Another Tablet Rumor That Makes Sense: There’s Two Tablets

By Leander Kahney (12:15 pm, Aug 18 2009)

An iPod Tablet mockup from Graham Bower of Mac Predictions: http://www.macpredictions.com/2009/04/ipod-tablet-mockup.html

Here’s a rumor about Apple’s upcoming tablet that makes a lot of sense: There’s actually two of them: an iPod tablet with a six-inch screen and a bigger tablet that runs full OS X.

And Apple may introduce one or both in September, according to veteran tech analyst Richard Doherty, who spoke to BusinessWeek.

Apple has developed prototypes of two different tablet machines—one that resembles a large-sized iPod and boasts a 6-inch screen, and another that features a larger display. Apple may launch one or both devices as early as September,” Doherty says. “A decision on whether and when Apple takes the tablet plunge lies with Apple CEO Steve Jobs,” Doherty says.
…
One of Apple’s prototype devices is able to run all Mac applications, and allows for video and audio editing and graphic animation, Doherty says. Another, which looks like a larger iPod, lends itself to watching videos, playing games, and reading e-books.

The two devices sound like the best of both worlds. An entertainment-oriented iPod tablet — like an iPod Plus — that runs the iPhone/iPod OS and is great for watching movies around the house; and a bigger Snow Leopard-capable device that can do real work. One for entertainment, another for education, kinda like Gizmodo’s Brian Lam suggested last week.

Doherty also predicts the tablet(s) could start as low as $679. It’ll be a hit because it’s got 65,000 Apps to run on it.

“Apple has a real opportunity to take the magic of the iPhone interface and give that more real estate to do the tasks… It’s an iPhone, but bigger. It’s something that you know, but bigger.” The device may be able to wirelessly access iTunes and Apple’s App Store, which offers more than 65,000 apps such as games, e-books, and calendars.

But what about the inside sources quoted by Jim Dalrymple and others that say the tablet won’t show until 2010? Perhaps the Mac tablet is for next year, and iPod Plus for 2009?

7 comments »

About the author

Leander Kahney is the editor and publisher of Cult of Mac, and author of three books about technology culture: Inside Steve’s Brain, the New York Times bestseller about Steve Jobs; Cult of Mac; and Cult of iPod. Leander has written for Wired, MacWeek, Scientific American, and The Guardian in London. Follow Leander on Twitter @lkahney and Facebook.

(sorry, you need Javascript to see this e-mail address)| Read more posts by Leander Kahney.

Posted in Apple, iPod, News, Rumors |

blondepianist
It would be unlike Apple to publish two widely different versions of the same product: that’s Microsoft’s strategy with Windows Starter thru Ultimate, and this would be even worse. Just imagine how ticked all the people who bought the iPod tablet (because it was the only thing available) would be when the Mac table came out a few months later!
Personally, I like the idea of a Mac tablet that can run iPhone apps as widgets: one device, with the best of both worlds.
CaryMG
The “School Tablet/Business Tablet” aspect has been around for awhile now.
Kay
We don’t even know if Apple will come up with a single tablet, despite the myriad of rumor nonsense, but two tablets make sense !?
This is written by a journalist !! Congratulations.
Gazoobee
This sounds like total BS to me.
And how is “Business Week” the one getting the scoop on this idea? They are literally *never* right about Apple product releases, and business publications in general are always dealing with last years rumours, or sometimes just idle (i.e. – wild) speculations based on “the analysts” (another group who is seldom accurate about these things).
- A tablet with full OS-X makes no sense at all, it’s already available and does not sell.
- Making a tablet you can “edit movies and animations” on, *before* you make one that can edit a simple Pages document makes no sense at all.
- If an iPod touch is made just a bit bigger, just so you can watch movies better on it, but still small enough to put in your pocket, who’s going to buy the original?
If the BW author got that line about the decision “resting solely on Steve Jobs etc.” from his sources, then those sources are full of BS and prone to emotional exaggerations at best. if the tablet is coming out even in early 2010, it’s already made, designed and produced in short runs already. It’s also already got the go-ahead as a product if it exists at all.
This is the same tripe as that other recent story about the tablet coming out in September, (also from a business related source), but that “Apple can’t decide whether to pull the trigger on production” yet. This is similarly stupid because it would have to already be a fait accompli to be in any position to be released in September or even January.
Nothing about these stories rings true IMO.
jetfuellatte
I agree with Gazoobee. It doesn’t make any sense to sell a slightly larger iPod and a tablet as two distinct products. If there are even two versions, the educational version would be a slightly watered down version more oriented towards book learnin’ than multimedia fun. Could you imagine iChat or Skype video conferencing bogging down the network in a college class? I could. Ouch.
.
And analyst? They grossly overrated and incorrect predictions (borrowed from hype, mock-ups, and each other) are drowned out when the product ships. They do it to get face time as a talking head on network news or a few lines in an article in a lame attempt to rive page views to sell ads.
http://Learning2swing.Twitter.com Learning2swing
The whole concept of this mac tablet dosent seem quite right. The only reason I see where tablets make a large impact is in the art industry. This dosent look or sound practical for that. And spending that kind of money on something that’s not even able to fit in your pocket and can only play movies, games and select apps…? Sounds like a waste of money. Personally I think what your talking about isn’t going to be announced or your mock up here in nothing like what apples making.
Thomas
I don’t really get the point of being able to CALL with it… (judging the ‘Phone’ icon in the left bottom corner)
You have to bring the entire tablet to your ear, or only call with handsfree headphone sets? Neither seem handy to me.