Macworld 2009 Rambling

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A laptop on the road is becoming the equivalent of a 1954 salesman sample case.  John Candy hauled a suitcase full of shower-curtain-ring samples in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (Not the best movie).  When I see someone pull out a giant Dell surfboard in an airport terminal or hotel lobby I think, “Wow, I can’t believe they have to haul that thing around.”  When I see people with GIANT laptop bags slung across their shoulders and walking to the parking deck I think, “Wow, there has to be a better way.”

There’s something about opening a laptop lid that’s just too much.  Opening it, the added thickness, the weight.  The laptop in its current form-factor is the best catalyst for tablet development.  And don’t even get me started on the tablets that are really laptops with the lid spun around.  My doctor carries one around all day.  I’d cry.

Dozens of blogs have published their Mac Tablet (Mac Touch) wish list.  Here’s the quick and dirty on what Murphy wants:  Not much thicker than an iPod touch.  Six by eight - no bigger!   Cellular built-in and modular.  Bluetooth, wifi.  An Apple-branded wireless travel keyboard accessory.  Mini-USB.

Why do I want this?  I can leave my laptop behind now that I have an iPod touch.  But everyone keeps saying the touch and the iPhone are computers.  They’re so close.  But I need easy USB connectivity to copy files onto the device.  And the ability to connect a card reader.  Does anyone else want that?  I don’t know, but the lack of USB connectivity is what stops me from calling the touch and the iPhone computers.

Will it run Snow Leopard, or an OS more like the touch and the iPhone?  Interesting question.  With all the apps in the app store it seems like the lighter OS is a possibility.  Wouldn’t bother me too much, as long as there’s Flash support!  What if it could run in either of two modes:  Full OS X or the Mobile flavor?

Think about how easy the device would be to slip in and out of a bag on an airplane.  Instant on.  Light.  Simple.  Connected.

Back to the touch for a second:  I heard Paul Thurrott saying he uses his iPhone to triage his email.  And that’s about all I use my iPod for with regard to email.  I can’t stand to write more than a few sentences on the iPod.   I use it to read and delete emails that don’t require action.  The interface is great for scanning, deleting and filing emails.  But I don’t write big replies.

The tablet touch keyboard won’t be much better, unless Apple comes up with something none of us have thought of yet.  A wireless keyboard is nice, but it’s not a perfect solution.  And here’s the biggest problem.  How do you prop the tablet up when you don’t want to hold it?  It wouldn’t look very Apple-like with a pop-out stand. Without an easy way to really type I won’t be better off on the road than I am with my iPod touch.

Ireland - a frequent commenter on AppleInsider, would like a low angle stand.  Then you’d type on the keyboard while the device is resting on the table.  Hadn’t thought of that.  It’s an interesting idea, but sounds like an ergonomic mega-lawsuit in the making.

Unfortunately, I think the chances of a tablet at Macworld are nil.  It would have been a perfect last keynote for Steve.  But the rumor mill has been far too quiet.  There was more noise about a $99 iPhone at Wal-Mart than there’s been about new products for January 5.  The last few product announcements have been well-leaked, so I’m not expecting anything that will make your jaw drop.  As my friend Ireland says, it’s too soon - they’re working on it but it’s not ready yet.

What Else?

New iMacs.  A new Mac Mini.  Maybe some more Cinema Displays.  I’m still hoping my FM tuner will work with my iPod touch but I suppose it’s time to let go of that entirely reasonable expectation.

What do you expect on Monday?   What do you think of the following?

A 12″ Macbook Pro.  (It’s why they pulled FW from the new Macbook)
Apple television
Apple hardware accesories for iPhone and touch.  Like card-readers.
What about a touch screen iMac?  (I don’t see the point, but HP is selling a few of them…)
More services for Apple TV

We don’t have long to wait…

Some interesting Mac Tablet mock ups:

Stand
Kindle-Like
iPad
Popular Mechanics Not Even Close
I like this one

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