[NTLK] The Apple Tablet (aka iNewt) saga, part 4,037,862

[Ryan Vetter]

It's hard to believe you are actually saying all of this!  Coming from a Newton evangelist, a user/former user of a crossover tablet.

For me the solution is the stand.  But for many reasons, the tablet, on its own, in my opinion, will take off.  It's form factor is more portable than a laptop.  Much easier to interact with a tablet laying on the couch than it is a laptop, for instance.  It won't supplant laptops, but it will take consumers by storm.  If Apple's multi-touch tablet OS is all it's predicted to be, this will be a runaway hit.  Come revisit this thread at the end of 2010...



----- Original Message ----
From: Jon Glass <jonglass at usa.net>
To: newtontalk at newtontalk.net
Sent: Tue, January 12, 2010 12:59:52 AM
Subject: Re: [NTLK] The Apple Tablet (aka iNewt) saga, part 4,037,862

On Tue, Jan 12, 2010 at 12:49 AM, Ryan Vetter
<physicalconstants at yahoo.ca> wrote:
> As for the prop arm, Apple should take a hint from the Archos 5 or the Wacom Tablets.  That prop arm is really cool and without it, it will be annoying to have to carry a separate stand if you want to use it as a screen for watching movies or for text input with a bluetooth keyboard.

And therein is the biggest handicap of a tablet--size and awkwardness.
You _have_ to hold one, or prop it up. I just can't see tablets taking
off with normal people. I just don't see it... Until they weigh like a
feather, and can find some way to get small for carrying, I just don't
see them catching on. I still prefer my netbook on my lap to holding
an iPhone for longish periods. iPhones are great for quick moments or
on the move, but you always have to find a place to put it. Now I need
a stand for my night stand, a holder for my car, etc. Tablets would be
worse. I put up with these things (and have since my first Newton),
but when I see non-geeks play with these things, I can tell they are
uncomfortable with what to do with them, and how to handle them. It's
just a tad awkward for them. I know I'm being a wet blanket here, but
I don't see Apple actually bringing something to market without
finding a way to overcome these limitations--and a stand on the back
doesn't strike me as the way to go about it. And no, I don't have an
answer.



-- 
-Jon Glass
Krakow, Poland
<jonglass at usa.net>

"I don't believe in philosophies. I believe in fundamentals." --Jack Nicklaus

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