“According to reports from Asian component makers, Apple will push back the release of its long-rumored tablet into the second half of the year [from the previously-rumored Feb. or Mar. 2010 timeframe], in part because it plans to introduce a 9.7-in. model featuring an OLED (organic light emitting diode) display, Taiwan-based DigiTimes said today,” Keizer reports. “Component manufacturers in Taiwan and China told the publication that Apple will launch a pair of tablets in the latter half of 2010, one sporting a 10.6-in. TFT-based display, the second a smaller OLED screen.”
“The retail price most often bandied was somewhere between the $200 of the iPhone and iPod touch, and the $1,000 of Apple’s lowest-priced MacBook notebook, with an in-between price of $800 favored by many,” Keizer reports. “Ezra Gottheil, an analyst with Technology Business Research, admitted he’s as uncertain as anyone about the validity of the DigiTimes report, but said both the delay and a high-priced model made sense, given Apple’s history. I don’t think a delay would cost them much,” Gottheil said today. ‘It’s not like someone else is stepping in and snarfing up the tablet market. And a delay fits a life-long pattern for the company, which likes to wait to get things right… Apple doing a luxury, top-end tablet is quite reasonable. They’ve done that many times before.'”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Just to clarify: The rumored price of one of two rumored devices rumored to be released on a rumored date that’s later than a previously rumored date would fit the historical pattern of the company that’s rumored to be developing said rumored devices.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Robert S.” for the heads up.]
Like most here, I’ve been trying to imagine when I’d use it. I vacillate between often and never.
Might require a new way of looking at things.
For that price it had better do hand stands. I like my MBP just fine at that price. $2000 for the privilege of using iPhone apps is a stretch, less than $1000 is better.
Oh yeah. $2,000 tablet will decimate the $300 netbook business. Gosh if 1/7 netbookers go for it Apple will be in clover. I don’t think so.
Why, WHY, are we still talking about this? This is a rumor based on a rumor … at BEST! How about we start our own! Hmm. Lessee …
Ah!
“The $2,000 iTab will have a 3GHz quad-core and a battery life of eight, Eight, EIGHT HOURS!” You heard it here first. Spread it far and wide.
“Why, WHY, are we still talking about this? This is a rumor based on a rumor … at BEST!”
I’m with you. The ONLY reason these rumors keep coming back is that the purveyors of such crap make money from site hits. Why so many continue to believe is beyond me.
Things were getting out of hand. Apple doesn’t like that. You know, all those high expectations created by the blogosphere needed to be muted.
So, today we have new rumors, claiming the opposite; the iTablet, not so soon and not that cheap. Got it?
Come Jan and Apple will be able to shine again!!!
Go figure……
TWO-FREAKIN’-GRAND?!
Jesus, do I get dinner and a movie first?
I certainly don’t need a two thousand dollar tablet
When you come out with a $2000 anything, its no longer a netbook. Apple already owns the netbook market, its called the iPod touch.
The Tablet is gonna be Apple parlaying its App Store success into Mac OS X success. Get it?
I can just see the “one more thing” now:
Jobs enters stage left, Moses motif intact, holding two tablets . . . .
Quick, someone get Cecil B. Demille on the iPhone!!
I’ll pass on Silicon Jesus’ 2K tablet even if it is delivered from the almighty’s (Steve Jobs) hands himself.
That would be perfect for me provided it had great specs to justify me laying out the cash for it.
FFS get a grip
If Apple REALLY wants to have a hit in the premium market, they ought to price the iThingy at $3,000.
The rumors of the many, outweigh the rumors of the few… or the one – Waffle-on, and Prosper.
So to summarize, Apple may or may not be developing a product that may or may not be delayed and may or may not be sold between $200 and $2000.
And many posters here would never buy something they have no idea what it is or what its capabilities are at that price because Apple has a history with the iPod and iPhone of selling a game changing device.
I don’t know who is dumber, the people who refuse to buy something without knowing what it is or the people who report something they don’t know if it exists……
I will go out on a limb and say that if the value the product gives for $2000 is anything like the value to dollar ratio on my iPhone, I will buy two. My iPhone is easily worth 5 times what it cost based on the use it gets. I can’t even imagine what a tablet could do to make it that impressive.
….but I bet Apple can!
I’m so sick of the tablet rumors! Is what we have so pathetic that we have to be dreaming of things we don’t have?
Another moron with a typewriter chimes in.
This is all misdirection and smoke and mirrors probably generated by Apple themselves.
2000 for a tablet and Apple officially jumps the shark. Sheesh.
” the company’s historical pattern of going for the luxury end of the technology market”
What the hell is this guy smoking. I’ve never seen Apple sell a diamond studded Macbook or use corinthian leather keys on the keyboard. Apple does not go after the luxury end. What a stupid statement.
The killer tablet from Apple will be cheap enough to be an impulse “PC” purchase. Something that you could buy for yourself and your family annnnnnndddddddd buy another because the first was so useful.
It will be useful because it will be a display for your existing content whether it be music, photos, movies, documents and have iPod touch like applications. Something you could pick up and carry outside to watch a movie while you enjoyed the day. Something you could watch a movie on while sitting on the toilet.
I don’t watch movies on my MacBook because it has a keyboard and is “bulky” relatively speaking. If I had a Mac the size of my MacBook display, I would use it often in situations where I do not want to deal with a laptop.
Make it inexpensive enough to have one on the nightstand next to your bed. Make it inexpensive enough so the kids could have one.
I have a MacBook to “work” on and plenty of content available on my local machine or the web. Give me something to access it easily.
Yup, cptnkirk, you’re right!
I think Apple dreamed this rumor up so that in January when the thing is unveiled for $699 people will think it’s a steal!
A $2000 price tag is a realistic price for an Apple product. Realistic doesn’t mean I’m particularly happy about it, but Apple won’t make a $800 tablet – period. Goes against their whole pricing scheme.
The only reason the iPhone has a price of $299 is because of the subsidy with AT&T;, otherwise it alone would be $599. So forget about a sub $1000 tablet folks. No way, no how is that a possibility.
What a load of bollocks! Apple devices are the best buy when considering the usefulness and cost of ownership over the long haul. Sarky loser.
I know about as much about this as the next person-nothing. But for me $2,000 would be a definite no-go. I can imagine the tablet being a wonderful product, but the closest existing product now is the 13″ MBP, with a touch screen and internet access added; probably for an additional $60/month charge similar to the tethering charge.
Double the MBP’s price with a smaller screen, plus a possibly $60/month access charge? Not gonna happen, or if it does, it won’t be happening to me.
At $2000, it will just become another museum piece like the cube
Another analyst who knows nothing about Apple. Where do these guys come from?
We really want to release just one tablet.
our perfect price would be $699, but will likely be $799
with a couple options
while a more powerful tablet is being developed, it will not be launched at first, and may just become the successor not an addition to the lineup.
The best tools for any job cost more to buy, but not to use. That’s where they make up the difference in price.
$2000? Why would it have to be that high? Can’t think of any.
If it has great handwriting recognition, I am in. As a carry around tool that I would probably use at least once every hour.(a bare minumum, I think)
One item to carry. Makes sense.
Must be written by Mr. Deumass from the south of Anaspooply.
There is no tablet. It’s actually called the “Pill”
I’ve read to many of these tablet rumors and I’m to dizzy. Won’t be reading anymore rumors about tablets, just pills..
To be honest, this smells more like a rumor started by Microsoft, considering how much they harp on Macs supposedly being “overpriced”.
Apple should turn around and start a rumor that Microsoft will be charging $1,000 for Office 2010!
@Gabriel
How about Apple just run an ad on huge banners and building side walls. 100 feet across by 50 feet high and say “Microsoft = POS!”
“Apple should turn around and start a rumor that Microsoft will be charging $1,000 for Office 2010!”
If they are going to start that type of rumor, shouldn’t they say the price is higher than it will actually be? or am i missing your point?
I like MDN’s Take…
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Apple is SO glad to not be doing a MacWorld keynote presentation in January. But the new “rumored” date would fit WWDC.
At $799 & $899 people will line up like they did for the iPhone. Write it down. Those are the prices.
These guys want Apple shares! Bad rumors are good for that!
The title doesn’t match the story.
“The retail price most often bandied was somewhere between the $200 of the iPhone and iPod touch, and the $1,000 of Apple’s lowest-priced MacBook notebook, with an in-between price of $800 favored by many,” Keizer reports.
Tell me, what will a tablet do that my MBP cannot? Nothing. I sure cannot carry it in my pocket like an iPhone.
So what is so great? Oh yeah, I know, you can draw on it like a 2 year old draws in a coloring book. Boy oh boy!
@ tablet?,
It will go over big with the “etch-a-sketch” crowd.
Apple will never make such a device because there is no one at Apple that stupid!
@alansky
What exactly is a “typewriter”?
I might have seen one at the Smithsonian once, not sure…???
Even this apple fanboy would not drop 2k on a tablet…that’s laptop power/features/range.
I am expecting it to hit the 600-900 dollar range.
no thanks…it’s cheaper if i rip the screen off my macbook pro, put a hammer through the screen when remember the screen is not touch sensitive–and, oh yeah, doesn’t getshow my desktop anymore, and then take it to and electronics recycler.
Total cost…$999.
I win!!!!!!!
Freakin’ ANALysts arse hewels
@Shen: Well said. A voice of reason.
Each and everyone of you exclaiming indignantly that you’d never pay $2K for a ‘tablet’ sound like idiots. Take a breath. You are reading about speculations based on rumors.
And while God and Steve Jobs only know what the hell this product may end up being, I know one thing for sure. Apple is quite capable of producing a device costing $5K that would have you overextending your credit card in the blink of an eye.
There is the potential for something very different and very special. And the “very different’ and ‘very special’ often cost more. Let’s just wait and see.
PS– I also like the idea that this $2k rumor was started by Apple to deflate expectations. It definitely serves the purpose preparing people to be relieved when the product is introduced at ‘only’ $1K.
I will NOT pay more than $800 for the mac tablet. Neither is anyone in my family, nor the friends of my family’s family and friends of these and so forth. The End.
I clicked this link to see if even the unhealthy fanboys would actually try to spin this news into a positive light.
It’s glad to see that even the fanboys have limits.
Two freakin grand? It had better use holographic display technology for that price!
I’m not sure Apple is even going to release an iTablet. I’m sure they have R&D;researching devices, but I do not see paying 2 grand for a large iPhone like device. It would have to be sub $800 device before everyone wouldn’t slam it for being too expensive.