netbook with a keyboard and 9" touchscreen, but hook that up to your iPhone or iPod Touch? And all you're doing is controlling the iPhone/iPod Touch with the external keyboard and touchscreen?
It solves a lot of problems:
With no memory, hard drive, and main microprocessor, it could be cheap - well within netbook range. All the power is in the iPhone or iPod Touch.
There is no confusing it with a regular laptop, so there won't be cannibalising of MacBook sales.
It would leverage everything they have done to date with the iPhone and iPod Touch, including the App Store, while solving the two main problems with the iPhone - bigger screen for better web surfing and physical keyboard for email and messaging.
The device would be instant on - something very few netbooks can achieve now.
They can target consumers - Apple's main focus - and sell to their huge existing iPhone/iPod touch base, while attracting new customers who may be considering a netbook.
For consumers, they don't have to buy yet another expensive device, and try to sync their information and keep everything up to date.
FInally - and I think this is important - it will be different and nothing like it in the market.
Quite useful if you devote 50% of your time to presentations and do not want to carry a heavy laptop (even the MacBook Air plus related luggage et al is too heavy and large to carry in a pocket).
The full Mac OS X (not full OS X, which is what have the iPhone and iPod touch inside) is just and only just to allow installing and opening Keynote and PowerPoint, and thus allow the full blown presentation.
The halo effect would be tremendous on all academic, corporate and domestic-personal markets, thus Apple will sell not only many more iTablets, but also more Macs, iPods, iPhones, etc.
Here is the idea-concept. Search for "No Baggage" here and watch the 30 seconds commercial:
http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-us
Likewise, the Impatica ShowMate:
http://www.impatica.com/showmate
See also the OQO model 2+ at:
http://www.oqo.com
I wish someone besides Steve Jobs with a little more technical knowledge would have the final say on products.
For example, the macbook screens are horrible, but steve probably thinks they're great because they're so glossy and bright. He doesn't know/notice things like viewing angles. If he did understand it, I doubt he'd let these crappy screens get into the macbooks, or even the TN panel on the 20" imac. We all know steve demands quality.
Sure, Steve makes sure things are sexy and easy to use, but really, he isn't the end all when it comes to making sure a product is a full quality product. Yes, steve wants quality, but he isn't always so sure what quality is.
For example, the macbook screens are horrible, but steve probably thinks they're great because they're so glossy and bright. He doesn't know/notice things like viewing angles. If he did understand it, I doubt he'd let these crappy screens get into the macbooks, or even the TN panel on the 20" imac. We all know steve demands quality.
Sure, Steve makes sure things are sexy and easy to use, but really, he isn't the end all when it comes to making sure a product is a full quality product. Yes, steve wants quality, but he isn't always so sure what quality is.
You've got a great point, though I think overall, it's been Steve J who's brought Apple to where it is today. You and I probably wouldn't be on this Forum had it not been for Steve. He's not a total technical moron. He's incredible at what he does. But I still agree, you have a point.
I can see your point but I doubt Apple would release such a specialised product. I mean, how many people do so many presentations that it warrants a specific piece of kit. Hardly that many to require a what you're proposing IMO. It seems to me that a netbook would be sufficient and would benefit others too.
Yea, I could totally use it, but have to concede it wouldn't be readily embraced by most.
if they scale the iphone up to 10", it'll cost about 7-800 range. if they scale the macbook down to 10", it'll probably cost 500. sounds weird, but downsizing a laptop you have all the components out there already e.g. intel atom and the rest of the hardware you just puzzle them together (like what *cough* HP, Lenovo, Asus, Acer, Dell, MSI etc etc have done).
all i want is a nice and simple 10", lightweight macbook that i can actually get some work done on i.e. word processing. no fancy touch screen please (touch screen ramps up the price). it's nice on phones coz space is limited, but you can at least fit a keyboard that's efficient to input text on a 10 incher -- let's get back to basics, interaction with a computer is input/output. if input is compromised, you aren't gonna get much work done, i.e. the macbook wheel.
the Nintendo DS had been using a touchscreen (albeit with a stylus) 3 years before the iPhone was released.
i agree with your statement 100% but i think the nintendo bit should be cut out. as far as risk taking/innovating they lead the way in the gaming industry IMO.
i think you underestimate Steve Jobs.
i'm not some crazy pro-steve guy, but i mean who are you to say he's not a technical person? are you the CEO of of a huge tech company?
(sorry for the double post)
Hmm, glossy/matte is completely subjective, but Steve Jobs knows exactly what he's doing with the shortcomings of the MB's screen re: viewing angle etc. They maximise profit by putting low res, low quality screens in, and get away with it, it's that simple. Plus, it forces people who desire a better display to the higher models; if the UMB had the same quality screen as the UMBP I may have bought the former. Instead, I was effectively forced to buy a 15" - not a great hardship, but for my usage a UMB would probably have sufficed. I've rarely used the 9600GT tbh but really didn't want a 1280x800 low q display.
A netbook (or tablet) would be just great, as far as it is not as large and as heavy as the MacBook Air. Say, 300 to 400 g would be great. A tablet or something like this (pocketable handheld and light):
UMID Mbook M1 review
http://www.oqotalk.com/index.php/topic,3671.0.html
Then the only thing it will share with the Kindle will be the form factor, since the Kindle has none of the multimedia capabilities you mention, and is the most basic browsing (barely usable) device imaginable. Also, the putative Apple device will fall far short of the Kindle's memory and readability in direct sunlight, two of its biggest advantages.
Apple are not 'followers'
I cannot see Apple launching a traditional netbook - there are too many players already.
Apple excel at usability, desirability and the ability to maximise revenue streams.
Unless they launch something innovative they won't bother. A shrunken notebook is not exciting enough.
I expect a paperback-sized scaled up iPod Touch with mobile connectivity. It will rely on the cloud for services and will form a control surface for other Apple products. I expect them to follow their minimalistic approach - no fancy slide out keyboards - but will interface to peripherals like BT keyboards and headsets. It will be extensible by apps that will create a new price band in the iTunes App store. You will need a subscription to get the most out of it.
I cannot see Apple launching a traditional netbook - there are too many players already.
Apple excel at usability, desirability and the ability to maximise revenue streams.
Unless they launch something innovative they won't bother. A shrunken notebook is not exciting enough.
I expect a paperback-sized scaled up iPod Touch with mobile connectivity. It will rely on the cloud for services and will form a control surface for other Apple products. I expect them to follow their minimalistic approach - no fancy slide out keyboards - but will interface to peripherals like BT keyboards and headsets. It will be extensible by apps that will create a new price band in the iTunes App store. You will need a subscription to get the most out of it.
This is my guess and concept
Very nice concept. I like it and would buy it. Although, they would never call it "MacDiary" - that would not sit well with many of their target audience.
Perhaps, MacBook Slim, or MacBook Ultra.
Everything else equal (including touchscreen), I think a 10" MacBook will cost more than a 10" iPod touch.
Don't those components cost more than the ones used in the iPod touch? Or am I wrong?
Wait, there's one more thing...
Introducing...
the iPants.
56% bigger pockets, a hole for the AC adapter, buttsweat proof...
