Pssst... Apple tablet on way, whisper Chinese moles
Apple-designed CPU on board, it's claimed
A Mac tablet is on the way, according to a China Times report.
The Mac tablet has been much speculated about. In this latest incarnation it will be manufactured by Foxconn and have a 9.7in diagonal measure touch screen primarily made by Wintek. Dynapak is also involved in the manufacturing arrangements.
The touch screen functionality would lift Apple's tablet above the netbook commodity market and allow it to enjoy its customary premium pricing. A MacRumours report puts it at $800.
With terrific timing, a simultaneous VentureBeat note says that the tablet will use an Apple-design CPU. The Cupertino company bought the PA-Semi chip design business in April 2008. PA-Semi had StrongArm expertise and ARM chip designs are all over the mobile phone and mobile Internet device market.
The VentureBeat note says that Apple divided the PA-Semi designers between two projects: ARM-based mobile phone processors on the one hand and a tablet processor, possibly ARM-based as well, on the other.
So we are looking at an Apple CPU-powered Mac tablet with touchscreen functionality and an October launch. The timing is said to be suitable for sales in the lead up to Christmas. Neither the manufacturers nor Apple are saying anything. Watch this space. ®
COMMENTS
Fanbois (part two)
Maybe, should'a used the joke icon. I've got an Emac in my spare bedroom that my neice uses, a desktop dual booting Ubuntu and Win7RC - mostly games, and my main work laptop with Vista (preinstalled), but yea, mostly I'm a Winblows fanboi, but above that I'm a computer nerd. Which means I also retract my previous cost analysis thanks to a quick Google search.
@ AC, what's wrong with Archos? - never had one, no interest before, but I so want a tablet PC and true, not read any in depth reviews of something apparently coming out in a few months, but it looks so cool. I'm gonna wait till I find out more about it, like battery life, power to run apps etc.
Let's face it. PC tablets are just so star trek.
@Tony Paulazzo
Archos, and win, in the same paragraph.
Aha. Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha etc.
AC 01:38
See here's the thing. I rarely see an Apple fanboi suggest that "M$ Windoze Sux!!!" Infact, it's the wintards that normally type that. Take at the post directly below yours for an example of this.
Why can't a device be a fashion accessory? Does it make the device any less functional? The price that Apple set it's products at is obviously OK, because people keep buying their products. That's the simple theory of supply and demand. Generally speaking, Apples products are reasonably competative. Yes, you can buy cheaper, but you really do get what you pay for. Take the often accused of being over-priced Macbook Air against it's competitor from Dell, the Adamo. The 2.13GHz Air will set you back £1,349. Pricey. The equivalent Dell, the 1.4GHz Adamo costs £1,899! And Apple "fleece" their customers? Comparing a Vostro/Studio/Inspiron to a Macbook Pro is like comparing a Ford Focus to an E-Class Merc. The Focus is still an excellent car. It cost a lot less than the Merc, but the E-Class feels better and looks better. It's made with better quality components too. Compare the Macbook Pro range to Dell's Latitude/Precision/XPS range, which is where Apple have positioned the Pro. You'll find the prices are very competitive, and in most cases, the Mac is cheaper. At this price point, Dell also match Apple for quality of finish and components. Ditto the all-in-ones.
Tony
$800 = £490. So that's a £40 difference - not to mention that $800 is only a rumoured price (hell, the device is only a *rumour*). I'm sure that an Apple designed an built device would be worth the extra £40, but the I am, by youtr definition, a "fanboy", what are you? WRONG! That's it...
Wow - fanbois
The mac is crap! iStuff retarded. Bill Gates is God! and we've got the Archos9 (9" tablet) coming real soon, with Win7 installed for £450 Sterling. We win, you lose.
Jeez, telling someone to get a life because they told the truth about Apple pricing, 'Hey kettle, this is pot, you're black!'
Hey, and guess what, Google is evil / good!
