Apparently Apple has a patent on some sort of tablet-PC-type device (The Mac Observer). It would be lovely to think that there’s a tablet-based Mac coming soon, but here are my predictions:
1. Apple has no plans to release a tablet-based Mac in the near future. The patent could simply be to protect technology that R&D funds have been spent on.
If I’m wrong, however:
2. Apple will develop a killer tablet-based Mac. They will figure out why earlier tablets didn’t work, and consumers will say “Holy crow! So that’s how a tablet can help me!”
3. However, it will have the standard Apple price markup, so other PC-makers will latch on to the innovation, whatever it is, create derivations, and tablets will be the new iPod.
That last bit is a stretch, but following the iMac and iPod, the “iTablet” could complete the trifecta.