Surfing the Web in the bathroom
The Newton. Photo: Apple Inc.
The killer quote — or rather paraphrase — in Brad Stone and Ashlee Vance's properly skeptical story in Monday's New York Times about the new interest in tablet computing is the one attributed to Apple (AAPL) CEO Steve Jobs.
Although he killed the Newton — Apple's early entry in the field — when he returned to the company in 1997, Jobs allowed work on a new tablet to begin in 2003, according to this story.
But the prototypes kept getting shelved, according to an unnamed former Apple executive who was there at the time, "because Mr. Jobs, whose incisive critiques are often memorable, asked, in essence, what they were good for besides surfing the Web in the bathroom."
What indeed?
The iPhone and its growing list of competitors are wonderfully suited for surfing the Web in the bathroom — or in the park, at the beach or at Starbucks — and they have the virtue of fitting in a pocket. For more serious work that requires extended typing, there is no shortage of lightweight laptop computers to choose from.
"A road warrior doesn’t want to take a big clamshell netbook with him," Frédéric Balaÿ, told the Times. But as vice president for marketing at Archos, a French company that launched a tablet running Google's (GOOG) Android operating system in June, he's hardly a disinterested party.
As an occasional road warrior who is never far from his MacBook Pro, I don't know what I'd do with a tablet that doesn't have a keyboard.
Jobs is believed to be personally supervising work on a new tablet — said to be set for release early next year — that promises, as the Times puts it, to "save the newspaper and book publishing industries, present another way to watch television and movies, play video games, and offer a visually rich way to enjoy the Web and the expanding world of mobile applications."
I'll believe it when I see it.
"Control lighting, fans, garage doors, AC/heat, preheat oven, all from the tablet…"
Ryan, what are you smoking out there in Costa Mesa??
but thanks for mentioning "preheat oven". I needed a good laugh.
You think if you place your food on top of the screen, and use it as a plate, it will tell you how many calories you're about to eat??
The breakthrough feature of the tablet is simple and useful. The tablet will act as your remote control HUB for home/office. Control apple tv (upgrade arrives shortly), any iTunes libraries on your network, expanded App capabilities, future integration of the tablet into an actual Apple HDTV (remote), consolidate all remote controls, etc. And the BEST part…just like airport express hardware offers wireless music streaming and printing, Apple or a third parties willi ntroduce a simple wifi/Bluetooth piece of hardware that allows 'plug n play' control for any powered device in your home/office by simply plugging the small "receiver/transmitter" in at the nearest power source whitle
tablet auto recognizes the new device. The tablet will finally bring HOME AUTOMATION TO THE MASSES linking all powered devices and Mac products together. Control lighting, fans, garage doors, AC/heat, preheat oven, all from
the tablet, and all while being able to control
music, movies, phone calls, web browsing, downloadable ebooks/magazine subscriptions, etc. The coffee table will never look the same.
I own a Ipod and a macbook, but I am not a fanboy. Having said that I don't see the purpose of a tablet. If it will just be an Apple e-reader can't they make an app for that?
I agree that, given the information we have received so far with regards to an Apple tablet, I don't see it doing more than allowing me to surf the web in the bathroom, albeit at least on a screen I can see.
However, I also would be surprised if Apple released a tablet that DIDN'T surprise people with some unpredicted functionality. Therefore, I wait to be impressed.
How long will I wait? I don't know.
(Oh, and I am not a fanboy. I have never owned anything Apple, and I don't see a need to currently.)
I'm sure people were skeptical of the iphone as well. Apple does a wonderful job of blending existing technologies and making them work for the consumer. I believe they will do it. Probably using smart paper that is foldable with a decent quality screen that offers touch points for a full keyboard.
I can't wait to see what they come up with.
CORRECTION:
"Maybe this is where the true value is – e.g. students WOULD NO longer carry heavy books."
I used to be a big tablet believer… but not anymore ever since I got myself an iPhone.
Movies, games, internet, television on the road can be done with other existing devices.
The specific value I'd see for this is if Apple makes it an iPod for newspapers and books.
Maybe this is where the true value is – e.g. students who'll know longer carry heavy books.
Also, handwritting recognition among other things could really make it cool for schools.
Now is there a huge money opportunity for Apple to enter this business? That's the question.
Philip–don't you know that skepticism in relation to Jobs is dangerous to one's credibility? You are probably right that it won't do all those things–especially save dinosaur industries… BUT it is unlikely to be a flop.
Thanks again.
"Surfing the web in the boardroom" reminded me of this classic TV ad for the Newton.
ex ped: Cool! Thanks.