Tablet Speculation Goes Mainstream: "Spectacular Graphics" and a Webcam

[Paul Daniel Ash]

After months of the tech press and blogosphere spreading every type of rumor about the still-unconfirmed Apple tablet, CNN has gotten into the action. Referring to it as "a magazine-sized, touch-screen, hand-held, all-in-one device that is half-iPhone, half-Macintosh computer," CNNMoney.com highlighted the device in a post today. They talked to a panel of experts who basically recapped the rumors to date, with one significant new speculation: "stunning graphics," better than the iPod or iPhone, and a webcam for videoconferencing.

The story -subheadlined "the everything killer" - made much of how the tablet was being positioned to replace many different handheld devices now in use. According to the analysts surveyed: Laura DiDio, principal analyst at ITIC; David Wertheimer, executive director of the University of Southern California's Entertainment Technology Center; and Zeus Kerravala, an analyst with Yankee Group, the device is being prepared to fill the gap between the iPhone/iPod touch and a low-end Mac Book. The idea that the device will "kill" single-function devices like the Amazon Kindle by offering books, Web browsing, gaming, entertainment and on-the-go computing in a single package was touted by DiDio and Wertheimer, though Kerravala sounded a note of caution.

"What we've found in the past with these multi-function devices is that they're better for ad-hoc purposes, like quick and dirty tasks," said Zeus Kerravala, an analyst with Yankee Group. "They're not for any prolonged, high-performance use."

For instance, smartphones have cameras for quick snapshots, but when you go on vacation, you're probably going to want your digital camera to come along with you for high-quality photos.

Kerravala said the same logic applies to the tablet's other functions, including its e-reading capability: "If you want to sit and read a book, the ergonomics of a device that's specifically designed for reading are going to be better."

Walt Mossberg at the Wall Street Journal, however, recently added his voice to the chorus of those who believe the tablet will be a true general-purpose computer. The influential pundit responded to a written question from a reader to the Journal's AllThingsDigital site by saying that he hadn't "seen any evidence" that Apple was planning a single-purpose device, noting that the iPhone and iPod touch can run Kindle software.

As to the price of the still-unannounced device, speculation ran from as low as $600 to as high as $1000 - but DiDio noted that Apple had an early fail in pricing the iPhone at $599, far above the competitive price for the smartphones that existed at that time. The implication was that Apple would move to price the tablet to compete with similar products currently on the market, such as netbooks, which are generally priced much lower.

image via Gizmodo

[Melech518]

Can not wait for the release!!!!

[dbizzy1]

When and where, cuz I'm there! I need on of those asap

[iLaw-One]

So What???!
I've got enough to log around with my MBP and iPhone...who needs this especially as it's most likely going to have to be jailbroken to be of ANY use

[Buddy17]

that is stupid...a huge iphone. Maybe if it had a real pop out keyboard

[hancoma]

Looks very cool...but I can just imagine the repair for a cracked LCD!!!
You know someone would sit on it!

[Antman217]

Really cool but really don't need this it's just like having an iPhone and a mac. Good luck putting that in your pocket lol.

[quidam_brujah]

People are always going to break things (how many TVs broken thanks to Wiimotes?).
I currently cart around a MBP to do email, surf [run a little bit of EVE], display Powerpoints, use term and sync my iPhone/iTunes.

I'd much rather have something like this to do all that -- I don't need to lug around the mass of a MBP to do those things. Just give it BT so I can use my Apple keybd and mouse and I'm good-to-go. Hell, it could make interactive meetings even better (make all connection wireless -- including video) and I can carry it over to a student, demo something, draw on the screen, walk back to the head of the classroom, set it on an 'easel' [so I can see it upright like a monitor] and use my keybd & mouse for real editing/terminal action when needed.

[knguyen]

Apple needs to get into the AMOLED scene.

[hancoma]

People are always going to break things (how many TVs broken thanks to Wiimotes?).
I currently cart around a MBP to do email, surf [run a little bit of EVE], display Powerpoints, use term and sync my iPhone/iTunes.

I'd much rather have something like this to do all that -- I don't need to lug around the mass of a MBP to do those things. Just give it BT so I can use my Apple keybd and mouse and I'm good-to-go. Hell, it could make interactive meetings even better (make all connection wireless -- including video) and I can carry it over to a student, demo something, draw on the screen, walk back to the head of the classroom, set it on an 'easel' [so I can see it upright like a monitor] and use my keybd & mouse for real editing/terminal action when needed.

Agreed, people are always going to break things. I have replaced numerous iphone lcd, screens, etc for many people...at no cost just parts. Normally I see this being advertised for about $100 a pop!
Imagine the cost of one of those to be replaced?

Yea, it looks like it would make things a lot easier based upon your statements for uses. And it would do well in many businesses, unfortunately, I have yet to see any company I have worked for use a mac or any of its products.

If you get one, or anybody else does, let me know how it does please.

[CaptainChaos]

I don't think a Tablet is small enough to fit in your pocket lol. This will be very cool if Apple is listening to the masses. I have a feeling that most people are going to be disappointed at the jump in price when it is released. This will not be as cheap as most would hope.

[scottjl]

i'm quite happy with my netbook. this is bigger than my iphone without a real keyboard, less functional than a computer i picked up for $300. what's the purpose of it? unless it's cheap enough, the masses aren't going to buy it and we all know apple doesn't do cheap. the last thing apple needs to do is come out with yet another very expensive computer.

[rryyddeerr]

1500-2000$ with half the capability of a MBP

[awesomeSlayer]

Looks...like a giant iPhone! But, for some reason, it doesn't look a buy for me.

[mikerlx]

Again, I don't see the point in practical use for the average consumer. The iphone is perfect for size and portability. The macbook air is the ultimate super portable at 3 pounds. I consider it a specialty model from apple. I guess we need to see it before we really judge it.

[plcrules]

Looks very cool...but I can just imagine the repair for a cracked LCD!!!
You know someone would sit on it!

lol the sad thing is that is true
i replace iphone lcds and digitizers and this looks like a pain 2 replace

[tudtran]

That's look just like a big iPhone.

[billmilo]

So What???!::
I've got enough to log around with my MBP and iPhone...who needs this especially as it's most likely going to have to be jailbroken to be of ANY use

I would buy it to read books and magazines, and I would see no need to jailbreak it.

[big poops]

So What???!::
I've got enough to log around with my MBP and iPhone...who needs this especially as it's most likely going to have to be jailbroken to be of ANY use

shutup

[zauriel]

Okay, for all of you that don't seem to understand ... that picture is not a picture of an Apple tablet. Apple hasn't even officially acknowledged it is making a tablet, much less released full-on photos of the product. That picture is a mock-up done by someone out there in Internet-land. It is not representative of how the tablet will ultimately look, just a "best guess" based solely on the only other touchscreen device Apple has out there -- the iPhone. I HIGHLY doubt that Apple would make their Tablet appear to be just an oversized iPhone. So stop judging the impending tablet on this picture. It's not real.