14 December 2007

iTablet?

I think it could happen. Why?
  • For some time now, Apple has had the software built into the OS to recognize handwriting (Inkwell, which works surprisingly well), and now, as show in the iPhone, multi-touch input, so they have all of the software necessary for a multi-input (read: non-keyboard/mouse-based) interface, making a keyboard less necessary.
  • The move to Intel makes possible much smaller logic boards, thus smaller form factors. Have you seen some of the subcompacts out there in the PC world? They're tiny! Imagine Apple's take on the sub-com (no, I do not think they'll do just a standard sub-compact and/or replace the MacBook with it).
Now, I'm not saying this because I would like to buy one... I probably wouldn't. Unless someone gave one to me. But then I wouldn't be buying it. Or if they were ultra-cheap... but honestly, I think a full-on laptop would be best for me, personally. But, if Apple does do a tablet... (I do so love lists):
  • No optical drive. They could ship it with a 4 or 8GB flash drive that is write-protected that contains an OS-restore image.
  • Firewire 400, USB, ethernet, WiFi, bluetooth. No audio (usb digital only), save the built-in speaker and mic. No DVI, but possibly mini-DVI.
  • Apple will make it a point to point out that most software is downloadable via disk image, from the publisher, these days (including Adobe CS2/3, QuarkXPress, and just about everything else except Office 2004... but 2008 is nearly upon us).
  • Probably no iSight.
  • There would be no keyboard. Keyboard completely on-screen, a la iPhone, but a larger implementation (obviously), possibly with a bezel-effect so as to not obscure completely content behind it.
  • It probably won't be called iTablet. iSlate? MacSlate? MacScribe? MacBooklet?
I dunno. Thoughts?

0 comments: