As for the computer being entirely enclosed in the keyboard, no thanks. I personally like moving my keyboard around frequently for comfort. I don't want added weight. Added thickness is also a huge no. Didn't we move away from computers with that design for a reason anyway?

@Jenn: Not ingenious. It's been done before, many times. In fact, I think there's similar on the market already, not not by Apple (so it can run what whatever you like, including OS X if you know what you're doing). It's name escape me, however.

@Freddywang: I could have sworn you were going to say Chick Wheel then... http://www.theonion.com/content/video/apple_introduces_revolutionary

@G: Microsoft didn't learn anything obviously, since they're still trying to get 100% touch interface down. I suspect they'll be able to do it, but I don't think a lot of people actually want to replace tactile input with touch screens just yet. I, for one, can't stand typing on a touch screen for extended periods of time.

Lengthy comment is lengthy. And out of date.

There have been a lot of rumours surrounding the possibility of Apple one day, at some point, releasing a tablet computer.

I have doubts as to how "Mac"ish it will be - I would assume that it would run a variant of the iPhone OS rather than a scaled down version of Mac OS X as it would be touch screen, and Mac OS X is designed for use with a traditional keyboard and mouse. Microsoft proved that you can't simply take an existing OS and expect people to use it successfully as a touch screen with their own XP for tablet PCs. They weren't a runaway success.

However, in terms of this being a new computer, I think it could have a dual purpose. You could take it around as a powerful device, slightly less powerful than a MacBook, but more powerful than an iPhone. Then when you get to your desk, where your existing Mac is, it could double up as a touch screen input - a kind of trackpad like on the new MacBooks, but with a screen.

Imagine that - controlling your Mac with a touch screen device as good as the iPhone but with more screen space. With the option to add shortcuts depending on which application you were using at any one time, with instant access to your frequently used apps via a touch screen dock, and even the ability to use it as a graphics tablet in applications like Photoshop and Corel Painter.

The New Apple DisplayBoard. Because we need more than Keys.

Haha, that would be cool.

Anyway, that's just my added 2 cents!

James

Just imagine a keyboard size of mac gadget with latest multi touch technology that beautifully decorates your work desk. I guess I dream too much of an iPhone as desktop mac :p

Whether or not it's something they are going to do now, obviously we don't know. But it would be cool to see something like this from them in the near future; I'd definitely go for the buy.

I guess people will just have to be more careful with their Starbucks purchases when using it

The thing is, all that would need to be connected by plugs is a display and a power cord. The rest could be wireless - bluetooth mouse, and 802.11n. The display would no doubt have a USB hub inbuilt so any hard drives etc. could plug in there.

Sure it's a long stretch, but it's quite a unique concept that is the sort of thing Apple would release.

Also, while thinking of negatives, the current Mac Mini is very versatile, and is even rack mounted in server rooms for space saving hosting. This idea would severely reduce the versatility of the Mini.

But hey, ideas, that's all they are!