An open letter to all Apple blogs...
Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 3:38PM Dear fellow Apple bloggers,
Only seven days to go and I'm really enjoying the coverage leading up to the Apple special event, scheduled for 27th January. I think it's pretty much a given now, that Apple will release a "tablet" type device. On the days leading up to the event, I have a couple of requests...
Let's try and keep the rumours and speculation to reasonable levels, so that the inevitable reality shock isn't too great on Wednesday. It's going to be a great product but you have to bare in mind that it will be a version 1 release. Compare the iPhone version 1 to the current 3GS, not just in terms of the hardware performance but also the level of functionality provided by the current release of software. It may take the Apple tablet a few releases to shine. We all know whatever is released on Wednesday will disappoint those with over ambitious expectations, so let's try to set expectations realistically.
The only other request is an important one but one I fear will be impossible to implement. Let's say that you do get a real, actual picture of the device, or concrete evidence of what it's capable of...
...do us all a favour and bury it.
Yes. Just don't publish it!
Pretend it doesn't exist.
Most if not all of the previous events have been spoiled by the early leaking of information about unannounced products. Let's leave this one for Steve, so we can be truly surprised on the day and not be sullied by some blurry photo released a couple of days before.
An impossible request I know.
Perhaps I should just close down Twitter and Safari until Wednesday.
Reader Comments (7)
Couldn't agree more... if you're going to post a leaked picture, at least warn us with a "Spoiler Alert!"
I usually try to stay as spoiler-free as possible, until I can watch the presentation as Steve intended :)
Hi Don,
you are right regarding the revisions. This is a painpoint with Apple products since the "good old PPC days" ;) I remember PowerBooks, MacBook Pros and also the new iMac 27" which have some problems (revision 1 all of them). Maybe it's a wise idea to go a step backward and see how "early adopters" will check the newest "creation" and blog and tweet about and wait with a buy until revision 1.1 is available - with bugfixes.
I still hope for an early iPhone "4" release (because my own iPhone 2G is nice, but I would love to have a faster one). But - if the rumors are true or not - we'll see/read/hear next Wednesday.
Honestly - regarding a Tablet - at the moment I would say "I've no need for a tablet", but when it will be released - it would be hard to wait for the 2nd revision - I'm sure ;)
Ciao
Dennis
I too would love it if the rumor sites would just "not". I like surprises. I have to admit that this "cat and mouse game" is probably good for "the cat". At least to the degree that it gathers excitement. The part that is not good, as you mention, is the over hype and building of expectations beyond what any mere mortal can achieve.
What? SJ is human? We found that you recently too. I guess we all need to live with this uneasy game and our own growing knowledge that some day there will have to an Apple without Steve.
I agree. There are so few surprises in life - let's just sit back and let Apple do its magic.
"I think it's pretty much a given now, that Apple will release a "tablet" type device."
Not to be mean Don, but I would pay GOOD money for Apple not to do it. It would simply be absolutely hilarious if they didn't realise it.
But I agree with the general feeling that you gave out in your blog. While surely a hard task to achieve, why not turn of Twitter and the RSS feeds for a couple of days? Spend some time with the family or catching up on work and projects?
Finally, I will only say this Don. If you don't want the milk... Don't buy it! :-)
Alt view :-) Creative ability of a peanut, I like the speculation, and I like it even more when Apple says nothing and blows it all apart and still wow's us!
I think the key is they listen to the speculation and that drives the V2 and so on. Any who, I think the iWhatEver will still see much debate and conversation and will leave Uncle Don with more work than he can imagine. Looking forward to the first SCO show on the 28th, sure Walt, Leo, and Don already have there units ;-)
Oh damn so that picture I have of the device that sits in my office has to stay in the camera, and I can't tell you it does the dishes, Don your such a spoilsport ;-)