Will There Be An iTablet?

Aug 3 2009, 12:50pm CDT | by Robert Evans

It looks like most of us have already accepted the upcoming Apple iTablet as all but confirmed. The last couple of weeks have seen an enormous increase in iTablet rumors, and at this point I think a lot of people will be surprised if such a product doesn't materialize within the next year. But, as Stefan Constantinescu of IntoMobile points out, these sort of rumors have been floating around for the last seven years.

Stefan is correct; the Apple Tablet has a long history of BS rumors. So what makes me think that we actually have a good chance of seeing one this time? Two things. The first is the recent netbook explosion, and the second is the Crunchpad.

In the last year, netbooks have gone from virtually nonexistent to extremely popular. By combining the portability and speed of an MID with the functionality of a laptop, netbooks represent the perfect computer for a lot of people. Apple knows that making a netbook would be extremely profitable, but they've come late to the market. Releasing their netbook as a tablet PC allows Apple to differentiate their product from the legions of virtually identical netbooks.

For the first time since the iTablet rumors began, we actually have large public demand for a device with the capabilities Apple has listed for their tablet. This is also the first time that there's been a similar competing product scheduled to launch around the same time. The CrunchPad will be out this Fall, which means that at least one other company has decided that tablet PCs have a great potential for success.

It's still entirely possible that the iTablet rumors are just hooey, but I don't think so. The time is right for a tablet PC, and if anyone has the vision and design skill to pull such a project off, it's Apple.

where to buy

Buy from Amazon

What Others Say about This

Don't discount Apple's interest in a smaller iPad, says analyst

An iPad closer in size to Amazon's Kindle Fire? That's becoming increasingly likely. (Credit: CNET) Steve Job's protestations notwithstanding, the chances of Apple bringing out an 8-inch class iPad are increasing by the month. CNET reported in October th ...
Full article at: CNET More like this 15 minutes ago

Jonathan Schwartz unveils startup, talks about final days at Sun

Let's start with this: Jonathan Schwartz knew that the sale of Sun Microsystems was inevitable. Schwartz, you may recall, was Sun's last chief executive--the guy who, in 2006, inherited control of a trailblazing company that had seen better days. He was ...
Full article at: CNET More like this 15 minutes ago

Swirl Girls: Founding foodie Thomas Jefferson had a passion for French food and wine

(Photo illustration by Steve Lopez; James L. Dick copy after 1805 Rembrandt Peale portrait (photo courtesy of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello) Philosopher, statesman, author of the Declaration of Independence and the nation’s third presiden ...
Full article at: Palm Beach Post More like this 18 minutes ago

Don't miss ...

Apple

iPad 3 Announcement rumored for Early March

Robert Evans
The excitement about new smartphones, tablets and anything mobile drive Robert to unearth the latest rumors and developments in this fast moving space. He adopted 4G as soon as it become available and knows where the mobile market is going.
Robert can be contacted directly at robert@i4u.com.