A lot of rumors have been popping up about a new Apple computer, and many have been pointing towards a tablet. THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN, let me tell you why…
Let’s first take a look at the market-share of the Windows Tablet PCs versus regular Windows laptops. If we analyzed that market at all with a critical eye, we would begin to wonder why Windows still has tablets at all. (Clearly they still have them because Bill Gates believes this is the future.) If you start talking about multi-touch on the tablet then things start to get interesting, but I digress.
What would the form factor be? It would have to be somewhere between the iphone and the MacBook. Maybe around 8 inches or 10 inches at the largest. If it was smaller, most could justify having just an iphone or ipod touch. It it was larger, I think many would want a keyboard, and it wouldn’t be very comfortable to use on a day-to-day basis.
I also don’t see how Apple would market this, would it be used as a primary computer? With prices the way they are, I think it would need to have the power and functionality of a primary computer simply to justify the price. Why would I spend $900 for a tablet when I can get a MacBook with a bigger screen and a keyboard for only $100 more. While this is true, the functionality of a tablet lends itself better to being a secondary computer, one you take to meetings, use during a presentation, or jot quick notes on while having the ability to access all of your information. Unless this tablet is around $500 or $600 I don’t see it having a lot of market without it being a fully functional computer.
I could see a mac tablet being used as a media device, say a mobile movie player, mp3 library, and more to fit in with the current trend by Apple. But again, if it is more than $600 I don’t see it picking up use the way the iPod and iPhone have.
I have listed a few reasons why Apple wouldn’t make a tablet, but why would they? Seriously, I want to know what you think. Give me reasons to rewrite this article. (Ok, after the whole boing-boing debacle, I will just post a new article while linking back to the old one instead) Put them in the comments and if your comment is interesting, you could win the first board piece in the mythical game of monopoly mac.