This is a rumor folks, but what a juicy one it is.
Gizmodo points us to an article in today’s Financial Times about the rumored launch of an Apple tablet just in time for the Christmas Shopping Season this year. The device sounds an awful lot like a giant iPod Touch, so I’m not sure how much credence I put in this. I’ve travelled a lot lately, so my mindset is sort of “How could I use this on a plane?” and that would be pretty handy for movies. (Although the iPod Touch/iPhone takes up a lot less space.)
This will compete directly, I would think, with the various “netbooks” that are out there. Apple has done enough with touchscreens to be able to support a tablet, and the keyboard would be more usable to those of us with fat finger syndrome.
According to the Financial Times,
Apple is racing to offer a portable tablet-sized computer in time for the Christmas shopping season, in what the entertainment industry hopes will be a new revolution.
The device is expected to be launched alongside new content deals, including some aimed at stimulating sales of CD-length music, according to people briefed on the project. The touch-sensitive computer will have a screen that may be up to 10 inches diagonally.
The article takes great pains to mention that this could also be a competitor to the Kindle, with book publishers already interested. My thoughts on that? Unless it’s e-ink, which is easy on the eyes, I don’t see it as a challenge to e-Book Readers like the Kindle and/or the Sony.
Estimated pricing is between $600-$1000 (did I mention it’s a rumor?). Would you buy an Apple tablet in that price range or is this just another random tech gadget?
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