Why an Apple tablet will succeed

The Apple tablet, if it arrives, is an extension of a design that already has mass appeal--and does not require a leap of faith to believe it will succeed.

Qualcomm concept tablet based on Snapdragon chip

(Credit: Qualcomm)

The Apple iPhone and iPod are arguably small tablets--and consumers have demonstrated unmistakably that they love these devices. So, a larger, more versatile version of the iPod makes perfect sense.

And some not-so-small companies like Qualcomm and Intel are pushing tablet-like devices for their next-generation silicon. So this isn't just Apple (if the Apple tablet rumors are indeed true).

That said, let's not limit this potential market to Apple. A company clever enough to design a compelling Google Chrome OS-based tablet, for example, will also succeed, if an Android-based tablet design doesn't arrive first.

Semantics is one obstacle to understanding the potential appeal of a re-conceived tablet. Think of it this way: it's not a tablet in the sense of the kludgy, thick, heavy, uninspired tablets of yore. Or even the ugly, thick, heavy convertible laptops available today.

Think of it as a mobile Internet device. Or whatever you choose to call it. The point is that it's designed around wireless connectivity and real portability. It's very thin, very light, has a larger screen than an iPod, and, most importantly, comes with an inspired user interface.

There will be losers in the market, of course. PC makers who continue to sell bulky warmed-over laptops with a clumsy interface will be greeted with limited consumer acceptance--as in years past. The Apples of the world will succeed.

Here are some possible specifications that are based on what Qualcomm is proposing (since the Apple tablet is still only a rumor):

• Less than 2 pounds
  
• Under 20mm thick (0.8 inches)
  
• All-day battery life
  
• 3G/4G mobile broadband
  
• Wi-Fi, GPS
  
• Robust 3D graphics, HD video
  
• No waiting, instant-on
  

I would buy it (and that's not a shallow promise made only to buttress my argument), despite the fact I have never seriously considered a tablet in the past. Why? Simple: it's functional. More specifically, it's extremely functional as a secondary device--and its size and weight have a lot to do with this.

And, as opposed to today's Netbooks that are just downsized laptops, you could whip this device (8- to 10-inch screen size) out of your bag and it would be instantly accessible and have a screen big enough to do 90 percent of what you can do on your laptop.

As one reader said responding to a post by CNET's Rafe Needleman: "The Apple tablet isn't a computer, any more than the iPhone is a computer. The tablet is a media player that's also an information appliance. You have to judge these things by different criteria."

Another reader posed an obvious but important question: "Will we be inspired?"

And another comment, which basically crystallizes the points above and states my argument: "I see my iPhone as a mini tablet. Depending on the price, I would definitely consider buying a larger, easier to read/type device."

In short, I don't need a smaller version (i.e., a Netbook) of something I already have. As a secondary device, it should be different than my primary laptop and provide a different kind of utility.

My prediction: 2010 will be the year of the re-conceived tablet.

[JakeSky]

Rafe Needleman dissects new businesses and products???<br /><br />And do they pay you for this? I wasn't going to add a comment to this lame attempt at reviewing a product that hasn't been released, but cnet keeps throwing it up as if it's somehow insightful.<br /><br />the analysis: If you are like Rafe Needleman, dissecting new businesses and products, you would have realized that Apple recently made a major move in its notebook lineup. All the laptops went PRO. But for the lowly white one, there is no longer a consumer macbook line. To the average person this would seem like a non event. Standard cleaning up of the product lines. To someone as adept as Rafe at dissecting new businesses and products it should have begged the question, WHY? <br /><br />At the same time this was happening, chatter started to build up around an Apple tablet, and today, that chatter seems to be indicating a 10 inch tablet computer priced to start at 800 dollars (I'm not sure when 800 dollars became 2000 dollars but apparently to every tech commentator it did). Eight hundred dollars is not a lot of money for a good percentage of our population, and more importantly not a lot of money if you take into account my conclusion to this comment below). <br /><br />In the REAL world: Apple continues to advance one of its goals, that of dominating the home (consumer market). It started this with the creation of itunes and ipods and not office type applications that the over the hill and seemingly out of touch Mr. Needleman thinks are the uses of consumer PCs. (not like bluetooth, a mini keyboard, and a bigger version of that clear plastic stand found with the ipod touch wouldn't make an apple tablet the functional equivalent of an ultra portable notebook). Later followed video ipods, the ipod touch, the iphone, apple TV, mobile me, the apps store, and further refinements to the mac OS and itunes. All geared towards the basic consumer/home market, but with ample ability to tackle business oriented tasks. So to anyone paying attention to Apple's cleaning house of consumer targeted laptops, to the ever onward charge of cloud computing, and to the way teens, twenty somethings, and home consumers actually use their computers, it should come as no surprise that Apple is going ahead with a tablet, and that that tablet would have a screen size somewhere in between an iPhone and a 17 inch macbook pro. Something that is meant to replace, oh, I don't know... the CONSUMER LAPTOP.<br /><br />What with apples slick finger touch ability proven on the Itouch and iphones. What with an instant on sleep mode proven by the itouch and iphones. What with SSD memory per gigabyte becoming more reasonable in price. What with an on screen keyboard that can be split screen with better spacing between buttons or a bluetooth keyboard for longer typing like this comment. What with the ability to lay on the couch, lay in bed, sit at my desk, throw it in my backpack portability of a tablet that doesn't require a constant fan running a bloated windows operating system. What with a nice pair of earbuds wouldn't make that 10 inch (HD) screen really feel like you are in a movie theatre. My music library at my fingertips. My books and the web at my fingertips with a bigger screen because a ten inch tablet screen is the functional equivalent of a 15 inch laptop screen. And who knows, maybe Apple has finally figured out a work around with Adobe and flash. And who knows, maybe there is some news to follow with mobile me and iWork in the cloud. <br /><br />So if I'm right, Apple will use the tablet to completely replace the consumer notebook. That's a really big thing. Not new, but they have everything in place to make it truly work compared to failed attempts by pc tablets and what will prove to be a horrible shortcomings of present day net-books. <br /><br />If I may: I would wager that the Apple tablet will be bigger and better selling than anything they have done to date (okay maybe not the ipod). At 800 dollars they can make a real big stink in the consumer/home pc market. <br /><br />Sorry my thoughts were so jumbled, but I can't understand why the Apple tablet isn't an obvious next step in consumer PCs. <br /><br />Jake

[donsms]

What kind of dream world do you live in?

[CitizenX]

"What with the ability to lay on the couch, lay in bed, sit at my desk, throw it in my backpack"<br /><br />Yep, you got that right.<br /><br />I look forward to seeing it, should it ever see the light of day. It would be an awesome "information appliance" to have around the house for accessing existing media or for surfing the web. All the parts are in place with iLife and iTunes.<br /><br />At the right price point, I could see a family having a couple of these. I think a price above $400 is too high and would like to see it priced at $399 or less.

[aaanandhismini]

Dude you must be a heavy coffee drinker. This wasn't a review, more of an information piece directed to those that think this whole tablet thing will be just another WinPC tablet edition.<br /><br />Lighten up.

[tech_crazy]

@Jakesky<br /><br />You've got quite a few points right. But "because a ten inch tablet screen is the functional equivalent of a 15 inch laptop screen" must be a joke. If you have actually used both screen sizes, you wouldn't have said that.

[JakeSky]

What I meant by the 10 inch tablet screen being the functional equivalent to a 15 inch notebook screen is in the distancing from your eyes. Because you will tend to hold the tablet closer to your face, the screen, and in particular text, will appear comparable. That's all I meant by that. Anybody who has read books on an iphone or Itouch will know what I mean. It's a surprisingly good experience, but not perfect. A 10 inch screen is actually ideal, but no wonder that seems to be the spec that Apple has settled on (at least if you believe the rumors). <br /><br />Let me repeat again, the Apple tablet will not be a add on device like the ipod touch. I suspect it is meant to be viewed and used as a stand alone computer. It is meant to replace their macbook line of laptops. <br /><br />Also, it's funny all the comments about the price. People talking about subsidies with phones to bring down the price as if a subsidy in this context is free money. Phone subsidies are just loans that you pay back over the life of your contract. You are still paying the full cost, just not all at once. Furthermore, $800 dollars for a tablet that is a fully functional computer is not a lot of money. I suspect the 800 dollar price point is for the low end version and that there will be a 1100 dollar version with better specs etc. Of course Apple is Apple, so they will not initially put in everything that they are capable of into the systems at first. They will intentionally leave things out only to add them in later in future generations of the computer. I hope they include a camera and bluetooth in the first iteration. This is just good business strategy.<br /><br />Also, I've seen mentioned that the macbook air was an expensive flop. Well, I'm pretty sure they needed the air, as well as the itouch, to be able to prove the concept of a tablet. The engineering that has to go into such thin devices is no small task.<br /><br />Again, Apple has cleared out its consumer notebook line to make way for the tablet. The tablet is meant to replace the consumer notebook. Which means they are going to sell a lot of them, and at 800 dollars they will sell even more than the macbook. This is huge.<br /><br />Jake

[baconstang]

Yeah, it really depends on the resolution.

[Constable Odo]

@donsms: What kind of dream world to you live in? I could imagine you standing at Kitty Hawk and laughing at the Wright brothers and their useless flying machine. The problem is that some people never have dreams of how things could be and never see further than their noses.<br /><br />Bill Gates had the same idea as early as 2005 and if I recall correctly even further back. He always believed that the Tablet PC was destined for general consumer use.<br />http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/laptops-pcs/bill-gates-previews-ultraportable-tablet-pc-101231.php<br />The Tablet PC hadn't caught traction because maybe the time just wasn't right. Maybe with all the right elements in place it will. Just because you don't see it happening, don't believe it can't happen. Your lack of dreams is your loss.

[Seaspray0]

The world I live in tells me that a netbook with touch screen will offer more than a tablet and cost half the price. "Touch screen on a netbook?" you say. And why not? When tablets move to windows 7, the OS will support it by default. You'll be able to open it up and use the keyboard just like a laptop, and you will be able to swivel the display around and close it over they keyboard providing you with all the features of a tablet. Flip the display again and close it, and you've got the screen protected (unlike a tablet). Several OEM's are already looking at making something like this. It won't be $800, either. If apple plans to release a tablet, they will compete directly with devices like these. <br /> <br />Could an apple table succeed? It won't do it on a price/performance scale at $800. Right now, consumer loyalty is its best bet. Brooke Crothers only reinforces my belief in this... he's the only cnet reporter claiming it will success and also an an apple product fan.

[wanorris]

Macfan a few years ago: the Windows Media Center PC is a market failure and all Apple products are brilliant successes that take over the world. Therefore the Apple TV will take over the world. <br /> <br />Oops. <br /> <br />And that was only $300. <br /> <br />I'm sure this will sell heavily to Apple users and general high-disposable-income gadget freaks, but it very much remains to be seen whether this will have any legs, especially at that price point. <br /> <br />They can get the price point way down if they bundle it with 3G and a carrier deal, but then people are paying $40-60 a month for it, on top of their cell charges and their home broadband. <br /> <br />It seems like a cool product, but I think Apple will discover that it's not really good enough to replace a real computer (even a netbook), and it's too expensive to be an impulse in-between device. <br /> <br />It will be interesting to see if this drives people to systems like the Asus Eee T91, a small, lightweight convertable tablet that runs normal software applications and comes in under $500.

[eric5659]

I think you know who works for Apple!

[infamousdude]

You didn't mention the price, I think that would the factor holding many potential buyers back.

[infamousdude]

would be*

[Random_Walk]

Maybe, but then, nobody expected a $700 touch-screen smartphone (in a world of subsidized $99 blackberries) to take the world by storm either.

[jeremyblaze]

The $700 phone didn't enter the world of 99 Blackberrys. Major subsidies on blackberrys happened after the 3G was subsidized, and the iPhone only really skyrocketed after ATT dropped it to $199, a price that most other smartphones were at at the time.

[monkeyfun14]

@Random_Walk <br /><br />And it didn't the iPhone didn't truly take off until the price dropped.

[wmurphy67]

For those who complain about a lack of a physical keyboard on the iPhone - it's a fairly simple option to have a tablet (of any manufacturer) connect via bluetooth with a compact keyboard (Apple has one that's extremely portable). I would much rather have that keyboard and a tablet when on a plane or car. <br /><br />Use of a virtual drive (i.e. iDisk) means that files and folders can be worked on seamlessly from one device to another.

[retnep]

Why would someone want to carry a keyboard and a tablet? <br /> <br />The laptop replaced the desktop in many homes. The netbook replaces the laptop in terms of quick functionality and portability. I am a law student and I have a netbook. Many of my classmates come up to me ask me if I like it because they are tired of lugging their laptops around. One of the things that they love about my netbook is that the keyboard is full sized keyboard. It's important because whether I am in class or working in an office, I generate a lot of documents. Using my thumbs to type is not an option and having to break out a seperate keyboard and connect it via bluetooth defeats the purpose of something quick and compact. <br /> <br />Why anyone needs a huge smartphone is beyond me. If a touchscreen is what the consumer wants, isn't Windows 7 perfectly designed for that?

[gerrrg]

I'm not sure whether Apple's tablet will succeed, but I do strongly believe that whichever tablet(s) comes out first with PixelQi's direct-sunlight viewing LCD technology (or similar) will garner a lot of the sales and press. With direct-sunlight viewing on an LCD screen, I don't think b/w e-ink will stand up to the competition, especially if they are equivalently priced.<br /><br />The rumored price is a bit steep for my taste, but build enough usability into it (ATSC receiver, bluetooth, a dual-core atom processor, wifi, gps) and it would sell for that price ($600-$800). Add the direct sunlight viewing LCD technology into it, and it will be a clear winner.

[RMarch]

So many ridiculous statements in this article I don't have time to comment on them all. I don't mind a speculative piece, but so many things are stated as nearly fact. I love this one... <br /> <br />"A company clever enough to design a compelling Google Chrome OS-based tablet, for example, will also succeed.." <br /> <br />So a non existent tablet, running the most vaporware OS of all (that no one has ever seen let alone has any real concept of what it is going to be), for an undefined marlet is going to succeed. <br /> <br />This is so detached from reality it is pointless. Pixies and fairy dust will make a great product too.

[aaanandhismini]

It's opinion....<br /><br />And a good one.

[myles taylor]

If Google says they're going to make it, they are going to. This is Google we're talking about and they don't do things in half measures. <br /><br />Also, this is a new market and everything at this point is speculation, including you saying that anything is going to fail. It's not ridiculous. It's speculation, but that's what these guys do.

[Enzos2]

Amid the Circle, on the gilded Mast,<br />(Superior by the Head) was Ariel plac'd;<br />His Purple Pinions opening to the Sun,<br />He rais'd his Azure Wand, and thus begun.<br /><br />The tablet will RULE. <br />There is no doubt<br /><br />Enz

[DMAN3k]

Why is it that what other manufactures are proposing means it's an Apple success?<br /><br />Is it like how Apple claim innovation on everything that previously existed???

[mjtomlin]

Perhaps you're confusing "innovation" and "invention"? In fact, to innovate implies that you are improving on a previous design or method.

[AppleProLeo]

"Is it like how Apple claim innovation on everything that previously existed???"<br /><br />God you're so stupid. Re-read that line again and agin and again and until you why your sentence is totally stupid and why Apple has every right to make that claim.

[Seaspray0]

@appleproleo. Tablet's have been around since the turn of the mellenium. Apple has no right to make any claim that they are inventing something that has already existed.

[natedogg0511]

when did they claim that?

[rleon]

Is no what you invent or discover, it is more about how it is implemented. I have a Sportio Waterbeat and even having more features than an iPhone it is HARD to use. Just as OSes, Linux might be better and cheaper, but it is harder to use than Windows.

[Seaspray0]

point taken, rleon. I agree.

[zarrik]

No doubt the Applet tablet will be a solid product. But I have to disagree that it will be a huge success. If the tablet is a giant iPod Touch it will have a better chance of survival than a MacBook without keyboard. But not everything Apple touches turns to gold, and tablets have been tried again and again with little success.

[innov8ion]

You forgot to mention two of the bigger use cases:<br /><br />1. E-book: Beats Kindle because it's in color and has a touch interface<br />2. Supports cocktail

[wanorris]

Sony has a touchscreen ebook reader for $299. <br /> <br />And e-ink readers like Kindle and Sony Reader have batteries that last for weeks.

[msjonker]

"A company clever enough to design a compelling Google Chrome OS-based tablet, for example, will also succeed..." Really? Chrome OS isn't even available yet. How do you know Chrome OS itself will even succeed? <br /> <br />"I would buy it (and that's not a shallow promise made only to buttress my argument), despite the fact I have never seriously considered a tablet in the past." What about the other fact that you know absolutely nothing about it except for some rumors? <br /> <br />All you really said is that you love Apple and Google.

[Seaspray0]

Perhaps we should have included the broolyn bridge in the article to see if Brooke would be willing to buy it.

[pwrhamr]

Isnt this just a rehash of the Newton from 25 years ago?

[ckh1272]

I believe your math is about ten years too far back.

[docster87]

yes, but a lot has happened in the time and the newer one will have better &#38; more options for wireless connectivity, color, and better touch/interface while being pegged for media and games as well as regular computer/internet activity.<br /><br />could be better, could be a repeat, couldn't be much worse than the old Newton...

[mkgmkg3]

Your statement what would mean the Newton was in production in 1984. It was not. Please try and know a little bit of what you are talking about before making comments. And, no, it would not be a rehash of the Newton since, if the story has any reality, would be like saying a microwave is a rehash of a toaster.<br />The Newton was a PDA, this (again, if true) would be a truly portable computer.

[bonesbautista]

I'll get one if the device has a cellular modem and I can connect a BT/wired keyboard for those occasional times I'd want the device for some light work (word processing, email). A small data port for flash memory would be really helpful here too. Otherwise I'd be getting a small laptop or a Modbook to complement my upcoming iMac purchase.

[ademirovic]

Tablets based on Iphone OS, android or Win CE have potential to be a huge hit. Just consider that everybody has a stockpile of pdf documents that can be comfortably red on a 10" screen, instantly on, 5-10 hours with one charge tablet. Add to that ability to watch movies, browse the web, use Skype and $300 price.... success is guaranteed. Sure, Apple's price will be higher but others will follow. Just check Touch Book from Always Innovating which is available now for $299<br /><br />So I totally agree: this device should not be a smaller notebook, but bigger Ipod touch or Android.. <br /><br /><br /> will succeed. it will be a huge hit if it is based on

[dennisheadley]

I also believe that the company (doesn't have to be Apple) that comes out with a tablet that foregoes traditional computer short-comings will be a success. Todays younger generation is growing up interfacing in different ways than generations past. They grow up playing handheld game systems with touch/stylus interfaces like the DS, they are used to different, cleaner and simpler, graphic interfaces like the Xbox 360, can type faster on cell phones with non-traditional keyboards than most people can on a qwerty keyboard. <br /><br />I may never adjust to it, but talk to my wife, who just started on computers a few years ago, or my 14 year old son and they will tell you that they can't wait for todays standard computer to just go away. They hate sitting at a desk typing on a big clunky keyboard and using a mouse. <br /><br />My wife plays casual games on MSN and the like, but the second she sees the same game on the DS she snatches it up and never plays it again on the computer. She prefers the stylus to the mouse. My son is the same way, he would rather play his consoles or DS before he would ever go near the computer. We have Verizon so no iPhones for us, but they have both said they would love one after watching the commercials on TV. <br /><br />Computers make sense for business work, but for casual use like email, surfing the web and media use, they are not that great of a platform at all. Normal consumers in the home bought computers because they almost felt they had to in todays world. Want to check your bank balance, pay the bills, keep in touch with those family and friends that live in another area, apply for jobs, do home work, all kinds of things are moving to almost require internet access. But they really don't require a computer, it is just what was available at the time. Given a choice, a lot of people would dump traditional computers for something that is casual user friendly and more like other consumer gadgets.

[momcat77]

I think you have hit it right on. The company that builds for the next generation is the one that will succeed. Keyboarding on a desktop is something that will go the way of the dodo within two generations. Touch and speech recognition technologies will be what dominates in a world where multi-tasking and connectivity are as much a part of life as respiration. Offices and workplaces will continue to use "old" interfaces simply because they are heavily invested in such technologies, and because they do what they were designed for. But outside of that, consumers love things that are easy, fun, and versatile. Price will not be an issue. Those who want it will get it, and those who don't will grumble about the price.

[bmosbacker]

In general I agree with Momcat77. However, for many of us who can type well, say 45/60 words per minute and who do not want to "talk" to the computer to dictate text, especially with people around, I don't see a replacement for the standard keyboard and laptop form factor. I can "type" relatively fast on my iPhone but not nearly as fast as on my keyboard. Moreover, a flat device with a touch screen keyboard does not provide a good typing and viewing position. I do a lot of work at home in the evening and on weekends so I'm not sure how, for those like me, a tablet would be an effective replacement for my laptop at home or for work. I can see a tablet as a good book reader, especially if you can annotate on it, and for short business trips.

[ywkhgqo]

I have a feeling it won't succeed. For all the people that just want a bigger ipod touch, you realize you lose the whole actually being able to store it in your pocket thing right? It just seems stupid to have a tablet that i think would LIMIT what you could do when you could just have a smaller version with the only disadvantage being screen size. Netbooks are the mini versions of computers for a reason, they can do almost ANYTHING.

[shellcodes_coder]

Dude remember newton? how big, great and successful it was...Well the same thing will happen to Apple tablet

[Perry_Clease]

"Dude remember newton? how big, great and successful it was...Well the same thing will happen to Apple tablet"<br /><br />Yup, when your attempts fail then just give up. <br /><br />Remember the iPod, how big, great, and successful is that? Well the same thing will happen to the Apple Tablet.

[Seaspray0]

I want to know where you guys are buying your crystal balls... or are you basing predictions on the psychics in the national enquirer.

[EarthToApple]

The Steve Jobs reality distortion field would need to expand the entire universe; and have aliens landing in Cupertino lining up for one of these Apple Tablets before I would even consider taking a number for one of these.<br /><br />Just my two cents.

[The_happy_switcher]

Next time consider putting your two cents in a coinstar machine instead.

[SonySone]

It won't work. I don't want to carry anything around, that's why I like touchscreen phones. Touchscreen phones/smartphones are mini computers and they pack a lot of power in a small form factor. Who wants to carry an 8" tablet around on the train, going to a bar or restaurant. It won't take off. And where it will be convenient, around the house, the backyard, the library, I already have my laptop to use.

[cnetpre]

For the general consumer, I'm with you on this one 100%. A tablet is supposed to provide yet another device that falls somewhere between your laptop and smartphone - I don't think so. If people want to reduce the size of their carry-ons when they commute by train with the need to access the internet, smartphones are perfectly suitable. If people want a little more power with a larger screen with the comfort of typing with both hands, the obvious choice would be a laptop.<br /><br />Imagine having to type on a tablet by finding some way to either use one arm or book thick enough to prop the screen to the right angle of your view. With a laptop, you don't have to struggle with that; the screen hinge bends to your needs.<br /><br />However, this can be appealing to businesses where clipboards are commonly used. Interestingly though, tablets type computers is not new technology and have always been available. If this didn't work in the past and did not appeal to businesses for whatever reason, it's unlikely that it will be a success even by Apple especially during a time when businesses are struggling to reduce expenses under a very difficult economy. There's very little justification for companies to spend money to buy tablets when other solutions are available.

[drfrost]

It's really about applications. Most of us buy computers to do "something." I use them to design with at work and to play games at home. Neither of these applications would be better served by a touch tablet. But that begs the question: what applications would be better served by a touch tablet and will people be willing to plop down X amount for the added convenience of this device versus a laptop. I can't really think of any "killer" apps for such a platform and I guess that's why I have no interest in it.

[fondy]

I'm not so sure that even Apple could make a successful tablet. An iPhone/Macbook Air hybrid would no doubt be pretty slick, but in a sour economy it's going to be hard to sell people something that does essentially everything that they can already do with their notebooks and smartphones.<br /><br />How much different would this 'iTablet' be from the Nokia N810 or the Archos 7, and how many of those have you seen on store shelves? An iTablet would almost certainly be too large for a pocket and too under-powered and clumsy to replace a notebook.<br /><br />Will they build it with enough battery power or charging options to make it truly portable (unlike most of the netbooks on the market with their pathetic 2-4 hour batteries)? As with the iPhone, will owners of iTablets be driven to OCD-like madness trying to make sure that they are always within reach of the proprietary charging cord? Would the AC adapter be a simple wall wart or the typical two-piece, brick-like trip hazard that we're forced to use with our notebooks?<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, if anyone could meet the above challenges and still make the thing lightweight and durable enough for everyday use, Apple certainly could. It's just that today's smartphones and notebooks have so many capabilities that I don't think there's a big enough void between the two for this thing to sell in large quantities, not without cannibalizing the other two markets.<br /><br />Then again, maybe it's time to be rid of the notebook. Between poor battery life, limited wi-fi and expensive cellular data plans, the notebook has never really lived up to its potential to be more than just a portable desktop.

[ywkhgqo]

i'd check out the asus 1008HA. Gets over 8 hours of battery life.

[iisgenius-2009]

"unlike most of the netbooks on the market with their pathetic 2-4 hour batteries? Errr... most of the netbooks in the market have an average of 5 hours battery life the last time I checked. There are only a handful of netbooks whose battery life is under 4 hours (Gateway, Dell, and HP). The rest have a batter life of over 4 hours, and a few over 8 hours and are under $450.

[shellcodes_coder]

ya, ya, ya Apple tablet will succeed just like Newton did LOL

[Perry_Clease]

Zune?

[mjtomlin]

Okay dude, we get it. You hate the Newton for whatever reason. Get over it.<br /><br />You may also want to try considering the fact that the Newton began development in the late 80's when desktop computers were sitting at top speed of 33MHz. And at the time the Newton was released it was ahead of it's time and pretty much kick started the PDA market. <br /><br />A tablet made today would be far more powerful and capable than anything made more than 15 years ago.

[muskratboy]

hey idiot... the Newton = the iPhone... not the tablet.<br /><br />and the iPhone will succeed just like... oh wait, it did? MASSIVELY popular, you say?<br /><br />the Newton HAS been updated... as the iPhone. and it worked. well. get your comparisons straight, would ya?

[drfrost]

@muskratboy:<br /><br />The newton failed as a product line. Trying to say that it evolved into the iphone is beyond ludicrous.<br /><br />I think shellcodes_coder was simply trying to point out that Apple, like every other corporation, has flops from time to time. So, just because Apple comes out with a new product, that doesn't necessarily imply success (immediate or long term).

[paragonjr]

Newton was a precursor to the PDA. PDA was a precursor to the iPod touch. iPod touch is a precursor to the Mac Tablet. (Hint: *a* precursor, not *the* precursor)<br /><br />Mac Tablet will converge software/hardware technology and functionality already employed in iPod touch/iPhone and Macbook. Mac Tablet will also incorporate software/hardware technology and functionality not currently employed in iPod touch/iPhone and MacBook.<br /><br />Mac Tablet, when released, would fill a niche in Apple's product lineup midway between iPod touch/iPhone and MacBook Pro 13". Newton gone. PDA gone. MacBook gone.<br /><br />iPod revamped MP3 player market. (Zune?)<br /><br />iPod touch revamped intuitive touchscreen media player market. (Zune HD?) <br /><br />iPhone revamped smartphone market. (BlackBerry Storm? LG Arena? HTC Dream/Magic/Hero?)<br /><br />iMac revamped all-in-one PC market. (Dell Studio One?)<br /><br />Mac Tablet will revamp netbook/MID/UMPC market. (Sony VAIO UX?)<br /><br />Just an opinion. Not a fact.<br /><br />Will it succeed? Anyone's guess.

[Something_wicked]

Newton was the pet project of Sculley (the Pepsi guy, who fired Jobs in 1985). First thing Steve Jobs did when he returned to Apple was cancelling the Newton.

[jeremyblaze]

There is a major drawback to any Tablet, and especially an Apple Tablet. Netbooks are thriving because they are cheap. Iphones, Blackberrys, and Smartphones thrive on subsidies which make them cheap. I haven't heard one peep of these things getting carrier subsidies, meaning a Tablet with those specs would be roughly 600+ and an Apple version should show at 800+. Thats not cheap. There will be a market for these types of appliances, but not on the scale of Iphone or Blackberry or netbook. Think HP Touchsmart PC or AppleTV - good at what they do and have people that love them, but out of the price range for most people's secondary ( or third if you could smartphones) device.

[JFerrari427]

Exactly my point. Why would anyone pay close to $1000 for something their laptop or cell phone cant already do? Let alone the inconvenience of carrying around an item that large? The market for a tablet probably isn't any larger than the market for buyers of the MacBook Air. A better approach for Apple would be to take their laptops more mainstream by lowering the price of their MacBook line.

[Something_wicked]

Right. I've got already an iPhone and a MacBook Air. See no compelling reason switching to a (keyboardless) tablet. Paid enough Apple tax already.