Here we go again: Mac tablet claimed for mid-2007 launch

It's been a while since we reported on the long unfulfilled Mac tablet rumor, but apparently "sources in Taiwan" have informed Smarthouse that Apple has units in the works for education and enterprise verticals -- two areas they've mildly backed away from in the past couple of years. If the rumor is to believed, the device will launch mid-2007 and would be designed also to take advantage of home automation processes and be integrated with a new wireless version of Apple's Hi-Fi, as well as being supposedly dockable with HDMI out. Now, we're never ones to take these rumors at face value, but we kind of think this particular rumor is a little overboard on the kind of mid to long-range details that Apple is known to protect at all costs. Like the iPhone (until it launches), we'll be tucking this one away for reference and little else.

[Thanks, CoreyTheGent]

[Tom @ Nov 26th 2006 10:24PM]

Gotta love those zombie claws.

[slez12 @ Nov 27th 2006 4:36PM]

haha, ya in the upper right hand picture.

[kittysniffer @ Nov 26th 2006 10:44PM]

Can't I just install OSX tablet edition on a tablet PC? That would be nice.

[eugene @ Nov 26th 2006 10:48PM]

there is no osx tablet edition.

[Giltronic @ Nov 26th 2006 10:56PM]

obviosely they are eventually going to make one.
this rumor has no real value, except to say middle of next year, which will probobly be pushed back and hide in secrecy like every other apple product.

[David @ Nov 26th 2006 10:58PM]

If the rumor is to (be) believed.....

[Nick @ Nov 26th 2006 11:11PM]

http://macnewsonline.com/wp/2006/11/26/apple-touch-screen-mac-tablet-pc-with-docking-station-in-mid-2007/

[Don Wilson @ Nov 26th 2006 11:12PM]

Excuse me while I yawn.

[Keaton @ Nov 26th 2006 11:19PM]

Hmm... Why wait?
Gateways' M-285 is about as sweet as it gets for a "power notebook/tablet"...

It might be a little heavy, but crap, the battery lasts a good seven hours and anyone who regularly exercises could carry it all day... Plus it is pretty powerful for a laptop if you ask me...
With a price of about a thousand dollars, its a steal...

I am interested in the Mac-Tablet none-the-less (not that I would buy one... ever... I am what you call "Anti-Apple"). Lets see how the "fashion" company of the computer world improves upon the already good looking, functional tablets that are on the market NOW...

[theNapster @ Nov 26th 2006 11:29PM]

Here's to hoping

[Rod @ Nov 26th 2006 11:38PM]

Great news.
I hope it's as good or better than the ThinkPad tablet PCs.

[Patrick @ Nov 27th 2006 1:10AM]

>> hope it's as good or better than the ThinkPad tablet PCs.

What exactly do you not like about the ThinkPad tablets? Look great to me. Currently I'm trying top decide between one and a new MacBook for next May.

-p-

[Rod @ Nov 26th 2006 11:43PM]

Gateway? Please.
I don't even own a Mac product but you can be assured that Apple will come up with a better product than that flimsy product.
There are far better tablets out there, made by more reputable notebook manufacturers, such as Lenovo, Toshiba, Fujitsu, etc.

[John @ Nov 26th 2006 11:55PM]

So I'm guessing the "sources in Taiwan" are now going to say that Apple is ordering the production of the Apple iGame?

And Toshiba is the king of tablet PCs.

[bobdole @ Nov 27th 2006 12:10AM]

every time I see that picture I think these things are being designed for some kind of freaky claw-hand aliens

I for one welcome our new tablet-bearing overlords.

[Sam @ Nov 27th 2006 12:11AM]

Yes, Apple is just a "fashion" company. The fact that it has a more advanced operating system is beside the fact huh? Ignorance is bliss sometimes isn't it?

[doyouflip @ Nov 27th 2006 12:40AM]

This is true. My friend's whose dog once shat on Steve J's lawn told me so.

[jeff @ Nov 27th 2006 1:13AM]

I bet it doubles as a portable frying pan too!

[Jonathan Allen @ Nov 27th 2006 7:12AM]

If apple is still getting batteries from Sony, it just might be!

[embee @ Nov 27th 2006 7:07AM]

Tablet PCs are a niche. A niche that is very very capably and amply filled. I wonder what "innovation" Apple will introduce with what will no doubt be touted by the Mac-zealotry as a brand-new form factor.

[Michael @ Nov 27th 2006 9:35PM]

They really do need to fix that hand in the drawing. Carpal Tablet Syndrome?

[jojo @ Nov 28th 2006 1:01PM]

tablet pc's input through a pen. the apple one will most likely be multiple touch screen technology. just look at those pictures. they are using their fingers not a pen. i have a tablet pc and it's damn nice but you can be sure that if apple uses their multiple touch screen/ bevel touch screen patents on this that it will blow a normal tablet pc out of the water.

[bgramer @ Aug 7th 2007 11:35AM]

You guys need to remember this was most likely a disguised patent for the iPhone's multitouch capabilities in the same way the iPod's clickwheel was disguised in a patent for the mouse.

[Brendan Gramer @ Aug 8th 2007 10:33AM]

This was most likely a disguised patent for the iPhone's multitouch capabilities, using a Tablet instead of the iPhone in the same way the iPod's clickwheel was disguised in a patent for the mouse.