Apple tablet rumoured to ship in November

Shane McGlaun
04 August 2009, 8:45 PM


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An Apple tablet is to be announced in September, says unnamed analyst.


I don’t think anyone will argue that Apple is at the top of its game when it comes to innovative products that are exceptionally likely to hit a chord with consumers. Take the iPhone 3GS smartphone, the latest iteration of the device to hit market. The phone is a fantastic improvement on an already very good phone, and it is selling in huge volumes across the world -- to the point where Apple literally cannot manufacture them fast enough.

One of the things that Apple fans and fans of netbooks in general have been clamoring for is an Apple netbook. In fact, Apple is the sole hold out from the major computer makers that doesn't offer a netbook.



One anonymous analyst claims that the days of no netbook (or at least a netbook-esque offering) from Apple are very limited. An unnamed analyst has claimed to have seen and held the fabled Apple tablet in person. (Though it must be said that it's necessary to suspend disbelief here, as Apple does not show anything to anyone save a couple of favoured US-based journalists in advance of a launch -- and only ever a week or so in advance.)

The tablet is said to be announced in September and will then ship around November. The device will supposedly support gaming and multimedia functions.

The announcement of the tablet and possible ship date is said to be one of the major reasons why some of the high profile netbook builders have held off on shipping new netbooks. I guess they don’t want to be embarrassed by offering something inferior to Apple's offering. The rumored retail price is $700 to $800, and all I can say is if that rumored price turns out to be true the device had better be a whole lot more than simply a larger iPhone.

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Streety (New user):

Has anyone entertained the idea of a netbook with TWO screens, everyone is centred on the tablet style PC. A netbook with two screens, where one plays the part of a virtual keyboard similar to the iPhone's, and the other is a conventional screen would seem pretty revolutionary to me.

You could rotate the screen such that it phisically looks like a book! This would also tie in with apple's recent digitisation of books at the Apple HQ.

As for movies, becasue its dimensions are the same as a netbook, it would stan on its own an you could still watch movies and the controls would be on the "keyboard replacement screen". it could also fold shut, protecting both screens. I'm no good at photoshop, but would love someone to do a mockup of this!

Just a thought for those mac lovers out there! :)

04 August 2009, 9:38 PM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Phil1 (New user):

It exists (or existed) in the form the second generation OLPC:
http://www.computerworld.com/common/images/site/features/2008/062008/olpc_4fotos.jpg
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9094018/Elgan_The_100_laptop_may_be_a_glimpse_of_the_future

05 August 2009, 1:51 AM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Tony23 (New user):

Looks like a "premium product". No doubt will be way beyond this black duck's budget. I'll wait two years when these things are a dime a dozen and there is software available that really drives them well. A mix between a computer and a netbook/kindle as a form factor would be attractive. But I wouldn't be prepared to pay silly pricing - any such device just wouldn't have the utility of a real computer for the applications I use. Good for reading books, showing photos and movies (not that I do that; but it is an obvious use). Would be bloody awful for anything that required serious keyboard input. However, if someone was thinking a USB input on the side and a stand at the back would turn it into a passable mobile computer for most applications. You'd just need to carry around a mouse, keyboard and memory stick - and it would need to run productivity apps, so it couldn't be useless in terms of CPU capability - and MULTITASK. Which means it's probably going to try and serve too many markets and therefore suck. At least it would need to have that much capability for the price Apple would charge. Hopefully when Windows 7 is out there will be clones running PC software. Even better, I'd rather have it run Linux, but that will be a while longer I suspect.

05 August 2009, 12:00 AM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Raindog (User):

Quoting Tony23:
Looks like a "premium product"

Looks like Newton II - best of luck


05 August 2009, 12:46 AM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

McBanjo (New user):

Quoting Tony23:
No doubt will be way beyond this black duck's budget.

No doubt.

Quoting Tony23:
any such device just wouldn't have the utility of a real computer for the applications I use.

This is not for you then, and you probably shouldn't buy it. The idea is to be able to use it while standing, I don't think you get the picture, which is why Apple is making this device not a Windows or Linux user. It would be like putting a USB port and foldable stand on the back of the iPhone.

Quoting Tony23:
At least it would need to have that much capability for the price Apple would charge.

For you maybe, but I would rather a device that does several things perfectly than a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. Again, this is not the product for you. Remember that Apple has always had an 80/20 principle. Their products serve 80% of people who might want a product like theirs, the other 20% usually demand advanced, farfetched features that impact negatively on what the 80% want done well.

05 August 2009, 7:11 AM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Raindog (User):

Quoting McBanjo:
Remember that Apple has always had an 80/20 principle. Their products serve 80% of people who might want a product like theirs

Persistent sales and take-up figures would suggest Apple have positioned themselves behind a 6/94 principle.


Quoting McBanjo:
This is not for you then

odds on it wont be for many people at all



Quoting McBanjo:
The idea is to be able to use it while standing

Why? In preparation for the envisaged great chair shortage of 2010-2015?


Quoting McBanjo:
I don't think you get the picture

I don't think Apple have got it? Making their second attempt to solve a problem that doesn't exist.

Quoting McBanjo:
It would be like putting a USB port and foldable stand on the back of the iPhone.

Well it would be until you tried to cram one of these suckers into a pocket. And while pocketing an iPhone isn't easy even cargo pants wont cut it for transporting this zeppelin. What next the handy iStrap? Or iJackets where the display is sewn into the inner lining.

Think about it for more than a second and its obviously apples new walkabout belongs with the luggables, and if you have to lug this thing why not lug as many grams of something a lot more functional?


05 August 2009, 8:52 AM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

texasboy1 (User):

apple is always going to over charge for crap software......screw you apple!!!! and you mac OX X!!!!

05 August 2009, 2:15 AM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Ken Johnson (New user):

I agree with Texasboy. This product will not challenge the netbooks at all. You spend a lot of money to get one of these anyway. Apple always over charge on their products. Stick with Linux or Windows!

05 August 2009, 8:10 AM (2 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

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