Future Apple Tablet
From the mind of Robert X. Gringley comes the following:
The complete article here.
Quote:
Apple Computer has been decidedly absent from the tablet game. In part, this has to do with the failure of the Newton, which will always be associated in the mind of Steve Jobs with his former friend and nemesis John Sculley. "Real computers have keyboards," Steve has said a zillion times, and he'll mean it right up to the moment he changes his mind.
That moment appears to be coming soon.
Quanta, the Taiwanese company that makes many Apple notebooks, has been apparently switching its production to the new tablets, or at least that has been reported in the Taipei press since early this year. If this is the case that Apple is introducing such a machine as early as January, how is it likely to be different from the Windows-based tablet machines that have so far failed to excite buyers? And why, in the face of such lackluster sales, has Microsoft done another rev of its tablet operating system? What is it about this product niche that makes it so attractive to vendors despite more than a decade of failure?
Apple Computer has been decidedly absent from the tablet game. In part, this has to do with the failure of the Newton, which will always be associated in the mind of Steve Jobs with his former friend and nemesis John Sculley. "Real computers have keyboards," Steve has said a zillion times, and he'll mean it right up to the moment he changes his mind.
That moment appears to be coming soon.
Quanta, the Taiwanese company that makes many Apple notebooks, has been apparently switching its production to the new tablets, or at least that has been reported in the Taipei press since early this year. If this is the case that Apple is introducing such a machine as early as January, how is it likely to be different from the Windows-based tablet machines that have so far failed to excite buyers? And why, in the face of such lackluster sales, has Microsoft done another rev of its tablet operating system? What is it about this product niche that makes it so attractive to vendors despite more than a decade of failure?
The complete article here.
Comments
I'll eat a rotten egg and wash it down with sour milk if this actually pans out.
"Hey, let's make a niche product for a niche market for a niche platform! No one's asking for it, so it'll be great!"
And before anyone dings me with "hey pscates, I work in [fill in the blank] and I'D like one...", realize something: you're in the fringe minority. Learn to accept it.
And what you (or I, for that matter) would like ain't necessarily on Apple's roadmap.
It would be seen as a gimmicky toy to most. Priced out of reach for the rest (and anyone who'd probably like one). It's Apple. Do you honestly imagine them doing one for less than $1,199?
I don't know. I just can't see it. It would have to be really, really cool and special and have an extra added "OHMIGOSH!" feature or two to even make a slight dent or impact to the masses. What's 1% of 3% anyway?
While there is admittedly a "wow" factor in regards to a tablet, it just ain't going to happen.
Sorry.
/shameless AtAT plug
Originally posted by chych
Doesn't quanta make computers for Dell and Gateway?
Yes, ...and Apple
Correction: 3 1/2 days.
Updated PMs 2/3
Signal from the american rover on Mars: 1/2
Steve resigning: 1/20
Apple buying Disney: 1/50
MiniPod: 1/100
WoMDs found in Iraq: 1/500
iBox: 1/10000
Second coming of Christ: 1/500000
Tablet: 1/1000000
More like 3 days.
This show seems like it is going to be pretty software heavy.
Not that that is bad mind you.
But it will disappoint many here.
Usually, by this point, aren't we all ridiculously torqued up and breathless with anticipation?
Just seems a little more low-key than usual.
I think it'll be a good show, even if it is "only software". It's software that I use, and enjoy, all the time.
Originally posted by pscates
It's funny...it almost seems TOO quiet.
Beyond the rumor sites. Way beyond.
Originally posted by pscates
It's funny...it almost seems TOO quiet.
Usually, by this point, aren't we all ridiculously torqued up and breathless with anticipation?
Just seems a little more low-key than usual.
From the hardware side most things have been fairly recently updated. Only Xserve is overdue for an update and that doesn't need to happen at a Macworld.
Just hard to believe a 20th anniversary would come and go without something.
But no matter what, the days leading up to the SF Expo are always bouncing with debate, mockups, "what if..." talk, etc.
Just doesn't seem to be much this year.
And yes...20th anniversary. It'll be SO odd if they don't do something to commemorate that. Could be a cool, one-off product (like the TAM) or, even better, a week of glorious, butt-kicking discounts at their online and retail stores.
Kinda a "hey, thanks for 20 years of talking us up, switching your buddies and family members, carrying our marketing water, staying faithful, putting up with PC-geeks making fun of you, answering stupid questions from Mac-ignorant co-workers and seeing us through some rough waters. Thanks to you, we rock. And now go enjoy 84% all software and hardware today and tomorrow!"
They couldn't build a Newton II fast enough, even the original one is still more useful than todays PDAs.
Originally posted by Blackcat
While it has become fashionable to put-down Tablet rumours...
Then I must be mr. Smarty Pants
Originally posted by Blackcat
...you just know the same people would be cooing and drooling over it 2 minutes after it was released
They couldn't build a Newton II fast enough, even the original one is still more useful than todays PDAs.
I agree completly but it would be very bad economy for Apple. BUT I DESERVE IT (and so do Fran)
Originally posted by Blackcat While it has become fashionable to put-down Tablet rumours, you just know the same people would be cooing and drooling over it 2 minutes after it was released
I can't speak for any other "putter-downers", but I honestly don't - and never have - long for a tablet or anything of the sort from Apple, so no...I doubt I'd be cooing or drooling. I'd probably go "well that's cool...too bad is shares the fate of the G4 Cube..." and get back to my PowerBook or iMac.
If you want to see me coo or drool over something, they could drop the eMac to about $499 so I could buy all my friends and family one.
Or start making stuff in translucent orange again...iWhore that I can be.
Originally posted by Anders
I agree completly but it would be very bad economy for Apple. BUT I DESERVE IT (and so do Fran)
Metoo
Cube aside (and only the price was wrong) they know what to do. I think Ives could weave his magic and create a device as desirable as the iPod. Jobs mantra of "PDAs don't sell" is getting weak now Palm has got it's price/performance sorted. At least in Europe mobiles are throw away things you upgrade annually for free whereas you keep buying PDAs as features improve.
All the pieces are there - iSync, Addressbook, ARD, Ink, iCal even mobile Quicktime - I think it's a case of when not if.