iPhone, image from Apple site
Ever since the launch of the iPhone Apple has come to the forefront of the technology world. To top it off they started the netbook craze with the Macbook Air, which has drastically expanded a market which was ignored for a long time. Now with the onslaught of new, superior touch-based smart phones, Apple needs to come up with something quickly to continue its trend of a ‘wow-me-now’ company. With the demand for these new, cheap, ultra-portable computers on the rise, and now that Apple is familiar with touch technology, I think a great option would be to product an ultra portable, ultra thin, 9″ screen Macbook Air and iPhone hybrid. A notebook which does not fold; but rather looks like an enlarged iPod touch. With a 9″ screen, the intel atom processor, and a case like the Air; Apple could produce an ultra portable, ultra durable, ultra lightweight machine that fully demonstrates the potential of touch technology. I think this is the ideal option for the next Apple product for them to launch, but I’m not too sure it will actually come to fruition. If we go by Apple’s track record, they do a great job of emphasizing the products they currently have without producing a product that would interfere with other sales.
Macbook Air, Image also taken from Apple Website
Take for example the iPhone. Sure it works as an iPod, but I know of many people who own both. Some because the iPhone is too large to run with; others because the storage capability on the phone is just too small. I think part of the reason I don’t see them coming out with a machine like the one I described in the above paragraph is exactly this: Unless they market it as the ‘new’ Macbook Air, it will simply cut out a product which they currently produce, and Apple is really not one to kill its own product lines. Typically that’s the kind of thing you see from companies like Microsoft who are just too big not to step on its own feet. I think it’s the best option in terms of taking advantage of a market which Apple really helped develop, and with the success and positive culture around the iPhone and its touch screen, a product like this would be incredibly well received by the general public. I would certainly be interested in purchasing a machine like this, especially if it had feedback on the on-screen keyboard. If they do come out with a product like this, I hope they include a free screen-cleaning kit. I’ve seen lots of very smudged iPhone screens, and I can’t imagine how bad a full-touch computer would be. Regardless of what it is, I’m expecting(and hoping) to see something new from Apple soon. Unfortunately, I have no information to support my hunch; it’s just a feeling based off the market and the company in general. Plus, what better way to demonstrate market and company strength than to release another over-priced, incredibly awesome device?
Nice post, but I don’t think the 9″ hybrid is likely to happen, as you said it interferes to closely with both product lines.
Ever since Jobs came back to Apple, they’ve been very focused on having seperate products aimed at seperate types of people.. sure some people own multiple devices.. I have an iPhone 3G, an iPod Touch (to develop for iPhone before we got the 3G in Aus) & an iPod Video (bought before iPhone & iPod Touch).. but generally theres the entry level & a pro level, and sometimes in betweens that offer different things.
I also think that the iPhone is too new to go messing around with that area… the macbook air is also fairly new.. sure it’s due for a specs bump, but a complete redesign is a few years off yet.
I think if Apple are going to do stuff with their multi-touch techs, it’ll be in the long neglected display market.
A multi-touch monitor to allow pinch zooming, scrolling & tapping on icons/link etc would be cool. Of course you’d still have keyboard (for text input, touch screen keys would be annoying for everyday use) and mouse (for gaming), but you could do a lot of the stuff directly through the monitor.
The other area I could see them doing touch screen stuff with is with a flat panel mouse. Let’s face it Apple haven’t really done too well in mouse design, but a little flat pad touch panel (like the touchpads on laptops but bigger) that could clip on to the wireless keyboard would be cool.