iTablet: where will it fit in the Enterprise?
Sunday, August 9, 2009 at 10:10PM 
Yes, I believe the Apple Tablet is coming. I have felt this makes tremendous sense for Apple for some time. I have said repeatedly I think in a short period of time, we will all look back and say "How did we go so long without these?" It fits in so many parts of our lives. I agree with Robin Bloor's predicition that the iTablet will fullfill the promse of what the Netbook wants to be.
I have not yet wrapped my head around exactly where this device fits, in the Enterprise. Readwrite Enterprise doesn't see the tablet as business device. Their contention is that you really cannot use a device that doesn't have a keyboard as a professional/primary tool to replace a laptop. I suppose I see that point. While you may well free up weight in briefcase or backpack, do you want to carry around a keyboard? What if it is one of those roll up ones like in Bruce Willis' Life Free or Die Hard? I think this could be a possibility. There are some other tiny ones out there, and I have to believe that could turn into a hot add on market.
I think Apple recognizes what Readwrite is saying. They are a smart company, and their solutions tend to elegantly refine products that already exist in the market. Think iPod and iPhone here. There was no shortage of MP3 players before the iPod. There were plenty of smart phones prior to the iPhone changing the space. Apple COO Tim Cook said on more than one occasion that they were not interested in making inferior products, which is how he has described Netbooks in the past. There is no shortage of documented opinions out there, denegrating the Netbooks.
So Apple will do it differently. This is the kind of hurdle they specialize in. This is the kind of roadblock they brilliantly maneuver around. That is what I am looking for. I am looking for Apple to again solve a problem that we didn't understand we had, until we had the solution in our hands. Once it's in our hands we will find ways to use it in the Enterprise. Just like those business travelers and their Macs. Just like the army of iPhone users and their Apps.
Come on Tablet!
Reader Comments (1)
More on the iTablet. Every day we get more from the iTablet rumor mill. The most apparently genuine seem to come from sources in China/Taiwan who claim to work with for/with companies doing some of the manufacturing. Here is another article with the same story.
http://www.htlounge.net/art/7998/apple-tablet-coming-in-feb-comprising-pa-semi-chip-3g-–-rumors.html