Will the Mac Tablet Look Like This?

Nicole Martinelli ()

Used with a CC-license, thanks to Sean (aka perfect pixel) on Flickr.

Used with a CC-license, thanks to Sean (aka perfect pixel) on Flickr.

With Apple’s tablet computer rumored to be just weeks away, CoM reader Sean sent us another take on what he thinks it’ll look like.

Instead of more or less an overgrown iPod Touch, his latest mock-up version has more of a tablet feel sporting a 7 – 10” multi-touch glass display, all the better to video AIM your pals about dinner plans.

Other specs follow what he imagined for the much-awaited Apple netbook in his previous prototype: 1.6GHz Intel Atom Processor, 512MB – 1GB of RAM, 64GB flash memory, bluetooth, WiFi and a reduced version of OS X Snow Leopard to fit the device.

What do you think?

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About the author

nicole_martinelli

Nicole Martinelli is a San Francisco native who has lived in Milan and Florence, Italy. She's written for Wired.com, The New York Times and Newsweek. You can find her on Twitter , Facebook and Google+.

If you're doing something new/cool that's Apple related, email her about it.

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  • dan

    Just how are you going to type and be seen by a supposed included video cam? Hang it on the wall?

    d

  • pakmacman

    how would you type on something like that? looks great, but probably not very ‘usable’

  • Eric

    WILL there EVEN be?… A mac tablet?

  • Christopher Badgley

    I want one NOW!

  • Tom

    The keyboard is too small. I’m thinking the “ignore palms resting on a touchsensitive surface” patent or two that apple put out a while back was to do with the MacBook Touch tablet rather than their MacBook lineup – though the MacBooks might get an enlarged multitouch trackpad area at some point.

    Problem with typing on it on a flat surfaces is that the scren isn’t angled to be 90 degrees to the typer’s eyes, but instead at an oblique angle.

    Guess we’ll see – the problem of holding it for long periods, needing a stand if watching movies, etc is one that neds to be addressed.

  • http://www.hub-bub.co.uk Tom

    I like the look of the hardware. Take the screen/lid off a unibody mbp, shrink it down to 10″ and i’d be happy – Glossy black on the front with aluminum back and apple logo. Although it would have to be thicker to house the internals.

    I think the keyboard on the mock up is too small though. It would have to fill the width of the screen

  • skids544

    …just another over-priced toy for people who have too much money and actually believe that this will make them look cool and be “more productive” while they post on Facebook…

  • Stian Stiansen

    Ugly! Too small keyboard, both me and Apple hate that. Textbox for iChat looks totally misplaced, what the heck, get that ugly thing away.

  • SG

    I think we’re going to see an all new design that leaks into other products. You know, like the iPod and iPhone did when they came out? Something totally new… No idea what, but something new.

    As for this, I thin it looks nice, but not too great. the keyboard is too small and in the wrong place, and a few other nitpicks. I would say that it will run SL and iPhone OS. It will have a 1GHz “hummingbird” ARM and a 1.6GHz core 2 duo(like in the last gen MBA) to run each OS, 2GB of RAM, and 64GB of NAND flash. Thats what I think, but is unlikely. Whatever, its a cool mockup.

  • Keith Thomas

    Great example, highlights many of the problems – as described here by others – associated with producing a tablet.

  • Michael Snyder

    Who says the keyboard is going to STAY that small when you type? I do agree about one thing. This will never be serious desktop/laptop replacement. Too much strain staring down at this thing — not unless Apple is going to include revolutionary voice recognition.

    This will mostly be a movie/music media device and e-reader device — probably a multi-function display that switches from LCD or similar to e-ink or similar at the flick of a button. I have a hunch it’s going to very light. Easy to hold like a book and watch movie, or, of course, read a book.

  • Robert

    Please stop coming up with fake renderings of this new tablet. People are just going to whine and complain and make stupid comments about a product that hasn’t even been released. Who gives anything a shot these days before judging it? Apparently no one.

  • bughunter

    I think that if it does have an integrated camera, people won’t use it. Imagine the camera angles… people will be aghast when they realize that they’ll all be seen from an under-the-chin viewpoint (which is seldom flattering, especially with the wide angle lens typical of iSight cameras). So, unless the tablet comes with an easel stand to achieve the kinds of camera angles Sean depicts, it won’t take off as a video chat device… and if it’s propped up like that, then it will need an external keyboard. (Hey – how about one of those laser-projected keyboards… now THAT would be teh awesome.)

    A foldable tablet, with two touchscreens clamshelled together might be a solution. I saw a concept of one of those depicted a few weeks ago… perhaps it was here on Cult of Mac. That would solve the camera angle and keyboard problems, and it would also give the unit some ruggedness for storage and transportation.

  • nthn

    To type on it, it will have to be laying flat on a surface. To see it properly, you’d have to have it angled on some sort of stand. Problem there? Also, the webcam is useless. To use it, you’d have to either be hovering directly overtop of it, or holding it out in front of you. I’d still love to play on one when/if it comes out.

  • Gazoobee

    Really bad rendering of a really bad tablet concept. This article is just stupid clickbait.

  • http://www.youtube.com/punkdoggy800 sean

    @Gazoobee, what’s wrong with it, what would you change about it?

  • http://damnkorbin.com corbin

    Is this mac goin to cost you an arm an a leg how much will it cost

  • sean

    Rumor has it it will cost around $800 :)

  • JB

    I’d be disappointed with less than 100GB memory. If this is supposed to be an all purpose media device I would like something that can hold ALL my movies, TV shows, music and any books that may be compatible with it.

  • CuX
  • John

    let’s hope that apple are a _bit_ more creative than that… else I will be very disappointed with the team down in cupertino…

  • d.adams

    It looks cool and the keyboard would work really good if you held the tablet with one hand and typed with the other, just like an oversized iPod touch. I wonder if this is real…?

  • sam

    Get over your selves people! Before u know it, u all will be eatin ur word as u stand in line for the mac tablet. Waiting in anticipation just like all the other lemming that im happy to call my self one of them