Apple's Latest to unveil Jan 27th, iTablet Rumored

Excitement is building after members of the tech media received press invitations for a special Apple product event set in San Francisco next week. No one outside of Apple seems to know for sure what it is the company will unveil, but speculation suggests it could have something to do with the rumored iTablet.

The event promises to be quite unique, and there's no doubt the slick Cupertino-based firm will be revealing something important. After all, invitations received by tech pundits read "Come see our latest creation," suggesting something on par with an iPhone or iPod is ready for unveiling. (Source: wired.com)

We'll know for sure what the product is shortly after 10am Pacific Time next Wednesday, January 27, the scheduled time for the event.

What Can Apple Fans Expect?

Most experts and speculators seem convinced that the announcement is planned for the unveiling of the much-rumored iTablet, a sleek 10-inch tablet computer Apple hopes will introduce a new king to the burgeoning netbook market.

Thus far, Apple has allowed PC competitors Acer, Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Samsung, and Toshiba to have their way with a niche that is fast developing into its own core product line, on par with laptops and desktops.

Big Differences Between iTablet, Netbooks

Still, there will almost certainly be big differences between, say, HP's Mini 1000 netbook and the iTablet. Reports suggest the iTablet will be a larger version of the iPhone, offering touchscreen technology and an incredible range of downloads and applications, all demanding serious processing power. (Source: go.com)

Thus, it's almost certain the iTablet will boast something much more powerful than the Intel Atom processor found inside most netbooks.

More Options Brings Higher Price Point

That, of course, means it won't be quite so affordable. Experts suggest the iTablet, if that is the device's real name, could retail for somewhere between $800-$1,000 -- about double to triple the cost of the average netbook.

Regardless of speculation, Apple will need to offer one heck of a refreshing spin on the tablet to revive consumer interest in a product type that has seen marginal success since its debut in the early 1990s. That said, most critics believe that if such a thing were possible, it would be trend-setting Apple that could make it happen.