MacTablet?

[Chef Medeski]

So I was wondering how many were interested in a Mac tablet.

Lets base if off the following product: http://www.tabletkiosk.com/tkstore/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=17&idproduct=121

Think of this. 12" or 13" screen. Slate, which means no keyboard. The ability to use an on-screen keyboard to type a la Origami:

Along with a slim factor, think MBP think. 1.6 Ghz Core 2 Duo. 80-160GB Hybrid HD. 1GB RAM stock. iSight built in (swivel so that you can get optimum angle). Bt. 802.11n. 2 Express PCI cards. Two hot swappable bays. One for a CD player , one for a battery. Of course you can have to batteries or a battery and a extra peripheal bay (think FW800, modem, memory card slots, something for the on-road warrior) or another HD. Everyone loves backup. 5 HR battery life on each battery. Dock for the batteries so you can charge multiple and take many on the go.

A built in stand in the back so you can lay it on a desk to watch videos or take notes.

Also make the iSight swivel back so you can take video of teacher's lecture or pictures of your friends. Think of it. Video recording or pictures of the board along side audio recording along side text and hand drawn diagrams. When they talked about the future this is it. I mean not only is this design quite feasible, maybe the bays, two PCI slots and battery are a bit of stretch (mind you not that much!), but the rest is readily available in one package.

So, let me know if you would go for something like this?

 

[dllavaneras]

Also make the iSight swivel back so you can take video of teacher's lecture or pictures of your friends.

Peeping toms, have a ball! Imagine that, instead of taking pics on a 2.5 inch LCD, a 13 inch view

Seriously though, I would buy it if I can quickly sketch a diagram while I'm writing a paper or something... sounds good to me

 

[Chef Medeski]

Peeping toms, have a ball! Imagine that, instead of taking pics on a 2.5 inch LCD, a 13 inch view

Seriously though, I would buy it if I can quickly sketch a diagram while I'm writing a paper or something... sounds good to me

Well vote in the poll, man!

 

[Stampyhead]

I don't like the idea of a tablet computer. I wouldn't get one unless Steve managed to convince me that it was cool (which he's done before with other stuff!)

 

[clevin]

its not an innovative idea, and the windows tablet has been there for years, so far doesn't really like a good market at all, I doubt apple will jump in there.

 

[dllavaneras]

I wouldn't get one unless Steve managed to convince me that it was coo

He'll make you wonder how you spent the last few years of your life without it. No doubt about it!

Well vote in the poll, man!

Sorry, got caught up reading the description and imagining me having the coolest toy ever that I didn't vote; fixed now

 

[Zwhaler]

Wow they slapped in pretty much the slowest C2D. Hopefully Apple would shine in that region.

 

[Chef Medeski]

its not an innovative idea, and the windows tablet has been there for years, so far doesn't really like a good market at all, I doubt apple will jump in there.

Well the main problem is while it was seen as an amazing problem when the idea was first introduced a couple little problems made it hard for it to actually be as seamless as a notepad and a computer. Pen based input, meaning not touch screens are slow, clunky, and annoying. Hybrid tablets were almost useless in keyboard mode cause it wasnt a good position for writing. Good enough software wasn't out to take advantage of most of the abilites. Also under powering and short battery life made the virtual notepad a very short affair.

Touch screens have replaced pen based which was something neccessary form the beginging.

Slate tablets not have usable keyboards which can be written on quickly and easily.

Under powering and short battery life is no longer a problem as is seen by a slew of new tablets by other manufacturers.

So, what the tablet should have been, a notepad mixed with a computer has never been available technology wise until today. And only has one current manufacture, TabletKiosk.

The innovation may not be in the idea of the tablet but in the actual implementation of that dream of the virtual notepad/computer. Tell me that taking notes like I said isn't innovative. Its never been done before. No one has really commented on it in great length. I personally know that I thought audio was phenomenal for taking notes when I got my first mac, but I always wished I could write in diagrams or take pictures. I think it could be a whole new way to use a computer. And thats innovative!

 

[Chef Medeski]

Wow they slapped in pretty much the slowest C2D. Hopefully Apple would shine in that region.

Heat and battery life are more important than a 10% increase in speed when compared to a 2.0 or 2.16 Ghz processor. I mean its a virtual notepad not a supercomputer.

 

[dllavaneras]

Heat and battery life are more important than a 10% increase in speed when compared to a 2.0 or 2.16 Ghz processor. I mean its a virtual notepad not a supercomputer.

I agree, I don't think you'll be editing video on this... The tablet would be for light stuff

 

[Mal]

Still reminds me of the old Apple Sticky Notepad spoof commercials a long time ago. Anyone see those? I think they might even have been SNL skits or something.

jW

 

[Locolako]

I personally would really like a convertible tablet form factor.

Not having a keyboard to me is just too much of a down side, unless its ingeniously designed or just plain incredible to use.

Though I would only use it in tablet form for photoshop and taking notes and drawings.

 

[solvs]

Um, OWC and Axiotron are releasing a ModBook. MacBook, modded to be a tablet with GPS. Apple might be releasing a mini MB Pro, but probably not in tablet form. So, no.

We shall find out tomorrow.

 

[fblack]

How bout price?

Id be interested for sure. 13" please, gotta have a stylus or pen. I'm not sure about onscreen keyboard though. I mean it seems like you might be cleaning it constantly, I hate it when people touch my screens and get residue on them. I also like the tactile feedback of a real keyboard. Maybe an option for a wireless keyboard then? If the software was really good and I could take notes then I dont need keyboard touchscreen or real. The other thing is price. I like the weight of the Sahara Touch-iT (3lbs), but not the price. I wouldn't pay $2,400 for one, so I voted that it depends on the price.

What is everone interested in paying for such a device? $2k? Less?

 

[ToastMaster]

I personally would never buy one. I can understand some people's want of such a product, but considering I already have my MBP, I see no reason to buy one of these.

If I didn't have a laptop already, maybe. And that's a big maybe. I think that you might as well just get a Palm Pilot or something simple and small like that. It would do pretty much all the same stuff, and would be way less complicated and pricey. I don't need all these fancy features in a tablet.

Keep it simple, I say.

 

[ForeverUnknown]

I don't use tablets too often for my work, but when the time comes when it's nice to use one, I'll bring out my Wacom. I can see a Mac tablet being interesting for a lot of people though.

 

[wyatt23]

makes me drool. not good for my wallet tho. probly won't be able to purchase.

 

[fblack]

I personally would never buy one. I can understand some people's want of such a product, but considering I already have my MBP, I see no reason to buy one of these.

If I didn't have a laptop already, maybe. And that's a big maybe. I think that you might as well just get a Palm Pilot or something simple and small like that. It would do pretty much all the same stuff, and would be way less complicated and pricey. I don't need all these fancy features in a tablet.

Keep it simple, I say.

I agree with your keep it simple suggestion, I just dont know if handhelds is the way to go. I've used HP ipaqs, dell axims and found them woefully underpowered and not particularly simple to use. As far as palm pilots dont you have to learn their alphabet in order to write on them? No thank you, they'd have to get seriously better.