Rumors peg Apple tablet for March or April

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Shane McGlaun29 December 2009, 7:00 AM

Apple tablet now expected to be unveiled in January.


I'm not convinced that there is a large enough market for dedicated tablet computers to go mainstream. However, had someone told me about a touch screen only phone in 2007 before the iPhone turned up I might have thought the market for such a device didn't exist. Rumors of the Apple tablet computer, widely expected to be called the iSlate, just won’t die.



The latest round of rumors has Foxconn's panel making subsidiary Innolux pegged as the screen supplier for the initial shipments of the Apple tablet. Later machines could get screens from Wintek as a second supplier. The Apple tablet was rumored to be debuting this year, but that time frame was changed to a Q1 2010 release according to speculation. The reason for the delay reports DigiTimes is that the screen of the tablet needed to be made stronger.

Foxconn subsidiary G-Tech Optoelectronics is said to be providing a glass strengthening process for the tablet. The rumors now have the tablet being announced in January 2010 with shipments expected to start in March or April. I'll believe it when I see it.


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McBanjo (User):

Quite sure this is happening. People need to move from using notepads, pens and paper, and into the 21st century. Apple seem to be the best company at shaking up a market these days, so who else is going to fulfill all our sci-fi dreams and hopes?

29 December 2009, 10:47 AM (2 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting McBanjo:
People need to move from using notepads, pens and paper

Why? And how is this moving on? What exactly does the slab do better? Where is the pressing need. Spral notepads require no batteries, cost under a $ and take up less pocket space.

Are people going to cart one of these things and a smart phone about?
Sane people wont! The tablet cannot offer the grunt and flexability of a notebook (or even a netbook). Even if the tablet could slim to the dimensions of a smart phone what would be the point?

What does the tablet do better? Why would someone carry one with (or rather than) an iPod or smartphone?

29 December 2009, 3:21 PM (2 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Pauly (User):

Answer = because its freekin cool man!
I can see a market for people wanting a second computer for the kitchen (mount on wall), coffee table (super mega happy universal remote) and bedroom.
But really it will be just another gadget owned by people with more money than sense

30 December 2009, 4:30 PM (2 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting Pauly:
because its freekin cool man!

No one ever became cool by carry a piece of tech about, roadies never get the girls.


Quoting Pauly:
I can see a market for people wanting a second computer for the kitchen (mount on wall), coffee table

Like the market for the Internet fridges, how many of those still in production?


Quoting Pauly:
But really it will be just another gadget

It'll become a drawer dweller, the form offers none of the niche advantage of platforms like iPods or smart phones.


30 December 2009, 5:22 PM (2 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

TechSavvy (New user):

This will excite me when I hear the specs and what it can and can't do! If this is a mac in a tablet great! but to be really marketable it needs to include a 12 or 13inch screen, 3G and actually be a computer rather then an iPod....

31 December 2009, 5:42 PM (2 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

TechSavvy (New user):

This will excite me when I see the specs of this. If it is a Mac computer as a touch pad and with a 12 or 13 inch screen, 3G access and an ipod as a secondary function then this will work for me. This will become my second computer at work!

31 December 2009, 5:46 PM (2 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

petert (Senior member):

I'll be interested to hear whether or not it supports Flash!

20 January 2010, 12:24 PM (1 month ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

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