iMac Wish List: Blur desktops and laptops

[kbleicher]

How about this for a new iMac.. I'd LOVE it....

Think G4: Base with all of your connections, disk loader (HD, Blueray, etc.), Hard Drive, wireless station, power, CPU, etc... with a swivel arm connected to a flat panel display. Pack all of the tech goodies, etc. that many of you love to talk about...

Here's where it gets interesting:

The flat panel display pops off (easily). It has built in wireless to the Mac base-station. And a power plug (optional since it'll also have a thin battery). And it'll be full multitouch.

Meaning, you can pop it off, take it to another room, put it in your lap like a laptop, and if you need a keyboard, you hit a keyboard button and get a multitouch keyboard (or it's smart and knows when to pop up). No mouse since it's multitouch.

All disk access is via the wireless connection (to keep it thin). And since it's standard wireless you can take it to the coffee shop if you just want a wireless browser with no access to your disk drives, etc. (So yes, it may need flash to hold your browser info, etc.). Or you can even hang it on the wall when you're not using it for a wireless photo-display that's sync'ed to your iPhoto library.

Seems like all the technology is there. I'd love the option of carrying around the display (yes, I know 20" is big, but why not make it an option since it'll be thin and light and it wouldn't get warm). It'd also trump the Microsoft coffee table.

So, I'm a dreamer. But why not? I've had a Mac since 88 and I love to think big.. It usually works out....

*sigh*.. if only.... ;-)

 

[imac/cheese]

I would love to see somehing like that. I too am a dreamer and like to think big. It does seem like the technology is there and I don't think it will be too many years before something like this actually becomes feasible and hits the market.

I think the monitor should also have video inputs so you can hook other devices up to it while not connected to the base and a couple of USB ports.

 

[Digital Skunk]

I like the idea too... but just a few questions:
(1) If you take it to the coffee shop and you get it stolen or lost will that mean that you will finally have a headless Mac? Or will you have to get a new laptop monitor thingy to use your headless machine?

(2) Will there be a 24" version... like a 24" touch screen laptop? That would be kinda cool though. And will there be many different models like the iMac or just one version?

(3) If I wanted a headless mac could I buy just the desktop and leave the laptop monitor thingy alone, then hook up the 30" display i have at home?

(4) What if you don't have WiFi?

(5) Can I use the device to control the AppleTV?

(6) When I use the thin monitor thingy, I will basically have a tablet Mac with a docking station in the other room... so could this thing be called the MacTablet or MacBook Mini?

(7) Will it cost more than the iMac?

(8) What are the processor speeds...I really mean, the processor will most likely be located in the monitor thingy, so will it be underpowered to keep the battery life high and temperature down? Or will there be two, one in the arm tower and one in the monitor and it will switch between the two depending on how you use it?

(9) Sounds kinda nice... but what about making it a Mac Tablet/ ultra portable notebook with the coolest docking station ever created?

 

[HMSAgincourt]

Different idea

My solution: Tablet
The computer I would build is a '12 or '15 "all in one" tablet that would have a removable optical drive. When in desktop mode, the drive would be inserted and keyboard/mouse used. In laptop mode, the DVD drive would be removed and a battery would be inserted in its place. This would allow for the smallest portable computer while not sacrificing an optical drive.

 

[AlexisV]

I like the current design and I can't think of much else they can do with it!

Maybe thinner, but apart from that I don't want the next iMac to be all that different from the current one.