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Touch Panels for Apple Netbook Ordered?

Can't see a netbook being the form factor they'll chase. It'll be a large iPhone style device but with MacOSX touch interface (Snow Leopard).

All based on Ion.

As ever with these things all the stuff people write off as unlikely (ie. mp3 players(ipod), tablets etc) have only failed because they've been done by companies that don't have a clue. Then along comes Apple.

However, knowing Apple's ability to disappoint at every turn recently I'm beginning to lose the faith.
 
Lesser Evets said:
The tablet will be an out cropping of super compressed computer tech like in the iPhone, but a lot more capable to function more like a real Mac. Apple needs time to engineer that. The OS isn't such a problem, I believe.
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If the mini-tablet/netbook goes iPhone OS, then I see two similar iPhone OSes, the regular one for the iPhone / iPod touch, and an "extended" one for the mini-tablet.

I also see additional apps like mobile iLife/iWork in the mini-tablet.
 
Netbooks are the happy meal toy of portables. Regular people love them, but for more involved computer centric professionals and enthusiasts they are utter HELL. I'm not sure why anyone aside from a kid or net junkie (a sizable market) would want one.

Tablets are the way to go. They need a letter/legal sized device which is very light and can recognize hand writing while being able to hook up to peripherals and do a wide range of application support.

emotion said:
Reaching up to a touch screen is not a natural movement. Try it for an extended period of time.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the use of touch screen would have to be a computer with a different position on a table. That's obvious. But, so what? A Cintiq exists and is highly popular...with those who can afford it. If Apple finds a way to make the screen go up and down allowing for a regular keyboard when needed, it will be a success.
iMacmatician said:
If the mini-tablet/netbook goes iPhone OS, then I see two similar iPhone OSes, the regular one for the iPhone / iPod touch, and an "extended" one for the mini-tablet.

I also see additional apps like mobile iLife/iWork in the mini-tablet.
Click to expand...

I would think that would be likely. My hope is to be able to use Photoshop (or a limited version of it) on a legal sized tablet with stylus recognition... might be a big old pipe dream. You are most likely on target with a tablet that can run enough OSX and have enough function to run Apple productivity apps, minus high power video/sound apps.
 
All I know, is that Apple always has innovative ideas coming out of that camp and I can't wait to pick up my new product, ahem... tablet.;)
 
Lesser Evets said:
If Apple finds a way to make the screen go up and down allowing for a regular keyboard when needed, it will be a success.
Click to expand...

Is it then not too close to a Powerbook really?
Finding the the right blend of portability, power, features and price is not relly that obvious.
And the degree of portability seems the hardest one to find the right nieche for...
fitting in your pocket is one clear obvious level.
Then it really needs a case or something, however small it will be.
tricky one...which is why there is a n opportunity for innovation too ;)
 
my wife likes her samsung NC-10. The keyboard is the only one I tried that was ok to type on. (didn't try the MSI wind). Only negative I have is that the resolution is too low and the trackpad too small. Other than that its a fine internet browsing/email machine.

I'd like a mac equivalent - something my wife can easily take out and use, and take out and about with her. The Air would have been ok but way too expensive. Something slightly more compact. I'd easily trade power for that - the atom in the NC10 is fine. But I wouldn't want to trade flexibility. I'd like proper OSX not iphone cut down version, and Iu'd like proper keyboard/mouse support.

I'm concerned that 'touch' means too much emphasis on touch. I'd like a real keyboard when typing more than a quick email, and a mouse when I'm using real apps.
 
emotion said:
Reaching up to a touch screen is not a natural movement. Try it for an extended period of time.
Click to expand...

True, but i would like it as an accompaniment to a keyboard, rather than a replacement, so it would be used as and when.
 
houser said:
Is it then not too close to a Powerbook really?
Finding the the right blend of portability, power, features and price is not relly that obvious.
And the degree of portability seems the hardest one to find the right nieche for...
fitting in your pocket is one clear obvious level.
Then it really needs a case or something, however small it will be.
tricky one...which is why there is a n opportunity for innovation too ;)
Click to expand...

Oh, pardon my lack of descriptive.

I was referring to an iMac design, not a portable, in this case. It would be interesting if they made a detachable iMac Mini type device where you port around that 13.5" screen and can link it onto a base stand that conveys info to/from bigger drives/optical drives/etc. The base possibly being a wireless device as well to support the tablet within 200 feet or so. Then you have a computer which is portable or sendantary.

Personally, I always found the notebook design to be too limited and bulky for true portability. The keyboard is never comfortable for me since it is linked to the screen and only so adjustable.
mrklaw said:
I'm concerned that 'touch' means too much emphasis on touch. I'd like a real keyboard when typing more than a quick email, and a mouse when I'm using real apps.
Click to expand...

I hold out hope for a portable large enough to prop up and use a bluetooth/usb keyboard/mouse when desiring to be seated.

They have it already in the Air. Remove the keyboard/track pad and screen casing, drop on the touch screen. Voila! I think 3 lbs. is still a little heavy for a tablet. When they can get it down to 2 lbs. I believe they have it figured out. The biggest hamper to weight on the Air modification idea is probably the glass layer over the screen--fragile and heavy.
 
redwin11 said:
True, but i would like it as an accompaniment to a keyboard, rather than a replacement, so it would be used as and when.
Click to expand...

Fair enough.

I see apple developing a companion product to an Apple home server or MobileMe based back end.

It's still not likely to be a netbook though.

However, a 10 inch screened tablet with multitouch that was capable of running something like Ableton Live would be a very popular device in some circles.
 
Tallest Skil said:
I call it the xMac. It IS the xMac (it uses "Bloomfield", for crying out loud), it's just $1,000 more than people expected.

People are generally too optimistic.
Click to expand...

Nope, doesn't qualify as Apple are still not using desktop-class processors, anyway this is way off topic so I'll button it ;)
 
Why reach up?

emotion said:
Reaching up to a touch screen is not a natural movement. Try it for an extended period of time.
Click to expand...

I expect Apple's product, if real, won't be the stereotypical clamshell type of 'netbook.' In fact, I don't expect it to be a netbook at all!

Think about it. Exactly what difference is there between a standard laptop computer and a netbook? You set it down on a surface. You open it up. You type with both hands on a conventional keyboard. The only difference is size. The netbook is essentially useless! It's smaller, yes, but not one whit more efficient than a standard notebook? Why waste the money?

No, I expect this device to be something much more convenient and much more usable than a plain, old, netbook. I expect that it could easily be used one-handed in much the same way a legal pad on a clipboard is used. This is something no current laptop or netbook can do. This is also why Apple has had no interest in a 'netbook' per sé.

Yes, it likely will be more expensive than a netbook. But it will make up for that price difference in true functionality.
 
Vulpinemac said:
I expect Apple's product, if real, won't be the stereotypical clamshell type of 'netbook.' In fact, I don't expect it to be a netbook at all!

Think about it. Exactly what difference is there between a standard laptop computer and a netbook? You set it down on a surface. You open it up. You type with both hands on a conventional keyboard. The only difference is size. The netbook is essentially useless! It's smaller, yes, but not one whit more efficient than a standard notebook? Why waste the money?
Click to expand...

I was answering the touch screen iMac comment.

I fully expect a tablet not a netbook.
 
ivladster said:
Uhhh DUUUUUHHH, you just realized that?
Apple waits and sees what product is failing in industry and then goes in and make something cluster-!%$@-mind-blowing. A lot of netbooks are not what they can be, now its time for papa Apple to come into the game.

As for gaming, uhhhh i know apple never really cared about games, but maybe iPhone will change their mind.

Remember apple was a computer company, not entertaining company; now it seems like table is turning.
Click to expand...

Actually, I did know that before, I was just pointing out that Apple isn't always the first company to do something. Maybe the first company to do it in a way that catches a lot people's attention, but not the first company, period. Don't get your underwear in a knot!
 
Vulpinemac said:
The only difference is size. The netbook is essentially useless! It's smaller, yes, but not one whit more efficient than a standard notebook? Why waste the money?
.
Click to expand...

because its less money than a laptop, and more portable. Its recognising that many people don't need the extra power in modern laptops/desktops for simple browsing or other activities. Its a perfect 2nd computer IMO.

a tablet would be a fundamentally different concept. I look forward to seeing what apple do with it
 
Bottom-feeding is not healthy...

for bottom lines.

I really don't think Apple is up for a $399-$599 netbook in any form. I really like the idea of a tablet, but it's got to be $700-$800 to make it worthwhile in terms of features and power.

I read this weekend that Dell is in serious--read critical--financial condition, which is what happens when you endlessly pursue the cheapest possible iteration of any product. The rest of the industry plunges to the bottom...but Apple should stay away. The industry is going through a shakeout and many names we take for granted as players will disappear in the next year or two.
 
I like the idea of the netbook but, the form factor never seems too work. Maybe Apple has done something to get it to work better. I always feel so limited.
 
Due to the fact that it will be (very) expensive compared to it's power, i won't buy it, IF it is going to become real. however, im excited to read/hear more ;)
 
rlmccormick said:
I'm sure a lot of people thought the same about Apple coming out with a cell phone too. Apple's 1st generation cell phone was better than most others nth generation. I don't doubt they can pull something off here too.
Click to expand...

And the iPod, yes. I sure hope so. Look, I want an Apple netbook. I do. I love my MacBook Pro but there are days when it's just not worthwhile to take it with me -- day or weekend trips, for example -- and a netbook would fit the bill perfectly. And I'm not willing to pay the premium for the Air.

In my limited thinking, I picture a similar form factor to Asus and Acer products, priced at a premium but still inexpensive ($599 say). Of course this will never happen. I hope Apple will come up with something that will make everyone say "Why didn't we think of that?" and still be within a price range that people are willing to pay. I imagine it will be more than $400 (the cost of a good Windows netbook) but less than the cost of the Air.

I'm just saying that it's a moving target. The first generation of netbooks were cute but practically unusable -- slow, tiny cramped keyboards and screens and poor battery life. The second generation gave us bigger screens, better processors, decent keyboards, and decent battery life. The third generation is coming out now and they're offering 7, 8, 9 hours of battery life (which to me is HUGE and one of the reasons why, apart from price, I wasn't interested in the Air). The next generation will be even better, smaller, thinner, lighter.

Last week I bought an Asus 1000HE. Cons: it runs XP, it's chunky and heavy for a netbook (3 pounds). Pros: 9 hours of battery life, under $400, keyboard that's actually usable. It's not a Mac, of course, but it's pretty good value in the netbook world. I may just play with installing OS X on this thing.

If the buzz is an Apple "netbook" then there are certain expectations, and I'm interested, particularly in how they're going to turn the industry upside down with something nobody's seen before.

(Actually, if they even just revived the 12" PowerBook, stuck a Core 2 chip in there, and sold it for $899, I'd be all over that...)

ivladster said:
Way to be so negative.
Click to expand...

I'm just trying to be realistic. I'm sure Apple has a Grand Plan To Take Over The World, but right now I'm just not understanding it. In my eyes, they're going downhill. Glossy-only screens, no more Firewire, proprietary Mini DisplayPort and Magsafe connections, disappointing keynotes, etc. It's not just me, a lot of people are grumbling in these forums.

I bought a mid-2007 MacBook Pro, and I love it, but I would not buy the current model. I'm just saying it's going to take some serious shaking up for me to get excited.

To those that say I sound like posters in Thread 500, well, I will be glad to be proven wrong. My credit card is standing by...
 
While it won't happen with today's tech, I would love to see a iPhone/touch the same size as we have today, maybe a tiny bit thicker, but of clamshell design. Flip it open, and now have twice the screen area. Better for just about all applications. When closed, there is an automatic screen protector.

In reality, not sure what this means. Touch panel size is the question. Will it be a new line, or as some have speculated a slighter larger version of the touch?

One thing is for sure, if Apple goes the route of a Netbook, it will be an interesting and thoughtful implementation. :)
 
:apple:It will have to be below 600 USD to sell good and I doubt it will run leopard probley a custom OS like the iPhones offering Safari Mail Pages iTunes and an app store. (Possible jailbreaks?) I will buy if under $400.:apple: What will happen to Air sales I think they will drop but still be good since most netbooks cant get 2 cores and a 13 inch screen!
 
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