I talked about the iTablet on JB's Forum over 3 years ago...

New thoughts on this are as soon as this device is introduced:

1) expect it to become a standard like the USB which Apple supported while everyone else didn't.
2) expect digital comic book reading to rise
3) expect digital content (books/audio books, music/music videos, movies, games) to rise
4) MY FAVORITE OF ALL THE EXPECTATIONS: If the iTablet can become something like the WACOM CINTIQ 12WX SCREEN, where you can use a digital pen to draw directly in Photoshop or MY FAV: Illustrator... well... well indeed, I will be in heaven!!!! We will truly have a digital canvas which an artist can walk with and be inspired to draw on location...
5) expect universities to make it a necessity like some have done with iPhones/iTouches and MacBooks...
6) expect business adapting this device for onsite impromptu presentations (which I do with my iPhone)
7) this is a BIGGY... expect the content to change importance... it will no longer be about the visual/art, it will be more about the quality of story and how fast one can visualize it on a shoe-string budget...

why?

Because the playing field in the entertainment industry was leveled years ago when Mac's became production machines for the big hollywood movies...
the field leveled out even more when youtube brought entertainment to the people...
(miss a show, need a howto or eLesson, music, etc...)
the iPhone put a Mac into your palm and that has been glorious,
I cannot begin to list the usefulness of the device...

BUT, at the point of introduction of the iTablet, the field would pretty much be flat,
basement productions would be a direct competition with hollywood productions AND
the faster one can put content out, the more the EYEBALLs will point in their direction...
which almost always ends up with some financial win-fall...

GPG

Oh and one more thing...

expect the content creators, ARTISTs and WRITERs to digitally distribute their content directly to the customer bypassing Diamond, or any one of the Digital Presses or Digital Comic Book Distributors...

Really why would one need these MIDDLEs?

Just set up you paypal account, put it on iTunes or Ebay store or your own eStore through your Bank and you're ready to go.

The large cut of distribution is off the table...

Consider this, it's not bit-torrent that has caused the music industry to downsize... it is that fact there are other legal distribution methods that cut out the music labels... and all of them are on the internet.

GPG

Already doing so with the iPhone, George. My next indie comics project, MIKE FORTUNE, is straight to iPhone. We're halfway done with issue 1.

Steve, I am very interested, can you direct me to something?

I've had my comics online since the mid 90s... http://www.georgepetergatsis.com/
(one of the links goes to the movie and comics)

NY Times article with some leaked info about plans for the tablet: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/techn ... ss&emc=rss

It's definitely heavily focused on magazine and newspaper content.

I am anxiously watching this.

My iPhone changed my daily life in unexpected ways. I am due for another computer, which I basically use for music, web browsing and MS office applications. I am planning on switching to a laptop from a desktop anyway. This could be what causes me to cross over, as the timing is right (bonus pay out time).

Any idea when this will be available and a price range?

Rumour has it that its called the iPad

http://www.macrumors.com/2010/01/26/app ... march-1st/

I wonder if they have some Marvel comics / Disney plan already lined up.

Rumor says $1,000, which is a bit of a deal-killer for me. It would need to be a full service computer at that price for me.

Is it not? I thought it was. If I use it for web browsing, music and MS Office aps would it be sufficient?

No keyboard.

Not even a touch screen version Ala the iPhone? is it possible they will create one as an add-on?

You'll have a touch-screen version. I'd stake my lunch on it.

Yes, touch screen and yes, add-on.

You and I have different concepts of "full service computer." What I'm saying is if I were spending 1,000, I'd get a sleek notebook computer with full service built in.

For this device to have value for me, it needs to be cheap enough to supplement full-service computer usage. If it costs so much that it would need to replace it, that's too high for me.

Got it.

For me it would be worth it since the desktop is dominated by homework and recreational usage and I rarely get to use it. I do most of my casual computer usage from work. If the 3 things I listed upthread are viable I will likely get one. Another deal breaker would be having to get supplemental 3G service. I hope that I can just switch my simcard out from the iPhone or add this as a device to my current service.

You'll have a touch-screen version. I'd stake my lunch on it.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I will double my lunch and add a cream cheese bagel...

If...

A BIG IF!!!

If the iTablet were to be like the iPhone, that would be very difficult to manage...

You can't stick it in your pocket... is a BIGGY...

an iTablet as a digital paper for an artist to draw on is the bases of re-inventing the way we (AS COMIC LOVERS OF ALL THAT IS) manage our lives...

I personally will not be bound to my home computer... I would be able to draw on the road... WHEN inspiration grabs hold, I draw...

Ever since I got the WACOM tablet and screen... my illustrative life jumped big time... just like when I went from pencils and paint and jumped to airbrush...

It adds a whole new level of creativity to the mix and increases the passion of dropping lines and color down without the worry of spilling or making a mistake...

When I drew on paper/canvas, as passionate as I was... there was always the worry of making the wrong stroke, or laying down the colors in the wrong order...

Now I've lost all worry with the Wacom Tablet and Screen...

If the iTablet is anything simular to the Wacom product... well... that would be... just F@#$Ken AWESOME!!!

GPG

Well, with Disney owning Marvel, and with Steve Jobs being the largest share
holder of Disney (after they bought his Pixar), I would think that Steve would
be pushing Disney a little to create content for the iPad/iSlate/iTablet/iWhatever.

No question about it.

I think $600 would be the sweet spot as far as price point. Announcement at 1 pm EST tomorrow!

This talk abot keyboards may seem outdated

http://kotaku.com/5456902/could-apples- ... technology

To: Beachy

YOU ARE RIGHT ON THE MONEY!!!!

Steve Jobs took Disney to the cleaners and now has the power to dictate a synergy between content and a tool for distribution and creation of content...

Life is Good!!!

AND...

I think cutting out the keyboard, keeping the product thin... using the new LED thin waffer screen technology and a price point less than $1000 is a keeper for me...

GPG