Nick Bilton in the New York Times on the once and fabled tablet device. First, the problems:
There are major hardware limitations with a real tablet. E-readers like the Kindle from Amazon and the Reader from Sony use E Ink for longer battery life and ease of reading. To make similar devices with a fully immersive color screen, you face problems with battery power, operating systems, price and a grab bag of other technical challenges. An affordable 10-inch screen capable of streaming video, with full interaction and a constant Web connection is going to require a power outlet every two hours.
I get almost two days on my iPhone; one day with heavy usage. Will Apple make a tablet device?
Like almost all the people covering technology, I have no doubt that Apple will release a tabletlike device in 2010; there are too many signs that point in this direction. Let’s put all the rumors aside for a moment and look at the facts. There’s the endless chain of patents… the rehiring of Michael Tchao, who worked on the Apple Newton. I’ve had many discussions with publishers and content creators that sustain my suspicions.
Everyone has suspicions and predictions. Anything hard and factual?
But the icing on the cake comes from a current senior employee inside Apple. When one of my colleagues here asked if the rumors of the Apple tablet were true, and when we could expect such a device, the response from his source was, “I can’t really say anything, but, let’s just say Steve is extremely happy with the new tablet.”
Which means that Apple’s tablet solves a number of major hardware shortcomings, such as size, weight, screen resolution, navigation, and, importantly battery life.
Yet another recently departed Apple employee tipped me: “You will be very surprised how you interact with the new tablet.”
Let me count the ways. Keyboard. Mouse. Voice. Touch. Unless Apple’s tablet device can read my mind I won’t be surprised.