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Apple tablet could stir up video game business

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Now the iPhone, which costs $99, $199 or $299 plus a monthly service plan

No it doesn't. It's free at Softbank, and besides I don't think they take USD.

Why such wild speculation about touch screen tablets? There have been touch screen tablets for years. The nice advantage of having apps - that you can download these things on the go and do so much on a portable device - is pretty much negated on a device meant to stay in the home. You can already download/install whatever you want on a home computer, including thousands of games for casual gamers. Why would a (presumably) expensive tablet inspire more casual gamers? Doesn't make sense.

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What a terribly written article with poor/ill defined comparisons (game graphic quality, price etc) All are totally meaningless and irrelevant to the type of people who will buy this itablet.....cost? graphics who cares! Its a consumer religious article for job's sake!

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Not really sure what this tablet is from reading this article, is a games thing, a touch screen computer or just a big ipod touch? If its a games thing with apple pricing no one will buy it. So im thinking touch screen cut down apple mac??? Could be interesting if apple doesnt restrict how you can use it like it does the iphone. And of course if they dont charge $10,000 for it.

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I have heard conflicting reports about the tablet. Most of them saying that there is no such thing yet. That Apple are considering making one and not actually making one.

Does anyone have proof that this thing is more than vaporware?

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One other thought. If the tablet exists, why assume it will be all about games. Mac has never been all about games. Mac is about productivity and creativity.

Everyone I know who uses Mac either works on it, makes something creative with it or simply uses it to communicate. They like the reliability, they like the ease of use, they like not being married to Windows and they like the design and image.

If anything, the gamers I know are either game platform users or PC users. So the person writing this article seems to know very little about the nature of Mac customers.

If a pad comes into existence it is far more likely to find a home with people who want ease of touch to do things they may already be doing on a Mac. For example having DJ software that is fully touch capable, graphics apps that allow you to use your fingers to draw, edit and arrange things. Or music software that you can play from a virtual instrument.

Portability doesn't seem to the point either. Iphones do a lot, I would expect Mac to expand that capability before inventing something harder to carry around for portable clients. And the small laptops and Mac Air are already just about as portable as you could ask for.

These mini PC units being sold are not good for much more than surfing the web or getting email. Which Iphone already does very well and in a much smaller package. The PC units are gimmic more than practical units anyway.

So I don't think this product is a likely next move unless it is designed for touch interface on a scale suitable mostly for home or in a role similar to existing laptops.

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These mini PC units being sold are not good for much more than surfing the web or getting email. Which Iphone already does very well and in a much smaller package. The PC units are gimmic more than practical units anyway.

Do you mean the netbooks? Those are quite practical, you can do a lot more than just surf and use mail on them. I frequently use mine for photo editing when on the road, for example. The iphone and netbooks are distinct products with distinct strengths.

But: I don't see why Apple would move towards any product specifically for the gaming market. They've done that before - the Pippin with Bandai - and it was a total failure. I would imagine IF they are releasing a tablet they would be targeting the ebook readers (imagine a touch screen, full color ebook reader) much as they targeted the new-and-expanding MP3 player market 10 years ago.

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Agreed, it's free at softbank and they don't take dollars how about localising the article.

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it will be Apple's new Ebook reader and Ebook store. But it will do more than the current eBook readers. -You can get Kindle (Amazon eBook reader) for your iPhone/iPod touch as a free app also -and it works well.

I am expecting the tablets to take off where the netbooks/iPhone came up short. Better touch keyboards + phone options, better use of virtual drives, better audio. Maybe 3 sizes and 3 price ranges. Expandible?

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As if people don't already have enough electronic gizmos with which to ignore one another.

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Pretty wild speculation, indeed. I don't see gamers going in for a tablet anytime soon; part of the experience for the hardcore is their big TVs and surround sound. I'm sure it'll be more like an eBook thing.

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These mini PC units being sold are not good for much more than surfing the web or getting email

A free-lance media entrepreneur, I use mine for churning out translations and magazine articles, which have netted me several million yen in revenue in the last few months.

Macs are too big, heavy and clunky, with th exception of the Air, although that's woefully underequipped and grossly overpriced.

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I only use macs, and have 24 of them, some for work and others for home. But, I do not need a tablet , an iPhone, or iPod. Just need photoshop and logic, and that keeps me pretty busy making slide shows that are way out there.

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Everyone has an iPod it seems. Boring. People forget the sound is the thing.

I recommend iriver.

They have some excellent designs. And the sound is rated very good on most reviews I have read.

No, I dont work for iriver. But I oughta sendem an invoice for this endorsement.

I just plain don`t like Microsoft and Apple for their domination of the market.

Boring.

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If you know anything about Macs, you'll have heard of the Modbook by Axiotron. It's an after market modification of a Core 2 Duo MacBook; it uses a pen/stylus (Wacom). There are many articles about it. I thought of getting it myself but costs almost USD$3000 for the mod... plus the cost of your MacBook.

This mod was a huge draw at MacExpo and is an extremely positive indicator as to whether a new Mac tablet will be a success. Apple, WHEN they deliver the product to market, will have probably bought out Axiotron and its technology and Axiotron will no longer exist. At least that's my opinion from past experience.

It's true when Apple released Snow Leopard (not a major upgrade), they left out something that would make an awesome Mac even more incredible – touch screen technology. Windows 7 (major upgrade) has it, though most of you can't use it without upgrading your screens. I'm thinking Apples next major upgrade will include this. Apple's version of the tablet will undoubtedly have touchscreen technology instead of it being pen-based. It would certainly be easier to type and navigate.

Therefore, I believe it's the software side that Apple is trying to tweak to work across the board, not so much hardware (since touch hardware already exists in the form of the iPhone, iPod, etc.). This new GUI will allow iPhone & iPod users to hop on the Mac train due to familiarity. Apple's not a dumb company; in fact marketing geniuses.

There are many speculations from the name to when it will be released, but I'm sure it will be released in 2010...

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Everyone has an iPod it seems. Boring. People forget the sound is the thing.

I recommend iriver.

They have some excellent designs. And the sound is rated very good on most reviews I have read.

iriver sound is good but their interface design is an abomination. Cowon/iaudio makes a better product IMO. Definitely better sound on both than an ipod (and I have owned all three).

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Iriver uses WMA. Anything other than MP3 is better. AAC+ and ATRAC come to mind also. Almost lossless. Why people think MP3, a very lossy format is the way to go I do not know. I suppose there is a whole generation out there that has never listened to analog. There is intelligent compression and then there is MP3. Fact of life.

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I can't wait for the Apple Media Event which will take place at 3:00 a.m. on 28th JST. Tablet device will be launched.

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It's basically Apple's answer to the popular netbooks at around US$499 - netbook size hybrid of iPhone and laptop and tablet and e-reader.

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