iPad + MacBook Air ...love child?

[CommodityFetish]

Wouldn't it be cool if apple offered a notebook that combined the iPad touch screen (same compact 10" size), with a physical keyboard. Something like a love child of the iPad and MacBook Air.

It could run the iPad OS, get great battery life, much less expensive and lighter weight than a MacBook Air, but you could really get some serious writing done on the go with the real keyboard. And you wouldn't have to hold/prop it up at an angle like the iPad for watching video, etc...

This would be the perfect on-the-go machine for me since writing is THE crucial task for me, not too much, not too little. It would be a great successor to the MacBook Air (Who's going to plunk down the cash for a MacBook Air now that there's the iPad?)

I wanted a lightweight notebook, but couldn't justify the MacBook Air's price with less features than a MacBook.

I can't justify an iPad since I don't think I could get serious writing done on it with just a virtual keyboard, and don't think a bluetooth keyboard is doable on-the-go.

I have no hopes that Apple would offer such a machine, but I would gladly buy one if they did.

 

[CommodityFetish]

While I'm dreaming, why not offer this in both 10" and 13" screen models for those who want a full size keyboard?

 

[lotusindigo]

Why not just get one of the accessory keyboards? They don't seem difficult to set up.

 

[JohnnyQuest]

Well that would kind of defeat the purpose of the iPad. One of the great features is that you can most always take advantage of the accelerometer in every app. How would you do that with a notebook?

 

[CommodityFetish]

I just think the notebook form factor with a real keyboard would beat having to take an accessory keyboard with you everywhere. And again, thinking in terms of a successor for the MacBook Air that would be offered alongside the iPad.

On the accelerometer... is it really used much for apps that are productivity apps? It seems like it's used mostly for games, and I'm thinking of this as not a games-machine...

Or, if there was a way to undock/separate the screen/iPad part from the keyboard... then you could have the best of both worlds. Seems like a 3rd party could even offer a notebook-like case for the iPad with a keyboard that would accomplish this. Maybe that's the way to go...