So what is the MacTouch? I don't remember apple ever saying there was any product called the MacTouch. It's absolutely stupid to pin your hopes on a rumor.
I coined that name.
Like is was stupid to pin our hopes on an Apple phone eh? Good one.
True, I certainly agree some apps would be usable right away. The questions would be:
- is the overall experience better than it is on an existing device (iPhone, Touch or Macbook)?
As the size increases, the price will creep up close to Macbook territory. At that point, a lot of people may start comparing what real benefit there is to a tablet vs. a regular laptop they're already used to. If all they've got for the tablet is existing apps done in a more tablety way people are likely to just stick with a more powerful and versatile machine.
At that point, beyond regular iLife apps and internet there had better be some real unique and compelling ones to drive demand for a tablet.
True, I certainly agree some apps would be usable right away. The questions would be:
- is the overall experience better than it is on an existing device (iPhone, Touch or Macbook)?
As the size increases, the price will creep up close to Macbook territory. At that point, a lot of people may start comparing what real benefit there is to a tablet vs. a regular laptop they're already used to. If all they've got for the tablet is existing apps done in a more tablety way people are likely to just stick with a more powerful and versatile machine.
At that point, beyond regular iLife apps and internet there had better be some real unique and compelling ones to drive demand for a tablet.
There are a lot of "real unique and compelling" reasons why many would prefer this device to a MacBook. Size; It will be smaller than the Air. Weight; it will be much lighter than a MacBook. It will be cooler than a MacBook too. And let's not forget user interface; multi-touch. The multi-touch factor of this Mac touch is what will be the most compelling thing about it. A new paradigm for the portable "computer".
Multi-touch "Mac" OS X done with Apple flair. The UI will sing off the screen and will make every other portable computer on the planet (including MacBooks) look old-fashioned. It will be the first "useable" computer-keyboard that's only there when you need it, yet for the first time ever (besides the iPhone) that will be a plus.
The cool thing about a 10 or 11" (I want 11) multi-touch OS X computer is that it can be "anything" a Mac developer wants it to be. From a user perspective, "and" the developers perspective "when done right" this would be a "dream computer". We're not just talking about changing what app is in use, but being able to change and customize the shape, size, position, color, and functionality of even the buttons on the darn screen - and change them back when a new app is launched. "Fixed in plastic"? No longer.
There are a lot of "real unique and compelling" reasons why many would prefer this device to a MacBook. Size; It will be smaller than the Air. Weight; it will be much lighter than a MacBook. It will be cooler than a MacBook too. And let's not forget user interface; multi-touch. The multi-touch factor of this Mac touch is what will be the most compelling thing about it. A new paradigm for the portable "computer".
Multi-touch "Mac" OS X done with Apple flair. The UI will sing off the screen and will make every other portable computer on the planet (including MacBooks) look old-fashioned. It will be the first "useable" computer-keyboard that's only there when you need it, yet for the first time ever (besides the iPhone) that will be a plus.
The cool thing about a 10 or 11" (I want 11) multi-touch OS X computer is that it can be "anything" a Mac developer wants it to be. From a user and developer point of view "when done right" this would be a "dream computer".
How the hell is a touch screen tactile keyboard a "dream computer" for a Developer? There is no f***ing way I'm developing on that in lieu of a workstation/laptop which I have a keyboard or I attach one. Should I carry a special stand to prop this tablet up, or should it come with a little built-in one?
How the hell is a touch screen tactile keyboard a "dream computer" for a Developer? There is no f***ing way I'm developing on that in lieu of a workstation/laptop which I have a keyboard or I attach one. Should I carry a special stand to prop this tablet up, or should it come with a little built-in one?
The way I see it (as I've said many times before) this device would be great if it had a push-in-to-pop-out stand (really more of a rest) on the rear top-quarter of this tablet device. That way it could be popped out and when placed on a flat surface the Mac touch would rest at a nice angle (say 22º). Great for a teachers' or students' desks you know.
At home (or anywhere with a seat and no immediate desk) what most people would do is pop in the stand and use it without the stand while sitting - usually on their couch. For the desk at home I still believe in the desktop computer. But of course the Mac touch could sync with your desktop computer anytime you need.
If you simply wanted to watch a movie on a plane, in the box could be a tiny plastic stand which holds the device at about 80º. But that wouldn't be very often.
You know Ireland, I understand your enthusiasm, but nowhere in your post did you even allude to something the tablet would do to be seen as a compelling device.
To summarize your post:
"the tablet will give people boners".
Ok, maybe that wasn't really called for. The thing is, tablets are nothing new. Why is a bigger tablet automatically going to be better than a Touch? What makes it a better choice than a Macbook? What app drives this? What use case? Multitouch is fine and all but you have to have some reason to be multitouching in the first place.
p.s. - not to slam the iPhone and Touch's keyboards but for *general purpose computing*, they would suck....hard.
You know Ireland, I understand your enthusiasm, but nowhere in your post did you even allude to something the tablet would do to be seen as a compelling device.
To summarize your post:
"the tablet will give people boners".
Ok, maybe that wasn't really called for. The thing is, tablets are nothing new.
Neither are phones. This isn't about being "new". It's about being thin, light, beautiful, easy-to-use (that's a big one), with a user-interface that's not only touchable (and new), but different for each application. Done with as much effort as was used to create the iPhone this would be a revolution. A fun tablet, that would be new. But not only that, it would be hella-useful too. Just like the iPhone, but this time it would be a Mac. Admittedly not a powerhouse, but a "Mac" nonetheless.
The large screened, very powerful desktop in the den, and the little, light multi-touch (sync-able) tablet on the go could easily be the wave of the future.
One things for certain, this thing would be HUGE in Asia. And it could be HUGE everywhere else.
Neither are phones. This isn't about being "new". It's about being thin, light, beautiful, easy-to-use (that's a big one), with a user-interface that's not only touchable (and new), but different for each application. Done with as much effort as was used to create the iPhone this would be a revolution. A fun tablet, that would be new. But not only that, it would be hella-useful too. Just like the iPhone, but this time it would be a Mac. Admittedly not a powerhouse, but a "Mac" nonetheless.
The large screened, very powerful desktop in the den, and the little, light multi-touch (sync-able) tablet on the go could easily be the wave of the future.
One things for certain, this thing would be HUGE in Asia. And it could be HUGE everywhere else.
A phone is a different animal. They basically already made what you want in a format people can easily enjoy. It's the iPhone. It's small, pocketable, powerful and fun. It's a replacement for something people were *already* carrying.
People aren't carrying tablets now. This is something entirely different. They have laptops and phones. A tablet like you're describing is not pocketable, it's awkward to use in the came contexts as the iPhone/Touch due to size. There has to be a reason why someone wants one of these instead of the Touch or iPhone. If it's going to wind up being used with some sort of stand in the context that a laptop traditionally would then it's going to be compared against a laptop and fall short.
I can already sit at my couch with my Macbook so why is the tablet better? Is it better enough to earn a sopt in addition to my existing devices? Is it useful enough to replace any? If I'm on the go I have a phone(or similar), if I'm stationary I've got that covered with my current portable.
Technology is here. That's not holding back the tablet. Software is. There aren't any apps that make this thing scream "BUY ME".
Just a crazy thought...what if this tablet computer was an extension of the iPod line (a lot more powerful but still, coming off of that) and they called it the iPod air? Light, portable, easy like the iPod. Of course, this wouldn't have the digitizer I want so much but you gotta give up a little.
Look at the iPod touch. Yes, it is an iPod but it does so much more now. It is a PDA! You increase the screen (honestly, not to the 12", as Bancho said, that is just too big to appeal to people), pump up the power, so on and so forth and you got a good portable computer. You sync your files in a way just as simple as iTunes. An improved version of iSync?
Like, lets say I am working on a screenplay and I go to visit my folks for the weekend. On my iMac, I drag the file into a directory and click sync. It sends a copy over to my iPod air and I leave. When I come back, I click sync again and it updates the file on my iMac, saving all the previous versions into...what is it called, the draft data? When you can look at all the previous versions of your document?
I think it will be a Mac, but it will have the iPhone's and iPod touch's user interface dynamic.
Once the iPhone SDK is out this question will likely be answered. It should be clear whether the SDK is solely for iPod touch / iPhone or whether these APIs do make sense on Macs too.
If the latter, then you'll have your wish.
Otherwise the rumored 'tablet' is going to be just a bigger iPod touch.
The MBAir will still be around in a year. It fills the slot that would otherwise be filled by your tablet.
Not even close! You can't keep the air with you 24/7! Frankly it is also way to heavy and the big paradox here has way to few features. I really doubt that it will be around for long, probably more than a year but not much more.
Like the Cube Apple could save the thing with a little engineering effort, but they won't. So you have a machine that could be a success if it was simply upgraded to meet common demands, but won't be due to a stubborn corporate attitude.
The big killer with the AIr is that its I/O complement is what you would expect for a Tablet. It is certainly not the I/O complement that you would expect out of a laptop.
Otherwise the rumored 'tablet' is going to be just a bigger iPod touch.
Yes but is that a bad thing? To be perfectly honest that is what this person wants along with many others from what I can see.
It is pretty simple really, I don't want of need the trouble that carrying a laptop around creates. Believe me I know exactly what the problems are here as I did so for work for about two years. Even the Air is not small enough to get me to carry it around constantly.
As to being just a bigger iPod Touch, Think of it as a product family with several differently sized hand held devices. The goals should be a portable device that offers up a minimal of weight and in at least one form goes into the pocket. A pound would be way to heavy in many cases. As to the larger size the goal is simple more pixels on the screen and the ability to scale the multi Touch graphics.
When it comes right down to it I think Apple would be making a big mistake to try to scale down a normal sized laptop into these form factors. I see the Touch interfaces, as seen in the current iPhone and Touch, as being a far easier scale up. It does a couple of things for Apple too. One it keeps people from thinking of the machines as a flat Laptop! Second it allows Apple to keep the OS optimized for the platform by reducing the need to include older API's. That is if it isn't a Mac there is no reason to port all the old API's to the hardware.
By the way the flat laptop crowd really has their thinking screwed up here. No matter what Apple does if it tries to go the Tablet laptop route it will have about as much luck as MicroSoft. The concept just doesn't translate into a product that is really usable. Any Tablet that Apple comes up with must be operable hand held and have applications specific to the products intended use. In other words ported desktop/laptop apps won't cut the mustard.
By the way the flat laptop crowd really has their thinking screwed up here. No matter what Apple does if it tries to go the Tablet laptop route it will have about as much luck as MicroSoft. The concept just doesn't translate into a product that is really usable. Any Tablet that Apple comes up with must be operable hand held and have applications specific to the products intended use. In other words ported desktop/laptop apps won't cut the mustard.
Yes but is that a bad thing? To be perfectly honest that is what this person wants along with many others from what I can see.
I think that it is also what Apple is most likely to produce the more I think about it. The iPod really is their flagship device now, isn't it? I mean, yes, the Mac is still very important to them (to the point that I will sometimes refer to Apple as "Mac") but the iPod is what people think of, it is how they are identified and what is bringing more people over to Macs.
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It is pretty simple really, I don't want of need the trouble that carrying a laptop around creates. Believe me I know exactly what the problems are here as I did so for work for about two years. Even the Air is not small enough to get me to carry it around constantly.
I agree. I have the advantage of using a messanger bag should be just big enough to carry a MacBook and therefore an Air. However, the MacBook Air is really aimed at professionals I think more than regular consumers. The iPod Air (I am just going to stick with that name for now) would be aimed more at consumers and wouldn't be a new computer, but a satellite, an extension of your current one.
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As to being just a bigger iPod Touch, Think of it as a product family with several differently sized hand held devices. The goals should be a portable device that offers up a minimal of weight and in at least one form goes into the pocket. A pound would be way to heavy in many cases. As to the larger size the goal is simple more pixels on the screen and the ability to scale the multi Touch graphics.
I recall some time ago reading a report that this new Newton tablet thing would look like an iPod touch but on its side, like a PSP with two indents or buttons on either side. This design, an extension of the iPod touch design, is really what this set up would be. Also, the larger size means larger icons and keys and less probability of hitting the wrong thing, which I do from time to time. I think they will keep the size in terms of its thickness and weight as low as possible. Under a pound could be possible.
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When it comes right down to it I think Apple would be making a big mistake to try to scale down a normal sized laptop into these form factors. I see the Touch interfaces, as seen in the current iPhone and Touch, as being a far easier scale up. It does a couple of things for Apple too. One it keeps people from thinking of the machines as a flat Laptop! Second it allows Apple to keep the OS optimized for the platform by reducing the need to include older API's. That is if it isn't a Mac there is no reason to port all the old API's to the hardware.
Yes. What would be easier, to figure out how to make the current version of iWork work on a tablet...or just make a new version that is designed AROUND the touch interface. I also expect that this would be far more stable than a port. They wouldn't have to make a mobile version of iLife because, for all intents and purposes, that is what the iPod is (iTunes and iPhoto)! Sure, there wouldn't be iMovie or iDVD, you wouldn't have the power for those...or the optical drive. Maybe a little variation of Garage Band that allows people to make a record of a composition.
From there, using the touch SDK, third parties could make programs to add further functionality to the iPod Air. Alas, I do think with this device I wouldn't see my digitizer. I would still get it though as I believe this would sell for less than $1000
Quote:
By the way the flat laptop crowd really has their thinking screwed up here. No matter what Apple does if it tries to go the Tablet laptop route it will have about as much luck as MicroSoft. The concept just doesn't translate into a product that is really usable. Any Tablet that Apple comes up with must be operable hand held and have applications specific to the products intended use. In other words ported desktop/laptop apps won't cut the mustard.
I think I could eventually see Apple creating a tablet loptop but not for a while (several years at least, long after the iPod Air has been in circulation, creating intrest and demand). The trick would be to, while in its MacBook mode, it would look like the regular OSX. Then, when it rotates and lowers into the tablet mode, it switches the interface design. The dock at the bottom transforms into the iPhone/iPod touch dock. You navigate through the menus like an iPhone, even using cover flow. I also think you would only have access to certain programs in the tablet mode. You wouldn't be using iWork to edit documents but you would be able to view them, do presentations, look at photos, play movies. I also think there would be a bunch of programs you could ONLY use in tablet mode. The kind of killer apps that would make this a must have. THIS, I think, would have the option for an active digitizer to appeal to artists and note takers.
Well, I typed up a long, detailed, and convincing response to your post but AppleInsider logged me out as it was sending, completely losing what I had written so I'm bowing out of this discussion.
I hate when that happens! I always copy and paste my progress on a long post to a text file just in case something like that happens before a succesful submission. Ok, now on to catching up on this thread.
There are a lot of "real unique and compelling" reasons why many would prefer this device to a MacBook. Size; It will be smaller than the Air. Weight; it will be much lighter than a MacBook. It will be cooler than a MacBook too. And let's not forget user interface; multi-touch. The multi-touch factor of this Mac touch is what will be the most compelling thing about it. A new paradigm for the portable "computer".
Multi-touch "Mac" OS X done with Apple flair. The UI will sing off the screen and will make every other portable computer on the planet (including MacBooks) look old-fashioned. It will be the first "useable" computer-keyboard that's only there when you need it, yet for the first time ever (besides the iPhone) that will be a plus.
The cool thing about a 10 or 11" (I want 11) multi-touch OS X computer is that it can be "anything" a Mac developer wants it to be. From a user perspective, "and" the developers perspective "when done right" this would be a "dream computer". We're not just talking about changing what app is in use, but being able to change and customize the shape, size, position, color, and functionality of even the buttons on the darn screen - and change them back when a new app is launched. "Fixed in plastic"? No longer.
Once the iPhone SDK is out this question will likely be answered. It should be clear whether the SDK is solely for iPod touch / iPhone or whether these APIs do make sense on Macs too.
If the latter, then you'll have your wish.
Otherwise the rumored 'tablet' is going to be just a bigger iPod touch.
I have no problem with that. In fact, I really don't want it to be another clone of Microsoft's crappy vision of a tablet pc. I think apple has already re-invented the UMPC or MID and is almost ready to debut the device.
I don't see it as being another large slate type device. But more like a very large ipod touch. The dual screen rumor though was not expected but I have a feeling it will turn out to be so. It will be sorta like two large iphones one on top of the other.
Comments
A full-size tablet makes no sense after Apple has just released the Air. Let's distinguish Ireland's wishes from the actual rumors.
I said Macworld 2009. A years a long time in technology. That's not "just" after.
So what is the MacTouch? I don't remember apple ever saying there was any product called the MacTouch. It's absolutely stupid to pin your hopes on a rumor.
I coined that name.
Like is was stupid to pin our hopes on an Apple phone eh? Good one.
- is the overall experience better than it is on an existing device (iPhone, Touch or Macbook)?
As the size increases, the price will creep up close to Macbook territory. At that point, a lot of people may start comparing what real benefit there is to a tablet vs. a regular laptop they're already used to. If all they've got for the tablet is existing apps done in a more tablety way people are likely to just stick with a more powerful and versatile machine.
At that point, beyond regular iLife apps and internet there had better be some real unique and compelling ones to drive demand for a tablet.
True, I certainly agree some apps would be usable right away. The questions would be:
- is the overall experience better than it is on an existing device (iPhone, Touch or Macbook)?
As the size increases, the price will creep up close to Macbook territory. At that point, a lot of people may start comparing what real benefit there is to a tablet vs. a regular laptop they're already used to. If all they've got for the tablet is existing apps done in a more tablety way people are likely to just stick with a more powerful and versatile machine.
At that point, beyond regular iLife apps and internet there had better be some real unique and compelling ones to drive demand for a tablet.
There are a lot of "real unique and compelling" reasons why many would prefer this device to a MacBook. Size; It will be smaller than the Air. Weight; it will be much lighter than a MacBook. It will be cooler than a MacBook too. And let's not forget user interface; multi-touch. The multi-touch factor of this Mac touch is what will be the most compelling thing about it. A new paradigm for the portable "computer".
Multi-touch "Mac" OS X done with Apple flair. The UI will sing off the screen and will make every other portable computer on the planet (including MacBooks) look old-fashioned. It will be the first "useable" computer-keyboard that's only there when you need it, yet for the first time ever (besides the iPhone) that will be a plus.
The cool thing about a 10 or 11" (I want 11) multi-touch OS X computer is that it can be "anything" a Mac developer wants it to be. From a user perspective, "and" the developers perspective "when done right" this would be a "dream computer". We're not just talking about changing what app is in use, but being able to change and customize the shape, size, position, color, and functionality of even the buttons on the darn screen - and change them back when a new app is launched. "Fixed in plastic"? No longer.
Here comes the multi-touch train... ALL ABOARD!!
There are a lot of "real unique and compelling" reasons why many would prefer this device to a MacBook. Size; It will be smaller than the Air. Weight; it will be much lighter than a MacBook. It will be cooler than a MacBook too. And let's not forget user interface; multi-touch. The multi-touch factor of this Mac touch is what will be the most compelling thing about it. A new paradigm for the portable "computer".
Multi-touch "Mac" OS X done with Apple flair. The UI will sing off the screen and will make every other portable computer on the planet (including MacBooks) look old-fashioned. It will be the first "useable" computer-keyboard that's only there when you need it, yet for the first time ever (besides the iPhone) that will be a plus.
The cool thing about a 10 or 11" (I want 11) multi-touch OS X computer is that it can be "anything" a Mac developer wants it to be. From a user and developer point of view "when done right" this would be a "dream computer".
How the hell is a touch screen tactile keyboard a "dream computer" for a Developer? There is no f***ing way I'm developing on that in lieu of a workstation/laptop which I have a keyboard or I attach one. Should I carry a special stand to prop this tablet up, or should it come with a little built-in one?
How the hell is a touch screen tactile keyboard a "dream computer" for a Developer? There is no f***ing way I'm developing on that in lieu of a workstation/laptop which I have a keyboard or I attach one. Should I carry a special stand to prop this tablet up, or should it come with a little built-in one?
The way I see it (as I've said many times before) this device would be great if it had a push-in-to-pop-out stand (really more of a rest) on the rear top-quarter of this tablet device. That way it could be popped out and when placed on a flat surface the Mac touch would rest at a nice angle (say 22º). Great for a teachers' or students' desks you know.
At home (or anywhere with a seat and no immediate desk) what most people would do is pop in the stand and use it without the stand while sitting - usually on their couch. For the desk at home I still believe in the desktop computer. But of course the Mac touch could sync with your desktop computer anytime you need.
If you simply wanted to watch a movie on a plane, in the box could be a tiny plastic stand which holds the device at about 80º. But that wouldn't be very often.
To summarize your post:
"the tablet will give people boners".
Ok, maybe that wasn't really called for. The thing is, tablets are nothing new. Why is a bigger tablet automatically going to be better than a Touch? What makes it a better choice than a Macbook? What app drives this? What use case? Multitouch is fine and all but you have to have some reason to be multitouching in the first place.
p.s. - not to slam the iPhone and Touch's keyboards but for *general purpose computing*, they would suck....hard.
You know Ireland, I understand your enthusiasm, but nowhere in your post did you even allude to something the tablet would do to be seen as a compelling device.
To summarize your post:
"the tablet will give people boners".
Ok, maybe that wasn't really called for. The thing is, tablets are nothing new.
Neither are phones. This isn't about being "new". It's about being thin, light, beautiful, easy-to-use (that's a big one), with a user-interface that's not only touchable (and new), but different for each application. Done with as much effort as was used to create the iPhone this would be a revolution. A fun tablet, that would be new. But not only that, it would be hella-useful too. Just like the iPhone, but this time it would be a Mac. Admittedly not a powerhouse, but a "Mac" nonetheless.
The large screened, very powerful desktop in the den, and the little, light multi-touch (sync-able) tablet on the go could easily be the wave of the future.
One things for certain, this thing would be HUGE in Asia. And it could be HUGE everywhere else.
Neither are phones. This isn't about being "new". It's about being thin, light, beautiful, easy-to-use (that's a big one), with a user-interface that's not only touchable (and new), but different for each application. Done with as much effort as was used to create the iPhone this would be a revolution. A fun tablet, that would be new. But not only that, it would be hella-useful too. Just like the iPhone, but this time it would be a Mac. Admittedly not a powerhouse, but a "Mac" nonetheless.
The large screened, very powerful desktop in the den, and the little, light multi-touch (sync-able) tablet on the go could easily be the wave of the future.
One things for certain, this thing would be HUGE in Asia. And it could be HUGE everywhere else.
A phone is a different animal. They basically already made what you want in a format people can easily enjoy. It's the iPhone. It's small, pocketable, powerful and fun. It's a replacement for something people were *already* carrying.
People aren't carrying tablets now. This is something entirely different. They have laptops and phones. A tablet like you're describing is not pocketable, it's awkward to use in the came contexts as the iPhone/Touch due to size. There has to be a reason why someone wants one of these instead of the Touch or iPhone. If it's going to wind up being used with some sort of stand in the context that a laptop traditionally would then it's going to be compared against a laptop and fall short.
I can already sit at my couch with my Macbook so why is the tablet better? Is it better enough to earn a sopt in addition to my existing devices? Is it useful enough to replace any? If I'm on the go I have a phone(or similar), if I'm stationary I've got that covered with my current portable.
Technology is here. That's not holding back the tablet. Software is. There aren't any apps that make this thing scream "BUY ME".
Look at the iPod touch. Yes, it is an iPod but it does so much more now. It is a PDA! You increase the screen (honestly, not to the 12", as Bancho said, that is just too big to appeal to people), pump up the power, so on and so forth and you got a good portable computer. You sync your files in a way just as simple as iTunes. An improved version of iSync?
Like, lets say I am working on a screenplay and I go to visit my folks for the weekend. On my iMac, I drag the file into a directory and click sync. It sends a copy over to my iPod air and I leave. When I come back, I click sync again and it updates the file on my iMac, saving all the previous versions into...what is it called, the draft data? When you can look at all the previous versions of your document?
Like I said, crazy thought. I am done.
I said Macworld 2009. A years a long time in technology. That's not "just" after.
The MBAir will still be around in a year. It fills the slot that would otherwise be filled by your tablet.
I think it will be a Mac, but it will have the iPhone's and iPod touch's user interface dynamic.
Once the iPhone SDK is out this question will likely be answered. It should be clear whether the SDK is solely for iPod touch / iPhone or whether these APIs do make sense on Macs too.
If the latter, then you'll have your wish.
Otherwise the rumored 'tablet' is going to be just a bigger iPod touch.
The MBAir will still be around in a year. It fills the slot that would otherwise be filled by your tablet.
Not even close! You can't keep the air with you 24/7! Frankly it is also way to heavy and the big paradox here has way to few features. I really doubt that it will be around for long, probably more than a year but not much more.
Like the Cube Apple could save the thing with a little engineering effort, but they won't. So you have a machine that could be a success if it was simply upgraded to meet common demands, but won't be due to a stubborn corporate attitude.
The big killer with the AIr is that its I/O complement is what you would expect for a Tablet. It is certainly not the I/O complement that you would expect out of a laptop.
Dave
Otherwise the rumored 'tablet' is going to be just a bigger iPod touch.
Yes but is that a bad thing? To be perfectly honest that is what this person wants along with many others from what I can see.
It is pretty simple really, I don't want of need the trouble that carrying a laptop around creates. Believe me I know exactly what the problems are here as I did so for work for about two years. Even the Air is not small enough to get me to carry it around constantly.
As to being just a bigger iPod Touch, Think of it as a product family with several differently sized hand held devices. The goals should be a portable device that offers up a minimal of weight and in at least one form goes into the pocket. A pound would be way to heavy in many cases. As to the larger size the goal is simple more pixels on the screen and the ability to scale the multi Touch graphics.
When it comes right down to it I think Apple would be making a big mistake to try to scale down a normal sized laptop into these form factors. I see the Touch interfaces, as seen in the current iPhone and Touch, as being a far easier scale up. It does a couple of things for Apple too. One it keeps people from thinking of the machines as a flat Laptop! Second it allows Apple to keep the OS optimized for the platform by reducing the need to include older API's. That is if it isn't a Mac there is no reason to port all the old API's to the hardware.
By the way the flat laptop crowd really has their thinking screwed up here. No matter what Apple does if it tries to go the Tablet laptop route it will have about as much luck as MicroSoft. The concept just doesn't translate into a product that is really usable. Any Tablet that Apple comes up with must be operable hand held and have applications specific to the products intended use. In other words ported desktop/laptop apps won't cut the mustard.
Dave
By the way the flat laptop crowd really has their thinking screwed up here. No matter what Apple does if it tries to go the Tablet laptop route it will have about as much luck as MicroSoft. The concept just doesn't translate into a product that is really usable. Any Tablet that Apple comes up with must be operable hand held and have applications specific to the products intended use. In other words ported desktop/laptop apps won't cut the mustard.
Dave
There is a great deal of truth here.
Yes but is that a bad thing? To be perfectly honest that is what this person wants along with many others from what I can see.
I think that it is also what Apple is most likely to produce the more I think about it. The iPod really is their flagship device now, isn't it? I mean, yes, the Mac is still very important to them (to the point that I will sometimes refer to Apple as "Mac") but the iPod is what people think of, it is how they are identified and what is bringing more people over to Macs.
It is pretty simple really, I don't want of need the trouble that carrying a laptop around creates. Believe me I know exactly what the problems are here as I did so for work for about two years. Even the Air is not small enough to get me to carry it around constantly.
I agree. I have the advantage of using a messanger bag should be just big enough to carry a MacBook and therefore an Air. However, the MacBook Air is really aimed at professionals I think more than regular consumers. The iPod Air (I am just going to stick with that name for now) would be aimed more at consumers and wouldn't be a new computer, but a satellite, an extension of your current one.
As to being just a bigger iPod Touch, Think of it as a product family with several differently sized hand held devices. The goals should be a portable device that offers up a minimal of weight and in at least one form goes into the pocket. A pound would be way to heavy in many cases. As to the larger size the goal is simple more pixels on the screen and the ability to scale the multi Touch graphics.
I recall some time ago reading a report that this new Newton tablet thing would look like an iPod touch but on its side, like a PSP with two indents or buttons on either side. This design, an extension of the iPod touch design, is really what this set up would be. Also, the larger size means larger icons and keys and less probability of hitting the wrong thing, which I do from time to time. I think they will keep the size in terms of its thickness and weight as low as possible. Under a pound could be possible.
When it comes right down to it I think Apple would be making a big mistake to try to scale down a normal sized laptop into these form factors. I see the Touch interfaces, as seen in the current iPhone and Touch, as being a far easier scale up. It does a couple of things for Apple too. One it keeps people from thinking of the machines as a flat Laptop! Second it allows Apple to keep the OS optimized for the platform by reducing the need to include older API's. That is if it isn't a Mac there is no reason to port all the old API's to the hardware.
Yes. What would be easier, to figure out how to make the current version of iWork work on a tablet...or just make a new version that is designed AROUND the touch interface. I also expect that this would be far more stable than a port. They wouldn't have to make a mobile version of iLife because, for all intents and purposes, that is what the iPod is (iTunes and iPhoto)! Sure, there wouldn't be iMovie or iDVD, you wouldn't have the power for those...or the optical drive. Maybe a little variation of Garage Band that allows people to make a record of a composition.
From there, using the touch SDK, third parties could make programs to add further functionality to the iPod Air. Alas, I do think with this device I wouldn't see my digitizer. I would still get it though as I believe this would sell for less than $1000
By the way the flat laptop crowd really has their thinking screwed up here. No matter what Apple does if it tries to go the Tablet laptop route it will have about as much luck as MicroSoft. The concept just doesn't translate into a product that is really usable. Any Tablet that Apple comes up with must be operable hand held and have applications specific to the products intended use. In other words ported desktop/laptop apps won't cut the mustard.
I think I could eventually see Apple creating a tablet loptop but not for a while (several years at least, long after the iPod Air has been in circulation, creating intrest and demand). The trick would be to, while in its MacBook mode, it would look like the regular OSX. Then, when it rotates and lowers into the tablet mode, it switches the interface design. The dock at the bottom transforms into the iPhone/iPod touch dock. You navigate through the menus like an iPhone, even using cover flow. I also think you would only have access to certain programs in the tablet mode. You wouldn't be using iWork to edit documents but you would be able to view them, do presentations, look at photos, play movies. I also think there would be a bunch of programs you could ONLY use in tablet mode. The kind of killer apps that would make this a must have. THIS, I think, would have the option for an active digitizer to appeal to artists and note takers.
Well, I typed up a long, detailed, and convincing response to your post but AppleInsider logged me out as it was sending, completely losing what I had written so I'm bowing out of this discussion.
I hate when that happens! I always copy and paste my progress on a long post to a text file just in case something like that happens before a succesful submission. Ok, now on to catching up on this thread.
There are a lot of "real unique and compelling" reasons why many would prefer this device to a MacBook. Size; It will be smaller than the Air. Weight; it will be much lighter than a MacBook. It will be cooler than a MacBook too. And let's not forget user interface; multi-touch. The multi-touch factor of this Mac touch is what will be the most compelling thing about it. A new paradigm for the portable "computer".
Multi-touch "Mac" OS X done with Apple flair. The UI will sing off the screen and will make every other portable computer on the planet (including MacBooks) look old-fashioned. It will be the first "useable" computer-keyboard that's only there when you need it, yet for the first time ever (besides the iPhone) that will be a plus.
The cool thing about a 10 or 11" (I want 11) multi-touch OS X computer is that it can be "anything" a Mac developer wants it to be. From a user perspective, "and" the developers perspective "when done right" this would be a "dream computer". We're not just talking about changing what app is in use, but being able to change and customize the shape, size, position, color, and functionality of even the buttons on the darn screen - and change them back when a new app is launched. "Fixed in plastic"? No longer.
Here comes the multi-touch train... ALL ABOARD!!
CHOO CHOOO!!!!!!! LOL! I'm getting all giddy now!
It's like you're his twin, separated at birth and fed a steady diet of mescaline and skittles.
...taste the rainbow!
Once the iPhone SDK is out this question will likely be answered. It should be clear whether the SDK is solely for iPod touch / iPhone or whether these APIs do make sense on Macs too.
If the latter, then you'll have your wish.
Otherwise the rumored 'tablet' is going to be just a bigger iPod touch.
I have no problem with that. In fact, I really don't want it to be another clone of Microsoft's crappy vision of a tablet pc. I think apple has already re-invented the UMPC or MID and is almost ready to debut the device.
I don't see it as being another large slate type device. But more like a very large ipod touch. The dual screen rumor though was not expected but I have a feeling it will turn out to be so. It will be sorta like two large iphones one on top of the other.