Re: [NTLK] Apple Tablet Probably Imminent

On Sun, Jul 26, 2009 at 12:37 AM, Michael Krzyzek<michael@tactile.com> wrote:
> What can netbooks do that the iPhone can't? Mass text entry.
> Bigger screen to view websites. That's about it.

Well..... not exactly. My MacNano (10" screen, 1.6mhz Atom, 2 gigs of
ram and 250g hard drive), runs Leopard beautifully, and I do
everything on it that I would on a larger Mac, but it has the
advantage of going places I would never think of taking my $2,000
Powerbook. Although I used to take my $2K+ Duo these places. I'm
sorry, but I think that a 10" netbook is much better than a 10"
tablet, and there's absolutely no reason that a 10" notebook shouldn't
be able to do everything that a 13" notebook can, and it should be
able to do it more places.

> What can the iPhone
> do that netbooks can't? Fit in your pocket.

With this, I 100% agree. IMO, a tablet computer ought not come with a
9" or 10" screen--and even a 7" screen is borderline.

Here's a question. Moleskine notebooks. Why are they so popular? One
word--size--portability and pocketability. Why did the Palm succeed
over the Newton? Same thing--size--portability and pocketability. My
Treo frequently slips into my pocket for a quick jaunt, when I don't
have its holster. My Newton, on the other hand, was frequently left
home when true portability mattered. Interestingly enough, I almost
carry my Nano (MSI Wind for those who want to know) to as many places
as I used to carry my Newton--almost, but not quite).

When it comes to these things, look around. See what people use and
why. Those big A5 or half-letter sized planners are not used by most
people. Why? Too big. The only people who might be attracted to a
tablet--even a flawless one, that works beautifully, and has the Apple
logo on it--are those who also want a large DayTimer, or vertical
market-types. For the rest, their cell phone cum iPod fit the bill.

In other words, the limitation of the market has nothing to do with
rotten software or product design, but the limitations of the form
factor. Any tablet that fits the size constraints that make a tablet
actually usable work against it actually being used! Remember the old
Newton saying? Palm for portability, Newton for actually using? yeah,
but which one actually gets used--the one that's in your pocket, or
the one that is sitting on the night stand or desk at home because it
was too big to take with you?

So, the iPhone is the tablet. Make it any bigger, and it becomes
well-nigh useless, and Apple's "cool" factor won't overcome that.

Perversely, while I hope that Apple _doesn't_ do a tablet (it will
hurt them, IMO) I would seriously consider one if they did--but I also
recognize that I'm absolutely not mainstream. ;-)

-- 
 -Jon Glass
Krakow, Poland
<jonglass@usa.net>
"I don't believe in philosophies. I believe in fundamentals." --Jack Nicklaus
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