It's back. The Quanta assembled
Apple netbook rumor that
kicked off in March with a
Commercial Times report calling for a
Wintek-supplied touchscreen has returned... with a fever.
China Times has now stepped in with a claim of a
9.7-inch touchscreen netbook to debut in October.
CT claims that Wintek, and Dynapack have all received orders direct from Apple while Foxconn (not Quanta) will be the main manufacturer. It's still unclear whether the reported device takes on the traditional netbook form-factor, goes
convertible like the T91, or is a 9.7-inch slate like a giant iPod touch. In fact, the Chinese-language report translated into English refers to it as "Apple's netbook (or a "tablet" as many call it)" only adding to the confusion. Regardless, we find it hard to believe that Apple would just follow the industry trends here. Then again, Sony did announce the
VAIO W after rebuking netbooks as a
race to the bottom thus leaving Apple as the only major without a low-cost netbook in its portfolio. But $800, if true, prices whatever this is right out of netbook territory -- ultra-portable anyone?
[Via
MacRumors and
Gizmodo]
posted July 13th 2009 7:33AM
"Apple will always price their product more than the PC equivalent given their image and integration with its OS and growing iTunes community."
Both of these examples are still no reason to overcharge for their products, especially image. That's what makes half of the owners think they they are better than someone else because they own a computer with a logo on it.
@Noc: Not true, at all. I know plenty of people who love Apple products but will only buy them when cheaper (i.e. some sort of sale, eBay/used, etc). For comparison's sake: A Ferrari is a desirable car, but to say that the majority of people only buy them because they are expensive (or even consider expense) or how they look is one of the most laughable statements you could make.
That being said, it would be insane to NOT put a premium on their product due to their image - that's business 101. Making a quality product should always be a baseline, yes, but capitalizing on one's popularity or appeal for that extra dollar - when hard data proves that people will pay for it - is just common business sense.
As an Apple user, I keep coming back to their products for MY peace of mind - not because I'm busy looking at Joe PC-User and smirking. Outside of fanboy-ish comments on the internet, the vast majority of people have better things to do with their time than get in a pissing contest about who's got the better system. If you run into that many people in real life, well..that definitely sucks, but it doesn't seem realistic.
"That's what makes half of the owners think they they are better than someone else because they own a computer with a logo on it."
The likelihood that anyone considers themselves better than someone else based on the type of computer they use is pretty low but this is one of those odd statements that gets thrown around. It's possible that they feel liberated but definitely not better than others.
Personally, I run a Mac because of the software available for it. I don't think I am better than others, I didn't buy it for a logo and I didn't buy it because it was shiny.
If it have a core2duo cpu and 2gb of ram+some decent graphics... maybe. 800$ give you a nice Dell Studio 15 laptop which kick the ass of most Macbook Pro out of the water.
Get your facts straight. Those Studios still use DRR2 800Mhz and slower processors. (They come with a 2.66GHz T9550 for an extra $300--a price most people wont pay for a seemingly worthless upgrade.)
Nice try, NEXT.
It is much more likely this thing will be freaking thin and lightweight, and run a ~1Ghz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 and PowerVR SGX 543 multicore GPU.
This may come out as a PREMIUM "duo" device.
A stripped down notebook that work as an iPod touch when mobile
and a "desktop" when docked to a full sized monitor, keyboard and other devices
Who the hell would use this??
me!!
I need a full sized desktop (screen / 20"+) to do any real work.
The new 13" MacBooks comes close, but I don't need full mobile computing
- just enough to do surfing, emailing (writing) and any other type of mobile/administrative work.
Though I agree, the tablet probably isn't intended for you to do any "real work". It's probably more for basic connectivity and convenience. Not to mention entirely different platform to sell peripherals for at a premium price. Ex. Dock, keyboard etc.
at $800? that makes it out of the netbook category?
Well I believe the cheapest you can get the viao p is $1000, since sony raised the price of it, and the older models are now $699 at staples.
I would love to have a really slick small computer for business on the go. I would be happy with a huge iPhone, but it better multitask, have some better way to type, like a slide out keyboard, and (for the love of god) copy and paste. If it didn't have Flash I would skip it too. I am not into Flash banners, but I am getting annoyed at missing out on the good content Flash brings by using my iPhone to browse the web.
Good god. Why don't they just put the post up and get rid of the comment section? You can't read any comments on Apple or Microsoft announcements without it being one big Paul a Chapel vs Who D Fawkever debate that you have to wade through and skip over to find anything useful.
I would probably consider getting a netbook, but not a tablet. I'd prefer to have a physical keyboard on a device like that.
maybe they ordered th cameras for the netbook. and not for the new ipod touch and nano.
I've never really much enjoyed Apple operating system. In my opinion it was not "user friendly" from a tech stand point. After seeing some of there newer operating systems and along with this new tablet apple is now looking good.
Further proof that Apple is no longer an innovator but a follower..........
WE MISS YOU RAINBOW APPLE
That's a bit of a statement given that this is rumour and no details of what the device is, if it exists at all, are known. Let's be fair here, there were rumours of what the iPhone would be but I don't think any were really close to what was actually revealed. I'd wait for an official announcement before dismissing whatever it is.
This is fantastic if it's true... as it means that I'll be able to get a much more functional and powerful unit in the same class for about $300 if market norms stay put.
...sweet....
- mike
Honestly I don't care if it's $800 as long as it's portable, functional and doesn't require a two year contract for cellular data. That effectively pushes the price up at least another $1000 over the two years. An optional cell data plan would be great.
I think apple should release a scaled down version of OSX specifically for this form of netbook because as it is I believe a touch screen + tablet form combination is a recipe for failure. Give me this tablet and give me a streamlined OS that I can do casual browsing, email, and video conferencing and you have my money. Let's not forget that form should follow function. This goes to the OS as well and not just the hardware. iPhone OS is too weak an OSX is not designed for a touch screen. A combination of both would be the right direction.
Sorry, but what makes you think that OS X is not already streamlined? It already runs on a smartphone and iPod so I don't think it needs to be streamlined further in order to run on a bigger device with, presumably, more resources.
I think apple should release a scaled down version of OSX specifically for this form of netbook because as it is I believe a touch screen + tablet form combination is a recipe for failure. Give me this tablet and give me a streamlined OS that I can do casual browsing, email, and video conferencing and you have my money. Let's not forget that form should follow function. This goes to the OS as well and not just the hardware. iPhone OS is too weak an OSX is not designed for a touch screen. A combination of both would be the right direction.
For $800, it had better have an Intel ULV processor, and not an Atom. Nothing against Atom, but it's for machines that cost half as much.
What about the Sony Vaio P? $900 and still has the Atom
I think that if Apple did a product like this, that it would be in its own category. People may want to call it a netbook, but it really wouldn't be one. I would look at it as a device that would fill in the gap (an extension) of their current products into the touchscreen venue. Just like the way Apple TV is sort of an extension of iTunes for your TV. This device (lets just call it the iTablet) would also be a way to target niche markets & new customers into Apple products. For example: the elite/niche market of Bang & Olufsen customers who would pay upwards of $6000 for a device like this from B&O would buy the iTablet for $800 to stream music/videos/etc to their home theatre systems. Also, the customers that are into high-end universal touch-screen remotes for the A/V systems. These remotes can easily cost well over $1000 & they usually don't have a screen that would be as large as the "iTablet", not to mention the full out OS X on there too. I don't see this product as something you just take with you all over and treat it like a netbook. Sure, you could, but I don't see it as that. Also, I'm sure you could play games/etc on this device as mentioned by some other posts. But again, I don't see it being "made for this". It would just be another option that it "could" do. The "iTablet" would basically be a way for Apple to try to reach out to dozens of different niche/group markets to try and get them into the Apple world. I'm sure that the marketing team at Apple is second to none, so this would be a successful product if marketed correctly (as I'm sure it will be). But then again, it may take a few revisions before the majority jumps on boards or sees a need for this product.
This is just my opinion. :)
This would be just the sort of thing I've been wanting from apple.
I really hope and pray that it will be a hybrid of a macbook and iphone. That is, I hope I can do everything on this that I can do on my wife's macbook (I have a pro) as well as install apps from the app store.
A front and rear facing camera would be nice. So would an accelerometer, microphone, and a magnetometer. Then I'd call it the ULTIMATE portable (not the ultra portable.
IF anything, the Kindle should be worried. Sure, all the apps from the app store will work with this tablet, yea yea, but unless its $500 and below, only mac-heads will buy it, just because they are mac geeks.
I do see books coming to Itunes store like the kindle is to amazon with this though.
"But $800, if true, prices whatever this is right out of netbook territory..."
Not for Apple products, it doesn't. We all know Apple products are notoriously more expensive to begin with.
And as always it will be overpriced and under featured. If you guys think this is going to be a tablet think again. This is Apple. The last time they did really anything revolutionary was the Newton.
I am going to bet that the CPU for the iTablet is not going to be Intel!. It will either be that special PA Semi variant of PPC DualCore super-power efficient (yeah, the stuff that controls missiles for the military), or the ARM A9 Cortex (dual core).
A superthin 120GB toshiba 1.8 inch SATA disk (no SSDs will be too expensive on this thing although it would be a great hack).
It will run Mac OSX lite. This OS is half way between iPhone OSX and Intel Max OSX. Why ?. They can "re-use" the framework done on iPhone and re-use the kernel technology used in 10.5.x. Keeping everything 1 version behind is not bad yet will maintain a lot of compatibility. It will be 100% iPhone apps compatible and potentially 95% Mac compatibility. That will bring it into its own ecosystem and enable a great bridging/companion device. NO 3G or EVO card on it. Just 802.11n wifi will do.
No matter what, I will get one. :-)
its look like a strange ideal
Windows users can get viruses just by visiting a website, or by opening an email from a trusted friend, or just by inserting a disk.
Mac users can hardly get a virus intentionally.
I am constantly being asked to help some hapless Windows user rescue their computer. Sometimes, it is even impossible to wipe the drive and reinstall. They had to buy a whole new computer, just because their OS got screwed up. That disturbed me. At least with a Mac, the worst case scenario involves reformatting the hard drive and reinstalling. On the Mac, there are certainly some flaws. There are most definitely anal design and interface decisions that come from Jobs & Co. But I never see the kind of crap that Windows users have to put up with all the time.
Hint: at my company, we had three IT support staff to support 50 Windows users. We had 1 Mac IT guy (me), and that also gave me time to do not only Website work, but art direct a monthly magazine.
That's the difference. Maybe you're a Windows wiz. If so, good for you. Kudos. But most people will never be technical pros. Most people are just schlubs. And that's no reason they should not be able to get their work done on a computer that makes their lives easier, not harder.
P.S. I meant to say that we have 1 Mac IT guy for the same number of Macs. Just to be clear.
Why in the hell would Apple put such efforts into this way overpriced netbook & not first release a mid-sized tower. I bet you that there's more people wanting a mid-sized tower than there are people waiting for this. Especially if it does sell for $800, talk about being $200 overpriced. This is the biggest Apple Tax I've ever seen.
peep game:
a digi/stylus pad with a standard, backlit eINK display........call it the iSketch
tomo
9.7 inches is the largest size e-ink screen manufactured by PVI. Another article even mentioned that. That size is telling- I believe we are going to see a dual flip-screen tablet. One side a multitouch LCD and the other side an e-ink screen.
Make it cheaper please... $800 price tag is not a netbook...
We have just posted our speculations on what might the mysterious iTablet be. Check it out.
http://www.skratchboard.com/2009/07/apple-itablet-is-coming/