Well with San Francisco a couple weeks anticipation for the announcement of the iTablet from Apple builds. It is believed that will unveil it’s new table device on January 26th, or January 27th. The general belief is that the iTablet will be released in March.

Now for me this has actually put off my purchase of my next computer. Why? Essentially as an artist I have always wanted a portable sketchpad, and a good way to draw on a computer. For the past few years, I have accomplished this by using a Wacom Cintiq, which has increased my workflow substantially. Now the appeal of the iTablet is the portability, and the potential to do this anywhere. Rather than taking a sketchbook to client meetings, this device would become the hub of my work.

Sounds great, but I am concerned. While I have waited for such a device and almost breaking down an buying modbook (a tablet mac from a third party), I think that the device even though touch sensitive will not likely be pen driven or pressure sensitive (allowing dagger strokes with my digital inking pen), or may not be powerful enough to run illustrator or Manga Studio, my two main illustrating programs. For an artist this device has the potential to be the keystone of a studio, or a potential to be an oversized iTunes App Store Nightmare, with little to offer.

So here is keeping my fingers crossed that the iTablet or iSlate will be the device that I have pined for for the past 4 years.