KenC

Apple Netbook Will Fill Newspaper Void

If you want to read the newspaper, get a Kindle.

More importantly, the WSJ, Reuters and DowJones did not name their industry sources, and two of those just cited the oft-cited Commercial Times of Taiwan, which is written in Chinese, and often wrong.

Third, there is NO WAY that a 10" multitouch screen device is going to be $600. Just not going to happen. You'd need something like 8 of the current iPhone screens to make a 10" multitouch screen. It'd be beautiful, but ridiculously expensive at the present time.

Fourth, any such device will be at best take two iPhone screens side-by-side to make a VGA 640x480 size. This has huge advantages. One, they have economies of scale with this screen already. Two, they can price it at $400 to $500, the sweetspot of the netbook market. Three, the iPhone GUI nor apps would not need to be altered. This is a big deal. The iPhone AppStore attracts so many developers because there is an installed base of about 23M iPhones and iPod touches that all have mostly the same specs. Of course, a few apps that need a mic, like Ocarina, won't work on the touch. Or if an app needs better GPS than wifi-localization. Or if an app needs the camera, the touch won't do. But, for the vast majority, the developer need only develop the one app. No mods whatsoever. A VGA sized iTab could still use the same UI, just scaled, and it will look fine. Of course, developers who want the detail, can modify, but for the most part, it won't be necessary. This is important. Device fragmentation is why the other app stores on Android and WinMo and Symbian will have a difficult time catching up to the iPhone, because developers will have to modify any app for the many different handset combinations out there.

That's why a 10" screen iTab makes no sense right now. A VGA sized 5" screen that folds in half, exactly the size of the current iPhone, makes the most sense.