Rumor: Techcrunch states the MacPad is coming too

[maash]

http://www.techcrunch.com/2010/02/01/apple-tablet-os-x-ipad/

By now, we?ve all seen the iPad and know just about everything about it that we possibly can. But did you know that the secretive company may actually be hard at work on a second device already? Now, before I say anything else, take this information with a grain of salt. While it originated from a good source, it was a second-hand source. Meanwhile, I?ve corroborated some the main details with another source, but not some of the smaller ones. That said, from what I?m hearing, Apple is pretty far along on work on second tablet device. A bigger one. And this one may be much more like a Mac than an iPhone.

Before the iPad was revealed last week, rumors circulated for a long time that Apple might be working on two different sizes for the screen of the device. Some had the device as small as 7″, others were saying it would go up to 10.6″. (The actual size of the iPad is 9.7″.) But the information we?re hearing is that Apple is thinking much larger for another version of the product, maybe all the way up to the 15.4″ size that it currently uses for one version of the MacBook Pro. If you think that would be way too big for an iPad, we?re also hearing that this other tablet would be quite a bit different from the one revealed last week. Namely, it could run a version of OS X much closer to the traditional version that runs on Macs.

If there is any truth to that, we could learn something as soon as Apple?s WWDC event this year, which will likely take place in June (just as it does every year). Apple typically uses the event to show off its new iPhone hardware, but it is first and foremost an event for Mac platform developers, and the past two years have seen OS X as a major component. This included two years ago when Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6) made a surprise appearance and developers got a very early peek. There is already talk that WWDC 2010 could bring a similar peek at OS X 10.7. If there are some significant multi-touch components to OS X 10.7, you can expect the rumors to start flying about this new device that I?m talking about (or possibly touchscreen iMacs).

[Ayepecks]

The size makes no sense, IMO. Don't buy it.

[hagjohn]

I would prefer a "MacPad" over an "iPad" any day.

[Anubis187]

I agree if the MacPAd came out I would buy it but the ipad do not want

[Growled Member]

I would prefer a "MacPad" over an "iPad" any day.

I'm not sure which I would prefer but I would like the chance to compare them side by side.

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

So, it's basically a netbook running Mac OSX? I thought Apple just made fun of netbooks during the iPad announcement...

[Elliott]

Zero chance.

[Motoko.]

the iPod touch would of been perfect for hand held use. I don't understand why Apple would flood the market with different touch peripherals if 3 devices (includes the iPad) are touch. Why not just release this MacPad alone. Is it because one is targeted for the masses (like the iphone,iPad) and the others are for a demographic of professionals?(MacPad)

[RuudJacobs.NET]

This will never happen, they will not kill there own sales by launching something more powerful alongside the weaker one with exactly the same use. It could see this in the future as a hardware update of the iPad, but not in june.

[Quillz]

This will never happen, they will not kill there own sales by launching something more powerful alongside the weaker one with exactly the same use. It could see this in the future as a hardware update of the iPad, but not in june.

Exactly... The "MacPad" should have been released in the first place. Releasing it now alongside the iPad would merely cannibalize the sales of the former.