Apple's touch screen tablet computer coming in October
Filed under: Company News, Technology, People
The long-talked about Apple (AAPL) tablet computer may be on store shelves in three months, PC World reports. Apple placed orders with manufacturers that suggests the device is being built, according to a report in Info Times.A tablet would be Apple's entry in the fast-growing netbook segment of the personal computer market. Apple CEO Steve Jobs had publicly denied the idea that Apple planned to produce a netbook. Operating chief Tim Cook had called netbooks "junky" (meaning, presumably, that Apple's version of the netbook would not be). Piper Jaffray Analyst Gene Munster said in March that Apple would begin selling a touchscreen device next year.
Jobs typically is tight-lipped about coming products until Apple is ready to hype them in a manner befitting, well, new Apples. For years, the company has been mute about products in development. Why tip off your competitors and fuel the already hot rumor mill?
The Taiwanese news report, translated by MacRumors, says the device will be bigger than an iPod Touch (roughly the same size as an Apple iPhone) and smaller than the smallest Apple laptop MacBook, which are about the size of many laptops. Apple's tablet would cost about $800.
Without having seen the specs of the product, consumers can be sure the details will be well thought out and attractive. Apple has had a successful run in premiering ready for prime time products since launching the iPod in 2001. Some will complain about the absence of a keyboard -- the machine will likely have one built into the interface, as on the iPhone and iPod Touch.
The fanfare around a netbook-style computer from Apple will surely rival that of a long-awaited summer blockbuster movie, with fans lined up to be first on the block to buy one. And an analyst or three will release weekend sales numbers that miss or beat expectations. This is why Jobs came back from his medical leave, the The Wall Street Journal reported in April, and why he didn't appear during the unveiling of the iPhone 3G S. Jobs has been, and always will be, about what's next at Apple.
Anthony Massucci is a senior writer for DailyFinance. You may follow him on Twitter at hianthony.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-13-2009 @ 8:16PM
CARIONIGHT said...
Why doesn't Apple the offer more customizeable specs on their devices to compete with more windows machines and lower it's prices? Also, I'd love to see a touchscreen Imac in the future. Not just another eyecandy product with minimal hard drive space.
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7-14-2009 @ 1:08PM
Kelly said...
You should check out Axiotron. Axiotron is an Apple Premier Developer that currently has a Touch Tablet Mac called the ModBook.
http://www.axiotron.com/
7-14-2009 @ 1:46AM
bluvg said...
Yet another fawning, uncritical news article about Apple:
"Without having seen the specs of the product, consumers can be sure the details will be well thought out and attractive." Yep, you heard it folks, you can be *sure*, just like the round-mouse was "well thought out." It's ok to treat positive speculation as fact when it comes to Apple.
Reply
7-14-2009 @ 3:04AM
Chris said...
Yeah. That's about right, Apple has sheep.
7-14-2009 @ 5:29AM
DaX said...
Well, 99% of the times Apple gets it right. Correct: gets it much, much, much better than competition. Just have a look at marvels like the Mac, the iPod or the iPhone. So, based on that track, it is reasonable to speculate that the iTablet will be a huge hit, again.
Reply
7-16-2009 @ 10:14PM
me said...
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
more lemming ware for the applebots.
Be objective Anthony Massucci.
Reply
7-28-2009 @ 10:09AM
Sri said...
Apple Tablet may be launched this Christmas or possibly as early as September. I hope this will be another great rally for apple earnings. I will buy one of this for sure. The iphone started to be too little to stay all the day looking things. I am a great fan of apple product so started collecting all the information (more than 200 sites) about Apple Tablet(News, Videos, Pics, Pre reviews, Rumors etc.,). If you are interested take a look at the below link
http://markthispage.blogspot.com/2009/07/apple-tablet-large-iphone-or-ipod-touch.html
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