It seems as though there always has to be a rumor about Apple, doesn’t it? After a short breather period where there haven’t really been any rumors, the newest one emerges that Apple is planning on entering the tablet PC market. Some people are saying “finally” while others are saying “what’s the point?” Keep in mind that this is just a rumor, but what’s being said is that Asus is helping Apple build a tablet PC.
While the tablet PC market currently only makes up 2% of the portable PC market, there are some advantages like the fact that it’s a more natural form of input. It’s also great for note-taking, makes interacting at business meetings easier, and comes in handy for those in the digital art profession. The downsides include the input speed can be slower than typing, and tablet PCs are generally a little more expensive than regular notebook computers, although the price has gotten extremely competitive over the last several years.
So what does Apple have to gain from this? At this point, I’m not sure it would be a whole lot. As mentioned, the Tablet PC makes up 2% of the portable PC market. If Apple were able to enter the market and match that 2%, given the amount of notebooks that they currently sell, they’d sell under 27,000 tablet PC’s per year. At just 27,000 is it worth it for them? Their biggest advantage would be if they could get the artists to purchase one who want to draw and do artwork on it.
On one hand it hardly seems worth it, but on the other hand, I could see it being a huge success. If there’s one company out there that could get consumers psyched up over a tablet PC, it would be Apple. Some of the mock-ups look pretty slick, and Apple does have a good momentum going here with the launch of Leopard, the iPhone, and the new line-up of iPods. If they were able to price it competitively with some of their other notebooks, I’d say there’s a good chance that it would be a success and perhaps even amount to more than just 2% of Apple’s portable computer sales.
At this point, everybody is saying it’s not a matter of “if” but “when” Apple will launch a tablet PC. Given that Apple has the multi-touch feature mastered, I’d agree that it must be coming sooner rather than later.
Source: Gizmodo
I would love to see Apple enter this market, because consumers almost always benefit when there are multiple companies offering competing products. The result would probably be cheaper systems, and I’m all for that. I can only imagine what Apple would sell one of these bad boys for though if they are already selling MacBook Pros for $2000+.
OH I HOPE APPLE COMES OUT WITH A TABLET PC!!! One that looks like the picture with the keyboard. That looks amazing. Just what I m hoping for. And I hope you will be able to color and draw and ofcourse write on it. That would be my dream come true and I would totally buy one. =D. And name it MacTab. I just love that.
Dude, a Tablet pc from Apple would be sooooo awesome!!!I would totally buy it.
p.s. mactab? that is so cute!!!
this would be a huge hit! i would sertainly buy one
its awesome and i read a magazine they said that it will be around $800
If it combines functions of an Amazon Kindle (with book and newspaper subscription via itunes) and of a Wacom Cintiq (with touch sensitive pen) as well as camera and email functionality I am willing to pay 1000 bucks for that thing.
As architect, I could take pictures on the construction site, sketch on the photo and send the result to the office.
Saving alot of precious work time, the investment in such device would pay off in just a view weeks.
Can’t wait!
The mac tablets are expected to retail for less than a grand.
That being said, I would like to see a 13 or even 15 in tablet. I would pay more for the larger display ( i am a graphic designer)
Apple has a tablet pc its call the modbook also the modbook pro. they even have it rigged where you send in ur mac book and they put all your files on the modbook
but the down part is it starts off at 1500 and it does all those things you mentioned tech addict
That would be awesome if they could come out with that, i think that it will be between 700 and 800 dollars
cool.
im sat next to ashley..shes cool
RUDD
i herd they are coming out with one in 2010. It looks great. If it is under 2000
i will totally get it and i am only 12
Enter the iscribe
Soooo looking forward to this
I too am 12 and turning 13 on the 18th of january 2010. I want this tablet or slate in a big way for my B-Day! So Apple come on out with it!!!!!!!!! Give me my CANDY! I LOVE APPLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OR HOW’S ABOUT GIVE ME A CANDY APPLE!
kittens is purdy
Ipad