Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Rumors
Munster: Apple suppliers negotiating parts deals for sub-$700 tablet
In a research note to clients, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster suggested that Apple is developing a 7-to-10-inch tablet priced at $500 to $700, perhaps ready for the public in 2010.
According to AppleInsider, Munster's contacts in the supply chain haven't seen a prototype of the device, but are in discussions with Apple to supply components for something at that size and price point.
Munster believes that Apple could adjust the iPhone SDK to allow for multiple display resolutions. Apps like Safari and Mail, he says, would benefit from the additional screen real estate. He also mentions that with the larger screen, more than one traditional iPhone app could be run at once.
As for timing, Munster suggests that the device could be ready next year, and possibly be subsidized by a wireless carrier.
As with most analysis of this kind, this is two parts hearsay, one part "interpretation of conference call statements," and seven parts wishful thinking. In providing technical details about a product that may not exist, Munster is writing checks that Apple might not be able to cash.
Is this something you'd buy? Is it even going to happen? Sound off in comments.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Josh Monroe said 4:53PM on 5-21-2009
Not going to happen, would buy one if it did. I think I will go ahead and put that money in savings since it isn't going to happen.
It seems like in recent years the mainstream media has gotten involved in the "Making up Apple Rumours" business but just because they are reputable with regards to other things doesn't change the fact that they are making up every last drop.
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The Iron Giant said 4:58PM on 5-21-2009
These guys at Piper Jaffray need to shut their mouths. Seriously. Apple is either pissed off and not talking, or they are happy about the buzzing rumors because it drives up their stock prices. Either way, it's hearsay and unethical coming from a public entity.
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Ryan said 5:36PM on 5-21-2009
I can see this happening. Apple has plainly said that they are not going to do a netbook, and the won't. But since there is a public that is calling for something in that size factor Apple is going to respond,but they are going to do something that goes outside easily defined terms.
I think the article is correct when it alludes to a tweaked iPhone SDK. If Apple releases a tablet is is going to be something similar to the iPhone, but on a larger scale. It will be a mobile OS, not OSX, making it a companion and compliment to a "full scale" mac. Perhaps it will have a touch keyboard, but have an option for some sort of external keyboard.
I'm thinking this is something that is going to appeal to musicians (a portable multi-track recorder with basic editing utilizing an external mic), Photographers (being able to interface with a camera, you could set up on a tripod and execute commands remotely, basic editing), and other creative professionals.
I think that we will see something like this from Apple, but I don't think that we are going to hear about it at WWDC. Apple will wait to see if the ability to interact with the serial port with iPhone 3.0 takes off, and if so adapt that to a larger scale.
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Oliver Bouchard said 5:38PM on 5-21-2009
Sounds plausible to me - Apple would be foolish if they didn't try to expand the iPhone platform to other devices. And there's an opportunity as well: nobody so far has produced a tablet that is more than a laptop with a swiveling screen.
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PSM said 5:52PM on 5-21-2009
Sounds like speculation to me.
If one came out, I don't think I'd buy it. It's too big to fit in my pocket and too small to do Photoshop, video editing, serious word processing, etc. so I would be carrying around a 3rd device. I'm sure there are situations in which I would find it useful, but to spend that much money on an additional device and have to keep it in sync with the other two sounds like too much expense and hassle.
For people who don't want/need either an iPhone or a full-size laptop, it could be useful.
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Ryan said 7:17PM on 5-21-2009
That's a good point. The iPhone has done an amazing job of reducing multiple devices into one. (iPod, phone, calendar, etc.) This device would not do that same thing and would be another thing to carry around. That's why I think they will have a specific type of creative professional in mind when they make it and it might not be the general consumer device that the iPhone has been. Like the Mac Pro of the mobile devices, definitely not for everyone, but absolutely perfect for some.
badweasel said 6:09PM on 5-21-2009
The iphone SDK does not need to be adjusted for different screen sizes. It's already in there. The first thing you do in most any app is get the resolution of the screen and fill the program window to that size.
Read more about this and why I think the tablet WILL be iPhone OS here...
http://tomorrowland.com/2009/05/14/wwdc-t-minus-4-weeks/
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YodaMac said 6:23PM on 5-21-2009
I wouldn't carry it around since it wouldn't fit in my pocket - like my iPhone.
I wouldn't use it at home, as my 23" desktop monitor is better suited to working on websites, photoshop, etc.
It sounds a lot like the Macbook I was GOING to buy myself... before I got an iPhone. Since then, I just don't really have a need for a notebook, laptop, netbook or tablet.
But, of course, Apple is free to prove me wrong. :)
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Adam said 6:46PM on 5-21-2009
Been waiting for this since my Newton 2000 was "killed" :-)
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TIm Meyer said 7:08AM on 5-22-2009
Talking about a generic tablet is insane as the form factor depends on the use case and no one has articulated one.
I can see an e-book reader, but then that is what we should be talking about. A general purpose tablet is neither fish nor fowl, and I seriously doubt Apple would put something out without thinking about every use case scenario, UI and the interaction design.
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Pasnbyu said 8:35PM on 5-21-2009
Apple won't do a net book as we know them today, but will redfine it and set the standard like they did with the iPhone / AppStore. Of course it won't replace a laptop, but it will surf the net, serve as a larger display for photos on the go, an make mobile email / blogging easier than on an iPhone. This will happen & I will buy at least one on day one.
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Ahmed Karam said 10:27PM on 5-21-2009
I think it will happen. They will release snow leopard on it, to make it more efficient. Remember what apple said we don't ship junk. So when Snow leopard is final, i believe their netbook will appear.
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Ad said 4:27AM on 5-22-2009
Apple have a very lean, highly specialised product line, each device with its own clearly-delineated market space. So whilst this would appear to fit into the line size-wise, I've heard very little talk of who this tablet would be for or what the point of it is. For a ridiculously portable computer I've got an iPhone, then a laptop, then an iMac/Mac Pro if you need more power etc without portability - so what and who would this be for?
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Johnnywoz said 9:46AM on 5-22-2009
I would love to see a larger "iPhone" / tablet from Apple. I would definitely buy it.
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Dave said 11:06AM on 5-22-2009
The net book market has shown that there is a market for under $500 computers that are medium sized (7-10 inch) vs the ultra portable (iphone sized).
There is still a lot of paper that is lugged around because the alternative is to pan and scan on a laptop or look at a postage stamp size window on a phone.
Take the MBA, get rid of the keyboard, replace the screen with a full blown touch screen, and use the iPhone OS or simple finder.
This gives you 90% of what people want and uses existing technology in a more interesting way (something I always felt Apple does better than most).
It would already have wi-fi, bluetooth(listen to music or for those who really want a keyboard) and a decent battery. Throw on some extra USB ports and/or SD card reader and you have a "info-pad" that could carry all of your electronic docs (converted to PDF- a native iPhone and Mac OS X format) and papers as scans in the size of a letter size pad with cover.
Add mobileme and you have all of your info in the cloud. Apple could also continue adding to iTunes to sync the info from your main comp to your info-pad.
Oh yeah one last thing. Have GSM on board with a SIM slot for international sales but include CDMA to sell the cellular version through Verizon for total mobile broadband access.
Course that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.
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tony d said 12:37PM on 5-22-2009
After reading multiple comments on this on varying sites I'm beginning to think of a hybrid of the iPhone's multi-touch OS and the tried and true Mac OS. How about a laptop that has a 12" screen (or 10", why not?) but the bottom, where the keyboard and trackpad are, is a multi-touch surface. Maybe glass like the unibody laptops. The keyboard part will react to touch and become a keyboard otherwise it'll be a giant track pad. It wont be all that powerful but would be an Apple's answer to the netbook. With that said, I'm convinced though that netbooks are popular because of price, not size. If they were over $500 people would buy a regular laptop, especially if they want a PC. Apple needs to convince every one that their netbook is worth the money.
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Johnnywoz said 1:08PM on 5-22-2009
I would love to see a larger "iPhone" / tablet from Apple. I would definitely buy it.
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Johnnywoz said 1:10PM on 5-22-2009
To me, this would be the ultimate laptop/tablet/etc device for Apple to develop;
http://tommasogecchelin.wordpress.com/2009/04/21/macbook-touch/
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Rego said 5:09PM on 5-22-2009
The following is from http://Appledoozy.com
The $799.00 Apple Mac Tablet Computer
Lets start with the form factor and capabilities of the iPhone/iPod touch.
Then make it large enough so that it has a 7 to 9 inch screen, when laying flat.
Add full snow leopard compatibility.
Endow it with features such as, turn by turn voice gps, the ability to draw, paint and take notes on the tablet. Give it optional capabilities to receive cell phone, voice and data, with optional separate reasonably priced plans.
Add in WIFI and upgraded digital video and still camera capabilities.
(Available optional additional lenses (DSLR features) would make it even better.) Give it comfortable e-book reading features.
Make it foldable like a laptop with no less than 128 GB memory.
However, as I conceive it, the screen would fold for a smaller foot print, for comfortable transportation, and then unfold for full size use. (I read recently that folding screen technology exists.)
Could Apple build one device with all those features, probably.
Most of the technology has been on the market for a while, but no one, or at least no well known, capable company, has put anything like this on the market.
Could Apple build this so that it makes an acceptable profit at a $799.00 selling price?
I don't know.
I understand that the cost of many components have been lowered in price and the economy of scale may help.
Would Apple want to build this?
I can dream can't I?
It would certainly be a new product category.
The question remains, if Apple decides to build something like this, how close can it come to these specs, and when?
If you like the above idea, please let your friends and Apple know of your interest.
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