Travel Technology - Apple's 2010 tablet: Travel hit or miss?

Hi, I was reading this story about Apple shopping its forthcoming tablet around media companies (http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/computers/apple-shops-tablet-around-australia-20091027-hijk.html) (in this case, in Australia, in addition to the US).

Is this linking with local partners, a la iPhone, something which FT TTers think might help make this a more interesting or convenient leisure device for travel?

I figure that partnerships with airlines, especially LCCs or stingy full service airlines which do not provide seatback monitors, would also be good partners (and a sound way to get new customers hooked!).

Here's the detail:
Apple shops tablet around Australia (http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/computers/apple-shops-tablet-around-australia-20091027-hijk.html)[SMH]...New York Times executive editor Bill Keller seemed to let the cat out of the bag in comments during an off-the-record meeting with New York Times digital staff this month. Footage of his talk has been published online.

"We need to figure out the right journalistic product to deliver to mobile platforms and devices," Keller said.

"I'm hoping we can get the newsroom more actively involved in the challenge of delivering our best journalism in the form of Times Reader, iPhone apps, WAP, or the impending Apple slate, or whatever comes after that."

Keller's musings seemed to confirm off-the-record comments from New York Times executives and book publishers this year claiming that Apple had approached them to talk about putting their content on a "new device".

Apple is also working with the major music studios to develop a new album format, delivered over iTunes, that will include liner notes, artwork and potentially mobile ringtones and music videos in a unified software package that the labels hope will boost sales of albums, instead of just single tracks.

Quite a different tack from the laptop-specific use of a netbook for travel, IMHO. ;)

If Apple can bring the studios on board for old school alburm content, along with magazines and tivo-style PVR of video content, will this thing have a chance as an in-car / in-flight travel tool?

Here's the source (I think) of that article; the casual mention by NYT's Bill Keller, with the video linked:

http://gawker.com/5389636/bill-keller-apple-tablet-impending
Last week the Keller gave a speech that was apparently supposed to be off the record, but that was posted by the Nieman Journalism Lab at Harvard. He said that he now reads the Times online himself and some other stuff that can best be summed up with: pay versus free, integration, more efforts by the print side, why can't we all just get along:

But then, at about 8.30 in the video, he includes the Apple tablet as part of a specific list of platforms they're working on bringing Times content to, saying:

"I'm hoping we can get the newsroom more actively involved in the challenge of delivering our best journalism in the form of Times Reader, iPhone apps, WAP, or the impending Apple slate..."


Pics here:
http://www.thetechherald.com/article.php/200944/4688/Yet-more-Apple-Tablet-rumours-as-leaked-photos-hit-the-Web

Note in the latter story, the price is noted as $700-900 (in other words, $800ish until more detail is known).
There was another story, which I've lost now, which was a survey of 450 people, PC and Mac users and their acceptable price point. $800 was perhaps OK for some Mac people, but a $600 pricepoint was the max for the PC people interviewed.

The article essentially inferred that $800 was too much for the product to be successful; and that a lot of the people targeted already had iPhones and netbooks anyway. :confused: :rolleyes:

Well everything about the iSlate or the iTablet is 100% pure speculation.

My problem with it is simple, why will it work where other tablets failed? Microsoft and PC makers tried for several years to try and get tablets to catch on. And I am not convinced by the Microsoft haters/Apple fanboys who say that the software was bad is the reason it never caught on, the software was quite decent, and that anything Apple will put out will be 10X better.

I think part of the problem back then was price/knowledge and the other part is that it is just not a very simple method of input, especially if you are only using your finger.

Unless they could get the price way down, I don't know if I would buy one as I know it would not replace my laptop which I bring on practically ever trip. And, I already have an iPhone for those times when I don't want to open up my computer. Do I really need something in between?

If it could function as a normal computer (or at least a netbook spec'd one), it'd have some appeal to this traveler. A dumb tablet a la Kindle is of minimal appeal.

This really seems more aimed at the student/commuter/urbanite market.

My problem with it is simple, why will it work where other tablets failed?

I think if there was ever a time for it, it's now. People are getting used to small (really small!) tablets because of the iPhone and iPod Touch. And from the stories about Apple shopping it around to newspapers, it seems the emphasis will be reading vs. typing your novel.

When I travel I always have to make a decision. If it's for work, of course I need the horsepower of the laptop. If for pleasure, it's a decision whether I can live with just the iPhone. A tablet (especially with a tiny external keyboard) would fit neatly into that middle ground.

It would only interest me if (a) it could do enough that I could leave my laptop at home, and (b) could do enough more than a Netbook to justify its additional size and cost. I'll spend $8 for "cool," maybe $80 if it's really, really cool, but not $800.

I think if there was ever a time for it, it's now. People are getting used to small (really small!) tablets because of the iPhone and iPod Touch. And from the stories about Apple shopping it around to newspapers, it seems the emphasis will be reading vs. typing your novel.

When I travel I always have to make a decision. If it's for work, of course I need the horsepower of the laptop. If for pleasure, it's a decision whether I can live with just the iPhone. A tablet (especially with a tiny external keyboard) would fit neatly into that middle ground.

If it comes with a keyboard, as you mentioned, I'll jump in, and skip upgrading my laptop this cycle. But with no keyboard, I'll pass. I don't enjoy typing short emails on the iPhone, and I can't imagine that i would enjoy typing blog entries or articles on the iSlate or whatever they heck they're going to call it.

Just up on the Grauniad (a deliberate and popular misspelling)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/nov/12/apple-tablet-patent-filing

I know its anyones guess as to when this thing is coming but any educated guesses? During the last quarter earnings call they eluded to the fact that a new exciting product would be available for this xmas season. It was and is widely expected they were talking about the tablet. Well we're in the xmas season (according to the way my wife is burning thru the xmas money :D) When do you think we will see this thing? Black Friday maybe?

Im ready for a new netbook.

I bought the Toshiba R500 instead. Friday 13th, US time, so it's my Black Friday deal! :D

If I was as keen as you I'd search online for IT industry updates, in case there is news that the contract manufacturers have shipped these units yet.

The mac online community would have the info, if it even exists. Good luck!

Thanks BiziBB Ive been keeping my eyes open. Hopefully it comes soon as I gave my son my netbook for traveling