Apple PDA

Okay, you asked for it.

Personally, I'd expect a smaller version of the Newton 2100 with the following modifications:

Color Screen
G3 processor
Updated Rosetta Handwriting Engine
Newton OS 3.0
Airport Support (This already exists for Lucent cards!)
Integrated Web Browser
NO PALM OS!
NO MAC OS X LITE!

I have much more to say, but it's still early. Let me have some caffeine and I'll get back to you.

A built-in microphone to take dictations.

J :cool:

Perhaps a component design. A pod that works independently while undocked and when docked becomes part of a system wtih cd/dvd drive larger harddrive, monitor, and keyboard.

[quote]Originally posted by Jamie:
<strong>A built-in microphone to take dictations.

J :cool: </strong><hr></blockquote>

I'd be willing to pay up to $600 for an upgraded Newton, as Fran has suggested.

[quote]Originally posted by Jamie:
<strong>A built-in microphone to take dictations.

J :cool: </strong><hr></blockquote>

The MessagePad already has a built-in microphone for voice notes. I just wish the quality was a bit better.

[quote]Originally posted by CLAJM:
<strong>Any price ranges? If you would be interested in a PDA from Apple - what would you be prepared to pay?</strong><hr></blockquote>

I don't think I would be prepared to pay what Apple would end up selling the thing for. The new Sony NR70's are pretty much everything I want in a handheld, and you can get those for under $500. That's the most I'd pay. I imagine Apple's PDA would have half the feature set sacrificed for a gorgeous case, and cost $100 more

[quote]Originally posted by CLAJM:
<strong>
a) Rechargeable or replaceable battery?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Both. As the Newton.

[quote]Originally posted by CLAJM:
<strong>b) Flip Cover or Protective case?</strong><hr></blockquote>

No idea.
[quote]Originally posted by CLAJM:
<strong>c) Palm or Microsoft Pocket PC?</strong><hr></blockquote>
<img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />

X-lite sans Aqua, Quarz, Classic, Carbon, VM etc. Keep Cocoa and Java. Should be able to run under 64-128 mb with open apps without VM.

[quote]Originally posted by CLAJM:
<strong>d) Connection to desktops and other 'iPads' via wire connection, bluetooth or firewire?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Firewire for sure and Bluetooth/Airport depending on if Apple puts bluetooth on their desktops.

[quote]Originally posted by CLAJM:
<strong>If an 'iPad' (hand held from Apple) was to be launched which of the following would most appeal? I'm looking to see the most important features of a handheld and see which options are more desired.
a) Rechargeable or replaceable battery?
b) Flip Cover or Protective case?
c) Palm or Microsoft Pocket PC?
d) Connection to desktops and other 'iPads' via wire connection, bluetooth or firewire?

Comments are appriciated!!
</strong><hr></blockquote>

Rechargeable battery like on Palm's higher end handhelds.

Protective Case

Palm OS

FireWire if the thing is going to have a lot of storage space. Bluetooth is too slow, but it's fine if we're sticking with 16MB handhelds. I don't understand why people would want Bluetooth on an ipod...

Palm OS? Are you guys insane? That OS is the reason all palm based devices suck. It would have to be a new OS (or a new-old OS, a la Newt OS 3).

First things first. The Newton and Emate really shouldn't be insulted with the term PDA. They are much more than that. We who still own them have the luxury of writing on a screen and not one letter at a time in a designated area. They were the first devices that provided an easy 'Sync' capability. They, for there time, were full featured, having serial, Ird, and PCcard interfaces.

Second, my ideal portable appliance would be similar to a PaceBook but smaller . It would look like an Emate but the keyboard and display would be independant and separatable(communicating with bluetooth and not IRD as the PaceBook does).
That way you have the best of both worlds(Newton and Emate). I would hope it runs MacOS X. It should have Firewire, USB 2, and IRD on the display half with just a few Newton type buttons. It should have 2 PC slots, modem, Ethernet, and a DVD/CRDW in the keyboard half. There should be two models a normal(say 10x12 screen) and sub size(say 6x8 screen).

I am hopeful there will be one in my lifetime or 5 years, whichever comes first. And I'm only 32.

[quote]Originally posted by torifile:
<strong>Palm OS? Are you guys insane? That OS is the reason all palm based devices suck. It would have to be a new OS (or a new-old OS, a la Newt OS 3).</strong><hr></blockquote>

Palm OS for a few reasons...

o Palm OS 5, which is final next month, and Palm OS 6 are both taking the platform where it should have gone years ago. They're promising upgrades, and they will modernize that OS.

o Palm has the largest installed handheld user base. The last thing I want from Apple is for them to write their own OS for the thing. Palm OS is widely accepted, and the PDA could be marketed to a much wider audience that way.

o It's a proven product. It works, it works with Macs and Windows boxes right now. No need to re-invent the wheel if you can use an off the shelf product. Palm OS 5 also introduces 'Themes', so Apple may Aquafy it if they wish.

Personally, since the showing of Mac OS X's Ink, I'm convinced that Apple probably will release an iBook that can function both as a notebook and a PDA (or to be more precise, a tablet PC).

IF anykind of PDA style device that is going to be release by Apple in the near future, it's probably a swiveling screen and stylus equipped iBook.

It will have these features, which comes from the iBook features.

- 12.1 inches of color Screen.
- G3 processor.
- Airport.
- CD/DVD drive.
- Large hard drive (in comparison to other PDA).
- Keyboard.
- Rechargedable and replaceable battery.
- Flip cover.
- Firewire.
- USB.
- Ethernet.
- Connection to desktop
- Modem.
- Built-in microphone.

Plus, everything (or most) of that the iBook got.


It will have these features, which comes from the Mac OS X features.

- Full size Mac OS X.
- Web browser.
- Updated Rosetta Handwriting Engine. Is this Mac OS X's Ink?
- Newton 0S. Anything that Apple owned, it's probable that it will be part of Mac OS X.

Plus, everything (or most) of that the Mac OS X got that is runnable on iBook.


It will probably this feature below:

- Bluetooth.


Though it probably will have none of these two OSes:

- Palm OS
- Microsoft Pocket PC?

These features aren't important, someone you want to run Palm OS and Microsoft Pocket PC applications.


It might have none of these things:

- PC Card/PCMCIA slot.
- Infrared.
- Serial port.

The need for a PC Card/PCMCIA slot is also eliminated. Since that like Apple said, the iBook got the need that most people want when they need a PC Card/PCMCIA slot (like networking and storage). Unless of course, someone want to connect a PC Card/PCMCIA device.

While the need for Infrared is also eliminated, since that it got Airport, and perharps also Bluetooth. Unless of course, someone want to connect a device using Infrared.

While the need for serial port is also eliminated, since that it got Firewire and USB, plus also many other connectivity options. Unless of course, someone want to connect a device using serial port.

[quote] it's probably a swiveling screen <hr></blockquote>

how do you get a swiveling screen on an ibook, or any other kind laptop?

Something based on Mac OS X
Voice recognition and dictation
HWR really nice
AirPort
FireWire
Based on Newton and iPod technology sharing
Color
G3 based

Voice Commands, Ink.

and a 23" CRT