Slashdot Mirror


What To Expect From Apple's Rumored MacPad

Jeff writes "I decided to review the specifications of recent e-readers and mobile devices as well as the ongoing Apple rumor mill to chart out the most likely features, innovations and configuration we can expect from Apple's long awaited Newton successor/Mac Tablet which I'll call the MacPad. The MacPad will arrive in fall '09 or Jan '10, with a 10" diagonal color display, a $599 price point with a Verizon data plan, a stylus, note taking application and handwriting recognition and an e-bookstore for iTunes. Apple's biggest challenge will be convincing its huge installed base of iPhone owners that they need a MacPad too. Past failed Newtonian predictions by others are available on Slashdot and the likelihood that any of this is right can be gauged by earlier Confucian gems such as Haskin warns that Apple may be setting itself up for a failure with the iPhone."

3 of 213 comments (clear)

  1. Re:oooh i wonder if liqbase will run on it by beelsebob · · Score: 3, Informative

    If all you're using is raw c and x11+xv, then your application will run happily on OS X with the click of a compile button.

  2. Mac Tablet History by mevets · · Score: 4, Informative

    [ credits to Rik Myslewski at the register]:

    * eWEEK, November 2002, "Waiting for the Mac Tablet":
                        "It's my strong belief - let's call it a hunch - that prototype Mac tablets are already making the rounds among select developers."
    * Engadget, May 2005, "Apple's patented the Tablet Mac"
                        "[Tablet-Mac rumors] became substantiated today when Apple's secret plans for a tablet PC were ... revealed.
    * CutMeLoose.com, May 2005, "Apple Tablet PC sightings"
                        "I have no less than 5 sources saying an Apple Tablet announcement is due soon."
    * Cnet UK, November 2007, "Apple Tablet PC is real, says Asus"
                        "You can bet your bottom dollar [a tablet Mac] is being built as you read this."
    * Mac|Life, January 2008, "The Apple Tablet Mac: 8 Reasons It's Gonna Happen"
                        "The tablet rumor has been around for the last couple years, but now, all the ducks are in a row."
    * ZDNet, May 2008, "Tablet Mac coming this fall"
                        "A little birdy tells me that Apple will announce a 12 or 13-inch tablet in the fall of this year."
    * Wired, July 2008, "Apple to Launch MacBook Touch?"
                        "The blogosphere is aflutter with rumors of a touchscreen Mac tablet."
    * Industry Standard, December 2008, "Apple announces Mac tablet at Macworld 2009?"
                        "Could this 6 year old rumor finally come true?"

  3. Re:Hey! Let's Just make Shit up! by Macrat · · Score: 4, Informative

    It's substantiated by the fact that Apple has a deal on 10" touchscreens,

    That would be rumor. Not fact.

    fact Apple had a job offer for a handwriting recognition expert.

    Maybe you don't know that handwriting recognition is built into the Mac OS? It's called InkWell. And it has been there for a while.