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hi,

i'm brand new as a member, but i've been reading these forums for years.

and i think there are some extremely good insights in this thread into what any apple tablet should include or disregard.:)

my chief worries would be fast and accurate keyboard response, followed by power consumption, followed by OS usability/stability (i know i have to hard reset my ipod touch maybe twice a day).

for the keyboard, you guys remember that patent in here they filed for about the static touchscreen, with the different textures it could generate? i highly doubt they'd have it ready for the first generations, but i think if they ever throw that feature in, i'll have a hard time not buying one.

for power consumption, i wonder, has anyone at apple ever considered making the back of this tablet a thin-film solar panel?????? of course there would still be a little apple logo in the middle... and it might not be efficient enough, but it could definitely help!

then, they can really call themselves the 'greenest notebooks'.

OS, yes, we can only guess...

Though the solar panel, 'sounds' green, have you though of the practicality?
A solar panel, needs sun to function, at the BACK of the tablet, it'll probably NEVER see the light of day, why waste money, and resources on such a wastefull inclusion?
 
~snip~ I'd sign my paycheck over to them..

~snip~ Apple knows this, and counts on it.

"Look at this new Ipod. It's just like the last Ipod, but it's purple. You don't have a purple Ipod. You want a purple Ipod. You *need* a purple Ipod. Pull out the credit card.... Purple..."

God. That is exactly what I've been doing all week.. Going on the Apple site and looking at the purple one.

But I am strong! I am broke! and I am waiting for... something else! Maybe the alleged tablet.
 
There's clearly a niche market for a tablet-style product.

Whether this niche crosses in to the mainstream will depend on its practicality, useability and reasons to buy when compared to a laptop/netbook or smartphone.

Many of the ideas I see posted in every thread like this are good, but I think to myself that "I can do those at the moment, on my laptop." Would I really want to do those tasks on what seems like a compromised design?

I'm not even convinced by the statements about size and weight of this device meaning it would be great for using around the house. Have you seen the footprint of the 13" MBP these days? Its an incredibly portable machine for what it offers.

I'm genuinely excited to see what Apple comes up with here as I think it has to be properly revolutionary for them to even consider it. I think there's a reason that tablet-form notebooks have remained in the niche market since their launch. I'm not knocking the idea and its interesting to read the threads on here (although maybe not a new one every day :)), but most of the mock-ups I've seen which look very cool and are very well done, just seem flawed on a very basic level.
 
Though the solar panel, 'sounds' green, have you though of the practicality?
A solar panel, needs sun to function, at the BACK of the tablet, it'll probably NEVER see the light of day, why waste money, and resources on such a wastefull inclusion?

yes, i certainly understand that 'A solar panel, needs sun to function', but practicality is exactly my intent. for a material that adds only a few grams of weight, is getting exponentially cheaper, and will work for much longer than the life of the device, why wouldn't i want my tablet to run on the sun?

as far as being on the back of the tablet, why is that an issue? i mean, i don't think it's enough of an issue to capitalize BACK and NEVER, at least... are you a solar engineer? because i'm not either, but i know i'm not enough of a weakling that i can't flip over my 10-inch tablet if i need more power...

as i said, i'm not an engineer, i have no idea if it would get too hot, or require an inverter, or any of the other logistics... but i regularly go on long drives, my primary purpose for a tablet (especially equipped with 3G) would be to mount it on the passenger's side of my car. with the right mount, i know i could flip it up onto the dashboard to charge it through the panel.

and if you see the inclusion of a solar panel into any device as 'wastefull', then feel free to disregard the above, as there's clearly no sense explaining to you the myriad benefits.
 
The MacTablet family of computers is the killer feature

For me the killer feature will be that it will be family of fully functional, Portable-iMac computers.

http://dpmac.com/2009/08/apples-not-so-secret-plans-for-the-new-mactablet-family-of-computers/

Imagine the only thing on your desk (or wherever you are) will be the MacTablet (whatever size you need), your blue tooth keyboard and your blue tooth mouse. No cable whatsoever (until it needs to be re-charged).

For me this would be a much more satisfying experience than the MacBook Pro setup I am using now, I hate the keyboard being so close to the screen, and when I am using an external keyboard I feel foolish looking at two keyboards and often don't have enough room for both the computer and the second keyboard.

here are a few variations on both past, present and future? Apple Tablet Computers

http://dpmac.com/2009/08/a-gallery-of-a-few-real-and-some-not-so-real-apple-mactablet-computers/
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Apple netbook = iPhone + Tablet (with 4G) for use in car

Apple's "tablet" computer will use (as an external unit) iPhone for in/out communication and in/out media translation.
It will be aimed for use in cars (but not only) as a center of additional units digit integration and screen+touch+voice interaction for control and GSM/inet communication (car - that is the "killing" idea of Aplle's tablet usage).
Multitasking, short OS, Apple's software, new SDK for mutual apps (tablet+iPhone), touchscreen+voice interaction software.
Tablet will use 4G (WiMax) for network communication via Verizon (starting 2010).
May be, first attempt of Apple OS licensing if in car integration.
One can use only iPhone, add tablet to iPhone, bye iPhone & tablet.
For Apple - no risk of its MacBooks and iPhones substitution.
Again Apple (thinking different) will open new market and new business on the base of previous success and technologies to be the first and No 1.

See my articles ( http://www.deepapple.com/articles/25345.html , and http://www.deepapple.com/news/34814.html , in russian).
 
I'm sure this will be kind of like the iPhone for me.....

At first, I went "Whoa, that's freaking cool, but I won't ever use it." - being that at the time, I hardly used my phone because it was just a regular, run-of-the-mill Razr. When I actually used one, it was one of the most incredible gadgets I've ever used.

I'm thinking this will be the same. It'll be packed with some innovative stuff, stuff that people will go "WTF didn't I think of that?" Simple, yet useful features.

We can only speculate, as I'm sure that it'll blow us all out of the water (if not at the keynote, when we actually use one)
 
The 'killer feature' will surely be the OS itself.

Not just one or two fingered touch control - but proper two handed manipulation of windows and objects

Not quite lawnmower man - but on the right track to being minority report
 
Apple didn’t invent the Mp3 player or the cell phone – they only made them better and easier to use.
I see a tablet doing the same thing of merging and improving the netbook market, the eBook market, the portable DVD player market, the portable gaming market , and hopefully the Wacom tablet market.
The “killer feature” is that this one device will (hopefully) do all of the above better than their counterparts.

This is my take on it too. This brings up an interesting point though... why is this device so expensive even though it should cost much less than the Apple tablet because it doesn't have all the things a portable PC would need? Does it come with expensive software? OR is it so expensive because they sell so many fewer unites than Apple will a tablet? Bit it makes me wonder what Apple can actually deliver in a tablet if this thing costs so much... this doesn't even have multi touch.

http://www.wacom.com/cintiq/cintiq-12wx.php


Here is another feature I think could be added on to make this tablet even MORE versatile and valuable.. I am quoting my post from another thread..


What I am thinking a killer app for a larger iPhone/Tablet would be is as a peripheral device for your primary computer... thnk of it as a "keyboard" from the future, completely customizable and that has actual computing power in addition.... oh yeah.. and on top of that, while you aren't using it as a peripheral it would also be the ideal personal media player available.

What I am thinking is that if you just try to market this Mac Tablet as a pure media device it seems kind of redundant to a laptop or even your primary PC. BUT if you market it as primarily an interface device that you use with your current computer.. be it Mac or pc then you have a killer app for this device. And this is on top of all the things it can do that the iPhone and iPod can do as well.

So when I say use it as a peripheral let me flesh that out a bit. let's say you are a film student.. and in your spare time you make a lot of student films. You know how there are those machines editors use when making films that have all kinds of buttons and sliders to make editing more efficient and easily controlled? They have the same thing for audio editors too.. like a big panel with all kinds of sliders etc.

Well.. the iPhone touch interface in a tablet form would be the PERFECT interactive canvas for making all kinds of customizable interfaces for this purpose. Any application you could think of you could have a custom control panel designed to use in conjunction with your primary computer. And the great thing about this is that rather than having this tablet that is JUST a low tier laptop.. instead you have something that can be used with your primary computer to make it more powerful and easier to use.

Basically, I view this as being an attachment for your computer, be it apple or PC, that makes it better and more usable.. whether it is by making a custom control panel with all different kinds of controls.. or as an input device for drawing OR just as a way of multitasking. Rather than having to upgrade our computer the tablet is a way of adding another monitor.. or another control method or just more RAM for multitasking.

So you could attach the tablet to your computer and it works in conjunction with it communicating and controlling it or working in tandem with it. Imagine you want to use your primary PC for some big task like rendering something.. your tablet could work in conjunction with your PC to play music so as not to sap your main computers resources. But what makes it so great is that it is connected to your computer rather than just isolated.

My only questions are whether Jobs WOULD do this.. would he make a device that works with Windows machines? And could he do this.. is it logistically possible to make a device like this that could work seamlessly with both macs and PCs as a peripheral for all different kinds of apps. If Jobs isn't going this route that I envision is it possible the Mac touch tablet could later be modified and customized for this purpose contrary to Apple's plans or in addition to them?


Another way to look at this is to view this "i Interface" -- touch tablet as an Apple Parasite for Windows PCs.

Think of it like a parasite that comes along and takes control of a larger creature and controls it. So you have the power of the larger Windows computer but you TAME it with Macs brains -- Macs brilliant user interface, that is even more enhanced by the new iPhone touch/sketch interface.

Wouldn't all Windows users be willing to pay for this? And it would be a way for Apple to tap into the Windows market without them having to switch over completely.

Think of it this way.. who WOULDN'T want one of these if it worked this way? Every windows and Mac user would want one of these things.


The problems as I see it is demand for such an input device is near zero today.

I agree there is little to no demand here right now. But I believe this is because people don't realize the capabilities. If they did I think they would go nuts over this idea.

A good way to think of this is as a SUPER customizable keyboard... I have seen a lot of hype for a keyboard that had customizeable OLED buttons. This touch interface would kick that things butt so bad it's not even funny.

BUT.. on top of that great feature.. you can also use it for tons of other things... AND it allows you to use that extra power it provides on the go as a modular computer to make your home system more powerful by adding multitasking. It takes something that is completely redundant and a luxury on it''s own.. and then by allowing it to work with your computer makes it extremely valuable and useful.


On top of that I don't see a general way to use a tablet with desktop apps.

I have a lot of questions about the logistics of it. How efficient would it be? Would it slow your computer and user interface down?

But if that wasn't an issue I can see COUNTLESS uses for this. Think of it this way... the ONLY use for your normal keyboard would be for text editing. But for EVERYTHING else I could see this tablet interface as being incredibly efficient. Think of when you are using photoshop.. you could use your main monitor for all kinds of reference images or for storing color palettes but do all your image manipulating on your touch screen. Or if you are editing video you would have your playback image all on your main monitor and then use your touch interfacer for all the manipulating and control.

I do think it would take a lot of time to really understand how to use a system like this efficiently and intuitively.. lots and lots of R&D.. but the reason for that is all the capabilities and new possibilities this kind of interface would provide. The possibilities are limitless IMO.


Also.. imagine using MULTIPLE of these Mac tablets in this fashion. You could have all kinds of interactive control mechanism or display mechanism for different element of your computer. The possibilities are truly incredible.. but it requires actually playing with them to explore those possibilities fully I think.

This actually makes me wonder if we will see Apple move away from the iMac design and move to a central appliance like system. So you would have your central brain computer and then multiple modular visual/touch pads people use for monitoring and controlling their computer.. all working together and interacting.. like parts of one large brain.

If you want more capabilities or control you buy another tablet and it grows organically.
 
Macbook Touch in the making???

I mean isn't this the macbook touch we all been waiting for!!!!!!!!!!!!!

u can touch the screen!!!!!! and move things like in the iphone or ipod touch!!!!

i think this should be called the Macbook Touch, not apple tablet!!!!!!!!lol

seriously!!!!

i think this would make a perfect new mini laptop, (sure its the size of a PSP) but i think renaming this product a macbook, would be a great new edition to the macbook family,

killer features i would love to see

- finger-print activation, so the tablet only activates on your command!
- at least 1TB of memory would be insane!
- please let it have a portable LED screen like the Samsung LED TV's
-let it be under $600
 
Easy: A good way to type

The worst thing about tablet pc's are their text input. Hand writing sucks, the on screen keyboards suck. Apple needs to make something that doesnt get in the way and is easy to type with.

Applying the current app ShapeWriter as the input method bc you can do it with one finger. At least the iPhone can be held with two hands and all the keys reached easily. If the tablet had a full keyboard, the whole width of the screen, you couldn't hold it and type. They could split the kb (like some of the ergonomic keyboards) and have each half on either side of the screen. As you are holding the tablet with two hands, the keys are beneath each hand (no matter where you hold it bc of sensors on the edges)
 
- finger-print activation, so the tablet only activates on your command!
- at least 1TB of memory would be insane!
1tb would make it beat most of the desktops, not gonna happen
fingerprint recongnition would not be needed by 90% of apple customers
and would make it to exspensive so sales would be 0
keep dreaming
 
1tb would make it beat most of the desktops, not gonna happen
fingerprint recongnition would not be needed by 90% of apple customers
and would make it to exspensive so sales would be 0
keep dreaming

it's just a dream and i'm interested why u would say 90% of apple customers would not want it? i find it quite hilarious. lol :)
 
1TB??? in something that ideally will be lighter and smaller than the air? not saying we won't get there at some point in moore's law, but it's not gonna start that way.

but the fingerprint thing is cool, i hope they eventually evolve the touchscreens on both the iphone/itouch and the tablet to the point they can accurately read prints.

when you say 90% of people wouldn't use it... i think you miss a couple HUGE demographics...

like old people, who, from what i remember working in a computer store, would often be either forgetting their passwords or complaining that they to remember them.

i would use it too. in fact, i remember i did use it, when i had all those PCs that had it built in.

it's much harder to get someone's fingerprints than it is to peek over their shoulder as they type in their password. for any of us that keep extremely sensitive data on our machines.

and on a tablet, i much prefer a print ID to a bunch of letters that magnify right above your finger in EASY view of anyone looking.

god, i REALLY hope the keyboard doesn't do that on this tablet like it does on the iphone.:apple:
 
I just figured out what the REAL killer app for the Apple Tablet will be... because people are going to have to carry this thing in a case.. it finally gives men an excuse to carry a purse. LOL

Remember when people wore those ridiculous fanny pack things just to wear a purse?
 
Word processor is key

Favorite quote on MacRumors:
I hope it has a revolutionary kickstand so I don't have to prop it up against a wall when I want to watch something on it. :p

It'll be the biggest thing since the birth of the internet :D

It's funny, I don't like to carry a bag, but I like to have a novel and a small notebook with me always. This afternoon, I had only the novel and as I was walking home, I thought to myself, maybe I should get a Kindle, but its not worth it if I can't write in it as well, and so I wondered if anyone would ever release a sleek product that serves as an eReader with a basic word processing application. That would be the ultimate portable device. I know I don't ask for much, but a word processing app would, for me, be the "killer feature".

I don't think I'd ever give up the ipod classic because I prefer a large variety of music to choose from on my commute - and my podcasts alone takes up more memory than what's available on the itouch or the iphone. And I don't like cell phones either, so text messaging, twitter, and email would suffice as a substitute.

Either way, I am so excited, and if that app is included, I'll be there waiting on line the day it's released.
 
...this
 

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Killer feature - for it not to be an itouch.

How cool would it be if they made something along the lines of an IScroll, having processors etc. built into two bars, about the same size as a toblerone each, and then you pulled it open to reveal a large screen in the middle.

wishful thinking like, not even sure that something like that would be possible, but as a concept it's pretty cool :)
 
The coolest thing that it could have would be a fully-integrated interface with apple tv whereby the tablet would be used as a remote/ controller and turn the apple tv into a gaming console. How cool would it be to have the tablet be the controller for something like Call of Duty?
 
The apple logo is too close to the bottom of the tablet - it would break apple house style rules on branding
 
I am really really shocked at all the people who still claim a tablet computer won't work. Don't people get it? The iPod and the iPhone ARE tablets! Absolutely TINY yet exorbitantly priced tablets at that!

Look at what Apple did with the iPod originally.. they used a freakin scroll wheel to control the whole thing. And critics are saying people won't use a tablet because it doesn't have a keyboard. If the Apple eggheads could figure out how people could find thousands of songs on a tiny screen with nothing but a little scroll wheel and a couple buttons how can they possibly question their ability to get a tablet to work with multitouch and all the computing power at their disposal now?

If you think all that money and technology used in multitouch for the iPhone was ONLY for the iPhone OR a simple media viewer you must have rocks in your head, I am sorry. haha

Apple is going to put that touch technology on every device they have before it's all said and done, that includes an entire line of touch tablets of every shape and size imaginable.. I guarantee it.

What I wonder though is if it is technically possible to run 2 different operating systems at the same time depending on which one you wanted to use; an iPhone OS built for a larger device AND a full blown Mac OS X 10 ?
 
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