How about the MacPad, with a 13.3" widescreen interactive touchscreen LCD display?
Sys Admins? Journalists? Anyone & everyone?
I present the MacPad mini, which is my personal favorite:
[deadhorse mode]
8" widescreen multi-touch LCD
1.06GHz ULV Core Duo CPU w/2MB shared cache
533MHz FSB
512MB NAND flash memory
2GB DDR2 SDRAM (two SO-DIMM slots)
32GB 1.8" FlashRAM HDD
Intel GMA950 integrated GPU
WUSB (wireless USB)
AirPort Extreme
BlueTooth
Quad band cell capabilities
Pivoting iSight camera
stereo BlueTooth headset w/microphone
Stylus
About the size of a DVD case (which is really close to a 16:10 ratio) and half again as thick...
US$666
I really like the possible specs you've listed ... though I don't care about the built-in iSight camera and it would be nice to have at least one USB port built into the side of the tablet.
I absolutely see a niche for this type of compact, yet useful tablet. If the price was kept under $1000 I'd buy one in a heartbeat. The "niche" is quite simply a general use computer that you can take EVERYWHERE. Notebooks, while portable, are hardly a "take everywhere" computer. I tried taking my notebooks everywhere with me for a while and it just got old. As a result, I'm now less wired than I used to be ... I only use my PowerBook and PC notebook when I'm traveling or want to work in front of the TV. I'd like to have a good computer with me at all times, but I'm not going to haul a notebook around.
Think of the new Apple tablet (if there is one) as a PALM organizer with the power and versatility of an iBook. That type of computer will sell and sell well.
hmm $875 + screen touch = $1075 + apple DESIGN = $1200 + apple Profit = $1400
your specs stink toad shit
First, when one buys in bulk (kind of like what happens when Apple locks up the next few years or so of total FlashRAM production from a few companies?) one gets lower component pricing? Intel would give Apple some great CPU/chipset prices to push the UMPC market? Same for the Main Logic Board which would probably source from Intel also?
Second, yes, maybe the quad-band & WUSB are a bit much, but one can dream? Besides, within five years those specs would be considered weak?
Finally, I would hope the "toad shit" comment was referring to the level of stink that you gave my specs? Because I would HATE to think that you were lashing out and referring to my personage as "toad shit"?
that puts it in the price point of other, more useful, tablets
IMO the market is why Apple hasn't released a PDA/tablet PC
I think Apple should make the three different models as I outlined as loss-leaders?
Because the profit could come from the Apple-branded docking (PowerBook Duo-esque) stations, additional display & peripherals?
MacPad mini - US$666
MacPad - US$999
MacPad Pro - US$1699
Docking station w/Optical & asst. HDDs - US$299 to US$999
Say anywhere from an extra 160GB HDD to a pair of RAID-ified 500GB HDDs? From a standard Combo drive to a Blu-Ray drive?
Apple displays - same US$ as they ever were?
Apple wired or wireless keyboards & mice, same US$ as they ever were?
Docking station would mount the MacPad product similar to the Wacom Cintiq units? But that would require an exposed port? Which is why I spec'ed Wireless USB? No hole in the unit chassis?
My concession to that would be to use an ExpressCard/34 slot for a slide-in interface? Which could also cover any needed external port? Need some 'real' USB ports, use the dual USB port ExpressCard/34 card? Need Quad-band cell capabilities, slide in the ExpressCard/34 card? Etc. ?
I don't know, I'll let Apple engineers work out the finer details? Just as long as they know where to send the check?
The tablets are the hook, the extras are the profit?
Comments
Originally posted by MacRonin
Which niche do you want?
Educational?
How about the MacPad, with a 13.3" widescreen interactive touchscreen LCD display?
Sys Admins? Journalists? Anyone & everyone?
I present the MacPad mini, which is my personal favorite:
[deadhorse mode]
8" widescreen multi-touch LCD
1.06GHz ULV Core Duo CPU w/2MB shared cache
533MHz FSB
512MB NAND flash memory
2GB DDR2 SDRAM (two SO-DIMM slots)
32GB 1.8" FlashRAM HDD
Intel GMA950 integrated GPU
WUSB (wireless USB)
AirPort Extreme
BlueTooth
Quad band cell capabilities
Pivoting iSight camera
stereo BlueTooth headset w/microphone
Stylus
About the size of a DVD case (which is really close to a 16:10 ratio) and half again as thick...
US$666
I really like the possible specs you've listed ... though I don't care about the built-in iSight camera and it would be nice to have at least one USB port built into the side of the tablet.
I absolutely see a niche for this type of compact, yet useful tablet. If the price was kept under $1000 I'd buy one in a heartbeat. The "niche" is quite simply a general use computer that you can take EVERYWHERE. Notebooks, while portable, are hardly a "take everywhere" computer. I tried taking my notebooks everywhere with me for a while and it just got old. As a result, I'm now less wired than I used to be ... I only use my PowerBook and PC notebook when I'm traveling or want to work in front of the TV. I'd like to have a good computer with me at all times, but I'm not going to haul a notebook around.
Think of the new Apple tablet (if there is one) as a PALM organizer with the power and versatility of an iBook. That type of computer will sell and sell well.
Originally posted by MacRonin
8" widescreen multi-touch LCD
1.06GHz ULV Core Duo CPU w/2MB shared cache
533MHz FSB
512MB NAND flash memory
2GB DDR2 SDRAM (two SO-DIMM slots)
32GB 1.8" FlashRAM HDD
Intel GMA950 integrated GPU
WUSB (wireless USB)
AirPort Extreme
BlueTooth
Quad band cell capabilities
Pivoting iSight camera
stereo BlueTooth headset w/microphone
Stylus
Are you mad?
the processor - $100
that ram - $500
that chipset - $100
WUSB - um... yer
AirPort + BT- $50
Quad band - um, yer...
iSight - $75
BT headset - $50
hmm $875 + screen touch = $1075 + apple DESIGN = $1200 + apple Profit = $1400
your specs stink toad shit
Originally posted by crampy20
Are you mad?
the processor - $100
that ram - $500
that chipset - $100
WUSB - um... yer
AirPort + BT- $50
Quad band - um, yer...
iSight - $75
BT headset - $50
hmm $875 + screen touch = $1075 + apple DESIGN = $1200 + apple Profit = $1400
your specs stink toad shit
that puts it in the price point of other, more useful, tablets
IMO the market is why Apple hasn't released a PDA/tablet PC
Originally posted by crampy20
Are you mad?
the processor - $100
that ram - $500
that chipset - $100
WUSB - um... yer
AirPort + BT- $50
Quad band - um, yer...
iSight - $75
BT headset - $50
hmm $875 + screen touch = $1075 + apple DESIGN = $1200 + apple Profit = $1400
your specs stink toad shit
First, when one buys in bulk (kind of like what happens when Apple locks up the next few years or so of total FlashRAM production from a few companies?) one gets lower component pricing? Intel would give Apple some great CPU/chipset prices to push the UMPC market? Same for the Main Logic Board which would probably source from Intel also?
Second, yes, maybe the quad-band & WUSB are a bit much, but one can dream? Besides, within five years those specs would be considered weak?
Finally, I would hope the "toad shit" comment was referring to the level of stink that you gave my specs? Because I would HATE to think that you were lashing out and referring to my personage as "toad shit"?
:^[
Originally posted by slughead
that puts it in the price point of other, more useful, tablets
IMO the market is why Apple hasn't released a PDA/tablet PC
I think Apple should make the three different models as I outlined as loss-leaders?
Because the profit could come from the Apple-branded docking (PowerBook Duo-esque) stations, additional display & peripherals?
MacPad mini - US$666
MacPad - US$999
MacPad Pro - US$1699
Docking station w/Optical & asst. HDDs - US$299 to US$999
Say anywhere from an extra 160GB HDD to a pair of RAID-ified 500GB HDDs? From a standard Combo drive to a Blu-Ray drive?
Apple displays - same US$ as they ever were?
Apple wired or wireless keyboards & mice, same US$ as they ever were?
Docking station would mount the MacPad product similar to the Wacom Cintiq units? But that would require an exposed port? Which is why I spec'ed Wireless USB? No hole in the unit chassis?
My concession to that would be to use an ExpressCard/34 slot for a slide-in interface? Which could also cover any needed external port? Need some 'real' USB ports, use the dual USB port ExpressCard/34 card? Need Quad-band cell capabilities, slide in the ExpressCard/34 card? Etc. ?
I don't know, I'll let Apple engineers work out the finer details? Just as long as they know where to send the check?
The tablets are the hook, the extras are the profit?
Sweet!