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What is a tablet even good for?

w00master said:
Goes to show, interpretations can go either way (especially in this case). LOL :)


Ultimately, I don't mean to be a pooh-pooher. Part of me is still excited - because it's a new Apple device - but the other is for selfish reasons (see above). I wanna buy it, but as of yet I can't find a reason why.

All in all, we'll all know on Wed.

w00master
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I less excited about the device, more so about the way digital media will look and be delivered down the road. I think the single slate 9x11 inch form factor at about a pound works for me as a reader/viewer; much more so than a traditional lap top or a tiny net book.

Apple will create a form of iTunes for books, mags, news papers...etc, delivering readable media in a form that is new and exciting; competing with Amazon and B&N, continuing to innovate and enhance current technology. Apple has a good grip on the portable Audio side, now they are moving in on the Visual. The Skiff and Que both look incredibly interesting; Apple will be in the mix with both of them.
 
MisterMe said:
What was I thinking. Of course you're right. There is no computational overhead involved in running the Aqua GUI. It was also silly of me to attempt to hide the fact that the iPhone GUI is exactly same as the Mac Aqua GUI with no special optimizations were made to account for the iPhone form factor. You're just too smart for me.
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Glad you see the light:D I'm kidding, not here to argue, especially about theoretical things that are nothing more than rumors until tomorrow. But my prediction is this, the tablet will be no more successful than the Macbook Air. Sure, some people will love it, hell there are people Steve Jobs could sell a steaming dog turd and they'd love it. For the rest it will just make the sour taste we've had worse and leave most wishing for a smaller, full featured, traditional computer. I don't use the word "netbook" in this case because as I have built mine it is really way more capable than what people generally think of when hearing that term. I think a tablet is a fine addition to the product line, but only in conjunction with a "normal" machine in the 9"-10" range. Since the 12" G4 there hasn't been another product for the road worth buying for me, forcing me into the land of Hackintosh. Since then I couldn't be happier and do my best to tell people so at least some are aware just how easy it has become to have a full OS X sub-compact and what a damn pleasure it is!! I doubt Apple will ever build one, and I expect nothing less from a company who only offers non-removable batteries and glossy screens on mobile computers, duh. Not to mention the "firewire debacle" or absence of bluray support. Frankly they have been left in the dust in many ways and a tablet won't be fixing that.
 
I'd actually pay the money to have it as the ultimate home cinema remote!! Doubt it'll have an IR blaster but if someone developed an extender that worked on rs232, wireless and what not it would be super sweet....
 
It will actually be good for many things only if it does not break my bank account.
 
For those such as myself who travel a lot with work i think the tablet could prove to be what ive been looking for.

The ability to carry a number of books, magazines, films and other media on one device that i can use on the plane, in the airport and in other locations sounds ideal.
 
Ragnar said:
... Not to mention the "firewire debacle" or absence of bluray support. Frankly they have been left in the dust in many ways and a tablet won't be fixing that.
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Now, you are just grasping at straws. What "FireWire debacle"? As for being "left in the dust," clearly you don't read business news. Apple is blowing away other technology companies. All the more miraculous, it is doing so in a down economy.
 
Ragnar said:
my prediction is this, the tablet will be no more successful than the Macbook Air.
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In terms of sales/ profits? That's a might bold prediction to see it as a hobby.
Smaller full featured computer? Mac mini (Which is a 9" diagonal too...) ;)
 
I sure hope what ever it is running we will have the options / apps to ssh / administrate other systems from it. VNC / Remote Desktop etc.
 
MisterMe said:
Now, you are just grasping at straws. What "FireWire debacle"? As for being "left in the dust," clearly you don't read business news. Apple is blowing away other technology companies. All the more miraculous, it is doing so in a down economy.
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Yes, they are, by selling phones:D Soon we'll be told what we need, like when we were told we didn't need firewire anymore, that's what.
 
bobob said:
Perhaps you should consult your doctor about this rather than Steve Jobs...
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But only Steve knows what's best for not only me, but humanity:rolleyes: With Steve's head in there I hope there is enough room left in the conference center for people to report on this:D

"Sent from Minitosh"
 
cmaier said:
Judging by the massive impact lack of firewire had on sales... oh, wait.
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Ha, I love this place. What options do people have?=None, that doesn't make it smart. I know a few people who are still pretty damn pissed they own machines without firewire just because they happened to buy during that time, I'm sure they are not alone. My 12" Powerbook had to rescue one of them, now that's progress.:rolleyes:
 
Ragnar said:
Ha, I love this place. What options do people have?=None, that doesn't make it smart. I know a few people who are still pretty damn pissed they own machines without firewire just because they happened to buy during that time, I'm sure they are not alone. My 12" Powerbook had to rescue one of them, now that's progress.:rolleyes:
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Apple always had alternatives that firewire, if people were willing to pony up the $$. Truth is, 99% of people don't ever use their firewire, and it makes sense to pull it out so that those 99% aren't paying for the 1% who do.
 
cmaier said:
Apple always had alternatives that firewire, if people were willing to pony up the $$. Truth is, 99% of people don't ever use their firewire, and it makes sense to pull it out so that those 99% aren't paying for the 1% who do.
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1% of computer users own other devices that use firewire? No way that can be right. And if Apple didn't get a flood of negative feed back after removing it they would never have put it back in. Obviously a LOT of people wanted it for them to back pedal on their decision being an extremely rare thing for them to do.
 
Ubiquity is one variable that would define the use of the tablet. If it can be very ubiquitous, then it would have a different profile than if it only handled narrow needs (such as just being a reader for folks on public transportation). However, if it were to be ubiquitous, it could become an indispensable digital assistant. For that to happen however, the tablet would have to solve the portability problem. Because really? Netbooks and laptops are NOT sufficiently portable to always carry around - though the iPhone is. However, the iPhone is too small for many tasks. So the challenge is how to make a 10" screen device as portable as an iPhone (and much more than a laptop).

Perhaps this is where the tablet will be super innovative - maybe there will be some kind of nifty transport/stowaway method, like a holster or something. That's not so far-fetched. Many devices owe their entire existence to being a solution for portability - watches made carrying things on your wrist OK and acceptable, wallets for pockets etc. What will the tablet bring to the table? A holster or...?
 
Ragnar said:
1% of computer users own other devices that use firewire? No way that can be right. And if Apple didn't get a flood of negative feed back after removing it they would never have put it back in. Obviously a LOT of people wanted it for them to back pedal on their decision being an extremely rare thing for them to do.
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What makes you think it's more than 1%? Sounds about right to me. Face it, USB won the war.
 
MrCheeto said:
Thoughts?
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CHECK YOUTUBE link at bottom of my message.

I certainly hope you are right. If Apple creates a bigger iphone with a color e-reader it would be lame, a disaster and f(*&^%$ stupid, Laptops have books, skype etc.

I think everyone wants one device that is inexpensive so that theft will be discouraged because it is accessible to everyone(hopefully the price will be less than 1000$) and not just accessible to smug or rich people. Everyone wants a powerful clipboard sized computer that is portable. It would take less space and be more efficient. That is the future and hopefully the future will be tomorrow. If Apple doesn't listen to consumers like the auto industry, others will come in and listen to what we want, in fact it's already happening...... skip to 5min 44seconds mark and watch AMAZING http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrtANPtnhyg
 
cmaier said:
What makes you think it's more than 1%? Sounds about right to me. Face it, USB won the war.
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So did blu-ray but most people still want a way to play DVD's. Oh wait with Apple it's also all we can play, nevermind.....

What good is technology that is so far ahead it creates problems today? Better for it to smoothly transition to the newer if possible such as being able to play Dvd's in a blu-ray player. The fact remains that a lot of people have products that require firewire and Apple had to eat crow and put it back into the 13" MBP. It makes sense and they thankfully did it. Now where is the matte screen!! Only then will I buy one. If they can manage nine, whatever, colors for the nano I think they can at least offer that one option!!!
 
FutureTechHope said:
CHECK YOUTUBE link at bottom of my message.

I certainly hope you are right. If Apple creates a bigger iphone with a color e-reader it would be lame, a disaster and f(*&^%$ stupid, Laptops have books, skype etc.
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What would be better than a netbook or a tablet would be one that could be used as both with a screen that could be folded all the way back on itself. Or the tablet should have a thin keyboard that attaches and can be folded over the screen to protect it and can also be left attached effectively turning it into a netbook like device. Of course it would still be top-heavy and need a kickstand.....haa.....scratch that, for me it's a useless device.

Now introducing Apples cutting edge, revolutionary, 8" telephone!...haa.... I can't wait to see this thing....
 
Ragnar said:
What would be better than a netbook or a tablet would be one that could be used as both with a screen that could be folded all the way back on itself. Or the tablet should have a thin keyboard that attaches and can be folded over the screen to protect it and can also be left attached effectively turning it into a netbook like device. Of course it would still be top-heavy and need a kickstand.....haa.....scratch that, for me it's a useless device.

Now introducing Apples cutting edge, revolutionary, 8" telephone!...haa.... I can't wait to see this thing....
Click to expand...

What you're describing is pretty much what HP had with their original TC-1000 and TC-1100 tablet PCs. I actually have one in one of my junk drawers. All of the guts of the computer were in the same case as the display. The keyboard was detachable and could make the display stand upright like a regular laptop. The keyboard could also swivel around and close up, covering the display for travel. The downfall of the TC-1000 was that it was based on a Transmeta cpu (remember them?) and the thing ran like **** and would reboot itself randomly.

John
 
The prosecution rests. I have just seen this latest Apple tablet and it's a useless device, just as I've been describing the last few days. Koolaid drinkers enjoy, you brain-dead Apple sheeple. Thank any and all who have developed even one line of code regarding Hackintosh's, you are my heros. For me, Apple software is great, the severely limiting hardware is ****. Thank you Michael Dell for building netbooks with the proper hardware to support OS X. Forget you, you non-innovative blind following Apple scum. Bye bye, I'm back to my Hackintosh site to be with people I can relate to. Cheers and enjoy your kickstands!!......what a ****ing joke......
 
Ragnar said:
The prosecution rests. I have just seen this latest Apple tablet and it's a useless device, just as I've been describing the last few days. Koolaid drinkers enjoy, you brain-dead Apple sheeple. Thank any and all who have developed even one line of code regarding Hackintosh's, you are my heros. For me, Apple software is great, the severely limiting hardware is ****. Thank you Michael Dell for building netbooks with the proper hardware to support OS X. Forget you, you non-innovative blind following Apple scum. Bye bye, I'm back to my Hackintosh site to be with people I can relate to. Cheers and enjoy your kickstands!!......what a ****ing joke......
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so dont buy it and stop crying
 
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