Apple Tablet: Again, Full OS X Please

July 27th, 2009

Rumors of the mythical Apple OS X Tablet are again heating up, and again the talk of basically an iPod Touch except with a 10 inch screen are suggested. And again, I feel the need to mention my desire for full OS X, not the iPhone OS.

I’m so not interested in a “big iPod Touch.” (and I suppose it goes without saying, the Kindle and CrunchPad leave me even colder).

I think people’s love of the iPhone and the hype surrounding the App Store are clouding what would truly be useful in a tablet form factor.

Biggest complaint: how much Apple could realistically charge. Right now the iPod Touch is $229. Stick a 10 inch screen on it and I wouldn’t pony up more than $329. Then think about this: have this same hardware run full OS X and you could seriously boost the price up to $600 — $800 easily.

Why? Well, you could run all the Mac applications: Firefox, VLC, Hulu Desktop, you name it. Photoshop would absolutely rock. Second, add in the secret weapon that is Ink. Handwriting recognition, currently built into every Mac (that has its roots in the Newton), now rarely used, would shine on a tablet Mac.

Still, there are two remote possibilities that would get me interested in a large iPod Touch:

Other than that, I’m not interested, and will save money for a MacBook Pro instead.

3 Comments

  1. daveski says:

    I’m with you. If I want the latest Apple device that can only install apps through the App Store I’ll buy a new third generation iPod Touch.

  2. webomatica says:

    Having only iPhone apps on this tablet just seems so limiting for the
    user. And yet, I can see the temptation — Apple creates a real closed
    box environment where they get to approve any software that appears on
    it.

  3. […] January 26th approaches, I’m caving on a formerly adamant desire for the Apple Tablet: Running full OS […]