Apple Tab as eReading Revolution Machine: Anyone Else Skeptical?
What exactly is the use case for the Apple tablet? When I am on the go I want a small form factor that fits in my pocket. When I am home I want a full internet experience — a keyboard and all my programs, bookmarks, and data. That leaves my ‘casual media consumption’ around the house as prime tablet time — aka when I am too lazy to boot up my MBP. Fine. But how much am I willing to pay for that? Probably not more than $400. The chances Apple will deliver a tablet under $400 is amazingly small and that is why I am not super-keyed on all the hype.
Now all the recent comments from Jobs on the Kindle indicate that he would be loathe to sell a single-purpose device. That makes sense. But a tablet that I only use on my couch is essentially a single purpose device — the user picks from a set of limited activities (reading, youtube, gaming). So one of three scenarios is likely 1) Apple creates a use-case I haven’t thought of OR 2) Apple creates ‘an ebook reader with benefits’ but markets it as something else OR 3) Apple doesn’t release a tablet at all — Apple Air Mini anyone or it simply waits for the tablet market to mature. My bet is on #3.
Update: so Gizmodo is saying the tablet is going to be a ‘reader’ after all. Bowerbird is saying this is simply a clipboard sized touch and doesn’t need a different use case. Hmm.
1 Comment