If there is one thing I would like to see, it's a full version of OSX running on an iPad. That at least leaves you an open platform to run whatever you want. Someone would be able to do a virtual keyboard and you'd have a laptop so to speak to do full computing on in a good form factor.

Anyone else interested in this?

I would love to have that item. That would be a true tablet computer.

I am hopeful we may see this within 5 years.

Dennis

Hopefully. The processor itself is 1ghz. Much less than what we should have though it is BSD based.

If you want to pay an extra 700 dollars Axiotron will turn your MacBook into a Tablet today . They'll even make you an extremely expensive ModbookPro multi-touch toy.
Axiotron : Modbook Pro

I'm expecting 3 years or rather after the 3rd generation of iPad. I would not want to squeeze the full OSX into the iPad with its current hardware. Apple has made the right call in not pushing to fast for a full-function tablet Mac.

For starters try to go out and find the number of Multi-touch using software packages for PC, let alone OSX. It will take those 3 years of the iPad for Apple to build a very solid developer base to support an OSX Multi-Touch platform. iPhone developers are already using cut down OSX code to write their Apps. The iPad gives them a bigger screen to work with and expand the functionally of their Apps. A MacTablet in 3 years would then benefit from those develops who can take their big-screen multi-touch knowledge and apply it to the full OS.

There are also some technical issues that likely need to be addressed before a MacTablet meets Apple's esthetics demands. I say watch the next few generations of MacBook Air for most of the specs (and watch them try to make it run cooler). Another big issue IMO is heat. While it can sometimes be okay for a Laptop to get lab burning hot as it can be set on desk or other surface, it would be unacceptable for a MacTablet to get that hot. You don't want users burning their hands or arms while using your product. Even the iPhone/iPod can get warm in the hand depending on the Game one plays on it.

The prices there are way higher then $700?

Originally Posted by Dorje

If you want to pay an extra 700 dollars Axiotron will turn your MacBook into a Tablet today . They'll even make you an extremely expensive ModbookPro multi-touch toy.
Axiotron : Modbook Pro
<snip>

Dorje,
Intriguing. Does the Axiotron Modbook have a virtual keyboard? Or is it pen/stylus only?

IMHO the pen/stylus thing was a big reason why the PC tablets never took off a few years ago. That and the price. If the Modbook doesn't have a virtual keyboard I wonder if the iPad will win over some of the Modbook customers.

What Im thinking is with the Rumors of the possible new iMac 21.5" touch interface Apple is currently working on, this may open the gates per say for more implementation across other Apple devices other than the already touch capable portables like the iPhone iPod and iPad.

I think its a very likely situation, to soon see touch ability on almost all Macs.

Once this is "across the board", I feel Apple may open yet another device much like the iPad but with support for more computing capabilities to run a full OSX or newer custom OS from Apple. I some how feel, its not so much getting a larger more capable version of an iPad running OSX, its more how will it interface (ports, communication) with all other networked and non networked devices.

One of my main gripes using the iPhone for my mobile office, is not always having a shared printer to use with apps on the iPhone, let alone my Macbook. They really need to make printers more "general vanilla friendly" when it comes to driver support. HP has been for years supporting most generic post script drivers.

Originally Posted by JohnnyApple

The prices there are way higher then $700?

700 (900 after march 1st) + the unit (if you send them it), so still not cheap. The Modbook Pro is way more ~3100 USD built from a costumer supplied MacBook Pro.

Originally Posted by dennis

Originally Posted by Dorje

<snip>

Dorje,
Intriguing. Does the Axiotron Modbook have a virtual keyboard? Or is it pen/stylus only?

IMHO the pen/stylus thing was a big reason why the PC tablets never took off a few years ago. That and the price. If the Modbook doesn't have a virtual keyboard I wonder if the iPad will win over some of the Modbook customers.

The Modbooks, based on the MacBook hardware, no I don't think they do. Or at least it would be pen based. The ModBook Pros are supposed to have multi-touch as well as pen input. I have not actually used their rebuilds. I don't have the funds to spend on such a toy.

Thing is, OS X would need to be hacked to run on the ARM processor in the iPad. Now, AFAIK, Snow Leopard will only run on Intel processors, so you'd need to use an emulator. While that would be possible once it's jailbroken, it would be VERY slow and pretty much unusable.

Tiger and Leopard MIGHT be able to be hacked for it so it runs natively, but that'd require a lot of work, probably from people familiar with OSx86, and you'd need to hack the bootloader too.

Look at your macbook/computer screen- try touching the icons, dragging windows, etc. with your hands. In about 45 seconds, your arms will start getting tired. This is because a) your using your arm muscles actively (you don't when just type on a keyboard or use a mouse) and your arms are above your heart- making it harder for the blood to be pumped in your arms.

Apple engineers are aware of this simple fact, and this is the reason for which we will never have a touch iMac or a touch macbook.

In addition, I highly doubt Apple would release touch based computers running OS X. There's a simple reason to that- OS X was designed with the idea of a mouse in mind, not a touch interface.

As a result, if we are to see "macbook touch" or "macbook tablet", it will very probably be in the "ipad" form factor, and with OS 11- which won't be before a handful of years.