We want a tablet that can run OS X

[ClarkeB]

I mean...who wouldn't? These things are soo cool to a certain point (I mean, that childish blue and green ribbon? c'mon!), but it would looks so much more polished with a dock at the bottom! Why doesn't a company come out with an imitation tablet that can run OS X. Like, maybe have a 1GHz (or less) G4 (does Apple hav exclusivity rights?) and make it extra cheap? They would fly (FLY!) off of the shelves and it would in turn help Apple ("I need a copy of OS X Tiger for my iScreen") and everyone would be happy. Then, when they feel ready, Apple can launch their amazing tablet running OS X beautifully with a higher-end G4 (or, by then, a low G5).

And then we can finally see the end of the 'Doze Dorks showing how "cool" it is and then you see at the bottom and you're right back to being a three year old at your bright blue Fischer Price table(t).

 

[Logik]

I mean...who wouldn't? These things are soo cool to a certain point (I mean, that childish blue and green ribbon? c'mon!), but it would looks so much more polished with a dock at the bottom! Why doesn't a company come out with an imitation tablet that can run OS X. Like, maybe have a 1GHz (or less) G4 (does Apple hav exclusivity rights?) and make it extra cheap? They would fly (FLY!) off of the shelves and it would in turn help Apple ("I need a copy of OS X Tiger for my iScreen") and everyone would be happy. Then, when they feel ready, Apple can launch their amazing tablet running OS X beautifully with a higher-end G4 (or, by then, a low G5).

And then we can finally see the end of the 'Doze Dorks showing how "cool" it is and then you see at the bottom and you're right back to being a three year old at your bright blue Fischer Price table(t).

OS X can only be put on machines sold by apple.. as the bios has information that ok's OS X to boot. you can't just go buy any random tablet or powerpc processor and expect it to work. apple has done their stuff to make sure it only works on their hardware.

 

[strider42]

OS X can only be put on machines sold by apple.. as the bios has information that ok's OS X to boot. you can't just go buy any random tablet or powerpc processor and expect it to work. apple has done their stuff to make sure it only works on their hardware.

even if you could, it would be an illegal violation of their license agreement, so any company that tried it would be sued into oblivion in about a week. I mean, shoot, remmeber the guy who was salvaging used Macs and making pizza box "clones". Apple got that taken care of in no time.

Beyond that, you'd still end up with an overpriced, underpowered, less functional piece of equipment.

 

[ClarkeB]

But what about so-called "clone machines"?

 

[combatcolin]

I mean...who wouldn't? These things are soo cool to a certain point (I mean, that childish blue and green ribbon? c'mon!), but it would looks so much more polished with a dock at the bottom! Why doesn't a company come out with an imitation tablet that can run OS X. Like, maybe have a 1GHz (or less) G4 (does Apple hav exclusivity rights?) and make it extra cheap? They would fly (FLY!) off of the shelves and it would in turn help Apple ("I need a copy of OS X Tiger for my iScreen") and everyone would be happy. Then, when they feel ready, Apple can launch their amazing tablet running OS X beautifully with a higher-end G4 (or, by then, a low G5).

And then we can finally see the end of the 'Doze Dorks showing how "cool" it is and then you see at the bottom and you're right back to being a three year old at your bright blue Fischer Price table(t).

Yes, you can't move for Tablet PC's

Intresting but failing.

 

[strider42]

But what about so-called "clone machines"?

Apple officially licensed the clones to a couple of companies in the mid 90's. It failed spectacularly for them. Jobs came back and killed the clones. There have been none since.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

I mean...who wouldn't? These things are soo cool to a certain point (I mean, that childish blue and green ribbon? c'mon!), but it would looks so much more polished with a dock at the bottom! Why doesn't a company come out with an imitation tablet that can run OS X. Like, maybe have a 1GHz (or less) G4 (does Apple hav exclusivity rights?) and make it extra cheap? They would fly (FLY!) off of the shelves and it would in turn help Apple ("I need a copy of OS X Tiger for my iScreen") and everyone would be happy. Then, when they feel ready, Apple can launch their amazing tablet running OS X beautifully with a higher-end G4 (or, by then, a low G5).

And then we can finally see the end of the 'Doze Dorks showing how "cool" it is and then you see at the bottom and you're right back to being a three year old at your bright blue Fischer Price table(t).

Apart from walking around looking "cool", what in the world would you want to do with a tablet that you could do much more effective on an iBook/PowerBook...???

 

[sjpetry]

I saw a hack someone did (I think on MR, not sure), they took the bottom half of a PB and a touch screen and made a "sandwich" with it. It was pretty cool and it looked ok.

 

[Mechcozmo]

I saw a hack someone did (I think on MR, not sure), they took the bottom half of a PB and a touch screen and made a "sandwich" with it. It was pretty cool and it looked ok.

It was actually and iBook...

 

[cyanide]

evolution

ahh, the beauty of mankind. We started out scribing on a tablet, and to that early craft the early-man in us calls out, "Neegrok, mush magoo kerglum ferk dürper!". Humanity went the way of the book eventually, and so we have PowerBOOKS, and iBOOKS... not iSlab or iTablet or iScreen. Let me iChisel a quick cave drawing over to my sister...What next? Are you going to ask for the iScroll? A roll-up computer! Twenty bucks says microsoft does it in the next 20 years. mwahahahaha...

 

[atszyman]

Apart from walking around looking "cool", what in the world would you want to do with a tablet that you could do much more effective on an iBook/PowerBook...???

The easy answer?

Take notes in class and at meetings. Especially when block diagrams/equations are involved.

What would make the most sense would be an evolution of the PowerBook/iBooks. Apple needs to come up with a slick method for flipping the screen so that it can fold back over the keyboard with the screen facing out and thus give you your tablet/laptop depending on where you are and how you want to use it. See the Toshiba Porteges for a good example.

I would love to be able to use my PowerBook to take notes in class (Engineering Grad school) but 99% of my notes consist of fairly intricate equations with most of the Greek alphabet. It's much easier to write them by hand than try to enter them via keyboard or with a trackpad.

Just my opinion.

 

[dejo]

What next? Are you going to ask for the iScroll? A roll-up computer! Twenty bucks says microsoft does it in the next 20 years. mwahahahaha...

Microsoft won't. Sony or Lenovo or someone will. Dell will continue to claim innovating is bad for their business but copy it anyways. And Microsoft will supply the OS: Windows RU!

 

[mactastic]

Apart from walking around looking "cool", what in the world would you want to do with a tablet that you could do much more effective on an iBook/PowerBook...???

Well I'm often in a position where it would be very helpful to be able to sketch on my screen, either over an existing drawing (ie when a client wants to see how a certain feature of their house would look if we just changed X) or as the initial conceptual sketch that can then easily be imported without having to scan it.

I realize I'm in a very small subset of people who would actually find a tablet useful, and I'm not in any way, shape, or form expecting Apple to provide one, but there are certainly things other than 'looking cool' that I could do with a tablet that I can't do without carrying a Wacom around with my laptop.

Just a thought.

 

[dejo]

Why not just get a touchscreen for your PowerBook?

Troll Touch Touchscreens

 

[unfaded]

Or type, since you can type a lot faster, theoretically, then you can write.

 

[Koodauw]

Or type, since you can type a lot faster, theoretically, then you can write.

Well seeing as you took my point, Ill have to come up with a new one.

If you think you can sell based solely on cool factor, think back the Cube.

 

[atszyman]

Or type, since you can type a lot faster, theoretically, then you can write.

Only if what you are doing is strictly text. Complex equations and diagrams are nearly impossible to do during class or meetings using only the keyboard and trackpad. A tablet would provide a much better interface for these tasks. A convertable tablet would provide a solution for everyone. Don't like tablets? use it as a laptop, need a pen type interface? use it as a tablet. Everyone's happy.

 

[Mechcozmo]

Anyone want a Newton? It does those things... just write on the screen! Voila! Instant computer-text. But it is what you want. Or just tell it to use your handwriting and not recognize it.

 

[dongmin]

Well I'm often in a position where it would be very helpful to be able to sketch on my screen, either over an existing drawing (ie when a client wants to see how a certain feature of their house would look if we just changed X) or as the initial conceptual sketch that can then easily be imported without having to scan it.

your prayers are answered:

http://www.wacom.com/lcdtablets/Architecture.cfm

I would love to be able to use my PowerBook to take notes in class (Engineering Grad school) but 99% of my notes consist of fairly intricate equations with most of the Greek alphabet. It's much easier to write them by hand than try to enter them via keyboard or with a trackpad.

the one advantage of taking notes with a PC is that it reads your scribbles and converts it to text, but i'm doubting that you can do the same with equations, greek alphabets, and diagrmas. so why not just pencil and paper?

 

[vniow]

We don't. You do. There'a a difference.

 

[PlaceofDis]

ahh, the beauty of mankind. We started out scribing on a tablet, and to that early craft the early-man in us calls out, "Neegrok, mush magoo kerglum ferk dürper!". Humanity went the way of the book eventually, and so we have PowerBOOKS, and iBOOKS... not iSlab or iTablet or iScreen. Let me iChisel a quick cave drawing over to my sister...What next? Are you going to ask for the iScroll? A roll-up computer! Twenty bucks says microsoft does it in the next 20 years. mwahahahaha...

ever see the movie Red Planet, they had a type of futuristic computer that was like a scroll, if it worked like that one then it would be darn cool to have

 

[tutubibi]

Apart from walking around looking "cool", what in the world would you want to do with a tablet that you could do much more effective on an iBook/PowerBook...???

On top of comments above, let me add that tablets really do make sense. I had a chance to use Acer TabletPC (Windows of course) and I was impressed by usability of this things. It's much easier for regular stuff like surfing, email, remote desktop, sys admin stuff. Pen was superior to keyboard in many tasks, one notable exceptions is coding (lots of typing).

Finally, don't forget you can use most of the tablets just like regular notebooks, they have keyboards as well.

I am seriouly tempted to get one, even if it is Windows. If Apple would release one, I would be first in the line to buy it.

 

[cyanide]

This post makes 23! im shocked this has gotten this far. and i will be the first to line up for a flogging if Apple releases one. *fears being beaten, but not that much*

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

This post makes 23! im shocked this has gotten this far. and i will be the first to line up for a flogging if Apple releases one. *fears being beaten, but not that much*

I'll stand right behind you (ducking, but I'll be there ).

I've been taking notes first on my Pismo, later on my iBook, first in college, where I got my degree in Computer engineering, and now on University where I'll get my Ms in Informatics and Ba in History of Religion soon. Havn't touched a pen or paper notepad since buying the first portable.

When taking notes (using TextWrangler) I just insert a little comment when there is a diagram, map, drawing, picture, etc with what it shows (based on lecturers comments and my own understanding), and if there's a lot of images I get the lecturer to hand those out/post them on the net, and I can study the originals and compare them to my notes...

I would touch a tablet if someone gave it to me...

 

[atszyman]

your prayers are answered:

http://www.wacom.com/lcdtablets/Architecture.cfm

But we would really like an all in one solution, something like the attached picture but with a much cooler design.

the one advantage of taking notes with a PC is that it reads your scribbles and converts it to text, but i'm doubting that you can do the same with equations, greek alphabets, and diagrmas. so why not just pencil and paper?

There is more than one advantage than just changing scribbles to text. It could also change crooked lines to straight, it could very easily convert boxes in diagrams to square up, and it could also be made to recognize mathematical symbols and the Greek alphabet. Now all of my notes are cleaned up and searchable.

I wouldn't be opposed to text based input provided I could do something like

integrate from -infinity to +infinity (f(x)*exp(-j*2*pi*k*x)*dx)

and have it show up like the second picture, of course it would require me to learn another input language but it wouldn't be that hard.