Apple’s tablet could be the new iBook.

The same way Apple used the word “phone” in it’s 2007 handheld computer “iPhone” they want you think of their new tablet computer as a book “iBook” regardless of what else it’s capable of. This puts Apple squarely in competition with all other ebooks and netbooks. Apple has proven that they don’t mind using the same name on completely different products such as iMovie.

Apple can easy use the iBook name again since they stopped selling iBooks in May 2006 when the MacBook replaced it and all AppleCare (3 year) warrantees for iBooks ended in 2009.

Tomorrow we will see if Apple actually has a tablet like product to even release and even though everything looks like they will I’ve seen this exact same scenario end in disappointment for many speculators.

Update: After watching the Keynote I now understand why Apple chose iPad for the tablets name. I assumed the ebooks would be part of the iTunes Store (which they may on your computer), however, on the iPad it will be it’s own app. The iPhone and iPod has The iTunes Store, App Store and the iPad has the iBook Store.