MacFormat's Tablet Mockup
MacFormat's 3D artist came up with these mockups and some additional specs. Will the Mac Tablet look anything like this?
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Comments (30)
this is by far the sexiest thing iv ever seen!
I'm in love :P but can't get my hopes up
oh btw that earphone/bluetooth? head piece looks nice ;P
1 suggestion: maybe the touch pad and keyboard can be detached,... so that it'll be easier to transport,...
I love it,.... saving up for something like this,....
...is how the iPhone OS works with a mouse/trackpad. If this device, whatever it's called, uses the iPhone OS, it will be interesting to see how that plays out from an end-user perspective. Are you moving a pointer around like a mouse? Are you tapping on the trackpad where you would normally tap on the screen? If so, how's the precision on that, since you have to tap one place but look at another? Will it simply be the multi-touch gestures on the current trackpads? Or something else? Hmmmm....
i want this keyboard! now!
The detail is quite impressive. However I would imagine that the tablet would be attached to the keyboard (like current macbooks or maybe a sliding qwerty keyboard) and, given that its touch screen, not have a touch/trackpad. I reckon scrolling and finger gestures would all be built into the screen.
Just a thought......... but not criticising art work
The idea of a touch-screen device eliminates the need for a keyboard people. It's just not clean to **still** require a keyboard on this iPhone-like device. If you still want a keyboard (and a device with a full operating system for that matter) then you want a laptop—not a tablet.
That way everyone is happy. NOYB if someone else wants to use a keyboard.
The idea of a touch-screen device eliminates the need for a keyboard people. It's just not clean to **still** require a keyboard on this iPhone-like device. If you still want a keyboard (and a device with a full operating system for that matter) then you want a laptop—not a tablet.
The idea of a touch-screen device eliminates the need for a keyboard people. It's just not clean to **still** require a keyboard on this iPhone-like device. If you still want a keyboard (and a device with a full operating system for that matter) then you want a laptop—not a tablet.
I think something like this but where the keyboard magnetically attaches to the iPad's rounded edge - so a magnetic hinge. I also think this keyboard/ sreen protector will be sold as an accessory for those trying to cover of the netbook/ convertable tablet jobbies. Most people would just buy the tablet. This would help apple price it too.
Ohhh, I so want one of these. Just right.
If the tablet looks like this I would be over the moon. How cool is that? Giant iPhone by day, Netbook by night. Amazing
One, time I tried making a dock similar to the one in that picture for my ipod touch. As the ipod was too heavy and would either fall over or put too much stress on the ipod connector. I can only imagine it being worse with a heavier device. I combated it by setting it up similar to this, http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadgethd.com/media/2007/04/sony_bravia_ipod... but a shitload smaller, thinner, and better looking.
Is that Ben Afleck?
But the thing that gets me is that a few months ago we saw a patent for a "Dock" for this kind of device in what looked like a 24" Display that would use Std keyboard and mouse.
If that could be a reality then it would REALLY be something interesting because it could be used as a light use desktop alternative (think desktop eeepc) or even a Kindle type device replacement.
Mind you on saying that it will probably cost a fortune and the cost of accessories will pretty much render that whole idea invalid when compared to the price of a basic imac or white macbook.
But the thing that gets me is that a few months ago we saw a patent for a "Dock" for this kind of device in what looked like a 24" Display that would use Std keyboard and mouse.
If that could be a reality then it would REALLY be something interesting because it could be used as a light use desktop alternative (think desktop eeepc) or even a Kindle type device replacement.
Mind you on saying that it will probably cost a fortune and the cost of accessories will pretty much render that whole idea invalid when compared to the price of a basic imac or white macbook.
This is a great conceptualisation - love the netbook detail on the screen :-)
For quick refference here's a collection of what Apple has applied for and what multiple toys can be built from them. Personally the iMac dock sounds like a winner.
As far as a reader there is the dual screen a-la nintendo DS large format to really read E-books. Dual 10" touch 1 for input other for visual interface.
Here's your patentents.
Dock:
http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u...
Visual Expander (Apps to larger scale):
http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u...
Document linking:
http://www.google.com/patents?id=UJ0hAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4&d...
More Gesture Patents:
http://www.wikipatents.com/patent_full.php?id=US7339580
GUI Configurations:
http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u...
Could this be the Verizon Hub2?
Someone above said "touch-screen eliminates the need for a keyboard"... "not clean to still require a keyboard"... "if you want a keyboard, you want a laptop".
I totally disagree.
The only reason to favour a laptop over a tablet-with-keyboard is for a) speed; b) graphics & c) increased storage. If web browsing, email, & word processing are all you do, then this tablet is fabulous.
Also, it's not about "requiring" a keyboard.
The keyboard isn't required when the tablet is undocked.
BUT it is very handy when the tablet IS docked, for email, word processing, etc. Perhaps it switches from touch-mode to pointer-mode whenever a keyboard is detected.
It is still touch-based when undocked.
This design gives the benefits of both worlds.
Yea thats some nice looking stuff right there.
I think you're spot on Derek. Those were my assumptions as well.
I love the mock up of the tablet. I don't think we will ever see a keyboard like that though. There are far to many people who prefer mouse to trackpad. The most we will see as far as a multitouch desktop goes will be a mouse with multitouch gestures, or Maybe, MAYBE... a keyboard like this, but w/o a big bump in price. If apple would design a keyboard like this and charge $160 it would be a flop. Great artwork though.
Love the overall tablet/pad design - would buy one instantly.
Love the combined keyboard/trackpad - would buy one as well.
Allow the dock to hold it in either orientation (maybe use inductive charging instead of the port connection?), auto-pairing/sensing of any bluetooth keyboard for prolonged typing/input (not just Apple's), add some beefed up core applications (mobile iPhoto maybe, mobile iChat, ability to stream/play iTunes content that isn't synced, better document editing/creation) and this would be outstanding.
Likely a good move for Apple as well - extends the reality distortion field around a new class of device, further leverages the iPhone/iPod halo effect, generates more App Store revenue, likely generates Mobile Me revenue for remote disk capability, maybe a cut of 3G/wireless provider revenues... sounds pretty smart to me.
Looks like the tablets the cast of Star Trek Voyager were always carrying around and handing to each other. It is a larger iPhone which would make me ecstatic. If it were just bigger the kindle would totally fizzle.
Looks like the tablets the cast of Star Trek Voyager were always carrying around and handing to each other. It is a larger iPhone which would make me ecstatic. If it were just bigger the kindle would totally fizzle.
WOW! Beautiful!! Apple needs to take notes...especially with that sexy headset. I am drooling and crying at the same time!
Although I think it's quite likely that we will see a keyboard like this in the future, for the occasional use with Tablet computers, or even for surfing the web on your couch via Apple TV, there's no way they would put the tackpad on the right.
Think about how awkward this would be for left handed people, it would be a nightmare. Even if they came up with two models one for left handed people and one for right handed people, it would still suck if you (a right handed person) went round your left handed mate's house, to use their computer.
That's the reason why trackpads are always in the middle of laptops, so any future keyboard trackpad all in one, would always have the tackpad in the centre below the keys!
I've been in the market for a mini laptop or tablet. I like the Dell Mini, but I'm waiting for Apple to get its act together and come out with something bigger than an iPhone and smaller than their macbooks. I love the "big iphone" design in the artist's rendering, but I don't think it's very practical. You'd have to carry around three pieces: the tablet, the dock, and the keyboard. And you'd have to have a wired or bluetooth connection. That seems awfully more complicated than the all-in-one, elegant solution of a mini laptop. Apple is about elegance, so I can't imagine they'd create something more complicated. Furthermore, the dock simply won't work in many situations: on the bus or on the train or on the couch. A laptop can be easily and securely placed on your lap. A dock stand is not nearly so convenient. And propping a tablet up seems unstable and unwieldy. I say Apple should go for the mini laptop.