Apple tablet "to launch next spring"

Oh the rumors!

So a giant iPhone with that advertising system Apple have patented!

Sounds awful!

By Grunthos on 10 Dec 2009

OK, OK

Call me "Mr. Thicko" but does this tablet actually DO?

Is it just an eBook reader or will it do other things?

Unless there is a mass shift by the book reading minority to the "iTablet", I don't see it being a big income stream for Apple.

By Lacrobat on 10 Dec 2009

Yes.. maybe

They haven't confirmed if it'll ship with 3G... a bit pointless if it doesn't include 3G as most people will just want one to surf the net...

By KurtCobain on 10 Dec 2009

If there will be such a thing, there is a market for it. Problem for many PC lovers is that they can only see market shares of 80% to 90% as being sustainable, whereas Apple creates one successful and profitable niche product after another. Apple think different.

This is achieved through intelligent industrial design, efficient multiple use of components across many product lines that then allows for cheap as chips bulk buys, and marketing that targets end-user needs.

There are usages in Health, Education, PoS/Retail, and in any place where laptops are considered to be too heavy or bulky but which are useful as computers.

By SwissMac on 10 Dec 2009

I almost wanted to vomit then SwissMac. Are you on their payroll? :)

By TimoGunt on 10 Dec 2009

Well, if you take the fact that I am now roughly £10,000 better off since switching from Windows to Mac OS X then perhaps you could say that financially Apple has benefited me. But if you thought like that you'd really be missing the point: only MS depends on monopolies or near-monopolies for profitability.

By SwissMac on 10 Dec 2009

SwissMac, you crack me up! :D

(You were trying to be funny right!?)

Have you not heard of the Tablet PC? Been around for about 8 years now?

By Grunthos on 10 Dec 2009

Microsoft Tablet PC's don't count

All the Microsoft Tablet PC's are dual use laptops with a swivel / touch screen. They are heavy and expensive. The Apple device will be half the price, half the weight but with some probable limits to functionality (high function iPhone or Netbook level PC power).

It will play music and video superbly (cos Apple do that naturally, provide a good web experience and be priced as an expensive must-have toy.
Yes, they'll ONLY see 1 million units a month but another 5Bn-6Bn in revenue is quite nice for Apple.
I won't buy one because I'm not into expensive toys but every estate agent, banker and media type will consider it a must-have.
PC Pro readers who know what they're doing will snub it as below their dignity to own as it wont be capable of playing crysis at 30fps even in low settings.

By milliganp on 10 Dec 2009

Interested..

@ milliganp

"All the Microsoft Tablet PC's are dual use laptops with a swivel / touch screen. They are heavy and expensive"

What utter bull crap! We've had some Windows Tablet PCs at work since 2004, supplied by RM, which are pure tablet devices - they weigh about 1.5kg, had 512MB RAM and a 1.2GHz CPU and cost us around £600, which included all the educational software licenses on top - and this was almost SIX years ago. Don't make a sweeping comment like that when even a cursory Google search will totally contradict you: what about the Archos 9 - Windows 7, 1GB RAM, Atom CPU, 8.9 inch screen and weighs 800g - for £400 pre-order on Play.

This Apple tablet is not a 'first' in this field, so please don't dismiss all Windows tablet devices as "dual use laptops with a swivel / touch screen" or that they are all "heavy and expensive".

On the other hand, I am very interested in one of these - depending on battery life. The only thing that's preventing me from buying an Archos 9 is that the battery life is only a few hours - if Apple can make their tablet last over a dozen hours - say with 50% brightness - then I'm getting one.

By bioreit on 10 Dec 2009

Can any one see how much fun could be had strapping this on...

...to a car headrest.
One might even buy an Apple TV and jump into the Apple Film Ecosystem with both feet. As for e-books I would much rather protect my iTablet with a couple of paperbacks and use safari to pick holes in the latest Dan Brown.

Each to their own.

By CJWatt on 10 Dec 2009

@bioreit - Thanks for stepping in there and correcting the ignorant.

I'm with you, I think the Archos 9 is really interesting (wondering if PCPro will review it).

You're right, the battery life is the thing that puts me off.

If they put a full power Atom and had more battery life, I'd get one, no question.

By Grunthos on 11 Dec 2009