Is The iTablet Here Yet??
People have been talking about it for a few years now. Heck, they say that the idea was first proposed around 10 years ago, if not further back in time. What is it? Why an Apple Macintosh computer, that is in the form of a writing tablet! It's really not a new concept. There were tablet computers back in the mid 2000's, some of which were laptops that converted into a tablet PC. They didn't really sale all that well. Maybe that's why Apple never went in that direction?? Since that time people had expected Apple to get on the bandwagon, but it never come about. Or did they??
Enter The Modbook
The Modbook is made by a company named Axiotron. What they do is take Macbooks & Macbook Pros made by Apple, and modify them using technologies invented by Wacom. Wacom is the company that has set the standard for pen tablets, and Pen Tablet screens in graphic arts, and digital photography. Their Intuos tablets have seen many hours of use in many different graphic arts & photography studios all over the world. I have a Intuos 3 tablet. I haven't gotten a chance to use mine a lot, but found it very simple to use, just like putting pen to paper! Their newer line of Bamboo tablets have replaced their Graphite line for both the office, and home use. Wacom also makes two different models of Cintiq Pen Tablet Monitors, allowing you to make adjustments & corrections directly on your computer screen. It's this last technology that the folks at Axiotron is using to make their Modbooks. They take a Macbook laptop, remove the screen & keyboard. The screen is replaced by a glass screen that is made to simulate paper, which contains the digitizer technology that Wacom has designed. The Modbook is the first tablet that has been made for the Mac Operating System. It is an aftermarket modification of either your existing Macbook, or one that you buy to be modified by Axiotron.
The iTablet??
Could this be the new Apple made Mac Tablet that everyone seems to think will be announced today?? Apple pulled out of Macworld Expo this year, people have spread rumors about the Mac Tablet for so long, and Steve Jobs has a knack to pull the impossible out of his hat! So why wouldn't people think that Apple will unveil this mythological creature of the Mac world to throngs of waiting devotees?? The above picture is just one of a seemingly endless array of concept designs, and mock ups of what people think a Mac Tablet would look like. Would it be a full fledged Mac, or something like the iPhone's big brother??
Size Matters!!
All rumors are pointing to a screen that would be around 10 inches in size. There have been orders by Apple for all the high quality LED Glass that they can get their hands on in the 10 inch size, so idnustry people think that these orders must be destined to be for the Mac Tablet. I did here on a recent episode of the Mac Cast podcast, that one web site was suggesting that there would be a 10, and 7 inch Tablet.
Will it run Snow Leopard, or the iPhone OS? Oh My!!
This is the one area that I think might make, or break the Mac Tablet! Will it run a full version of Mac OS X, or will it be a striped down version? If it's the latter, it will probably be something very much like the OS running the iPhone. In fact many people in the Apple know are saying that's exactly what the new tablet will have. Many of those same people are saying that the tablet wont even be a full computer, but more like a portable entertainment device on steroids. Apple has been in talks with many publishing companies, people believe to get contracts to bring print material to the new tablet. This would be in the form of e-books, newspapers, and magazines. Apple has also been in talks with TV, and movies executives to bring more of this kind of content, possibly streaming over the tablet. Even more people think that the tablet will have a cell phone data receiver in it, and be tied to a cell phone company for service. It is also widely reported that the new tablet would use enhanced apps from the Apple App Store, like the iPhone & iPod Touch. It wouldn't run full Mac apps, or would only run a limited number of specially modified apps.
Other people, although in the minority, have said that it will be a full computer much like the Modbook. In fact, some people have used the Modbook as the point that Apple should start at. I love the idea of the Modbook, but I don't have a couple grand laying around the house to buy a Macbook, and get it modified. So if Apple would do this in house, it would be a wonderful investment in their loyal customers!! I know that it would probably be an item for a niche market at first, but I think that others would follow shortly. The rumors of an Apple Tablet go back at least 10 years, so don't the people in Cupertino think it's time to give the people what they want? Steve Jobs has said that Apple would never make a Netbook, well maybe a Mac Tablet could fill that hole in the line up?? I for one would closely consider a Mac Tablet over either a Netbook, or a Macbook!
What Would I Like To See In The iTablet??
What would a Mac Tablet have to be for me to buy it? Well first I'd like a good name! I think the iTablet, or iSlate would be good choices! Apple already has name recognition with the "i" branding, that I think it would be a natural inclusion for the Mac Tablet. Secondly, I want it to run the full Mac OS X operating system. I love the idea of getting newspapers, magazines, and streaming tv on the iTablet, but why couldn't I also run MS Word, iPhoto, Photoshop, or even my favorite browser Firefox on it??I want something that would be at least the equal of a Macbook, particularly if I'm going to have to pay something even close to a Macbook price for it!! Third is the issue of it being tied to a cell phone provider. I hate this idea!!!! I want a product that I can go buy out right, and not have to have a contract, or you have to pay 3 times as much for it. I like the idea of making it truly portable by giving it access to the data networks of a cell phone provider, I just don't think it should be the only way to get content on it. Wi-Fi should be built in!! You should be able to connect to any Wi-Fi hot spot that you come across. Also there should be an Ethernet connection so as to hook up to a wired network, or internet service. If Apple wants to make the tablet able to access mobile networks that's fine, but give us an option to not access them, and still get the same content some other way. Also don't tie us to one single phone company to get the mobile service through. Perhaps if AT&T wasn't the sole carrier of the iPhone in the U.S., we wouldn't have had many of the problems that iPhone users have had on their network. Finally, I'd love for the iTablet to be able to run any program that the full OS X can, plus app store apps too! I mean would it really be that difficult, or expensive, to make a device that can run OS X & iPhone apps at the same time?? I hope that Apple's answer to that question is no.
In Conclusion
What do I think will happen latter today at Apple's event? Well, I really don't know!! Maybe Steve Jobs will unveil the iTablet, or what ever they will call it? Maybe he wont?? Will I be heartbroken one way or another??? Not really. If it's not what I want, I might try to save up for a Modbook, if it is, I'd have to save up for it any way! I'm not even really sure that I would need a portable computer with touch screen capabilities? Sure it'd be nice, but how much would I really need it?? Unless it's something that just really blows my socks off, I'm probably going to keep fantasizing over that new 13 inch unibody Macbook Pro!! It's smallish, portable, and got a lot of abilities in it I wish the iTablet would have. But I fear that it will be an over sized iPod Touch that runs iPhone apps, views e-books, newspapers, magazines, and streams video/t.v. Too bad if it is! Apple could have really had something with a full featured 10 inch Tablet Mac Computer!!
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