The thread title says it all.... Don't click on the link if you are wanting an iTablet. URL: http://thenextweb.com/2009/09/06/apple-itablet-concepts-guaranteed-drool/
I'm not an apple guy but I think I read they were planning on making one... Just looked at the pics and they are not from Apple, but nonetheless I did read somewhere Apple was wanting to make a tablet...
Until it is an announced product, it is fantasizing.... Here is a link to more rumors/fantasizing about an upcoming Apple iTablet: Apple Tablet to Run iPhone OS and Launch in May or June 2010? - Mac Forums The thread was started on Sept. 29th and is at 18 pages and counting....
So I gather these are people unconnected with Apple, who are creating pictures of what they think an Apple tablet computer might look like. Yawn! Now, if Apple does market one of these, I'm interested.
Okay. But after reading some of the above link, I'll add I want it to run OS X and not iPohone OS. And I want it to weigh in at one pound or less. (Since travel is my primary use.) And (in agreement with a comment from a user on that site) I will not be reading any e-books on any screen that does not use e-ink or an equal technology. For web browsing I want a fast refresh rate; for reading a book I want the print quality of e-ink. I don't expect one device to have both any time in the near future. Oh, and a "curved back" is not consistent with ease of use of a device used primarily as a computer.
All the technology is already developed, it's a MacBook Air with a separate keyboard and iPhone software/interface. There is no question Apple could produce this product today if they wanted to.
Apple might release two separate editions of a tablet - the first one is probably an enhanced iPod Touch (which would likely use the O/S from the iPhone for the 3G data communication function). Later (and probably as part of a product 'evolution'), Apple would release the 'Professional' version of the tablet (iTabletPro, anyone?) which would be based on the full O/S X (v. 10.7?). Remember, it is about wringing as much $ out of our wallets as possible, since Apple is a for profit corporation. Pull the early adopters in with the first release (remember iPhone Gen 1?), then when the early adopters have been tapped out, release the Professional version for the rest of us. With this scenario in mind, I would expect the iPod Tablet to be announced Jan/Feb. 2010 with shipping to occur June-ish of 2010. The Professional edition of the Tablet would probably be announced 2 years later. Unless of course Microsoft announces their tablet PC before; in which case, the schedule for the TabletPro could be accelerated to something like Jan/Feb. 2011, depending on when Microsoft makes their announcement.
I, for one, am going to be extremely disappointed if the tablet ends up just being a giant iPod Touch, utilizing the same UI (as is rumored). I would probably buy one pretty quickly if it was available with full OSX and the same power (processor/ram/graphics cards) as a low-mid ranged laptop.
The more I read about the pending iTablet, the more I think there will be a product evolution. The first iteration is probably going to be a stretched iPod Touch, with later editions becoming a full-blown Professional version with the complete edition of OS-X. Remember the evolution of the 13-inch MacBook to the MacBook Pro? I suspect it will repeat itself with the iTablet. As I said earlier, the only thing that could accelerate the release of the Professional version would be Microsoft. Otherwise, Apple will milk the revenue stream of the iTablet for everything it is worth.
When I think of the "oversized iPod Touch" I am reminded of the web devices currently being marketed by companies such as Dell and HP. These are non-computers designed for lightweight use, mainly internet, email, and other web-based tasks. It would be perfect for that.
Which is why I believe that the initial release of a tablet will be a stretched iPod Touch that is rumored to be using the iPhone O/S - the tablet has the functionality of the Touch + the 3G data services of the iPhone.... Just my 2 cents worth, since the only connection I have to Apple is as a consumer - I own a 15 inch MacBook Pro and a 1st Gen iPhone.
