Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
What is the Ultimate Role of the Apple Tablet?
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Which would allow 3rd parties into the party in that area.
But using the Apple BT keyboard (which i won't own until it has a # pad) would mean you could use your Touch as a track pad for your Slate. Gee, cool! LOL!!
I'm just on the fence now about another purchase..... buy now or wait until after the news to see if i need to keep saving up....
Pasting this from another threading wrote in when it was a but off topic...
some of these posts have led me to think.....
Has anyone thought the reason to encourage us all to buy a tablet could be that it is actually a £1000 fingerworks/ wacom cintiq tablet type thing that you use with your current mac to add touchable gestures stuff AND then use it to take away as a mini tablet mac?/ oversized souped up iPhone?
some of these posts have led me to think.....
Has anyone thought the reason to encourage us all to buy a tablet could be that it is actually a £1000 fingerworks/ wacom cintiq tablet type thing that you use with your current mac to add touchable gestures stuff AND then use it to take away as a mini tablet mac?/ oversized souped up iPhone?
I'd like something small i can take away with me on holidays that runs a little better than a netbook ... I dont need a fully powered macbook for the occasional storage of photos/vid, net updating and bits of word processing.
My iPhone has replaced my laptop. I loaned my laptop to a friend 6 months ago and haven't missed it yet. I suspect this tablet will appeal to folks like me.
The only reason I have a computer at home is that I need something to sync/backup/update my iPhone with and occasionally print things out. If I could do that without the need for a second machine (and separate Internet service) it would be great! This new gizmo should be able to update it's OS directly and sync wirelessly to "the cloud" or an external drive and print directly to a printer over wifi.
I'd also like to it have just a USB port rather than a proprietary dock connector.
My first concern is that it'll be too restricted, like the iPhone. It will have to be jailbroken to be truly great, and that will require a separate unrstricted device (ie a "proper" computer)
My second concern is that it will be too big. The best computer is the one you have with you. I want something that I can keep on my person without havng to carry a purse/backpack/briefcase/etc. I could handle an iPhone a couple cm taller and wider, but no more.
I'm sure it won't meet my personal criteria, but I bet it will be an impressive device nonetheless.
The only reason I have a computer at home is that I need something to sync/backup/update my iPhone with and occasionally print things out. If I could do that without the need for a second machine (and separate Internet service) it would be great! This new gizmo should be able to update it's OS directly and sync wirelessly to "the cloud" or an external drive and print directly to a printer over wifi.
I'd also like to it have just a USB port rather than a proprietary dock connector.
My first concern is that it'll be too restricted, like the iPhone. It will have to be jailbroken to be truly great, and that will require a separate unrstricted device (ie a "proper" computer)
My second concern is that it will be too big. The best computer is the one you have with you. I want something that I can keep on my person without havng to carry a purse/backpack/briefcase/etc. I could handle an iPhone a couple cm taller and wider, but no more.
I'm sure it won't meet my personal criteria, but I bet it will be an impressive device nonetheless.
I have a feeling that this is going to do very well. Can't wait for this product to come out, just wonder about how the speed will be compare to the MacBook.
I do not buy high-end desktop stuff from Apple (not worth the price, IMHO).
That´s part Apple and part tech-market. By 2005sh it was clear monoprocessors were stagnant, (don´t believe anyone that tells you most user apps can use efficiently a dozen of cores). Apple moved to Intel (the standard) in desktops and ARM (that has a lot of room to improve) in handhelds. Desktops are more or less "done".
Apple is very much interested in media since the iPod (AppleTV) and online-cloud stuff since the iPhone. The tablet will be the ultimate universal input device and expand the Apple store and Apple´s web "2.0" apps. It will probably be sold with an already paid subscription to those Apple online services. I think there will be 2 tablets: 7´ (under 400$) and 10´ (under 700$). For existing devices it can replace: keyboards, mouses, remotes, input tablets, electronic book devices, portable DVD players, navigators, "mini" laptops ... If you do not need any of the above, it will probably not appeal to you. It will not be as capable as a full laptop (not even the Macbook though Apple may want us to believe it) or a desktop but will complement them. The iPhone format is done, the iPod touch is growing.
dont know. it all depends how much they lock this down. that will be important...
I think Gruber has nailed this... This should be a fun and compelling product!
The new tablet serves two roles for Apple:
• For every current Mac owner to own a tablet too.
• For every windoze user to give the tablet a try.
It's all about the cloud for content now... With a Billion (with a b) dollar server farm coming...
Now it comes down to the price point - (from) $799 is my guess
The new tablet serves two roles for Apple:
• For every current Mac owner to own a tablet too.
• For every windoze user to give the tablet a try.
It's all about the cloud for content now... With a Billion (with a b) dollar server farm coming...
Now it comes down to the price point - (from) $799 is my guess
My guess ...
I find all of the forward thinking innovative web-everything-device based ideas very exciting, and am thinking likewise.
However, I don't think I have seen this idea proposed ...
Perhaps the iSlate will not necessarily be something you will buy for yourself to use as a personal carry-with-you device, but might in stead be the device you will buy (many more of) for your customers, visitors, students, family and friends to use periodically when they enter your premises, classes, space, venue, or home.
No user login required. Your internet remote access console with user-based cloud access subscriptions for our own web-life-space-information-and-media-access-and-creation ecosystem.
I find all of the forward thinking innovative web-everything-device based ideas very exciting, and am thinking likewise.
However, I don't think I have seen this idea proposed ...
Perhaps the iSlate will not necessarily be something you will buy for yourself to use as a personal carry-with-you device, but might in stead be the device you will buy (many more of) for your customers, visitors, students, family and friends to use periodically when they enter your premises, classes, space, venue, or home.
No user login required. Your internet remote access console with user-based cloud access subscriptions for our own web-life-space-information-and-media-access-and-creation ecosystem.
Without a physical keyboard that has movable keys, the iSlate would be of little value to me. No way possible that it could replace the functionality and tactile "feel" of a MacBook or MacBook Pro.
Same goes for the mouse. I've used a mouse for 22 years now, I'm simply not interested in using my finger on a screen to navigate. I never even got used to trackballs.
As for an Apple version of the Kindle, no thanks. When I read something as long as a book, I want the physical heft of the book in my hands along with a quiet place to read it. But then again, I'm over 60 now (I suspect older folks will not flock to a slate device as would the younger ones).
A movie viewer? Fine, if it has a drive for DVD's or BluRay. But I doubt that it will.
A music player? They've already got the iPod for that. And although I've been an Apple user exclusively since 1986, I've never owned an iPod. I don't want iTunes controlling my music library.
I'm sure there's a market for this thing.
It's just not me.
Same goes for the mouse. I've used a mouse for 22 years now, I'm simply not interested in using my finger on a screen to navigate. I never even got used to trackballs.
As for an Apple version of the Kindle, no thanks. When I read something as long as a book, I want the physical heft of the book in my hands along with a quiet place to read it. But then again, I'm over 60 now (I suspect older folks will not flock to a slate device as would the younger ones).
A movie viewer? Fine, if it has a drive for DVD's or BluRay. But I doubt that it will.
A music player? They've already got the iPod for that. And although I've been an Apple user exclusively since 1986, I've never owned an iPod. I don't want iTunes controlling my music library.
I'm sure there's a market for this thing.
It's just not me.
I don't know if you're using Snow Leopard, but Apple has made many changes to the UI that have indeed made it touch friendly. Just the new Dock functionality alone makes the case for a tablet with a more-or-less full version of OSX.
i really dont know about that. like i said before, cloud is still in its infancy. if theyre looking towards a coffee table thing, maybe. but cloud can take a flying leap when it comes to office. i'd rather have a iworks lite than rely on google for my word documents...
I don't think Apple would release a tablet with the vague notion that someone might consider it a workable laptop replacement lacking any evidence of this.
Unlike tablets, notebook computers are obvious desktop alternatives. This has been pretty much the case since they were first introduced (as opposed to portable computers which had built in CRT monitors, a fold down keyboard, and weren't especially useable). This isn't the case for tablets that have been attempted since the 90's with little success (mostly because of software limitations).
I think it's more likely that Apple would develop a new device with a specific role in the iTunes ecosystem in order to deliver content and drive sales. This would include music, video, applications, and hopefully books and magazines.
I also think it's incorrect to assume that apps developed for the iPhone would be lacking in a larger screen. On the contrary, many apps for the iPhone are extremely powerful and are limited by the iPhones form factor. These apps would benefit greatly from a larger screen with multitouch support.
Additionally, Apple probably recognizes that laptops and desktops are not the ideal form factor for multitouch display applications. It's simply not ergonomic to reach across the desk to touch the screen. Multitouch displays would require additional hardware as well which would lock out customers with older systems. More likely, Apple would leverage the built in iSight and consider a motion/gesture recognition system as some patents have shown and will soon appear in the Xbox as Natal.
A tablet, on the other hand, is naturally a multitouch device and makes for a logical extension of this technology.
Unlike tablets, notebook computers are obvious desktop alternatives. This has been pretty much the case since they were first introduced (as opposed to portable computers which had built in CRT monitors, a fold down keyboard, and weren't especially useable). This isn't the case for tablets that have been attempted since the 90's with little success (mostly because of software limitations).
I think it's more likely that Apple would develop a new device with a specific role in the iTunes ecosystem in order to deliver content and drive sales. This would include music, video, applications, and hopefully books and magazines.
I also think it's incorrect to assume that apps developed for the iPhone would be lacking in a larger screen. On the contrary, many apps for the iPhone are extremely powerful and are limited by the iPhones form factor. These apps would benefit greatly from a larger screen with multitouch support.
Additionally, Apple probably recognizes that laptops and desktops are not the ideal form factor for multitouch display applications. It's simply not ergonomic to reach across the desk to touch the screen. Multitouch displays would require additional hardware as well which would lock out customers with older systems. More likely, Apple would leverage the built in iSight and consider a motion/gesture recognition system as some patents have shown and will soon appear in the Xbox as Natal.
A tablet, on the other hand, is naturally a multitouch device and makes for a logical extension of this technology.
Kindle for iPhone
When Amazon has good sale on e-books recently, its probably not because of the Kindle device, but because Kindle for iPhone now is for download worldwide.
Before that you had to wait weeks to get a book bought on amazon.com, if you fx. lived in Europe. Suddenly I have full access to 250.000 titles, a lot of them not sold on the european marked.
A sized up iPhone with som gimmicks, and som reboot of print media makes sense for me.
When Amazon has good sale on e-books recently, its probably not because of the Kindle device, but because Kindle for iPhone now is for download worldwide.
Before that you had to wait weeks to get a book bought on amazon.com, if you fx. lived in Europe. Suddenly I have full access to 250.000 titles, a lot of them not sold on the european marked.
A sized up iPhone with som gimmicks, and som reboot of print media makes sense for me.
IMHO - I don't think the aim of this tablet is the office... It will be a more consumer/personal device. Like I said, content is going to be cloud based (such as YouTube) and this tablet is going to be able to access that content very easily and in a fun way.
if its more of a media based tablet, you're probably right. it's a pity i'm only now getting to apple in a big way these last few months and would LOVE to throw the eeepc 901 out a window if I had a decent replacement
don't add australia to that this. check out our kindle ebooks site, its quite lacking. the mobipocket website is much much better.
Have a look at the local library, it has an even bigger range.
library.. that name rings a bell from my childhood
(i have too many books as it is.. most are in boxes. that's why i'd love a proper ebook reader not only tech savvy and awesome but something authors would embrace...)