With rumors about an Apple Tablet launch more or less confirmed to be true, it is only a matter of time before we actually get to hear from Steve Jobs about this. Rumors about an Apple Tablet have been floating for a long time now. Nevertheless the delay in the launch has been more due to doubts within the company about the viability of such a device rather than any production-related delays.
Gruber's article on his Daring Fireball blog draws some fine thoughts about why an Apple Tablet, long relegated as a redundant device is actually making a debut. The reasons why it is redundant are simple: We already have a Macbook that gives us a portable version of a computer. We also have a handheld device in the iPhone that seamlessly integrates the functions of a mobile phone and a computer. This being the case, what purpose does a Tablet serve?
Gruber argues that a Tablet is a modern day rendition of the Macbook. Hypothetically, if only the iPhone and Mac existed, a Tablet today will serve to integrate the two. However, unlike the Macbook, the Tablet is an extension of the iPhone.
What difference does that make? A lot. For instance, when the Macbook was conceptualized, there was little to no prevalence of touchscreen technology. While Macbooks have simplified Macs and made them portable, they still try to incorporate all those things that a Mac is capable of which makes it needlessly bulkier. A modern day rendition of a portable computer will be a device that is pretty similar to an iPod touch but something that makes web surfing, ebook reading and other similar activities possible - a device like the Tablet.
That does not necessarily make the Macbook irrelevant. On the other hand, it clearly demarcates the existing Macbook crowd into two - Those who need a simplified Mac (businessmen on the move) and others who need a bigger iPod touch (Students and other segments of people who don't need to carry their computers everywhere). An Apple Tablet thus carves out a niche for itself and provides a stripped down version of the Macbook for those who don't need the frills.
However, the question of viability remains. At $1000, would you rather go for a Macbook or a simpler Tablet? Do we have enough consumers ready to shift to the Tablet? This question has haunted Apple all along. But considering that the company has finally decided to go ahead with the launch, there sure seems to be some hard facts justifying a market for the Apple Tablet.
In his article, Gruber asks, "If you already have an iPhone and a MacBook; why would you want this?". We would like to ask this to our readers. Why would you want a Tablet if you already have the other two? Please tell us your opinion in the comments.
[via Daring Fireball]
if you own an iphone and a macbook apple should sell itablet to you for half
price because you don t know what to do with it.
I know I want something like that (supposing it will have an affordable price tag) to read books and scientific articles, while at the same time taking notes and searching the web for references, all while lying in the bad, or at the club by the pool, or while commuting. A macbook is just too bulky for that. An iPhone is just too small.
There was a great cartoon that touched on this very point a few days ago on TouchMyApples–check it out here http://touchmyapples.blogspot.com/2009/12/reality-check.html
I have lost my Dell Laptop recently, I got only iPhone 3GS & Toshiba Desktop PC. I was thinking about buying a MacBook or a MacBook Pro as a Laptop/Notebook replacement, until I heard about the iTablet, so here is the deal:
I will buy Apple Tablet only if it can run Windows like how MacBook does and can run full Windows Desktop PC games like any proper PC or Windows on a Mac, otherwise I will go for MacBook or I may consider buying a gaming laptop (Windows based).
I see it as a device for people with larger notebooks; and as an extension for those times when you want to do collaborative work. If I had one, I would use it for reading stuff on the bus while taking notes – Look Ma! No Clamshell, and no fiddling with a super-tiny keyboard. I would also use it during meetings to write – instead of type – notes [even though I am a fast typist, it is more distracting to the client to write on a laptop, than write on a notepad], and to easily share notes and information with the client, without having to turn a laptop around all the time.
Then again, this may also go the direction of the Segway. Only time will tell.
I think we're seeing no less than the revolution of the personal computer with this ironically more evolutionary than revolutionary step Apple will be taking in a month's time.
Apple's is the transition device. The iPhone shoehorned us into the touch age and got the market comfortable with the new interface modes of swipe, tap, pinch and etc. Having gone radical in that realm, it now has to act more conservatively as it pushes into new areas, unable to revolutionize with every step it takes, lest it bust up the markets its built on the new paradigm it created.
On the PC side, Apple, like Microsoft, has the legacy of the notebook to consider as it treads up close to the line dividing phone and portable computer. It has set up the market for big changes and will be continuing to do that with this device. But this time I think we'll see Apple being more careful to not upset, um, applecarts — as opposed to the iPhone being created to upset many.
I know what I want Apple's device to be. I want it to be the touch version of the Macbook/OS X. I want it to be capable of acting more like OS X than the iPhone OS — only of course with the OS adapted to the beautiful new multitouch world Apple advanced with the introduction of the iPhone.
But it is looking like this will be rooted more in the iPhone OS realm than the OS X. As Apple's chosen roadmap for evolution, It will surely be a great device for consuming media. The tradeoff will be that it will not yet be a good device creating. Ironically, this means that for someone like me who is perfectly content consuming media on the iPhone with YouTube, QuickTime, podcasts, Instapaper, iKindle etc? The device I'm waiting to create on is not on Apple's tablet roadmap. Not yet at least.
The equally vaporous but heavily rumored and fantasized about Microsoft Courier project is potentially the more groundbreaking tablet-style device for digital creation device in the 21st century.
Microsoft? Breaking ground? Ironically, it makes sense.
Because Apple already broke the ground with the iPhone — and now is reasonablyl taking the more conservative evolutionary step as it bridges the notebook world with the iPhone world. And it makes sense that Apple has to act more like the Microsoft of this world — preserving and protecting the model and market they built after such a successful groundbreaking. And not wanting to upset the market it birthed with a device that pulls too far away from it by making a whole new, unrelated device.
Whereas Microsof is by default more free to break new ground in the realm where it has to woefully play catchup to Apple's lead.
And breaking new ground looks exactly like what they'll be doing with Courier if it takes the shape it did in the famous demo video. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmIgNfp-MdI ) That demo is how many people will want to interact with portable computer devices in the future, and Microsoft, while having a market in laptops to consider here, needs to push hard to come up with its own iPhone like groundbreaker.
It will of course be interesting to see if Apple surprises and has a more Courier-like device up its sleeve — where authoring and creating and inputting is as important as viewing, reading, consuming. But my bet is that it will be much more the latter. And again, I don't think that's wrong for them. It's just not where my particular consumer needs plan to buy next. If I splurge on a 1000 tablet device, I want it to give me the Courier-like experience. I'll keep the iPhone, the Courier and probably a big-screened desktop device and there's my happy triology for home/portable/totally mobile computing/communicating/creating.
Apple, as it's done since the beginning is at last pushing us in increments or revolutions into the new age of personal computing. It's long overdue and the status quo of physical keyboards, passive screens and mouse-centric digital creation has been waiting a long time for change. I think the market is increasingly primed for a more natural, intimately human device and it's the evolution from iPhone to iSlate to Courier to whatever that's mapping the way. The new PC — not phone — era is beginning in earnest this year.
Bring it on.
I happen to be this exact candidate. I have an iPhone 3GS and a MacBook Pro. I'm very much torn on this little tablet idea. I think for $500-$750, it would be worth it. $1000 is too steep to justify for a netbook with touch capacity on a mac/touch platform. By the way, this is coming from the guy that admits to needlessly spending too much money on things like the Viper SmartStart app (total ending $750).
I believe that in addition to taking the next step in the evolution of personal computer, Apple is finally in a position to capitalize on the last and probably largest media/content market. Reading.
Amazon's Kindle paved the way for electronic reading much like the early MP3 players did. But both products were limited in their design. While the Kindle does a good job of getting the printed word on the screen, it uses up valuable screen space by putting a physical keyboard on the device. Apple already addressed this issue with the iPhone.
Also, the Kindle display gets the job done in terms of making reading comfortable on the device but it's doesn't do what Apple can which is give it the "Wow" factor. Just like Apple did when it introduced iTunes and the iPod.
From the rumors that have been going around about the Apple tablet the interface is supposed to be the thing that makes the device exciting. Look at what they've done in other areas of user interface. Cover Flow for iTunes and the iPod, Touch Screen on the iPhone, and now adding album art to iTunes music. All of this flows very naturally into reading.
I image that the interface on this device will take all of their previous work to the next level. They will make reading on the tablet much more like reading an actual book. Flipping pages instead of hitting a button, Book covers, color pictures, pages that look like actual pages. None of this is done by the Kindle. Apple gets what the other manufactures don't. Reading very much a tactile experience.
In addition, add Apples existing web technology from the iPhone to reading, now you can click on word or phrase and go to the web to find out more about it.
It's the perfect time for Apple to capitalize on reading. iTunes is now the largest retailer of music. They are continuing to grow market share in Movies and TV. And with the rumored subscription package for video, they could solidify their position here. Books, magazines and newspapers are the next natural step for iTunes.
Also, publishing is looking for any help they can get to gain back the sales they have lost over the last few years. Books are taking a beating with the price wars between Amazon and Walmart, Newspapers and Magazines and looking to get back readers who actually BUY the product rather than get it for free on-line.
It's a perfect storm for Apple.
And just image when they take this concept to education. Imagine what they could do with text books for students kindergarden through College….
I can't wait to see this product!!!