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Steve Jobs on Apple Tablet: 'This will be the most important thing I've ever done."
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I would say buying books is the highest cost (except school-fee) for a student.
Also - think outside the US. A lot of the european countries have "free" educational-systems.
I would say this little device will change the educational system the same way the original chalk & slate did a hundred couple of years ago..
Any college student could tell you that one big problem with the higher levels of education is the cost of books. I know this first hand as I've had to buy them. Having to pay hundreds and hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars for books that I'll really only use for 4 months and at the end might be able to sell back at a small fraction of the cost if I'm lucky (some books they won't buy back at all), is just downright highway robbery.
Anything that could possibly reduce the overall cost of textbooks would definitely be welcomed by students and the e-reader's (whether you're talking Amazon or Apple or whoever) are the first promising idea that can make it happen.
That was good.
Are those available in time-release capsule so that you can feel the sensation of "Apple" throughout the day?
I believe its meant to start the shift, much like the iphone completely changed the cell phone industry.
Publishing can get expensive.
Typesetting something in InDesign and then locking it as a pdf or some other ebook format can mean quite a bit of savings.
Agreed.
Shhh, you're ruining the illusion comrade.
Apparently some people aren't aware of the tax rates in Europe.
I have enjoyed my tablet for the past eight years. It really has changed the way I use computers. I have been able to take notes by hand, read books and magazines, watch videos, and even surf in the bathroom.
I am excited by the Apple announcement, but I am at a loss as to what will really be different, besides that it will be an iPhone Plus. It's less powerful processor will ensure that the iPad will be able to do less than my current tablet, but will possibly be able to do so with more "pizzazz" and it will, of course, be more popular. It will not be able to replace my work computer, nor will it be small enough to replace my phone. Does this mean I will have to have three devices to replace my existing two?
I think that the device will be a really cool device, but "... most important thing I've ever done..." from the guy who shaped the original Mac (a truly important feat) seems like a crazy stretch... but we will see.
Don't forget: "When the NeXT Computer was launched in 1988 Jobs believed it would change the world of computing. In the end, the story of the NeXT cube became a study in failure. NeXT was a high-profile disaster, a computer system that the world admired but wouldn't buy."
I am excited by the Apple announcement, but I am at a loss as to what will really be different, besides that it will be an iPhone Plus. It's less powerful processor will ensure that the iPad will be able to do less than my current tablet, but will possibly be able to do so with more "pizzazz" and it will, of course, be more popular. It will not be able to replace my work computer, nor will it be small enough to replace my phone. Does this mean I will have to have three devices to replace my existing two?
I think that the device will be a really cool device, but "... most important thing I've ever done..." from the guy who shaped the original Mac (a truly important feat) seems like a crazy stretch... but we will see.
Don't forget: "When the NeXT Computer was launched in 1988 Jobs believed it would change the world of computing. In the end, the story of the NeXT cube became a study in failure. NeXT was a high-profile disaster, a computer system that the world admired but wouldn't buy."
Tax rates in Europe are only marginally higher than in the US.
The real difference is that in Europe taxes are used to pay for excellent healthcare, excellent schools, and college education for everyone who qualifies academically, while in the US taxes are used to pay for senseless wars on the other side of the planet and for a gigantic military apparatus.
The real difference is that in Europe taxes are used to pay for excellent healthcare, excellent schools, and college education for everyone who qualifies academically, while in the US taxes are used to pay for senseless wars on the other side of the planet and for a gigantic military apparatus.
Shhh, you're ruining the illusion comrade.
Apparently some people aren't aware of the tax rates in Europe.
Shhh, you're ruining the illusion GI Joe.
Hey man. This is a rumor site about apple products not a political debate. (BTW European health care is not very good)
On topic: I am quite exited for this and I am ready for another life changer!
Heh you're setting yourself up for a ribbing there
The origins of OS X, and the value of "lessons learned", one could write and write and write...
I'm not disagreeing, particularly. The world may still not be ready for the next big thing; but you have to admit that nothing is achieved by not trying.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
No, No, No, No, No. Why does this thinking keep coming up in thread after thread? It makes no sense to justify the potential value of the Tablet by imagining big discounts in the products other companies (outside of Apple) produce. Why should these book publishers reduce their prices for college books? Doesn't the student HAVE to buy it at whatever price those publishers (and school) conspire to charge???
You are correct in that a digital version will be cheaper for THEM vs. publishing and distributing a paper version. But they'll just take that cost savings as extra profit... not pass it along to the students. There's no reason for them to do that... they don't have competition (other than the used book market on campus... and even that is undermined by updating the books and elements connected to the books often enough to somewhat obsolete last years+ versions).
If you were them... if you know that the students have to buy anyway... if you know there is no competitor to challenge you on price... what would you do?
Or, more simply, just let current iTunes media be your guide. Are movies cheaper than "printed" DVD versions? Are TV shows cheaper than "printed" DVD or their share of your monthly cable/satt bill? Etc. This will be no different. Why? Because there is no reason for it to be different. Even vs. existing iTunes media, at least there is competitive channels for the same movies, TV shows, music, etc from other sources. With these college books, it's a no-competition proposition.
I wish your view of this would prove true, but see it for what it is: fatter profit potentials for greedy textbook publishers or cheaper book prices for students (at the expense of greedy book publisher margins). Which do you think they'll choose?
The "Unsubsidized" iPhone is purposely overpriced to benefit carriers benefit so people buy the phones with expensive data plans on a contract.
Apple is currently selling a $199 iPod Touch (you really think they are losing money on that?)... And how different is the Touch from the iPhone apart from the camera and the 3G cell phone chip? Not 500 dollars worth of components. (To be fair, the 3GS specs match the $299 iPod touch, but they we're still selling the 2G iPod touch for $229 and the iPhone 3G at the same time)
Say you take the specs of the current "low end" $199 iPod Touch, replace the 4 inch screen with a 10 inch screen and housing... it's not unreasonable to see a $350 entry price. A tablet with 3GS specs can easily have a sub $500 price tag.
This is how Apple will revolutionize tablets. No one has a use for a $1000 tablet (you would buy a Macbook). At 350-500 dollars, everyone will have one.
Heh you're setting yourself up for a ribbing there
The origins of OS X, and the value of "lessons learned", one could write and write and write...
I agree that the NEXT was an important step, and that there were lessons learned. It was a commercial failure and wasn't accepted by the public.
I think the current level of the hype machine is on the "Ginger/IT" level (from a world changing technology to a high tech scooter for somewhat lazy people). I am sure that the new tablet will be a nice device and will enable many people to bring digital media further into their lives... but I am just saying that it can't possibly be as incredible as the hype warrants.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
I'd say you are really dreaming if you believe this. Apple has NO history of rolling out the "gee whiz" next big thing accompanied by a crazy low price. Instead, the history is always a bit of sticker shock vs. what we get.
I think your opinion of the cost of the guts, vs. what they COULD sell it for and still make a profit is likely true. But implementing that in the form of a super low retail price is not Apple's kind of thing. What they do is develop it to (their) taste, then price the early ones at the high end of the(ir) range. Then, over time, they sometimes fade the pricing a bit and/or create lesser-loaded versions at lower prices.
My educated guess for all I've read/learned/speculated about this thing is $799 unsubsidized on the low end. And I can imagine $999 much more easily then say $599. The only way I could imagine $350-$500 for a 3GS Tablet is if a typo gets through on the Keynote screen, or if there is a comparison being made to netbooks in which THEIR prices are shown on screen.
But, all that said, I'd love you to turn out to be right.
You're right. Politics have no place on this site. (By the way, European care is great and anyone who says otherwise has not experienced it for themselves and shouldn't talk. Besides, the part that makes health care over there a million times better than over here is that you won't get denied covereage just cause you got sick, you won't go bankrupt over high costs, and no corporation is making money off people getting sick. Just sayin' . . .
)JOKING ASIDE, this thing should be sweet. It's going to be watered-down in the specs of it, but I'm sure we're gonna see some new technology that we haven't seen and that's what's going to make us all wet our pants. Maybe not everyone, but me for sure cause I have a prostate problem.
Yeah of course, it's pretty unlikely to live up to the media frenzy. Frankly, I'd hazard a guess that most of the world is oblivious to the hype anyway, at least in as much as they aren't hitting refresh every hour at macrumors
The hype engine is important though, no matter how 'reality distorting' it is, because people have to take notice. History's full of great discoveries and inventions which have been overlooked because...well...nobody was looking.
Jobs may be many things, but for sure he's a master salesman, with the timing of a stage magician.
That was good.
Are those available in time-release capsule so that you can feel the sensation of "Apple" throughout the day?
No. There is a Time Capsule for that...
"The most important thing I've ever done"?
Now I know this thing is a desperate ploy!
My wife's reaction was "I wonder what his kids think about that?"
I tried to explain the heart of a work-a-holic to her, but she just looked at me threateningly...