Apple to release large screen ipod touch/iphone

[Mr. Bump!]

According to a good friend of mine Alexandros Roussos who runs Mac Scoop Apple may be in the process of releasing a large touch screen device similar to the ipod touch/iphone to challenge the netbooks that are currently released, it may even have a screen size equal to the current 10" netbook devices... so would you replace your netbook with a 10" ipod touch?

It certainly brings tablet pc's to a new level

http://blogs.computerworld.com/apple...eveal_a_tablet
http://www.macscoop.com/articles/200...uipped-netbook
http://www.reuters.com/article/techn...52A0RH20090311

[SLATYE]

Originally Posted by Mr. Bump!

It certainly brings tablet pc's to a new level

Not really. Tablet PCs without keyboards are nothing new. Sony's been making them for ages. The old Compaq TC1000 and TC1100 were the same design, but with a keyboard that could be attached when required.

The only things that Apple is likely to bring to the market are:

(1) The Apple logo.

(2) A price that puts it up against normal tablet PCs, not netbooks.

(3) Multitouch.

Multitouch is a nice thing, but other tablets have had it for a while (Dell's Latitude XT and XT2; HP's TX2).

To be perfectly honest, I don't see the point of a computer without a keyboard (unless it's like the TC1100, where the system was really designed with a keyboard in mind). As a portable media device, sure. An iPod doesn't need to have many functions, and none of them involve much information input. A touchscreen is adequate for providing this. On the other hand, do you really want a 10" iPod? For watching movies, maybe - but then it's going to need a lot of processing power and plenty of storage space. It's no longer pocket-sized, and you certainly wouldn't want to be using a 10" device as an iPhone.

A computer generally has a lot of functions, many of which need information input (writing notes, composing emails, etc). A touchscreen alone is not adequate here. Sure, you can write onto the screen - but you can do that on a piece of paper too.

Quite simply, I think this is a silly idea. If Apple sell it as an iPod, it's going to have to be as powerful as a PC anyway just to handle high-resolution movies (even with Nvidia Ion, if that's what they choose to use). If Apple sell it as a computer, it's not going to compete against the netbooks (too expensive) and it'll have a hard time against traditional tablets (since they've already got touchscreens, multitouch, and keyboards).

That said, I'm well aware that Apple's very good at making up its own markets. It's possible that they've got something planned for this. Even if they don't, they'll sell plenty to the people who simply must have anything that says "Apple" on it.


To answer your question in the original post: definitely not. They're aiming for two different markets. You buy a netbook if you want normal laptop functionality in a smaller case with a bit less processing power. For this you still need a keyboard.

[round]

love the idea. dont think there is a mass market, like with cell phones, or music devices, which there was already a mass market, and the apple product was the game changer.

[slickric]

i reckon its something that would be useful in a car on trips and stuff like that - i would get one if the price was right

[ewok85]

Originally Posted by SLATYE

That said, I'm well aware that Apple's very good at making up its own markets.

I can see something like this having many different uses that were not intended, very much in the same way the iPhone is showing us now. A large multi-touch screen, allow it to "dock" with Apple bluetooth keyboard/mouse and you have a very slick little PC. It'll look sweet for video, give it wireless/bluetooth and you can "link" it up to any number of devices for anything you can imagine.

I'm still waiting for tablets to make their big leap into medical - something like a large iPhone would be perfect

[marcorony]

Great Concept.

Would love to be able to undock the keyboard and mouse for lighter travelling. Great for those tasks that dont require heavy typing when on the run (ie maps, news, movies, music, tourist info).

Too bad its Apple that comes up with these great ideas and not a more affordable manufacturer. The good thing is that the others will soon follow.

[-=Alfonzo=-]

Originally Posted by SLATYE

Not really. Tablet PCs without keyboards are nothing new. Sony's been making them for ages. The old Compaq TC1000 and TC1100 were the same design, but with a keyboard that could be attached when required.

Fujitsu have been making a slate PC for some time now too, I remember roadtesting one back in 2004, iirc. And as you said, the Compaq ones were a much better design that allowed you to 'undock' the keyboard / mouse and walk around with the guts of the machine.

The concept of a PC with no keyboard and total mobility is nice, but there are some times when you really need a keyboard.

[Mr. Bump!]

How many of you have actually spent time typing on an iphone?



Now picture that with a much larger screen... do you really need a keyboard?

In landscape mode you could have a keyboard that's no smaller then that of the average netbook

[aznpsuazn]

I don't think its about the size of the keyboard, but more about tactile-response. I suppose there are people out there who have mastered a touchscreen kb, but its much easier to use a conventional 3d keyboard.
Whats more, (and im using a dvorak right now), its hard to touchtype with touch screen.

[holdennutta]

Originally Posted by Mr. Bump!

How many of you have actually spent time typing on an iphone?

movie

Now picture that with a much larger screen... do you really need a keyboard?

In landscape mode you could have a keyboard that's no smaller then that of the average netbook

I type significantly faster than that on my E71. I don't need to look at the keys as I type either, as I can feel my fingers move over them and get a feel for where I am.

I had an iPod touch for ages and hated typing on it. It was a chore rather than an instinct. Still, very much considering an iPhone for my next phone...

(But palm pre will probably win me )

[UB3R]

Originally Posted by aznpsuazn

I don't think its about the size of the keyboard, but more about tactile-response. I suppose there are people out there who have mastered a touchscreen kb, but its much easier to use a conventional 3d keyboard.
Whats more, (and im using a dvorak right now), its hard to touchtype with touch screen.

why?

[vindicator]

This is an awesome idea.

I desperately want a thin, light keyboard free tablet so that I can laze on the couch and read RSS feeds and forums.

I've tried using a net book. It doesn't work well for me.

I've considered the existing tablets.

They are bulky, awkward and expensive. I despise using Windows.

[Mr. Bump!]

Originally Posted by holdennutta

I type significantly faster than that on my E71. I don't need to look at the keys as I type either, as I can feel my fingers move over them and get a feel for where I am.

I had an iPod touch for ages and hated typing on it. It was a chore rather than an instinct. Still, very much considering an iPhone for my next phone...

(But palm pre will probably win me )

I can type on a phone without looking at the keys. If you know where the keys are on a QWERTY keyboard then you shouldn't need to look at the keys either and with a 10" touch screen you could fit a 90% sized keyboard on it in landscape mode

[holdennutta]

Originally Posted by Mr. Bump!

I can type on a phone without looking at the keys. If you know where the keys are on a QWERTY keyboard then you shouldn't need to look at the keys either and with a 10" touch screen you could fit a 90% sized keyboard on it in landscape mode

Lol, do that while walking and not looking.