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Poll: Interested in a Mac Tablet?
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I would buy one. I'd very much like a portable device like an iPhone, but don't require a fancy phone or a device that small. So a tablet-Mac in a size more in-tune with that of a PDA or slightly larger would be great, as I don't need a full-blown laptop either; though the MacBook Air is certainly appealing, but I would wait for another revision before going for one.
But basically; big iPhone style device would be appealing for me, so long as the cost isn't prohibitive.
But basically; big iPhone style device would be appealing for me, so long as the cost isn't prohibitive.
As someone who works in the university sector and has to occasionally stand up in front of students, I have seen how some of my Windows colleagues user their tablet PCs to great affect to help them deliver their sessions. The prospect of a Mac equivalent would be fantastic, particularly if it came with a touch screen, perhaps obviating the need for a stylus (have lost too many PDA styli down the back of chairs in the bar!). The thought of a tablet, no less than 12" screen (the eyes you know) which could then but put on a stand to set screen vertically coupled with an Apple wireless key board would be an ideal configuration when back in the office away from the lecture theatre / seminar room.
Judging by the success of the iPhone, and how well done it is I think Apple has the experience now to easily make an awesome tablet. With the bigger screen it would be possible to run actual OS X apps effectively, add in a gesture for right-click and enable hot-corners for things like Exposé, Dashboard and Spaces and it would be sweet! Those features are incredibly useful on my desktop, and I have tons of screen real-estate (32" HDTV + 20" second screen), on a device with limited space they'd make it extremely flexible!
Besides-which, with a bigger screen (maybe 12" as hogmog mentions) and the touch keyboard would be great, the iPhone one I find a bit too fiddly and I have long slender fingers.
Heck, hogmog's description sounds ideal; I have a spare new-style Apple wireless keyboard since, while I love the new feel, I need a full-sized keyboard so have to stick to the old-style one
Quite honestly, Apple doesn't care what any of you all want, nor what I want, nor what anyone wants, really.
It all boils down to profit. Will a Mac tablet sell? My guess is that it wouldn't, because it would cost too much for anyone to be interested in buying it, and those with that kind of money would get a much more powerful MacBook Pro.
Plus, as someone has said before, Apple isn't gonna stab their partner Axiotron in the back. I'm sure that partnership is rather profitable for both of them.
It all boils down to profit. Will a Mac tablet sell? My guess is that it wouldn't, because it would cost too much for anyone to be interested in buying it, and those with that kind of money would get a much more powerful MacBook Pro.
Plus, as someone has said before, Apple isn't gonna stab their partner Axiotron in the back. I'm sure that partnership is rather profitable for both of them.
Hrm, I've never even heard of Axiotron's offering before. But to me it seems a very poor one as the focus is all wrong. They're touting features like big hard-drives and fast processors when users are more likely to want better battery life. I don't see a tablet as something that would really need a big hard-drive as you'd just copy what you need onto it and keep a few core apps onboard.
People who need power, hard-drive space and lots of RAM are better off getting a proper MacBook Pro as they're close in price anyway and a similar size.
Besides which it's stylus based, it doesn't sound as though it does touch, which I think would be a lot more convenient. A slightly smaller, touch-based tablet for light-use on the go would be great. I wouldn't consider buying what Axiotron are making, even if it was readily available in the UK.
I don't quite "get it" (like I don't quite get Apple TV). I'm thinking in terms of what problem am I solving with it? I had Newtons, but didn't need them - they were just cool gadgets. I have a PC tablet for a very specific reason, but hardly use that. Is this just a geek toy? a bluetooth keyboard and an iphone would be enough for me I think.
i voted not sure, because i have no idea what they might come up with. maybe i should have voted yes, because i'm definitely curious what the might conjure up.
Interested yes, would I buy one? Most likely not. Not unless my disposable income multiplies greatly between now and the time a Mac tablet is released.
I'm curious to see what they come up with, but honestly, in my line of work (and personal life) I really don't have use for one. A fully tricked out MacBook yes, a little tablet, not so much.
Ah, but that's the joy of Apple. They usually release a product I didn't know I needed!
I'm curious to see what they come up with, but honestly, in my line of work (and personal life) I really don't have use for one. A fully tricked out MacBook yes, a little tablet, not so much.
Ah, but that's the joy of Apple. They usually release a product I didn't know I needed!
That sort of echoes my own thoughts on the matter. It is interesting to know that the technology exists, but no, it's not for me.
Like hogmog, I, too have worked (still do) as a college teacher, and I take your well-made points about potential uses of such a device in a classroom setting, but, notwithstanding that, and even allowing for eyesight issues, I wouldn't see a role for a Tablet in my circumstances. Cheers.
With the iPhone and my MBP I won't be needing a tablet personally. I think this is another Apple TV niche market item.
I disagree. There are plenty of people buying MBA that are $600 to $1000 more than a comparable MB in terms of configuration.
However, I'm not a fan of my company-given toshiba tablet. I've used the functions rarely in the last three years. I'd take a macbook any day.
Well, I've got the ipod Touch that does many of the things I wanted a tablet for. Just not as many things as the Nokia 770 I used to have could do.
No..I would not buy a tablet. It seems that all laptops that use a touchscreen as it's main way to input text is horrible. It seems a bit too gimmicky to have your computer ONLY with a touchscreen. If it had a keyboard and a touchscreen, I might be interested.
I'd be hard pressed to buy one since I'd pretty much never get a tablet in the first place. i'd be interested to see if they can make it more than just a large gimmick and make it actually functional though