Start > Blog > Featured > What can an Apple Tablet do for You?

So over at PakBuzz.com, Greg Pak’s official website, there is an amazing breakdown on the upcoming Apple tablet device and what it could mean for comics. It is a very good read, and one of the more detailed articles on the tablet/digital comics subject. I definitely recommend that any comic fan reads it…after you read this article of course. :-)

As my friends are aware, I’ve been randomly rambling about the Apple tablet and what awesome implications it could have. I pretty much follow Pak’s line of thinking on all of it save one forgotten point. What will this mean for artists? For those who have been following the tech blogs, we know that Apple has billed Wednesday’s press event as their “latest creation”. The graphic features paint splotches behind the apple logo. Now I’m not a betting man, but if I were, my money would be on the tablet’s presence in the digital art community.

First let me say that the technology necessary to accomplish this is already here. I think we all are aware of that. Though, CES 2010 was very cool, none of the manufacturers were willing to create such a device. Everyone is going toward a PC centric device only. As usual, they forget about the digital artist. I am hoping that Apple, a company long known for its support of graphic designers and artist worldwide, would take this tremendous opportunity to create something that Wacom has not so far been willing/able to do. A pressure sensitive, digital graphics display married to a computer. Apple has proven that it can create some truly light weight and thin devices using preexisting technology. But to truly get to this point there are some things that have to be taken into account.

  1. Give Me An OS!
    Apple’s Tablet needs a full blown Operating System. If the tablet is pure consumer level device, then they may opt for an iPhone-esque experience. I’m talking only Apple approved apps, on the Apple approved playground you are computing in young man! Now, they could opt for a dual boot scenario, NO! a situation similar to how front row works. Full OS X, but with the iPhone experience on top it as a launchable application. Similar to the whole “Splashtop” linux/windows thing from a while back. This would allow entertainment/fun usage, but also accommodate actual factual computer use. But if there is no full blown OS X, that gives us an issue on point numero dos.
  2. Apps
    The tablet must be able to run Photoshop, illustrator, painter, etc. Without being able to run those, there would be no point. This all depends on the OS. If it’s full blown OS X, which a great many tech blogs are betting against, then we won’t see this functionality unless Adobe invests in a tablet version of the software. Which I think is a bit unlikely if Apple doesn’t have item san (It’s Japanese for 3!).
  3. Under Pressue (Ba Ba Ba, Badadada)
    Because the tablet would also need to have pressure sensitive inputs via a stylus. HIS STEVENESS has in the past stated that he dislikes styli (perhaps on devices like the iPhone only b/c something that small shouldn’t need one in his opinion?), so everyone is thinking a big fat NO on that. But I disagree. I think on a device with a screen that is supposedly going to be 10in diagonally or larger, Apple will opt for a stylus input, as an option. If only for the lure of educational usage in classrooms. Taking notes? No problem! handwritting recognition, which is already in use on OS X, coupled with being able to possibly record audio and doodle diagrams, would make this a killer device for any student. But Apple may try to avoid all that due to possible lost sales on their notebooks which they aggressively market to college kids anyway. Of course all of this
  4. Price(a.k.a. It costs HOW MUCH!)
    Wacom already has a graphics tablet that allows you to draw on the screen directly. Unfortunately, it needs to always be connected to a computer, and it’s very expensive. The cheapest Cintiq is 12inches diagonal @ $1000! Plus, there’s no computer built into it! You aren’t leaving your room with that thing. A tablet on the other hand, would allow that freedom, and be a smart purchase. We hope for sub thousand dollar pricing, but even at a grand, it’s still more economical to buy the tablet and use it as a Cintiq than to cow tow to Wacom’s pricing on top of what you paid for your computer. I think in 2010 everyone is tired of one trick ponies. Give me a device that does it all.

So if Apple avoids the stylus, no love. If they avoid full blown OS X, no love. If they have the stylus, but don’t have pressure sensitivity, no love. BUT!, if Apple hits all these points, and comic artists are able to use this the way they have always wanted to work, then sir we have a winner. Imagine drawing and inking directly on the screen. Coloring, Lettering, etc. It would hopefully remove the barrier that keeps artist from going digital. That woeful disconnect between what the eye sees and where you hand is positioned. I want this to happen and I think so do many other artist. I can hope can’t I? Guess we’ll have to wait until Wednesday and see!

Comments

  1. Apple Tablet is going to be a bust, just like Macbook Air.

    1. It’ll be too expensive.
    People speculate it’ll be around $800-$1000. For that much, why not just get a macbook? The macbook will be more powerful and more practical.

    2. Its too big to be mobile.
    Are you supposed to carry this around with you? On the go, people will just take their Iphones or smartphones.

    3. Touchscreen input sucks.
    A touchscreen keyboard sucks. A physical keyboard with the tactile feedback is head and shoulders above any touch keyboard. A laptop (macbook) would be much more comfortable to type on.

    4. Where is it practical?
    Are you gonna use it at home? Why bother if you already have a desktop/laptop. Are you gonna use it out and about? Why bother if you have a smartphone?

    I don’t doubt the Apple Tablet will be amazing and revolutionary. The MAcbook Air turned a lot of heads when it came out. The key point about the tablet is the price point. The tablet needs to be priced comparably to Netbooks. If it is too expensive, no one will buy it. No one bought Macbook Airs because they were expensive, and for that price you could easily get a more powerful Macbook.

    For comic book artists, drawing on a glass screen is a nightmare. Even writing on a glass screen is a nightmare.

    Comment by Paul on January 26, 2010 at 12:02 pm

  2. @ Paul

    1. Probably.

    2. I disagree. Netbooks aren’t too big to be mobile. In fact, that was the whole basis for their popularity (besides pricepoint). We are the Panera Generation! The Apple tablet will more than likely be around the same size in length & width (definitely not depth).

    3. For a lot of people yes, for some no. Either way a keyboard as we know it would probably not go over that well, but we have no idea how Apple will approach this problem. History has proven that they invest lots of time and effort into problem solving, and I think that today they might unveil something “different”.

    4. Again, Netbooks.

    You have some very good points. But the fact remains that there is public desire for such a device. We want a all in one kind of product that is a little easier than a pc but not heck bent on being colloquial with it’s user interface and applications. We want connectivity anywhere anytime. The market is still shifting so it will be interesting to see how it goes.

    Though I have to give it to you on the glass thing as I had not considered it. Drawing on a glass surface might be problematic.

    Comment by antonio on January 27, 2010 at 8:21 am

  3. Netbooks like for $200-$400. The reason for netbooks popularity is their cheap price point. People who don’t want to shell out $1500 for a laptop will just pick up a netbook. A lot of people wanted a Macbook Air. until they actually used it and realized that had some serious limitations.

    Is the tablet going to have USB ports? How are you going to get files from your jumpdrive to your tablet? It will run a version of Iphone OS. Will it support Flash? Do you need to use iTunes to sync it to a PC/Mac?

    The tablet will be a niche market. Only uppity Apple-snobs will get them. The average user will see a $800-$900 tablet, and a $300 netbook. They both do the same thing. One is very familar to use, the other is very different. They will pick the netbook.

    Comment by Paul on January 27, 2010 at 8:30 am

  4. @ Paul

    I think we should separate the groups of people we are thinking about. I’m thinking about artists specifically and what this could mean for them. You are thinking of the average consumer (video, audio, web, documents etc. ). In the case of an average person, yeah it would definitely not make sense to buy one of these. But in the case of an artist who would like to draw directly on the screen (barring any difficulty a glass screen would provide) it’s priced well i think. Also, everyone is speculating on the price anyway. We have no way of really knowing what it will be until 1pm Eastern Standard Time when the whole thing goes down.

    Now if this device was $200 – $400 (which would indicate that Steve was on drugs &/or had an epiphany), then I imagine it would sell like hotcakes. Especially if it’s billed as a replacement for an ereader type device will full color screen capable of all the other awesome media goodness.

    Comment by antonio on January 27, 2010 at 8:41 am

  5. Buy the new Macbook!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BnLbv6QYcA

    Comment by Paul on January 28, 2010 at 11:58 pm

  6. Do you have copy writer for so good articles? If so please give me contacts, because this really rocks! :)

    Comment by Bradley Sullivan on February 21, 2010 at 1:19 pm

  7. No copy writer, just me. Thanks for the compliment though.

    Comment by antonio on February 22, 2010 at 6:59 pm