[downinflames68]

There's one reason why an OSX tablet would be desirable: Sketchbook. If I could have a portable solution to having a touch sensative screen for sketching and photoshop/illustrator, I would ditch my 13" Macbook Pro and my 12x Cintiq. But right now that's what I have to use. A tablet with a slide out keyboard would be awesome.

[Wiskedjak]

I'll be surprised if an Apple tablet has the processing power to run Sketchbook smoothly. And, if it does, it'll make the MacBook Air look inexpensive.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Eug 

That sounds an awfully lot like MacBook Air territory... and I have zero use for a MacBook Air personally, albeit more than an iSlate in that role as described.

Sure, it's borderline.

But if the iSlate is $ 200 cheaper than a MBA, I'd probably go for it.

If I really need a flow blown laptop, I can always take my MBP for travel.

-t

[slugslugslug]

Exactly. I’m sure it’ll be at least $500 less than a MacBook Air. So it’s like the MBA in being lighter than all the other MacBooks, but otherwise different. Surely it’ll be even more portable, and useable in different situations. A big one being reading, which I hate to do at any length on a laptop, and especially in a chair or bed.

In general, I think this thing will be better for consumption of data than creation, but it’ll still allow more productivity than an iPhone.

It’s not obvious that its appeal will be as broad as either laptop or smartphone, but I can still see that a good chunk of people would use it as Gruber said: instead of a laptop. That is, for those of us who have days when we wonder, “should I bring the computer with me or not?” If the iThing is flexible enough, then the answer is always yes.

Also, there is almost certainly going to be some feature of this thing that almost nobody was expecting. Maybe it’ll be one that makes it appealing to Eug.

[slugslugslug]

NYT says a former Apple engineer says there’s been a team working on multitouch iWork:

A Deluge of Devices for Reading and Surfing - NYTimes.com

I’ve been hoping for this since the tablet rumor-mongering started picking up steam. Though I guess if they do throw it in there, my “video out only for media player” prediction will probably be wrong. If people are allowed to edit Keynote presentations from the tablet, they’ll certainly want to present from it, too.

[ajprice]

I would like one if its priced between iPod touch and Macbook. Being completely honest, my Macbook barely leaves the desk, connected to keyboard, mouse and 24" screen. I think a Mac mini and a slate could be a good replacement. I use my iPhone a lot mainly for a few apps, games and internet those things transferred to a bigger format, i can see myself using, digital magazines would be good too.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by ajprice 

I would like one if its priced between iPod touch and Macbook. Being completely honest, my Macbook barely leaves the desk, connected to keyboard, mouse and 24" screen.

Exactly, same here.

-t

[Simon]

It's been confirmed by France Telecom/Orange deputy chief executive Stephane Richard. He claims:

Apple will release the tablet in a few days.
It will have 3G.
It will come with a front-facing video camera and allow video chat.

Orange drops Apple tablet confirmation? | 9 to 5 Mac

[The Final Dakar]

In a few days? That seems hard to believe.

[Simon]

He's probably talking about the 'official release' on Jan 27. Not the date Apple will actually ship devices.

Here's exactly what they said:
Jean Pierre Elkabbach (interviewer): "According to the weekly Le Point, in a few days your partner Apple will launch a Tablet with a webcam"
Stéphane Richard: "Yes"

[osiris]

Originally Posted by Simon 

It's been confirmed by France Telecom/Orange deputy chief executive Stephane Richard. He claims:

Apple will release the tablet in a few days.
It will have 3G.
It will come with a front-facing video camera and allow video chat.

Orange drops Apple tablet confirmation? | 9 to 5 Mac

I only hope that 3G is an option, and not a mandatory monthly subscription.

[The Final Dakar]

Originally Posted by Simon 

He's probably talking about the 'official release' on Jan 27. Not the date Apple will actually ship devices.

Here's exactly what they said:
Jean Pierre Elkabbach (interviewer): "According to the weekly Le Point, in a few days your partner Apple will launch a Tablet with a webcam"
Stéphane Richard: "Yes"

Yeah, that crossed my mind. After all, if you're dumb enough to leak this, you're dumb enough not to know what a real release is.

[Oisín]

That translation is quite inaccurate. If you listen to the interview itself, it’s not clear at all that he confirms or leaks anything at all—except the existence of the article in Le Point. The “yes” in the translation is more like a sequential “uh-huh”, simply indicating a typical “I’m with you, go on” sentiment; and the second line about the tablet seems to be based on the information in the article and rather loose generalities (“with a webcam, you can transfer images in real-time”, “the ‘videophone’, as we’ve known it for a few years already, will be modernised”, “the size and quality of the network we’ve put in place to service the French will allow this new type of user to appear/develop”).

Sure, if you want to see it as a leak, you can. But it sounds more like carefully chosen words meant not to leak anything, to me.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Oisín 

Sure, if you want to see it as a leak, you can. But it sounds more like carefully chosen words meant not to leak anything, to me.

That worked REAL WELL

-t

[olePigeon]

I also hope the 3G is optional.

Also... did anyone else hear that? Sounded like AT&T dying to the sound of another Apple product using their 3G network for data.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by slugslugslug 

Exactly. I’m sure it’ll be at least $500 less than a MacBook Air.

Ouch, considering that'd make it a thousand bux, the same price as a MacBook.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Eug 

Ouch, considering that'd make it a thousand bux, the same price as a MacBook.

I think it'll be priced below the MBP, and below $1,000.

$1,000 is a psychological barrier that Apple shouldn't cross for a product like this. (Well, whatever we expect it to be.)

-t

[mattyb]

I personally think that the guy from Orange is agreeing with the specs of the device. He then says that Orange's network in France will enable the use of the webcam in real time etc etc.

[Sealobo]

I don't like webcam. It defeats the purpose of going online.

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by Sealobo 

I don't like webcam. It defeats the purpose of going online.

What?

[Simon]

If this is actually going to be basically a large iPhone with iWork multitouch for $1k I will be 100% unimpressed. I'd rather get a $1k MBP with full-blown OS X. I can always get 3G for that if I want. In fact, with iPhone tethering I already have that.

With all the hype they've generated, Apple is going to have to bring much more to the table.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by Chuckit 

What?

To be anonymous.

[The Final Dakar]

I have a strict no eye contact rule when I'm online.

[mattyb]

Originally Posted by Sealobo 

I don't like webcam. It defeats the purpose of going online.

We already know that you post on the MacNN forums in your birthday suit.

[SpaceMonkey]

Originally Posted by olePigeon

To be anonymous.

Not a problem:



Admittedly a tough look to pull off if you are headed with your iTablet to a business meeting.

[nonhuman]

Originally Posted by Sealobo 

I don't like webcam. It defeats the purpose of going online.

So... Don't turn the camera on?

[The Final Dakar]

I heard T-mobile's firmware will make its use mandatory.

[osiris]

It would be somewhat humorous if this tablet was really nothing more than a freakishly large iPhone, only without copy/paste.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Simon 

If this is actually going to be basically a large iPhone with iWork multitouch for $1k I will be 100% unimpressed. I'd rather get a $1k MBP with full-blown OS X. I can always get 3G for that if I want. In fact, with iPhone tethering I already have that.

With all the hype they've generated, Apple is going to have to bring much more to the table.

What's it supposed to do to impress you ?

What I gather, it will be a

* multi-media player (audio,video)
* e-reader
* limited support for productivity apps (iWork)
* small and lightweight
* 3G support, in addition to WiFi and BlueTooth

What's not to like about that proposition ?

As I said before, for below $ 1,000, that's an enticing deal. It's not meant to replace a MBP.

-t

[Eug]

Sounds like my iPhone.

[osiris]

Originally Posted by Eug 

Sounds like my iPhone.

Yeah, but it's not freakishly huge!

[The Final Dakar]

Like Tony Robbins' hands.

[downinflames68]

Originally Posted by Wiskedjak 

I'll be surprised if an Apple tablet has the processing power to run Sketchbook smoothly. And, if it does, it'll make the MacBook Air look inexpensive.

I ran sketchbook on a 12" Powerbook G4 with a 1.25ghz G4 before. Worked fine.

[osiris]

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar 

Like Tony Robbins' hands.

or mouth

[EndlessMac]

Originally Posted by osiris 

I only hope that 3G is an option, and not a mandatory monthly subscription.

Yes, I agree. It's one of the reasons why I still haven't gotten an iPhone as of yet. I've played with my friend's iPhone a lot and have a PDA without internet access and don't find that I need internet access all that much. I would rather they had pay per use for people like me who don't use it that often.

Originally Posted by olePigeon 

Sounded like AT&T dying to the sound of another Apple product using their 3G network for data.

Hopefully Apple is not crazy enough to make its customers get locked into yet another single carrier rather than letting us choose who we want.

Originally Posted by mattyb 

We already know that you post on the MacNN forums in your birthday suit.

Knowing and seeing are two completely different things. The first only causes nausea but the other causes death.

[nonhuman]

Originally Posted by EndlessMac 

Hopefully Apple is not crazy enough to make its customers get locked into yet another single carrier rather than letting us choose who we want.

Maybe they'll sell it through google.com/phone.

[Eug]

I have optional 3G data for my iPhone. I had no data plan, and had my carrier (Fido in Canada) block all data access.

Well, for a month anyway. Then I gave in and got a data plan.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Eug 

Sounds like my iPhone.

Yes, minor detail that watching movies is unenjoyable and reading books on an iPhone is a pain in the arse.

I have absolutely no questions that s product prized and sized between the iPhone and MBP can be successful if Apple innovates the GUI and user experience.

-t

[Eug]

Well, watching movies on the plane on my iPhone is OK. Whereas I used to always take my laptop and my iPhone, now I just take my iPhone for short non-business trips. I would not take another bigger item just for movies. For books I much prefer paperbacks anyway.

OTOH, I would consider selling my 13" MBP for a 11" netbook, if it had a half-decent CPU and keyboard.

[mattyb]

Had a play with a colleague's Sony e-reader. Screen was really really nice. Reading epub books was good, pdfs not so much. Hope that this tablet will allow me to read my collection of pdfs in portrait or landscape but with out the issues that the Sony e-reader has. I reckon that I could live with a 7" screen now. 10" might be that bit too big. I'd like both 3G and wi-fi, hope that its not an either or.

[ajprice]

YouTube - IS THIS THE APPLE MACTABLET AKA TABLETMAC ?!

This is a video of someone using a Mac tablet for an Ikea catalogue. It's definitely/possibly/not a real/fake product leak (delete as appropriate).

[Sealobo]

Welcome to 2009.

[Eriamjh]

I would like to see a tablet that I can put my iPhone sim inside (or tether to) and then have all the wireless access the phone has.

Also, some miraculously useful function I didn't know I needed, but can't live without.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by Eriamjh 

I would like to see a tablet that I can put my iPhone sim inside (or tether to) and then have all the wireless access the phone has.

As has been said already, you can already tether via Bluetooth.

Also, some miraculously useful function I didn't know I needed, but can't live without.

This is key. Seriously.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by Eug 

As has been said already, you can already tether via Bluetooth.

Just not on AT&T.

[freudling]

So much speculation on this. But if you have really thought out what benefits the form factor change from a laptop to a tablet can bring... you naysayers might not be 'naying' as much.

And after all my years in the Apple community, general pundits and Apple fanbois go through the same process before a major upgrade or new product is about to be released, or shortly thereafter. It's like the three stages from Schopenhauer's truth:

All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.
Arthur Schopenhauer
German philosopher (1788 - 1860)

Remember how people ridiculed the all-one trackpad sans button? Then opposed it by convincing themselves they wouldn't buy. Now, all-one trackpads, their utility, is self-evident.

Remember how people ridiculed the virtual keyboard on the iPhone? "I want a physical keyboard, the iPhone is going to flunk because it doesn't have a physical keyboard!" Then this was opposed by people convincing themselves they weren't going to buy it. Now, multi-touch, screen-only smartphones are becoming normative: the utility is self-evident.

On and on...

I am 99% sure the same thing is going to happen here. In about 2 years, the utility of something like an Apple tablet will be self-evident. It's just that people need time to accept and understand change.

Uses of a tablet, where the tablet bests a laptop:

-Reading (multi-touch optimized magazines)
-On site for research (libraries, experiments)
-Vertical markets like hospitals and doctor's offices
-Watching movies and shopping for audio
-Surfing the web

Get out that bluetooth headset, fire up MacSpeech Dictate, and get your fingers oiled, there's a new game in town.

[Phileas]

There's truth in that. Henry Ford famously said about market research: "If you would have asked people what they wanted, they would have said, a faster horse."

[turtle777]

Good points, freudling. I agree with what you wrote.

-t

[freudling]

Thanks guys. I wanted to point something out quite interesting. I am sure most of you have read the news. Fingerworks.com just went down. If you don't know, Apple bought them some years ago. They were a multi-touch company and developed multi-touch peripherals for use on Macs. I think this is the smoking gun. Apple is going to release a UI that is radically different from anything out there, and that includes a host of new multi-touch gestures we are all going to have to learn. To get a headstart, you can access the flash animations/tutorials for learning what will likely be the gestures inherent in Apple's new Tablet at the link below.

Sure, the end product may have variations, but practicing gets one used to the idea of using these more complex gestures. This is a new computing paradigm indeed. After you hit the page, click on any of the categories in yellow that interest you. Then, click on the gesture headings, each will bring up a flash animation of the gesture.

iGesture Pad -- The Multi-Finger USB TouchPad with Whole-Hand Gestures

[starman]

Just because something comes from Apple doesn't mean we're all going to love it.

eg: One-button mouse.

I don't see a *NEED* for a tablet except for *MAYBE* reading and *MAYBE* sketching. Other than that, my laptop's great because I have a real keyboard on it for writing.