What an Apple Tablet Has to Be

Lately, new readers to this site seem to come in two different flavors:

1. People who think that I’m an Apple expert.
2. Mac fanboys upset that I haven’t given a 100% Buy! Buy! Buy! comment on Apple.

For those in group 1, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but this isn’t an Apple blog. I don’t purport to have any particular insight on Apple and its products other than through my interest as an Apple (AAPL) investor. But, I have written a few articles on my view of Apple’s stock and business strategy (follow the link to find the full collection).

For group 2, let me address my viewpoint on the rumored Apple tablet as quoted by Jim Rogers in his recent article, “Investors Keen to Taste Apple’s Tablet.” (Seems that Jim Rogers is becoming a regular collaborator with The Curious Investor.) The quote Jim used from me described my disappointment with recent leaks on the Apple Tablet. From what I can tell, rumors have focused on a 10 inch screen, a $600-$800 price range, and arguments over whether or not the tablet will run iPhone on steroids or run OSX.

The thing missed amongst all these rumors is that if Apple wants to attack the $600-$800 computing price range, they can’t just drop out a “color Kindle” or some sort of large format iPhone. Moreover, there really has been no discussion with regards to the input mechanisms for the tablet. On an iPhone, it’s easy to use your thumbs to type, but how can you quickly interact with a tablet to do something simple like write an e-mail if it’s 10 inches?

Moreover, with a seeming price war in eReaders brewing, will people really be willing to shell out $600-$800 for a limited function mobile “reading” device even if it offers web surfing? No, I believe to really make a splash with the tablet, Apple must treat this as a productivity device. Further, they need to carve out a niche so that the device does not cannibalize their own products either upstream (laptops) or downstream (iPhones). We’ve seen with the netbook craze that PC manufacturers have had their margins squeezed badly and Apple can’t allow this to happen to them.

I think Apple has a chance here to do something really impactful much like they did with the iPhone. A mobile computing device which can integrate tightly (something I find slightly missing with the iPhone) with your home computer and extend your productivity has the potential to not only change computing, but the way we live.

While Microsoft (MSFT) is rarely a business to imitate these days, here’s a video of their once buzzing “Origami” idea which inspires my vision of how I’d like to use a mobile tablet device. (Admittedly, Microsoft couldn’t solve the input issue with the various examples in this video featuring cumbersome attached keyboards and easy to lose stylus pens.) But, I trust that Steve and Joni over at Apple will cook something up that will wow us all.

Comments

[omnimoeish:]

Great article. I also think great strides need to be made to integrate the tablet with your computer. OSX is pretty much set up with this, with screen sharing as easy a 3 or 4 clicks. I'm sure MobileMe will be integrated. I'm sure Apple will do a better job with this than previous Tabelt iterations.

That being said.

Personally, I don't know if there is any reason for me to buy any tablet. When I'm using a computer, I need a keyboard, period. Even the simplest and most common activities such as web searching, emails, making to do lists, pretty much any school work, etc. the keyboard is necessary.

The only time I can think of where a tablet is nice is when you're just reading eBooks. I don't know many people who are willing to pay $600-800 for that. Probably a lot of elderly people who don't know what a computer is and like the touchscreen option, until they realize that they can't communicate with them and get frustrated.

On top of the extremely slim market for ultra portable personal electronic reader screens, with little productive value, Netbooks, iPhones and Macbook Airs will be in competition.

Tablets may very well some day replace paper (as seen on Star Trek), but a lot of things need to change for that to happen. A friend at school was talking to me about tablets. He thinks textbooks would be nicer to read on tablets and could save a lot of money by no paper and resources required, no transportation, no store/staff needed to buy it from, the cost could be reduced by 50%. With no resale market, the author would sell many more copies (justifying a lower margin per book) since the textbooks wouldn't just be sold and resold as students sell them to friends, back to the bookstore, or online to other students when they finish the class. The only problem is that in real life, it's way too easy to copy and paste text for your classmates, this would be a nightmare for textbook makers unless somehow royalties were included in the price of taking the class as a fee that went straight to the publisher/author.

It fries me that Apple is worried about making a Tablet when they're not even offering a 13" Macbook Pro with a matte screen, even though thousands of people (like myself) are willing to buy one when they do so.

Sep 06 06:31 AM

[davesmall:]

An oversize iPod Touch would be nice to have but not at a $6-800 price point. It could be a handy 'coffee table' device to be shared by family members, rather than someone's 'personal computer. It would be good for eReading, games, web surfing, email, and maps. Running apps from the iPhone App Store would give it an instant wealth of functionality. I think a price of around $399 or less would be required for this to take off.

There has been a lot of talk about a 3G enabled device to be sold and subsidized by cell phone service providers. This would make it a lot more useful as a mobile web and map reading device. However, I certainly can't afford yet another monthly AT&T payment on top of the already high iPhone contract. A device that would tether to the iPhone for internet access via Bluetooth would be attractive (unless they try to price gouge for the tethering hookup).

I think they could sell a combination two piece tablet that is a giant iPod Touch portable device (running the iPhone version of OS X) but converts to a full-blown computer with a complete version OS X when placed on a charging stand that contains a keyboard and trackpad. Virtualization would enable them to run both versions of OS X simultaneously.

A further extension of this idea would be to make the base charging/keypad/trackpad unit a laptop bottom and the tablet a detachable laptop lid. Connect the base to the lid with Bluetooth. Put some semiconductor storage in the lid and a big hard disk in the base. You'd need one of those non-user changeable long-life Apple batteries in each unit.

When riding in an airplane put the base in overhead storage and use the lid as a tablet on your tray table. Save files to disk wirelessly using Bluetooth.

Make the lid capable of tethering to the (3G) internet via the iPhone. Sell tethering as part of the deal when you offer the computer for sale.

So you're in a restaurant making a sales presentation to a client. The base (computer bottom) is in your briefcase alongside your chair. Your presentation is stored there on the hard disk. The presentation is to be displayed on the bright high res LED 1280 X1024 display on your tablet and sent from disk via Bluetooth. You are connected to the internet via tethering to your iPhone. You will also use your iPhone as a remote control for the slide presentation.

A product like this could be sold in pieces. Buy the lid as a huge iPod Touch. Buy the base later with keyboard, hard disk, and SuperDrive to convert to a full fledged laptop. Buy an iPhone to get Internet tethering via 3G.

Yet another idea would be to make a tablet that is also an iPhone with a slot for a pull-out bluetooth headset. This would be a much bigger form factor than a regular iPhone but would give some users a lot more functionality making the bigger size 'worth it.'

Be interesting to see what they actually do come out with after so much speculation.

Sep 06 08:26 AM

[Roger Knights:]

"Apple must treat this as a productivity device"

Well, maybe. I think more of its potential will come from being a gaming device and a mobile TV and movie player. And I think that Jobs & co. will cook up something with features we haven't envisaged, adding up to a tremendous "Wow!" factor.

"I need a keyboard, period."

Doug Englebart (sp?), inventor of the graphical interface and mouse, also invented a gadget that (after a little training) allowed one-handed typing, using key-chords--and at a faster speed than a keyboard. (Nowadays it could operate wirelessly.) Apple could offer this as an accessory, along with online training. Engelbart was very disappointed that no manufacturer got behind his gadget and gave it a push, because he thought it was his best idea. Maybe Apple will step up. (I hope they've at least given it a fair shake in their testing lab.)

"The only problem is that in real life, it's way too easy to copy and paste text for your classmates, this would be a nightmare for textbook makers ..."

If each iTablet had a unique identifier in hardware, and if Kindle-type DRM were employed, casual copying and sharing would be discouraged.

"It fries me that Apple is worried about making a Tablet when they're not even offering a 13" Macbook Pro with a matte screen, even though thousands of people (like myself) are willing to buy one when they do so."

Don't talk like that or Apple's acolytes will have a snit.

Sep 06 08:29 AM

[fatwollit:]

I've been a Mac-fan since day one and a Mac user almost as long, the only difference being that I needed income to buy a Mac. I hope Mac doesn't come out with a Tablet. It would be the first product introduced by Apple that would have me asking, "what did they do that for?". Can't see the point of a Tablet when there's already enough overlap between an iPhone and the smaller MacBooks. I hope that Apple is taking advantage of rumor mill distractions to do something exciting, like re-vamp MacTV to make it *really* useful, or introduce a pico-projector into iPhone (hopefully Microvision's, but as they still haven't introduced a stand-alone, I'll probably have to wait for that).

Sep 06 08:33 AM

[Dialectical...:]

It's allows problematic to discuss the pros and cons of a product that doesn't yet exist. I remember reading some ruminations on the Segway before that came out. Most of these were immediately moot once the actual product was revealed -- and the product turned out to be much less than was hoped for by those who believed the hype that this thing really WOULD revolutionize transportation.

Whatever the truth about any tablet device Apple makes, it seems that any obvious caveat (like "they need to carve out a niche so that the device does not cannibalize their own products either upstream (laptops) or downstream (iPhones)") is pointless. I can't imagine that they wouldn't have already thought of this.

Years ago I read a lot of reasons why the iPod wasn't essential equipment and later that the iPhone wouldn't really be all that. And the funny thing is there was nothing wrong with those analyses. You can make a strong case that no one needs and iPhone or even that no one would want to do the kinds of things that an iPhone allows. Heck, Steve Jobs even said that "no one wants to watch a movie on a 3" screen". Yet it turns out, some people do.

So at the end of the day I am simply going to assume that whatever this tablet thing turns out to be, it WILL fill some niche and some folks WILL find it indispensable. I am excited to see what is announced. But I am not too concerned about things like what input device I'll use for a product that doesn't yet exist.

Sep 06 09:27 AM

[enzos:]

I'm waiting for the tablet thing. I and millions like me have a computer at work and computer at home and think a really well executed 10" (i.e. book-sized) tablet to supplement, entertain and shuttle in between makes a whole lot of sense. It would have put a dent in Macbook sales except that all the Macbooks have disappeared, turned into Macbook Pros... to make way for the new Macbook.. tablet.

Sep 06 10:29 AM

[roger that:]

Folks discussing the pros and cons of a nonexistent Mac tablet need to take a reality pill.

Sep 06 10:38 AM

[erniem:]

Apple has made major mistakes before and this appears to be one, if they are producing a tablet. As with many companies, their preoccupation is with massive income producing sales of new gadgets, not improving the old ones UNLESS it will produce income. Nothing wrong with that, but they just ran into the original limitation of gadgetry, human ergonomics. A laptop is something you carry around and use, an iphone is something you stick in your pocket. The tablet is, by definition, something you carry around. Why carry around a 10 by 10 limited function tablet, when you can carry around a small laptop? The usual yuppie/techno geaks will buy this and call it "indispensable", but the public won't. They are broke, and they sure don't need one more toy to carry around.

Now when they find a way to stick a 10 by 10 interface in a pocket, they will sell millions of them. But not yet. I'd avoid getting all gushy about apple stock, which pays no dividend and has 30/1 PE. Why in world would anyone buy it? Only because it's another popular churn stock, like Google. Another way the big boys take money from the small boys.

Sep 06 10:41 AM

[Silock:]

Sorry, but a multi-piece computer that one must tote around completely defeats the purpose of a tablet. It's also very un-Apple.

On Sep 06 08:26 AM davesmall wrote:

*snip*
Put some semiconductor storage
> in the lid and a big hard disk in the base. You'd need one of those
> non-user changeable long-life Apple batteries in each unit.
*snip*

Sep 06 11:14 AM

[Silock:]

Forgive me if I'm not up on my Kindle knowledge, but are many people hacking their Kindles? Your idea is good in theory, but wouldn't last as people "jailbreak" their iTablets just like they do with their iPhones.

On Sep 06 08:29 AM Roger Knights wrote:
>
> If each iTablet had a unique identifier in hardware, and if Kindle-type
> DRM were employed, casual copying and sharing would be discouraged.

Sep 06 11:16 AM

[dicklacara:]

"A mobile computing device which can integrate tightly (something I find slightly missing with the iPhone) with your home computer and extend your productivity has the potential to not only change computing, but the way we live".

Within the above comment lies both the problem and the solution.

I have been thinking a lot about an Apple Tablet, how it would work and what it would be used for (the justification to buy one).

You just hit on what's important: tight integration.

I want a tablet with a large touch display and without requirement for a physical keyboard, stylus or any other separate bits. The 10" diagonal size is, likely, optimal for usability and portability. I wouldn't use it for power text entry nor heavy audio/video editing-- but I would like the capability (compute power, OS and apps) to tweak content created elsewhere. The content I would create on the tablet: hand-printed notes, handwriting, drawings, etc. cannot be done with a keyboard.

When I am at home (or at work) and sit at my computer, I want it to automatically recognize the Tablet as:
-- an additional display
-- an additional input device- touch tablet, stylus tablet, customizable virtual keyboards, location services, cell radio, camera, etc.
-- additional CPU/GPU power
-- additional content storage (file system, database, etc).

Conversely, I want the Tablet to automatically recognize my computer as:
-- an additional display
-- an additional input device- mouse, keyboard, scanner, Midi Interface, A/V capture, etc.
-- additional CPU/GPU power
-- additional content storage (file system, database, etc).

Done right it would be intuitive and seamless. The OSes and apps on both machines would recognize and communicate with each other: use one another if present; work independently, if not

Say I was doing some heavy video editing on the Mac. I mouse click on a video track to select it, then I can use tablet gestures (touches) to pan, zoom and otherwise manipulate the track and the changes would display interactively on the Mac display.

Or, I want to make a collage of pictures (some in the Mac's photo library and others recently with the Tablet camera). Since the Mac display is handy (and bigger) I want it to be the display part a light table, and use the surface of the tablet to manipulate the pictures with my fingers. First, I select the pictures that I want (on the tablet) and drag them to the light table display on the Mac. I use the tablet to navigate the Mac's photo library (popup on the Mac Display) and drag and drop (copy/paste or select and group move) these to the light table too. Then I play around moving, stacking, resizing adjusting color, etc. I could use the Mac mouse and kb but this is pretty clumsy compared to how I can do it with a tablet. And, yes, if I want precision, I can zoom to an enlarged pixel level, and use a stylus on the tablet.

Finished, I drag my collage into that Keynote preso I was working on, and drag that to the tablet so I can take it with me.

You get the idea... the two devices do more than collaborate, they are parts of the same whole-- kinda' like being in love, you may not always do things together, but when you do...

Now, did you know that you can share the screen of a headless Mac, like a Mac Mini? Even though the Mini has no attached Keyboard/Moues/Display? So, I sit on the couch and my Media Library is in the other room (A Mac Mini with 2 2TB external drives and no KMD). I want to add some pictures or videos from the Tablet (or any other source within Bonjour range). The Mini recognizes the Tablet as its KMD and the Tablet recognizes the Mini as its media library. Just drag 'em on over...

Oh, That AppleTV could use a KMD too. The iPhone remote app is OK, but a larger-screen Tablet (with better storage, CPU,GPU) would be much better.

So, seamless, intuitive tight integration is the key.

If that is true, that choice of OS on the Tablet (or any other device) becomes less of an issue. A device's OS needs to do all that the device is meant to do, by itself. Then, rely on other devices (and their OSes) where needed or desired.

There is potential gain from the integration of multiple similar parts (server farms, load/computation sharing, redundancy).

There is much greater potential gain from the integration of multiple different parts: Synergy!

Sep 06 11:43 AM

[Dialectical...:]

From an investment standpoint, you have to ignore the tablet (if for no other reason than the fact that it doesn't yet exist). But even so, I think there are legitimate reasons to like apple stock even at these prices. The revenue growth of this company is enormous. It's forward P/E is 25, but it is fast growing company for its size. It has zero debt and a huge war chest.

I'm sure there are better investments for making a speedy return. There good dividend stocks out there as well. I would never argue that AAPL is the best way to make money. But it is certainly a healthy company with a rock solid foundation and a bright future. That's the kind of company I like to invest in.


On Sep 06 10:41 AM erniem wrote:

"I'd avoid getting all gushy about apple stock, which pays no dividend and has 30/1 PE. Why in world would anyone buy it? Only because it's another popular churn stock, like Google. Another way the big boys take money from the small boys.

Sep 06 12:18 PM

[Tablet Fan:]

The Microsoft oragami video says it all. Bring it on. I'm a certain buyer.

Sep 06 01:52 PM

[BerkeleyBob:]

I am atypical, a long time Mac user (G5 Tower), classic iPod, but have resisted a cell phone, and have nibbled on a small position in Apple stock for my IRA. My wish list for a new toy from Apple is a color e-book reader with music or movie or game display. The first generation Kindle Sony and the like aren't quite there yet. Touch screen keyboard input would be ok if reasonably sized. Don't see much point in getting excited yet and don't think a new blockbuster would have an immediate impact on share price, given Apple's penchant for spreading out revenue streams over time.

Sep 06 01:58 PM

[mojotronic:]

Having used Apple computers for nearly two decades I have not always been a fan of some of their business strategies. Recently I upgraded to a new mac mini after a friend recommended it and although my last mac was rock solid and steaming fast, I was blown away by the extras (mainly iLife & multiple fast ports) included in the new package as well as the incredible performance of this mighty mite. As always (and even moreso) the switch over and data transferance was seamless with no hassle "plug n play" of several external hard drives.

It took me a few hours to download and test several freeware programs that enabled me to open and run videos in all the various (PC) formats, other than that it came loaded with everything I need. All my old programs (like Office 04) ran perfectly on Snow leopard, the latest Mac OS.

I had almost crossed over to the dark side a month ago, after checking out my brother's brand new HP laptop... until he mentioned that two weeks after buying it he had to call tech support to get help removing over 160 viruses and worms infecting it. And I still shudder when I recall a recent attempt to install a new hard drive in a friend's PC, and how the process was sheer torture.

So whatever Apple's newest products might be, I wouldn't discount their computer and software divisions as sources of revenue growth. Although PCs may be cheaper out of the box, Macs are a bargain for their quality and their no hassle user friendliness, which is attracting more and more users of all ages. I believe that appeal will grow exponentially among the youth market, and Apple's future sales will far outpace any current predictions.

BTW, I (idiotically) divested myself of my Apple stock several months ago so I'm not here pumping my portfolio. Just making an observation.

Sep 06 02:42 PM

[ebworthen:]

You forgot to say that it has to be cool, hip, groovy, and make the user appear more intelligent and attractive than they really are; the key Apple paradigm that has kept them going.

The idea is like coming up with the perfect vehicle (car) that does "everything"; and this is a pipe dream.

Sometimes you need a Suburban, and sometimes you need a Prius or even, Heaven forbid, a Smart car if you feel save driving around a go-kart in the company of Suburban's and Semi's.

The kids will continue to use the smart phones they can tuck in their pants while appearing chic and fashionable. The adults will continue to need a keyboard to get work done. And all will want at home in the living room or at work the biggest screen possible, gobs of storage, a good keyboard and mouse, with a comfortable workstation.

The key will be integrating the devices so you can make phone calls from your desktop and downloading information, calendering, music, etc. to and from your smartphone. I haven't seen it yet, and I'm still amazed that Nokia or Motorola haven't come out with a home cellular phone that has big buttons and is easy to hold that has a cradle and an answering machine. Huge untapped market there.

Oh well, only time will tell.

Sep 06 02:51 PM

[Dialectical...:]

Big buttons, easy to hold, and an answering machine? Are you designing a phone for the rec-room of a retirement home? Not saying there isn't a market... just not a big one.


On Sep 06 02:51 PM ebworthen wrote:

> I haven't seen it yet, and I'm
> still amazed that Nokia or Motorola haven't come out with a home
> cellular phone that has big buttons and is easy to hold that has
> a cradle and an answering machine. Huge untapped market there.
>
>
> Oh well, only time will tell.

Sep 06 03:56 PM

[Camden:]

You need to think different. Think bigger (in terms of world impact) and think education. You heard it from Camden. Education.

Sep 06 08:59 PM

[dicklacara:]

I agree with this. Education, alone could justify the Tablet. The pre-K to PHD students could carry all their books and assignments on a single device weighing 1 lb rather than a 30-lb backpack. The textbook publishers would be able to reduce prices and costs and earn greater profits (no sales lost to resold texts). Hell, a smart publisher would subsidize the Tablet for this reason, alone!. Then what about professional training, for nurses, realtors, artists...


On Sep 06 08:59 PM Camden wrote:

> You need to think different. Think bigger (in terms of world impact)
> and think education. You heard it from Camden. Education.

Sep 06 10:23 PM

[omnimoeish:]

This is true. It would revolutionize education if textbooks were bought direct from the publisher's website.

Teacher: Buy Biology 101 from clearinghouse.com for $20

/30 seconds later...done

Teacher: Read Chapters 1-3 tonight.

/Student opens audio version of the book/text to speech reads it to the student while they're in the car, or eating dinner.

Teacher: Make sure to really understand that part about the prophase of Mitosis

/Student searches for "Prophase" at the click of a stylus

We just need to figure out the copyright issues associated with it.

On Sep 06 10:23 PM dicklacara wrote:

> I agree with this. Education, alone could justify the Tablet.
> The pre-K to PHD students could carry all their books and assignments
> on a single device weighing 1 lb rather than a 30-lb backpack. The
> textbook publishers would be able to reduce prices and costs and
> earn greater profits (no sales lost to resold texts). Hell, a smart
> publisher would subsidize the Tablet for this reason, alone!. Then
> what about professional training, for nurses, realtors, artists...
>

Sep 06 11:13 PM

[einstein p ...:]

It's a natural move for Apple and it will happen sooner or later with some sort of multi-media player that retails under $300. Sony just entered the business with a "Kindle" killer that will play any format. The problem with any format is that they have to compete with Amazon, which is is a book store with a large audience, and Apple could seamlessly add i-Books to the i-Tunes shop --- which would negate the Sony strategy sans Google's new library of public domain offerings. If it comes down to format wars, I wouldn't negate the "cool" factor and that translates to Apple.

Sep 07 07:59 AM

[lanoush:]

I think there is a large-ish business market for a tablet. Recently I returned as a freelancer to an ad agency where they're considering taking their operations paperless (relatively). This would enable a good portion of their teams to work at home, in addition to saving paper, which is not their real interest anyway. They are testing Wacom tablets now, and they are interested if an Apple tablet is forthcoming. The Wacom tablets cost @ $2000 each, and they are nice--their stylus makes migration to paperless very intuitive, and you can also use a wireless keyboard (or wired, I believe) inside of text boxes. So a tablet that costs $600-800 vs the WAcom at $2000--sounds like a deal.

The agency is going to save a lot on office costs--rent, furniture, etc., because editors and writers will work at home most of the time, and when they come into the office there will be common space, not permanent carrels.

Personally I think that when it becomes possible to make PHOLED screens (blue is still the problem), the tablet possibilities will change drastically and they may become very light and even rollable/foldable, and this will really alter the landscape for tablets. Until then, it makes sense for Apple to enter the market with a tablet.


On Sep 06 08:26 AM davesmall wrote:

> An oversize iPod Touch would be nice to have but not at a $6-800
> price point. It could be a handy 'coffee table' device to be shared
> by family members, rather than someone's 'personal computer. It would
> be good for eReading, games, web surfing, email, and maps. Running
> apps from the iPhone App Store would give it an instant wealth of
> functionality. I think a price of around $399 or less would be required
> for this to take off.
>
> There has been a lot of talk about a 3G enabled device to be sold
> and subsidized by cell phone service providers. This would make it
> a lot more useful as a mobile web and map reading device. However,
> I certainly can't afford yet another monthly AT&T payment on
> top of the already high iPhone contract. A device that would tether
> to the iPhone for internet access via Bluetooth would be attractive
> (unless they try to price gouge for the tethering hookup).
>
> I think they could sell a combination two piece tablet that is a
> giant iPod Touch portable device (running the iPhone version of OS
> X) but converts to a full-blown computer with a complete version
> OS X when placed on a charging stand that contains a keyboard and
> trackpad. Virtualization would enable them to run both versions of
> OS X simultaneously.
>
> A further extension of this idea would be to make the base charging/keypad/trackpad
> unit a laptop bottom and the tablet a detachable laptop lid. Connect
> the base to the lid with Bluetooth. Put some semiconductor storage
> in the lid and a big hard disk in the base. You'd need one of those
> non-user changeable long-life Apple batteries in each unit.
>
> When riding in an airplane put the base in overhead storage and use
> the lid as a tablet on your tray table. Save files to disk wirelessly
> using Bluetooth.
>
> Make the lid capable of tethering to the (3G) internet via the iPhone.
> Sell tethering as part of the deal when you offer the computer for
> sale.
>
> So you're in a restaurant making a sales presentation to a client.
> The base (computer bottom) is in your briefcase alongside your chair.
> Your presentation is stored there on the hard disk. The presentation
> is to be displayed on the bright high res LED 1280 X1024 display
> on your tablet and sent from disk via Bluetooth. You are connected
> to the internet via tethering to your iPhone. You will also use your
> iPhone as a remote control for the slide presentation.
>
> A product like this could be sold in pieces. Buy the lid as a huge
> iPod Touch. Buy the base later with keyboard, hard disk, and SuperDrive
> to convert to a full fledged laptop. Buy an iPhone to get Internet
> tethering via 3G.
>
> Yet another idea would be to make a tablet that is also an iPhone
> with a slot for a pull-out bluetooth headset. This would be a much
> bigger form factor than a regular iPhone but would give some users
> a lot more functionality making the bigger size 'worth it.'
>
> Be interesting to see what they actually do come out with after so
> much speculation.

Sep 07 08:43 AM

[tmorris007:]

Forget using the tablet as a computer, a TV, a theater or a telephone and make it a reader!!! Give it access to all forms of print media; books, magazines, newspapers, blogs, newsletters or any other form of communication that is read.

Be absolutely certain to incorporate the ink/paper screen for older eyes, along with the color display for textbooks and scientific illustrations and you will own the market.

Having owned the Kindle II since it's introduction, this 56 year old, avid reader can attest to it's brilliance. Once the 78 million baby boomers who read are exposed to it, publishers will so expand their markets that any decrease in sales of physical books will more than be made up for by revenue from electronic sales.

Throw in student use and you have a huge market of prospective customers transcending; language, age, social, ethnic, cultural, and logistic barriers. As far as I can tell this would include about 5.5 billion people. That is the potential market.

Sep 07 10:54 AM

[buddhabill:]

Genius. Synergy is the key as the Mac Tablet owner will 99% have other mac products. I'd add to the list that one's iPhone should recognize the tablet for display, cpu and storage, perhaps even as a power source for a quick pick-me-up, maybe even allowing the iPhone to dock inside the tablet, allowing skype and video-phone capabilities.

On Sep 06 11:43 AM dicklacara wrote:

> "A mobile computing device which can integrate tightly (something
> I find slightly missing with the iPhone) with your home computer
> and extend your productivity has the potential to not only change
> computing, but the way we live".
>
> Within the above comment lies both the problem and the solution.
>
>
> I have been thinking a lot about an Apple Tablet, how it would work
> and what it would be used for (the justification to buy one).
>
> You just hit on what's important: tight integration.
>
> I want a tablet with a large touch display and without requirement
> for a physical keyboard, stylus or any other separate bits. The 10"
> diagonal size is, likely, optimal for usability and portability.
> I wouldn't use it for power text entry nor heavy audio/video editing--
> but I would like the capability (compute power, OS and apps) to tweak
> content created elsewhere. The content I would create on the tablet:
> hand-printed notes, handwriting, drawings, etc. cannot be done with
> a keyboard.
>
> When I am at home (or at work) and sit at my computer, I want it
> to automatically recognize the Tablet as:
> -- an additional display
> -- an additional input device- touch tablet, stylus tablet, customizable
> virtual keyboards, location services, cell radio, camera, etc.<br/>--
> additional CPU/GPU power
> -- additional content storage (file system, database, etc).
>
> Conversely, I want the Tablet to automatically recognize my computer
> as:
> -- an additional display
> -- an additional input device- mouse, keyboard, scanner, Midi Interface,
> A/V capture, etc.
> -- additional CPU/GPU power
> -- additional content storage (file system, database, etc).
>
> Done right it would be intuitive and seamless. The OSes and apps
> on both machines would recognize and communicate with each other:
> use one another if present; work independently, if not
>
> Say I was doing some heavy video editing on the Mac. I mouse click
> on a video track to select it, then I can use tablet gestures (touches)
> to pan, zoom and otherwise manipulate the track and the changes would
> display interactively on the Mac display.
>
> Or, I want to make a collage of pictures (some in the Mac's photo
> library and others recently with the Tablet camera). Since the Mac
> display is handy (and bigger) I want it to be the display part a
> light table, and use the surface of the tablet to manipulate the
> pictures with my fingers. First, I select the pictures that I want
> (on the tablet) and drag them to the light table display on the Mac.
> I use the tablet to navigate the Mac's photo library (popup on the
> Mac Display) and drag and drop (copy/paste or select and group move)
> these to the light table too. Then I play around moving, stacking,
> resizing adjusting color, etc. I could use the Mac mouse and kb but
> this is pretty clumsy compared to how I can do it with a tablet.
> And, yes, if I want precision, I can zoom to an enlarged pixel level,
> and use a stylus on the tablet.
>
> Finished, I drag my collage into that Keynote preso I was working
> on, and drag that to the tablet so I can take it with me.
>
> You get the idea... the two devices do more than collaborate, they
> are parts of the same whole-- kinda' like being in love, you may
> not always do things together, but when you do...
>
> Now, did you know that you can share the screen of a headless Mac,
> like a Mac Mini? Even though the Mini has no attached Keyboard/Moues/Display?
> So, I sit on the couch and my Media Library is in the other room
> (A Mac Mini with 2 2TB external drives and no KMD). I want to add
> some pictures or videos from the Tablet (or any other source within
> Bonjour range). The Mini recognizes the Tablet as its KMD and the
> Tablet recognizes the Mini as its media library. Just drag 'em on
> over...
>
> Oh, That AppleTV could use a KMD too. The iPhone remote app is OK,
> but a larger-screen Tablet (with better storage, CPU,GPU) would be
> much better.
>
> So, seamless, intuitive tight integration is the key.
>
> If that is true, that choice of OS on the Tablet (or any other device)
> becomes less of an issue. A device's OS needs to do all that the
> device is meant to do, by itself. Then, rely on other devices (and
> their OSes) where needed or desired.
>
> There is potential gain from the integration of multiple similar
> parts (server farms, load/computation sharing, redundancy).
>
> There is much greater potential gain from the integration of multiple
> different parts: Synergy!

Sep 07 02:58 PM

[Fred Swartz:]

@Roger Knights who said "Doug Englebart (sp?), inventor of the graphical interface and mouse, also invented a gadget that (after a little training) allowed one-handed typing, using key-chords--and at a faster speed than a keyboard. (Nowadays it could operate wirelessly.) Apple could offer this as an accessory, along with online training. Engelbart was very disappointed that no manufacturer got behind his gadget and gave it a push, because he thought it was his best idea."

There's a long history of chorded input preceding Engelbart, and you can currently buy chord keyboards/pads, eg FrogPad or Twiddler2. Despite the "obvious" superiority over QWERTY, a number of companies in the past have gone out of business selling chorded input devices.

Sep 07 04:42 PM

[dicklacara:]

Oh, definitely yes! Any of the Apple devices that run a flavor of OS X, will contribute to, and benefit from the synergy. This includes, Desktop/FloorTop Macs, Servers, Laptops, iPhones, iPod Touches, AppleTVs, and maybe Airport, and TimeCapsules.

Apple already has most of the OS software bits in place with Bonjour, Screen Sharing, iDisk, MobileMe, QuartzComposer Visualizer, Synch, TimeMachine, BackToMyMac... ...oh yeah, iTunes & the iTunes store(s).

An OS Synergy assistant could be written for Windows and Linux, Game Console & Portable Game platforms, so users of these systems could benefit (though less seamlessly). It would be consistent with supplying iTunes, Safari and and QuickTime so those not owning Macs could still benefit by buying other Synergy devices and services.

Apple could work its way through the apps (on all its synergy devices), reimplementing them so they can integrate with the others. I suspect iLife and iWork, will be the first, (and are already well under way), Later, followed by the Pro Apps.


On Sep 07 02:58 PM buddhabill wrote:

> Genius. Synergy is the key as the Mac Tablet owner will 99% have
> other mac products. I'd add to the list that one's iPhone should
> recognize the tablet for display, cpu and storage, perhaps even as
> a power source for a quick pick-me-up, maybe even allowing the iPhone
> to dock inside the tablet, allowing skype and video-phone capabilities.
>

Sep 07 06:01 PM

[dicklacara:]

Ahh, but... how about implementing virtual chorded keyboards-- any one of several that make sense. You already can do haptic feedback on a JailBroken iPhone so you could get audible and tactile feedback. As for positioning of the hand on the keys... Not a problem-- the touch screen can recognize the position of the hand, and automatically place the keys under the fingertips.

Taken a little further, there is no need to display the keys (they're wherever your hand is) so almost the entire surface is available for text display.


On Sep 07 04:42 PM Fred Swartz wrote:

> @Roger Knights who said "Doug Englebart (sp?), inventor of the graphical
> interface and mouse, also invented a gadget that (after a little
> training) allowed one-handed typing, using key-chords--and at a faster
> speed than a keyboard. (Nowadays it could operate wirelessly.) Apple
> could offer this as an accessory, along with online training. Engelbart
> was very disappointed that no manufacturer got behind his gadget
> and gave it a push, because he thought it was his best idea."
>
> There's a long history of chorded input preceding Engelbart, and
> you can currently buy chord keyboards/pads, eg FrogPad or Twiddler2.
> Despite the "obvious" superiority over QWERTY, a number of companies
> in the past have gone out of business selling chorded input devices.

Sep 07 06:10 PM

[TCK:]

To really impress the "Mac Lovers", the tablet should use a theme of "Hello Kitty" or "My Pretty Pony" !

Sep 08 04:54 AM

[dicklacara:]

Jest if you will, but a revolution is coming... in the way we interface the world around us.

Recently, I was in the checkout line at a supermarket. I was waiting to purchase goodies for a party, and wanted to pay with my debit card. It dawned on me that, likely, I didn't have enough money in the account to keep it above the minimum (to avoid monthly account charges).

I whipped out my iPhone, accessed my bank, and transferred enough money from another account... No big deal!

Later, my purchases rung up, I was ready to pay. I got out my wallet, riffled through my credit cards, found the debit card, oriented myself to the credit card terminal (they're all different, aren't they?), swiped my carded, punched a few buttons, waited for authorization (I enjoy being told that I am "Accepted"), waited for the credit card receipt to print, borrowed the checker's pen, signed the receipt (or the credit card terminal-- I can't remember which), and was on my way.

How odd... I was able to move large amounts of money between accounts on servers [somewhere] hundreds of miles away, with just a few taps on my iPhone. No one else was involved: just me; my electronic bank; and my money.

But... to pay for my purchases, I went through a rather involved process, even though I (and everything/everybody else was "right there" (including a few impatient people waiting in line behind me). I could move my money hundreds of miles with a few taps, but getting it that last few feet took, by comparison, a lot of rigamarole.

Why?

Does it need to be that way?


On Sep 08 04:54 AM TCK wrote:

> To really impress the "Mac Lovers", the tablet should use a theme
> of "Hello Kitty" or "My Pretty Pony" !

Sep 08 06:48 AM

[Paul Harper:]

"To really impress the "Mac Lovers", the tablet should use a theme
of "Hello Kitty" or "My Pretty Pony" ! "

I'll go for the latter. TBH I do find the endless Apple conversation on SA a little wearing, but like a fly & sh*te, I keep coming back for more.

What about real reasons for investing in AAPL ? All this conjecture can be read on Techcrunch or Engadget message boards.

Sep 08 07:41 AM

[Nick Waddell:]

Apple is in a curious place in its history. Talk of making a larger netbook style IPod Touch and of not cannibalizing its own line are the hallmarks of a company that has reached some sort of maturity. Apple makes great products, but I think in the mind of "Apple fanboys" the company is still a bleeding edge innovator. If Apple were a rock band they wouldn't be The Clash or The Sex Pistols in 1977 they would be U2 right now; tasteful, virtous, riding somewhat on past glories...

Sep 08 08:23 PM

[dicklacara:]

You really don't under stand Apple or Steve Jobs. They deliver solutions (to problems/desires we don't even know we have).

If they have a device that will obsolete everything they (and the competition) have, they will release with audacity and panache!

That's what they do!


On Sep 08 08:23 PM Nick Waddell wrote:

> Apple is in a curious place in its history. Talk of making a larger
> netbook style IPod Touch and of not cannibalizing its own line are
> the hallmarks of a company that has reached some sort of maturity.
> Apple makes great products, but I think in the mind of "Apple fanboys"
> the company is still a bleeding edge innovator. If Apple were a rock
> band they wouldn't be The Clash or The Sex Pistols in 1977 they would
> be U2 right now; tasteful, virtous, riding somewhat on past glories...

Sep 08 10:44 PM