“Events in the past 30 days lead me to conclude something unthinkable just one month ago: Apple — yeah, I said it: Apple! — will ship the first ever successful small computer. Call it the Newton on Crack (or, more accurately, on Mac),” Mike Elgan writes for Computerworld.
“AppleInsider said this week that Apple is working on an updated Newton MessagePad — basically a big iPod Touch with additional PDA functionality. The Mac OS X Leopard-based mobile mini-tablet PC will be 1.5 times the size of an iPhone, but with an approximate 720 x 480 high-resolution display. The site estimates that the new device will ship in the first half of 2008,” Elgan writes.
“If true (and some believe it isn’t), this rumor is very good news. If Apple ships an iPod Touch, but with good PIM (personal information manager) functionality, an optional wireless keyboard and good battery life for under $1,000, they win,” Elgan writes.
“As I’ve said before in this space, Apple’s iPhone user interface is a glimpse of the future, not only of future Apple mobile computers, but desktops and the future of all PCs as well. It’s inevitable that Apple will ship a tablet Mac that works like the iPhone… Right now, the only company with a prayer of succeeding in the small computer space is also the only company that hasn’t even shown a prototype — Apple,” Elgan writes.
Full article here.
You guys are missing the obvious name; since the Newton product was actually called the Newton MessagePad, update that for the new iEra, and call it the “iPad”.
I think “newton” is a great name for a landmark product and game-changer
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” />
Folks, does anyone remember going to Best Buy or CompUSA and seeing the whole section of PDA’s?? Go now and you are lucky to see even one or two.
There simply ain’t a huge market for these devices compared to the overall consumer market, even in the business world. A Newton type tablet device is NOT going to happen and Steve Jobs is not going to clutter up his “table legs” product line. There is TONS more consumer demand for a sub notebook than a tablet. The tablet has failed. If you want a Mac tablet, then buy a Modbook, folks. A 10″ Macbook is the only thing that makes sense for the market as a whole. The iPhone is Apple’s tablet PC…anything bigger than your pocket makes any touch screen device inefficient to the whole market. Yeah, it would be great for doctors and such, but there is not a 100 million unit sold device in a bigger than your pocket tablet PC! It is a wonderful dream…but keep dreaming!
I think they should name it either MacPad or iPad…
and NO, that is not a feminine hygiene product with internet connectivity…
I LIVE in Newton (Mass), and I don’t care what they call it. A large tablet/sub-notebook you can compose (type) on, read email on, Google on, listen to tunes on … and just a tad smaller than a paperback (must fit in my back pants pocket or suit-coat pocket) would be very interesting. Must have at least 30 GB of storage and decent battery life, though – a problematic mix.
If it’s a PDA, it’s dead coming out of the gate. It needs to run iLife, iWork, Safari and iTunes to gain any traction at all.
Dave
@ I love glossy
YOU GOT IT! That’s the only way for a tablet format to make sense! And il would REALLY make sense!
MW: dead, as the stylus IS dead… Multi-touch is the way!
You know, while they’re at it why don’t these people making up all these rumors say that Apple is going to resurrect the PowerCD and the Pippin? Its just as ludicrous.
iNewt®
Thanks for playing.
Although I think this would be way cool, I still don’t think it’s gonna happen. Maybe 1 in 10 shot.
More speculation on the Newton:
http://macnewbtube.wordpress.com/2007/09/26/talks-of-the-apple-newton-reborn-touch-screen-mactablet/
Tablet PC without a stylus, instead using the pointing device humans are born with… Those “pad” devices depicted on the later Star Trek shows may have gotten it right.
iPhone was in the works for 3 years. They waited until technology was cheap enough and interface was perfectly honed.
It could be 3 years before the Newt2n. Killer features — handwriting recognition, typing on screen that correctly guesses the letters you want based on where your fingers are, full Google Cloud Suite, folds open to a single flat panel with screen on both sides, folds shut to fit in pocket.
“Newt2n” is mine. Pay me cash if you use it.
Second vote for the “Mac nano.” It’s a small Macintosh, not a big iPod.
And I also think that Apple would be the one to make this product category huge. To use a rash generalization, Tablet computers are for risk takers. Risk takers use Macintoshes, not Windows. Therefore, these people aren’t interested in Tablets running Windows.
That said, people who use Tablets love them–I have yet to hear much for complaints (and those that do basically say the problems are with Windows, not the concept). The ones I’ve talked to are almost as bad as Mac users in regards to their evangelism. So I do believe there might be something worthwhile there for Apple to explore, even though sales have so far been modest.
It’s something “different” and, let’s face it, Windows users aren’t known for liking that whole “Think Different” attitude.
Size is not that important – in fact, the iPhone is perfect. Screen density is the key. Enough for a document, enough for a webpage.
The turning point happens with facility. Can I lookup a fact in under 30 seconds. Can I read, and edit a ful-size document?
AAA – anything, anywhere, anytime.
I wonder how much demand there is for a 10 inch Macbook (or whatever). It’s too big for a pocket or small purse. So you still need a larger bag to carry it in. If that’s the case, why not just use a regular Macbook.
I think there could be significant demand for something like this device (1.5 times touch interface device) in business environments. I know that in health care, we could use the heck out of it if we could run electronic medical record and medical order entry systems on it. Palm/Blackberry is currently dominant, but too small. And no one wants to carry a laptop around on rounds. Not even a 10 inch laptop. You have to be able to put it in a big pocket.
It will dominate becuase everything similiar completely sucks.
Apple is bringing out a new main board for the 12″ PowerBook with a big CPU upgrade in it, which will be available to existing 12″ owners before the new newtons are released. The keyboard works just fine, it’s designed for TOUCH typists with ten fingers. Anyway, the 12″ ones are already in short supply on eBay. What I like best is the 4:3 screen which gives more vertical real estate, and it plugs into a big monitor to watch movies anyway. Just give me a better CPU for my PowerBook and sell it for the same price as a new MacBook and watch people upgrade.
Here’s the best name for it: Newtonstein… Its alive!
@ GG & DD
Very likely correct, I think. I have a feeling this is going to be very big.
You bet yer sweet ass it is.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />
@totalMac
you wrote:I can’t imagine Steve allowing the name “Newton” to have a new life. I believe that was a John Scully project.
You are right. It will called the Meow!ton and the ads will have Tom Jones singing “What’s New Pussycat”.
Am I the only artist who wants a tablet to draw on? I think not.
Sketches is the only app on the iPhone that really trips my trigger…
I hope Apple has learned a key Newton lesson by looking at the Palm. The form factor cannot be too big! Instead it must remain pocket-sized! Oh, and toss in full Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS. If appropos, call the new PDA “Mac nano”.
@ doc
That’s my line. ;P