Apple released its latest cure for today’s global economic ails, and I want one.
Yes, it’s called something else, but I like ApTab better than the alternative.
I was on a conference call, but was madly refreshing the NYTimes Bits blog to get the details. For someone who has a Mac laptop and an iPhone (hey, that’s me!), I can see the value of the ApTab, especially if you travel for both local and remote events.
10 hours (ish) of battery life? Yes, please.
The first things I think I like:
- Hardware: The size and weight are nice. Yes, it’s somewhere between a laptop and an iPod Touch but there seem to be so many places the ApTab can be used. Add a cover or jacket, and it likely won’t be much different than the Mac laptop.
- Software (O/S): It seems snappy and basic, which also seems perfect for this device. If this is a “transition” device (somewhere between a desktop/laptop and a smartphone), there isn’t much need for all the crazy code that goes into a full-blown operating system.
- Software (Apps): There are lots, and lots more coming.
Realistically, you are investing in the hardware at this point. Can you do without USB inputs or external monitor ports or a camera? Of these, I think the camera would make the most sense to include for video conversations.
I recently bought a pair of Bluetooth headphones, which the ApTab will be able to use.
The other thing I was hoping for was a native handwriting application. You know, to use it like a, um, legal pad?
How cool would it be to actually jot down notes using your own stylus/finger/pointy object? I could take this to a meeting and actually use it to capture notes. I found a few apps in the store, so that’s good news, and I imagine some young whipper-snapper will create an app that can dump the handwriting notes into an email/calendar/contact/to-do list.
The nice thing is that Apple has a few more weeks and months to tinker with the final product. I’m not sure about adding a camera at this point, but there might be some additional bells and whistles that could accompany the real thing.
And I think that’s the point here.
If I can do without the hardware things for the next 18-24 months and can find a way around the screen-based keyboard, I’m interested.
In fact, I want one.