Comments on: Pros and cons of a touch-screen Mac tablet

A Piper Jaffray analyst says Apple might be planning on bringing a touch-screen Mac tablet to store shelves next year. But is a touch screen the best idea?

[clamburgler]

I don't see what the whole fuss is about an mac tablet. I guess just stamping the Apple logo on anything these days will send most bloggers and e-journalists into a frenzy. Not to mention the fact that most people are acting like a tablet computer has never been done before.

Oh look an apple tablet... yawn.

I've been hunting for something like this for ages. I bought an Archos A5 hoping it would be along these lines and whilst I still use it a lot, it hasn't delivered quite what I hoped for.

I find the iPhone / touch too small for proper web browsing and pdf reading plus the lack of flash support and miniscule hard drive meant that it was a no go for me.

To my mind, the popularity of a device like this is a given - I've been surprised for ages that there aren't loads of products along these lines. I have no doubt that the first properly usable net tablet will yet again redefine how we use the web and make whoever releases it a phenomenal amount of money. Unfortunately it looks like that someone is gonna be Apple again...

[bobmarleypeople]

I'm betting a dock will be included. Maybe a full docking station with additional peripherals similar to the old IBM laptops my friend has where the laptop docks in and adds a few more ports. Maybe apple will go the Air route and leave out the disc drive in the actual machine, but include one in the docking station. The dock will obviously allow the tablet to be shown at an angle (adjustable probably too).

Well, one can dream...

[cvaldes1831]

Sorry, Steve doesn't like docks.

[larryennis18466]

To put my two cents in: I think Apple is not going to use the iPhone/iPod Touch OS. There was a rumor out saying that it will use a different OS like a OS X - iPhone hybrid for this device. This is why they are rumored to release it in 1Q 2010. They are said to have some issues integrating the 2OSs together.

[RavenChylde]

depending on the price, I would likely get whatever it is even if its just a larger iPod type device. The iPhone is good enough but something larger would be very helpful for me.

[tccedar]

My guess is the 7-10" touch screen with:
* iPhone/itouch software but also...
* Webcam that allows Skype video conferencing
* Flash enabled movies - so you can watch Hulu, Netflix and other such media online
* ebook reader that will compete with or include iKindle (as the Touch already does - but is too small)
* NO iLife apps that will take sales away from macbooks.
This would be a fun, portable gadget that does lots the iPhone doesn't, but won't drain sales away from Apples other products. Price: $450
Outside vendors will be licensed to create a keyboard for it.

[windpna]

if tablet comes with apps and hardware like a house controling device, like replace all remotes, control functioning of devices, electric consumption, windoww shades, comunicate somhow with the house.
I want one !

[CitizenX]

Imagine this:

A 10" tablet, a touch like interface in the 200 to 300 dollar price range. Affordable enough so that a family could afford more than one.

It could have apps like the iPhone or the Touch and just as importantly be a display for the existing media stored on the Macs in the home. You would be able to view videos or listen to music stored in iTunes or rented and purchased movies. Of course you could also read ebooks, PDF documents, manage photos or edit basic video. Being just a tablet, it is convenient enough to lie back on the couch and watch a movie on or read a book.

It would be a powerful addition to a persons existing Mac configuration, not intended to be a "powerful computer" but more of a media control and access device.

Apple should not try to make a "computer" in the classic sense, but a device to access information, affordable enough so that like iPods people could afford more than one.

[FlatBallFlyer]

One con that no one ever talks about is insects. Fly's and gnats are attracted a touch screens like, well like a moth to a light. I have a HP Touch Smart, and I do love the touch screen. I still use the keyboard for almost all of my work, but I find the touch screen great for some types of navigation and adjustments. iTunes really benefits from the touch screen. However, I was composing an email the other day, and a gnat flew over my shoulder and hit the touch screen bink-bink-bink and about half of that message was gone into the bit bucket.

[FlatBallFlyer]

One con that no one ever talks about is insects. Fly's and gnats are attracted a touch screens like, well like a moth to a light. I have a HP Touch Smart, and I do love the touch screen. I still use the keyboard for almost all of my work, but I find the touch screen great for some types of navigation and adjustments. iTunes really benefits from the touch screen. However, I was composing an email the other day, and a gnat flew over my shoulder and hit the touch screen bink-bink-bink and about half of that message was gone into the bit bucket.

[jeannetteseward]

When I first got my hands on my IPod Touch, I saw the future of computing.
Greasy fingers be damned - touch screens are gonna happen!

[mchally]

I've got room on my coffee table for a page-width email reader and web-browser that operates, for the most part, like the iPod Touch. Frankly, its diminutive size is what keeps me from using the iPod Touch in that capacity now. Throw the thing in a "charging" tray and keep it in reach of the couch--sounds like a winner to me, especially if it can play my iTunes catalog to my Airport Express. Since it's now large enough to be a non-issue, should have a real, decent sized hard disk instead of an SSD. Maybe then it can also be a family repository for iTunes and/or other multimedia, and/or email. In the least case it should be able to work with such a repository (like on an Airport or Time Capsule.) Switch users to get to individual iTunes selections, email, bookmarks, etc. THERE is supreme family value.

[ddanckaert]

What apple needs to produce is an optional "clam shell netbook-sized chassis" that their tablet can securely slip into which offers a chicklet keyboard and apple trackpad, and usb and power ports.

This would do the trick quite nicely. I know I would buy it in a heartbeat. In other words, sell their tablet for something like $599, and the chassis for $299. Only those that really need it will pony up, but I think that price point for the chassis would be quite reasonable.

[ddanckaert]

What apple needs to produce is an optional "clam shell netbook-sized chassis" that their tablet can securely slip into which offers a chicklet keyboard and apple trackpad, and usb and power ports.

This would do the trick quite nicely. I know I would buy it in a heartbeat. In other words, sell their tablet for something like $599, and the chassis for $299. Only those that really need it will pony up, but I think that price point for the chassis would be quite reasonable.

[campjacob]

So is the consensus that the new mac tablet will not be a convertible tablet like the PC versions. I have been using tablets for my previous two laptops, and don't think I could give up the functionality of them. I have often thought about switching to mac, especially because I tend to do a bit of graphic/web design. If it didn't have a keyboard/convertible tablet, I guess I'm still not ready to buy a mac. Maybe next time.

[hardmanb]

With the increasing power of chips, and the decreasing costs of memory, especially NAND, it could be time for an evolutionary change in the "full-powered" laptop/desktop computing experience.

With Bluetooth and a mini-display port, full size keyboards, mice and larger monitors could be accomodated, giving full portability to your primary work computer. 4G wireless could add "always-on', and speaker-phone and video-cam capabilities could be possible.

Maybe Apple will leapfrog the entire laptop/desktop industry into the next generation.

[megustansalchichas]

are you kidding? all this has to be to succeed is a web browser -think kindle for the youtube set.
If I can read c|net.com, nytimes.com (with crossword using adobe apps), etc. etc. in the kitchen or at a cafe, and watch hulu or play duke nukem fornever, and then set this down on my desk at work with a dock, and it instantly turns into a photo display, then i'm buying this. how is this better than the itouch? i will actuallly be able to read the print and see the pictures. how is this better than the kindle? i will actually be able to surf the web. how is this better than a $100 kodak photo frame? I can actually pick it up and do something else with it. how is this better than a laptop? it'll be lighter than, but still display my documents when necessary (I don't expect to do any work with this and anyone who does should be fired, unless their work is selling apple shi*)
smudges? wipe your hands after you take them out of your mouths, morons
a keyboard? hey, what is wireless for if not for this.
plus, have you seen this: www.swypeinc.com -sounds like a company I would buy (or at least partner with) if I were SJobs...

[ofmyony]

Two ways to make a tablet work.

First: Include the Macs multi touch touchpad below the screen

Second: Add a second small touch-screen next to the touch-pad to enter text or numbers. Imagine an Iphone like keyboard built next to the touch-pad, below the main screen

This way you never have to touch the main screen if you didn't want. This is way outside the box but, possible

[rrod182]

If it won't work for you don't buy it. I will tell you this, even my laptop screen manages to get greasy and has to be cleaned on a regular basis, so I don't see that as too much of an issue. As a media device this will be great. I know lots of animators and artists that will love to have this for the road as well.

[o_t_t_e_r]

SPOILER ALERT!

It's already been done! I first saw them in person at a Photoshop conference in 2008. They are pretty impressive and the coating on the tablet is a none issue! They are made by a company called Axiotron. Check them out:
http://www.axiotron.com/index.php?id=modbook