3 ms·

I don't know that this argument is necessarily valid. I own an iPhone but I don't own a Kindle, and haven't used one for more than a couple of minutes, but a l

by catone 17y ago

I don't know that this argument is necessarily valid. I own an iPhone but I don't own a Kindle, and haven't used one for more than a couple of minutes, but a lot of people I've talked to who own both swear by the Kindle's e-Ink screen. From what I hear, for long periods of reading, and for outdoor reading, the Kindle beats the iPhone (and because of things like screen and battery, not form factor). Certainly, an Apple tablet could do a lot more than a large Kindle, but it won't necessarily "render it moot." The Kindle might still provide a better experience for the one function is it meant to: reading large quantities of text... and if there is a market for for a device that just does that (and there seems to be judging from the Kindle's early success so far), then it will likely continue to do well.

whacked_new 17y ago
It's simply a bad argument. Task: read a book. Choice 1: miniature computer, 5 hours battery. Choice 2: a book with digital annotation and search, 20+ hours battery... is there a choice? Oh and did I mention the task is to read a book? Sure, there are people who are fine with a glowing, back-lit reading device that lets you check email simultaneously. But, the mobile phone replaced the tethered phone. The computer did not replace the book. ebook devices are what will replace them. Where the line is blurred, does not warrant a discussion of "don't mean squat if..." at least not in the next 10 years or so.
- electromagnetic 17y ago
  The thing I find laughable is that they're depicting it like a giant iPhone. From what I remember HP had a fully touch-screen tablet, however it seemed to get removed for a return to a full-function tablet (at least from what I've seen in Canada and the UK). So I highly doubt Apple would enter this market, again like depicted. Apple has a strong history of entering existing markets and reinventing it. The brought considerable style to desktops, they brought sleekness to laptops and they turned an mp3 player from an exercise/geek accessory to a fully fledged consumer product and they're doing the same with touch-screen phones. Apple has never been the first into the market. It waits, looks and acts. Unless they have some truly amazing idea for a touch-screen-only tablet, they won't touch the market with one, because they all seem to have flopped (or ended up getting shipped with a docking station with a keyboard that could collapse to the body of the tablet: something Apple would never do, after the whole iPod nano thing in Europe of having to ship with a case, I doubt they want the embarrassment again). Honestly, I can see Apple shipping a fully functional tablet, however it will be running OS X and not the iPhone port. Honestly, if I saw something like their mock-up it would be instantly rejected by me. I wouldn't, nor couldn't touch the thing. The iPhone is cool, making a foot wide iPhone is not cool.
  - bjtitus 17y ago
    Agreed, they will certainly have to rethink the interface and functionality. An iPhone is a connected mobile phone but making it a tablet would completely defeat the interface and the limited functionality it has. Something similar to the iPhone OS port but customized for tablets would be ideal.

by catone 17y ago

whacked_new 17y ago

It's simply a bad argument. Task: read a book. Choice 1: miniature computer, 5 hours battery. Choice 2: a book with digital annotation and search, 20+ hours battery... is there a choice? Oh and did I mention the task is to read a book? Sure, there are people who are fine with a glowing, back-lit reading device that lets you check email simultaneously. But, the mobile phone replaced the tethered phone. The computer did not replace the book. ebook devices are what will replace them. Where the line is blurred, does not warrant a discussion of "don't mean squat if..." at least not in the next 10 years or so.

electromagnetic 17y ago
The thing I find laughable is that they're depicting it like a giant iPhone. From what I remember HP had a fully touch-screen tablet, however it seemed to get removed for a return to a full-function tablet (at least from what I've seen in Canada and the UK). So I highly doubt Apple would enter this market, again like depicted. Apple has a strong history of entering existing markets and reinventing it. The brought considerable style to desktops, they brought sleekness to laptops and they turned an mp3 player from an exercise/geek accessory to a fully fledged consumer product and they're doing the same with touch-screen phones. Apple has never been the first into the market. It waits, looks and acts. Unless they have some truly amazing idea for a touch-screen-only tablet, they won't touch the market with one, because they all seem to have flopped (or ended up getting shipped with a docking station with a keyboard that could collapse to the body of the tablet: something Apple would never do, after the whole iPod nano thing in Europe of having to ship with a case, I doubt they want the embarrassment again). Honestly, I can see Apple shipping a fully functional tablet, however it will be running OS X and not the iPhone port. Honestly, if I saw something like their mock-up it would be instantly rejected by me. I wouldn't, nor couldn't touch the thing. The iPhone is cool, making a foot wide iPhone is not cool.
- bjtitus 17y ago
  Agreed, they will certainly have to rethink the interface and functionality. An iPhone is a connected mobile phone but making it a tablet would completely defeat the interface and the limited functionality it has. Something similar to the iPhone OS port but customized for tablets would be ideal.