Tablet from Apple next week? Some good reasons why.
Jeremy Toeman has his finger on the pulse of the computing and electronics industry more than most folks I know. Today he wrote up a post along with justification that indicates Apple will be announcing an ultraportable Mac Tablet next week. He's got some insightful thoughts as to why this type of product is the next logical step after the multi-touch iPhone. Yes, we've heard about a Mac Tablet before, but Jeremy's argument is compelling.
If we do hear about a new touch-enabled Mac Tablet next week, I can't see how it would be available prior to year end however. Enabling touch on a computing device is one thing, but making it usable and simple across the many tasks of a full computer is quite another feat. I'd like for Jeremy to be correct because I think that would spur innovation and competition on the Microsoft side of the Tablet PC market. Unfortunately, as much as I enjoy using Tablets and UMPCs, I realize that it's still a very niche market and I suspect that Apple won't focus on it at this time. Could they help turn the small Tablet market into a much larger one?
He forgot to cite the persistent delays with the Modbook tablet from Axiotron. It is possible they hooked up with Apple at Macworld and are working with them on an official Apple tablet, but are unable to mention it due to Apple's policy of secrecy. Thus, the delays are merely a stall until the official unveiling. If so, it's a great cover. After all, it's already established that Axiotron has a Mac tablet, so they can develop an official version without raising suspicion.
Posted by: Sumocat | August 01, 2007 at 08:43 AM
Having not read the article yet, the only thing that still bugs me is Steve Jobs historic rejection of the whole Tablet PC idea.
But now that he's been outted as a rabid button hater, maybe he could or has changed his mind.
I don't have (nor do I want) an iPhone and don't (and probably won't) own any Apple products but anybody who pays half an ounce of attention could see the conceptual leap to a Mac Tablet after the iPhone is a no-brainer.
They could do it if they wanted, but the question is still, do they want to do it (see first paragraph above)?
Posted by: Aaron J. Walker | August 01, 2007 at 12:36 PM
We love the apple and something tells me apple ninjas have already come from above. I believe. This is the holy grail of a culmination of Apple tech previously dormant; ink. Now lemme guess it's sits on top of a (mac-mini) headless dock == no, pluggable dock; magnetic, man, I saw Transformers too, they gotta call apple.
Posted by: i(b)imacguru | August 01, 2007 at 01:20 PM
Sorry, but as much as I and others want a Mac Tablet don't expect to see one soon....although I'd love to have to eat these words...
1) His Steveness killed the Newton upon returning to Apple
2) Ol' Stevo said after killing the Newton that computers have keyboards....
So, don't hold your breath waiting for a Mac Tablet.....
Seems like I write this same post about every 3-4 months when there's a posting somewhere that says that the proverbial Mac Tablet is coming just around the corner....even though the people posting these wishful thoughts have no solid evidence for such a conclusion....
So it goes..... ;-)
Posted by: ArchiMark | August 01, 2007 at 03:18 PM
I can assure you, based on conversations I've had with Axiotron, that they are not working with Apple on development of a Mac Tablet.
Posted by: Rob Bushway | August 01, 2007 at 04:25 PM
Rob, since you've talked to the folks at Axiotrom, do you know if the Modbook will really ship at some point in time. I ordered mine a while back and the delays have been worrisome (now at Q4 2007). The salesperson with whom I have communicated seems nice enough but also clueless as to when/if these will actually ship...
Posted by: Fernando | August 01, 2007 at 10:40 PM
I'm expecting a new iMac and iLife... That's about it!
Posted by: tnkgrl | August 02, 2007 at 01:38 AM
>>>Unfortunately, as much as I enjoy using Tablets and UMPCs, I realize that it's still a very niche market and I suspect that Apple won't focus on it at this time. Could they help turn the small Tablet market into a much larger one?
R U kidding? They'd CREATE the damn tablet market. Just like the iPhone has suddenly created a smartphone market (which, of course, consists solely of the iPhone. Neat how that works out, eh?).
Posted by: Mike Cane | August 02, 2007 at 08:56 AM
I hope that Apple DOESN'T introduce a Mac Tablet. My Mac stable is already full. I don't need to be tempted to buy another device right now!
Posted by: Tax Man | August 02, 2007 at 10:01 AM
Tax Man, eBay.
Posted by: James Kendrick | August 02, 2007 at 10:34 AM