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Pssshhh!

Fingers crossed! And if Apple do it, you know it will be better. The Tablet is the way of the future, so it makes sense for Apple to be planning for that.

are they doing well in windows world?

The tablet isn't kust about the gizmo, it's about the interface.

I want my Minority Report Honda Civic with flux capacitor and handwriting recognition!

That guy in the illustration is really freaking me out.

I know there is no shortage of intelligent naysayers out there on the topic of Apple producing something like this, but I've always felt when the technology is ready, such a thing could be huge. I'm not talking about the ugly monstrosity known as today's tablet PC, but rather something that could truly take on the the book (or be a pleasing alternative - the book will never die of course). This would be something sufficiently thin, light, as pleasing to hold in your hands as an iPod, relatively inexpensive, and could access a new ITMS of literature, student textbooks, perhaps a new generation of interactive children's books, and if the screen is large enough, it could be used for remote Web surfing and maybe even video playback. From the production side, it could be a truly usable notetaker and drawing/painting slate, which would eclipse the Wacom tablet (I've still never been able to get used to drawing in one place, and seeing the results in another!).

If such a thing is ever going to happen and truly catch fire, it will be Apple who will pull it off.

If only this would do double-duty as a second PowerBook screen for mobile editing. That would be extra nifty!

That guy's got a stiffy.

"That guy in the illustration is really freaking me out."

You're right: he is a bit sinister. I wonder what he's doing on his tablet that would elicit such an expression?

Why a patent? Just looking at the images doesn't exactly explain to me why Apple needs a patent for such a product. What is unique about this tablet design compared to non-Apple manufacturers (besides using OSX, which guess it will)

I fail to see the appeal of these Tablet PCs. Two grand for an electronic tablet with buggy handwriting recognition software vs. $1.29 for paper and pencil. I'd rather spend the money on a full-blown Powerbook.

And unless it's the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, I don't want an electronic book. The real ones work just fine.

Thanks for the link.

Bryan
Editor
TMO

Hey, I just figured out what's creepy about the guy in the illustration (other than his boner): he's got six fingers on his right hand! And his left thumb is very, uh, well-endowed. I sure hope "freakish alien hands" aren't part of the system requirements for that thing.

Don't you get that's part of the patent! Macmutants™!

They need a patent because it uses magic sorta like the Keebler Elves.

"You're right: he is a bit sinister. I wonder what he's doing on his tablet that would elicit such an expression?"

Downloaded a porn widget

I thought the iMac was the tablet mac, just standing upright.

to 'winston': clearly you've never used a tablet, so i would refrain from making comments that reflect such. the handwriting recognition isn't anywhere NEAR 'buggy', and if you're making comparisons to pencil/pen & paper, then you're missing the whole point.

NOTICE ONE IMPORTANT THING IN THE DRAWING??

THE GUY IS USING HIS FINGER - NOT A PEN OR STYLUS!!!!

A touch sensitive screen portable mac?

Very interesting...

What about a Tablet with a "lite" version of OS X that is Spotlight based?!? Doesn't it make more sense to open applications with a stylus by just writing the name of the app, rather than browsing through folders while your other hand gets tired?

So this is a touch screen PDA only bigger. I don't see the practical use. Unless it's a touch screen you can detach from a laptop ??? Time will tell

Solar...
You can use you're finger on a PDA, it's just that the stylus is more acurate.

Solar Flare, another important fact about the photo is he's not wearing a turtle-neck either!!!!

Will this be a video ipod? Sems the screen's big enough.

I don't see any ports besides the standard power adapter. I do see a latch button as if the thing flips open. Perhaps there's a keyboard inside. I'm guessing not though. Still, it seems strange that there's a latch.

I've used convertible tablet/laptop PCs from a couple different makers. They all have a weakness: The screen hinge. They are awkward and flimsy.

The other thing I don't like is that the resolution is so tight that it's nearly impossible to use your finger. I find myself squinting and I'm used to my 12" Powerbook.

Tablets are neat, that's for sure, but when it comes to usability they are nothing more than a PDA with a huge screen. A keyboard is king. Apple would better serve their customers with a more rugged laptop option.

We'll never see it because Steve doesn't want another Newton, but if you take that newton screen size and have it driven by the G4 in an I-book 12" and use the tiny 30 gb drive from the color Ipod add Tiger, and Quicktime 7, you'd have the video ipod, the ipod of ipods, the PSP killer, the machine I'd buy 3 or 4 of.

Inkwell works pretty well, good enough to control OS x, and someone would add a thumb keyboard, there are plenty of those lying around from the Sony Clie and Handspring days.

Notice this is adesign patent, not a normal patent. It is a patent on the look or form factor of something, not actually a patent on and how is functions. There is a difference.

MW="look", as in this patent is about the look of the device, not the functions of the device.

Creepy guy is actually a picture of-

A young John Sculley!!!

Damn, I never noticed that he has 5 fingers on this right hand.

S

InkWell Anyone?

That man in the illustration is really vector Steven P. Jobs + HAIR! Although it does seem odd that he has 6 fingers on his right hand...

You killed my Father, prepare to die.

Hopefully this will be yet another PC was there first, but went no where until Apple implemented it technology like USB, bluetooth, MP3 player, etc.

"I don't see any ports besides the standard power adapter. I do see a latch button as if the thing flips open. Perhaps there's a keyboard inside. I'm guessing not though. Still, it seems strange that there's a latch."

With Bluetooth keyboard and mouse + 802.11g ethernet connection for network and wireless monitor/projector, there is no need for ports? If an application requires ports, get a notebook computer.

Inconceivable!

Yo, I bet those hip hoppers will be wearing those around their necks in the near future. These are pretty detailed pictures for an application to the patent office...you should check out the perputual motion machine I designed a coupla days ago.

It does look a lot like this one:

http://www.flyermoney.com/aorta/legacy/ipad_01.html

The tablet concept is amazing. For anyone who thinks Tablet PCs are crap, go play with one for a while. Given about 30 minutes, it's hard not to be impressed. I'm definitely a Mac-head, but if current tablets weren't running only Windows I'd own one already. My 12" PowerBook goes everywhere I go and I love it, but I'd replace it in a minute for a Mac tablet of similar size/shape... assuming, of course, it had a full suite of ports and was usable as a proper computer as most current Tablet PCs are, which given common sense seems likely.

Just like OS X being still unknown by the masses, I think Tablet PCs haven't taken off just because few people really know what they are and can do. A good marketing campaign could take care of that, both for OS X and the tablet concept. Bill Gates has recently said he thinks tablets are the future, and I agree. Microsoft may not produce the best operating system (clearly, they don't) but no one can say that Mr Gates doesn't recognize good technology when he sees it. Why else did he rip off the Mac OS those many years ago?

Sign me up for the first Tablet Mac.

Soon Apple representatives will visit customers with the Tablet rather than Powerbooks. More jaw-droppers than PBs :D

I agree tablet is the future, but I don't think tablet should include keyboard. It is a mechanical complexity and extra weight tablet Mac does not need. Compromise would be an optional module that contains battery, drive bay, keyboard and track pad that can be attached to the tablet with hindge, so it can become a cover for the tablet. The ports are unnecessary, since the module and tablet can communicate with Bluetooth. Only wires connecting the two should be for power transfer.

ummm, i don't see a boner. can someone help me see it?
i wanna see! i wanna see!

Yeah, itll cost around 10 grand too...

E