OT: Apple Tablet Tomorrow - Mgraw-Hill CEO soon to be dead

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 1:29 pm

Specs "supposedly" leaked...

* Display:
o 9.6″ widescreen multi-touch display (by WinTek)
o 1440-by-1050-pixel resolution at 489 ppi
o Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
* Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.13GHz
* Memory: DDR2 2 GB @ 667 MHz
* Video: nVidia GeForce 9400M
* Storage: 64 GB flash drive
* Optical drive: Apple SuperDrive with DVD±RW and CD-RW
* Wireless:
o Integrated Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
o 3G: HSDPA (through AT&T)
o Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
* Location tools:
o Assisted GPS (aGPS)
o Digital compass
* Battery: Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery (by DynaPak)
* Usage time:
o Internet: up to 6 hours on 3G
o Internet: up to 12 hours on Wi-Fi
o Video playback: up to 12 hours
* Sensors:
o Accelerometer
o Proximity sensor
o Ambient light sensor
* Colors:
o black with silver or
o white with silver
* Software:
o Mac OS X 10.6 with touch-enabled interface
* Price level:
o $899 USD, 799 EUR

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 1:50 pm

So, based on those specs, it's a touchscreen mid-range laptop with Kindle functionality, a bit more portability and better battery life.

Can anyone please cue "Talkin' 'Bout A Revolution" by Tracy Chapman?

Gaming could be pretty cool on this thing, though. Like a DS on serious steroids. Plus seven of the 10 highest-grossing iPhone/iPod Touch apps right now are games. Cha-CHING for Apple.

The iSlate's revolution could come if it does for print publications what iTunes has done for music, which is get people comfortable with easy microtransactions for paid print publications or online versions that are now distributed for free.

That's vital for print, since ads for online versions of print publications command about 1/10th of the price of ads in the print version. If the iSlate versions of print pubs can even halve that equation, it could save print media.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:05 pm

pk500 wrote:The iSlate's revolution could come if it does for print publications what iTunes has done for music, which is get people comfortable with easy microtransactions for paid print publications or online versions that are now distributed for free.

The problem is that any computer can run iTunes...so why or how can the tablet be the revolution? You mentioned it before...the revolution is just the iTunes portion of the equation...which is available on any computer. The iSlate is simply a laptop tablet. Big deal...especially for the price they are hinting at >$900.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:14 pm

iPad = horrendous name

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:22 pm

I'd rather get a $299 Netbook or wait for Microsoft, Dell and HP to announce their tablet offerings.

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:23 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:iPad = horrendous name

Agreed. Better than iLap I guess.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:25 pm

Agree iPad is a horrible name. Basically it's just a large iPhone.

Which I think will turn this thing from being like the iPhone where it changes the market. To more like the Apple TV where so few people take the dive.

I wanted some note of note pad taker, text book notes or PDF notes ability where I could write/highlight over docs. I think the MS pad is more geared for me since I need more academic abilities.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:31 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:
pk500 wrote:The iSlate's revolution could come if it does for print publications what iTunes has done for music, which is get people comfortable with easy microtransactions for paid print publications or online versions that are now distributed for free.
The problem is that any computer can run iTunes...so why or how can the tablet be the revolution? You mentioned it before...the revolution is just the iTunes portion of the equation...which is available on any computer. The iSlate is simply a laptop tablet. Big deal...especially for the price they are hinting at >$900.

To be fair, it is easier to read type and re-create the print experience on a screen with more real estate than a smart phone. But for 900 bones? You have a damn good point there.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:31 pm

So far I haven't seen a single reason to buy this thing. Where is the cool stuff?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:32 pm

greggsand wrote:
dbdynsty25 wrote:iPad = horrendous name
Agreed. Better than iLap I guess.

Tiger Woods already copyrighted iLap for his frequent trips to the clubs.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:33 pm

pk500 wrote:
JRod wrote:Give me a break your benchmark for revolutionary is ridiculous.

The definition says... involving or causing a complete or dramatic change.
Your appetite for hype also is ridiculous.

Your definition fits iTunes perfectly, which I have acknowledged repeatedly. iTunes was a sea change; the Mac and iPod were not. I would lean toward sea change with the iPhone, but its effect was not nearly as dramatic as iTunes. That is, unless you consider the creation of an industry of "phone apps" as a revolution.

Well I guess calling it revolutionary before it's released is a bit much. But I was going off Apples propensity for releasing products that change the market they were in.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:34 pm

Not sold.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:35 pm

Danimal wrote:So far I haven't seen a single reason to buy this thing. Where is the cool stuff?

Sure looks like it's a touchscreen mid-range laptop with Kindle functionality, a bit more portability and better battery life. That or an oversized iPod Touch for a hell of a lot more dough.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:36 pm

Did they even mention e-reader capabilities? Jobs is done and all he did was demo a larger iPhone this thing is like the DSIXL or WTF that thing is called.

Now some guys is telling me I can run my iPhone apps "blown up" and shows me a Facebook app? Unless something changes this launch is going to be on the Epic Fail site tomorrow.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:37 pm

JRod wrote:
pk500 wrote:
JRod wrote:Give me a break your benchmark for revolutionary is ridiculous.

The definition says... involving or causing a complete or dramatic change.
Your appetite for hype also is ridiculous.

Your definition fits iTunes perfectly, which I have acknowledged repeatedly. iTunes was a sea change; the Mac and iPod were not. I would lean toward sea change with the iPhone, but its effect was not nearly as dramatic as iTunes. That is, unless you consider the creation of an industry of "phone apps" as a revolution.
Well I guess calling it revolutionary before it's released is a bit much. But I was going off Apples propensity for releasing products that change the market they were in.

Understood, man!

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:37 pm

pk500 wrote:
dbdynsty25 wrote:
pk500 wrote:The iSlate's revolution could come if it does for print publications what iTunes has done for music, which is get people comfortable with easy microtransactions for paid print publications or online versions that are now distributed for free.
The problem is that any computer can run iTunes...so why or how can the tablet be the revolution? You mentioned it before...the revolution is just the iTunes portion of the equation...which is available on any computer. The iSlate is simply a laptop tablet. Big deal...especially for the price they are hinting at >$900.
To be fair, it is easier to read type and re-create the print experience on a screen with more real estate than a smart phone. But for 900 bones? You have a damn good point there.

I don't remember bringing up any smartphones in my statement? I said it's a laptop...and any laptop can run iTunes. Meaning that it's irrelevant when it comes to displaying text.

The biggest issue for the iPad is going to be that they don't use the e-ink displays. That's the biggest selling point to the dedicated readers...they look similar to real books. A lot of people don't like to read text off of LCDs or any other digital display for that matter.

We're going to look back at the iPad in a few years and think of it as a failure...mark it down. One of Apple's rare mistakes...I don't think even they can hype this thing enough to make it a "game changer" like the fanboys would like you to believe.

davet010 · Post by **davet010** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:39 pm

WTF is that supposed to be - it looks like an iPhone that's been on the pies

If you consider buying that, you're unfit to handle money.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:41 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:
pk500 wrote:
dbdynsty25 wrote: The problem is that any computer can run iTunes...so why or how can the tablet be the revolution? You mentioned it before...the revolution is just the iTunes portion of the equation...which is available on any computer. The iSlate is simply a laptop tablet. Big deal...especially for the price they are hinting at >$900.
To be fair, it is easier to read type and re-create the print experience on a screen with more real estate than a smart phone. But for 900 bones? You have a damn good point there.
I don't remember bringing up any smartphones in my statement? I said it's a laptop...and any laptop can run iTunes. Meaning that it's irrelevant when it comes to displaying text.

My mistake. You're absolutely right.

There also already are cool, print-like interfaces available for bringing the "print experience" with greater functionality to online editions if you're not a stickler for the Kindle-like display. The Sporting News Today is an excellent example, and it's free:

http://today.sportingnews.com/sportingn ... 100127#pg1

2011 will be the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500, and we're already researching online interfaces like that of The Sporting News Today that also have links to rich multimedia content embedded right into the digital content. They can be viewed on any device. We already used something like that for the Fan Guides for our three races in 2009, which moved exclusively online. Very cool multimedia experience for our fans.

Funny, the Engadget live blog from the Apple announcement gushed at how embedded video in text-based digital media was so cool. Been there, done that.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:41 pm

Not for me. I'll pass but I bet CO's are already making proper sleeves/folding cases to hold that sucker from slipping away.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:42 pm

Damn that thing makes Steve Jobs look thin. I think I may buy one after all. I'll just need to remember to hold in front of me at all times.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:44 pm

No 3G? Odd.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:51 pm

MLB.com's iPad App...

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:52 pm

Diablo25 wrote:MLB.com's iPad App...

Hey look at that...it looks just like the one on an iPhone/iTouch...or on my laptop from MLB.com or Espn.com with half of the options! Woohoo! Yawn.

And 64GB max...that's a f'n travesty.

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 3:01 pm

dreading the day I see someone heading to the office bathroom with an iPad under their arm...

GameSeven · Post by **GameSeven** » Wed Jan 27, 2010 3:06 pm

greggsand wrote:dreading the day I see someone heading to the office bathroom with an iPad under their arm...

Pfft... surely it will be conveyed in an iSling