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What is the Ultimate Role of the Apple Tablet?

I think it will do what a netbook should do, but in an elegant way. This means everything on the internet, way better than what the iPhone does. I'm sure it won't replace the MacBook: you can run heavy duty programs on the MacBook, like Photoshop, and you're not going to run Photoshop on a tablet that doesn't have a keyboard or a mouse. It's just impossible. So basically, what I say, is that it will have a full featured Safari that will have Flash (please!!!!) and everything that Safari on your Mac has. Probably an email client and web applications, etc... I imagine a full featured Skype for example, to be a good App to have on it, with a user-facing webcam, etc... I don't imagine it running full OS X: imagine if you could install an OS X application, like Final Cut Pro, and then not be able to run it, since there are many things you simply cannot do without a mouse and a keyboard. If an app is not written with Multi-Touch in mind, it won't work. So it can't run OS X. It can't run iPhone OS either, since that was designed for a smaller device. So the only solution is an OS similar to iPhone OS, but more complicated (not just 9 home screens and voila, but maybe a more complex folder system). I imagine that the tablet won't replace anything, since the iPhone is small (compared to the tablet) so you won't be carrying the tablet around to make phone calls. I also imagine that it can't replace a full featured notebook like the MacBook, since it has not keyboard and mouse, and I don't think it will run full OS X, therefore it cannot do many things that the MacBook can do.

However, there are many people that only use their laptop to access the net on the go, while they have a full featured desktop computer at home. These people don't need their MacBook to be able to run Photoshop or Final Cut Pro, or have a complex folder system with partitions and external hard drives and all that. They only need a small computer that gets them on the net fast, to be able to communicate with people instantly. So in this manner, I believe that the Tablet will compete with Google Chrome OS: it will be very simple, and focused on the internet. I really hope it won't be like the Chrome OS though, as I don't think today's world is prepared for 100% cloud computing just yet. So I think it will be weighted towards the net, but it will also have internal storage to keep apps, movies, music, etc... Just like the iPhone. There would be no point to run the full OS X on it, as OS X has features you can't use on a touchscreen, and it wouldn't be comfortable to use.

So in a nutshell: Tablet = Ultimate internet device, portable, simple, fast but very elegant and aims to replace netbooks.
 
Lone Deranger said:
One point of concern I have is the 'feel' of drawing with a Stylus on a smooth glassy surface like the iPhone. It would be uncomfortably slippery. The current generation Intuos tablets from Wacom are pretty decent in that respect. But how do you make a surface have more traction without losing the glossiness (I can't see Apple give the Tablet a Matte screen unfortunately).

That said, I dearly hope the Apple Tablet will be capable of this because I believe this to be a case where 'If you build it (Apple), they will come (2D/3D apps).
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the tip on the pogo stylus helps. Tenonedesigns.com

they are what apple is using on the POS touches in the stores. It writes and draws nice!
 
deze said:
... I also hope that Apple aren't leaving the creative users out in the cold.
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It worries me too. They tend to do so on their lower end devices, and perhaps creative purpose isn't the MO of iPT and iPhone, but if Apple wants to sell something above $600 it will have to cater to people working and creating instead of just people who consume.

What they facilitate, in terms of creativity, will probably be document creation. Let's hope the facilitate artwork as well. I'm not sure how much of the market does art on computer, but anything that would make simple art possible and easy on the run while connecting to the net would have millions of kids dying to get one.
Bye Bye Baby said:
Dude- exactly why it will be a cube. Offers design but no compelling reason to own one.
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It's a matter of personal perspective.

As I said, if it offers better internet functionality, I'm there... if under $600.
All during the Christmas break I used an iPT for internet. Horrendous.
It isn't bad enough to not use it, but it's not fun or easy compared to a normal computer.
If the tablet has a better function, it will not be a mere "cube" to me. And others I think.
 
Yes, I believe that Apple's tablet will be the ultimate device for browsing the web, interacting with social networking, online chats, editing forums, small documents, browsing files, viewing videos, playing audio (including music), reading e-books, and just kicking back and having fun. I look forward to it!
 
In thinking about the "shockingly low" price thing floating around, that would fit with the model of driving hardware sales. Sure it can do all these extra cool things. If you own a mac. The basics of media and such - those will work under windows. But if you want the full experience - get a mac.

Just a thought I had reading right now.

Frankly, an oversized touch that is cheaper than a MB is all I need for my DD right now. Give me iWork in some form and I can do the rest with the apps I have right now.

A small folding bt keyboard with a track pad area would be nice for home desk use.

Gee, her birthday is 2/2, guess I will find out before them if we are getting a solution that will match our needs! Perfect timing for me!
 
baryon said:
I really hope it won't be like the Chrome OS though, as I don't think today's world is prepared for 100% cloud computing just yet. [/B]
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Certainly not. The good thing about Apple is they think worldwide, not just in the US. While you lucky buggers over there get really fast, good download limits places like Australia are still paying stupid amounts are carefully making sure we don't get shaped this month ;) That goes double for our data plans on our iphones...

Cloud computing might have a small success over there, but a lot of the rest of the world still cant be online 24/7. And besides, I'd rather have an OS available to me all the time, not down for maintenance or gone when the google servers have a fit for some reason ;)
 
TraceyS/FL said:
In thinking about the "shockingly low" price thing floating around, that would fit with the model of driving hardware sales. Sure it can do all these extra cool things. If you own a mac. The basics of media and such - those will work under windows. But if you want the full experience - get a mac.

Just a thought I had reading right now.

Frankly, an oversized touch that is cheaper than a MB is all I need for my DD right now. Give me iWork in some form and I can do the rest with the apps I have right now.

A small folding bt keyboard with a track pad area would be nice for home desk use.

Gee, her birthday is 2/2, guess I will find out before them if we are getting a solution that will match our needs! Perfect timing for me!
Click to expand...

I think iWork is a kicker. I'd never expect to do video rendering or designing on a little machine. That's what desktop machines are for. Having a basic but useful word processor would be great.
 
To get more sad wannabes to buy products so that they look cool. I could never understand the fuss about the iPhone and I can't understand the present fuss about the tablet.

Apple apparently spent 5 years working on the iPhone, whilst the rest of the line up went up poo creek without a stick. They have wasted many years on a tray with a screen it it.

To stick with Steve's "vision" of being thin light weight and have a long battery life, it won't be able to **** all, it will be just what many think, an over sized iPod for those whose hands are too fat from sitting on their fat arse' to operate a standard iPod.
 
Lots of rumors have been pointed at "reading," but I doubt this device will be exclusively for that. Yes, those e-book readers can be convenient on some occasions, but they are far from replacing actual books. Maybe they are perfectly okay for people who don't read much to begin with or only read magazines, but absolutely not for others. Very uncomfortable (particularly your eyes, and consequently your whole body) for non-casual reading.
 
Have not seen anyone mention this possible use

Something I have not seen anyone mention as a possible use for an Apple tablet. I would like to see it work as an extension of my desktop through Wi-Fi. Imagine being able to run applications on your desktop while in another room on this tablet. Add to that the portability of an iPhone/iPod/MacBook so you could also take it where ever you go for email/surfing/etc... There are many times when I need to get things done on my desktop, however don't want to ostracize myself from the rest of the family in another room.

Just a thought, but I think it could work well from a sales perspective of desktop consumers... "You know what goes great with your new iMac, this iSlate. You can work on your iMac while still moving around the house and you can take it with you wherever there is Wi-Fi."
 
G4DP said:
To get more sad wannabes to buy products so that they look cool. I could never understand the fuss about the iPhone and I can't understand the present fuss about the tablet.

Apple apparently spent 5 years working on the iPhone, whilst the rest of the line up went up poo creek without a stick. They have wasted many years on a tray with a screen it it.

To stick with Steve's "vision" of being thin light weight and have a long battery life, it won't be able to **** all, it will be just what many think, an over sized iPod for those whose hands are too fat from sitting on their fat arse' to operate a standard iPod.
Click to expand...

While I'm not entirely 100% fanatic, I think that's a little harsh about the iphone. Before my iphone I also used to carry around a palm TX for my work stuff (cause the n95 software was worse than the palm software, believe it or not). now as well as a phone i've got a music player, camera, el cheapo video recorder and a way to keep notes throughout the day (and waste time while something is downloading :p) makes my day a lot easier, I think...
 
G4DP said:
To get more sad wannabes to buy products so that they look cool. I could never understand the fuss about the iPhone and I can't understand the present fuss about the tablet.

Apple apparently spent 5 years working on the iPhone, whilst the rest of the line up went up poo creek without a stick. They have wasted many years on a tray with a screen it it.

To stick with Steve's "vision" of being thin light weight and have a long battery life, it won't be able to **** all, it will be just what many think, an over sized iPod for those whose hands are too fat from sitting on their fat arse' to operate a standard iPod.
Click to expand...

Don't sit on the fence, tell us what you really think.
 
Pelorus said:
Again this is Amazon spin.
More gifted than a brand coffeemaker? Sure.
More gifted than the novel "Hunt for Red October" by Tom Clancy? Sure.
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When you purchase something from Amazon, you can choose to have it delivered to someone as a "gift". So when Amazon says the Kindle was the most "gifted" item in Amazon history. That means that more people purchased Kindles from Amazon and had them sent to someone (from Amazon) as a gift than the number of people who purchased coffeemakers from Amazon and had them sent to someone as gifts.

It does not mean that more Kindles were given as gifts than coffeemakers or Clancy novels.
 
gear71428 said:
When you purchase something from Amazon, you can choose to have it delivered to someone as a "gift". So when Amazon says the Kindle was the most "gifted" item in Amazon history. That means that more people purchased Kindles from Amazon and had them sent to someone (from Amazon) as a gift than the number of people who purchased coffeemakers from Amazon and had them sent to someone as gifts.

It does not mean that more Kindles were given as gifts than coffeemakers or Clancy novels.
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The Kindle is a handy, very cool little e reader. the thing that prevents me from buying one is the useless support overseas. sure, i can now buy one but with higher prices for ebooks, and half the books missing! no thanks...
 
i think it will be a more web browser related product for reading information and taking notes, it might also be able to control macs around the house or summit, its hard to know because it won't be able to run osx like any of the macs do yet it will just be a big iPhone if they put that OS on, hmmm apple surpises again
 
G4DP said:
To get more sad wannabes to buy products so that they look cool. I could never understand the fuss about the iPhone and I can't understand the present fuss about the tablet.

Apple apparently spent 5 years working on the iPhone, whilst the rest of the line up went up poo creek without a stick. They have wasted many years on a tray with a screen it it.

To stick with Steve's "vision" of being thin light weight and have a long battery life, it won't be able to **** all, it will be just what many think, an over sized iPod for those whose hands are too fat from sitting on their fat arse' to operate a standard iPod.
Click to expand...

If you don't "get it", don't worry, you're not alone. There's this really big company a short drive from Seattle that doesn't get it, either.
 
the big thing for me is to whether it will offer a USB port for portable hard drives or USB sticks. there's no use to me buying this and taking it away with me if i cant plug in a hard disc with my videos or something and have to rely on another machine to sync files back and forth with. in that case it would be more of a coffee table computer and probably worth buying a normal MB when i eventually have the cash again...
 
tmofee said:
The good thing about Apple is they think worldwide, not just in the US.
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Well...

Just have a look at the iPhone. They "forgot" to add things like 3G, MMS etc. in the 2G just because of the crappy US mobile networks. In the iPhone 3G/3GS they don't spport stuff like rSAP, HSUPA etc, which is widely used outside the US. Ot tethering: used for ages outside the US, just not supported by the iPhone because of AT&T. The iPhone is developed almost exclusively with the US market in mind.
 
zacman said:
Well...

Just have a look at the iPhone. They "forgot" to add things like 3G, MMS etc. in the 2G just because of the crappy US mobile networks. In the iPhone 3G/3GS they don't spport stuff like rSAP, HSUPA etc, which is widely used outside the US. Ot tethering: used for ages outside the US, just not supported by the iPhone because of AT&T. The iPhone is developed almost exclusively with the US market in mind.
Click to expand...

Well, true. They are based in America. I'm just thinking about other tech companies where they still don't have a distributor in Oz (amazon/kindle), The Flip which shouldn't of taken THAT long to release over here when there's nothing tech wise holding them back.... At least they, well, eventually were pretty quick with spinning it out all over the globe... I mean a company who is willing to listen and work with the Chinese government is saying something ;)
 
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