Ok, I don't know about anyone else, but one thing that has gotten me really excited about future products is
Inkwell.
A few things about Inkwell:
-Technology from the Newton era of devices. I don't think Apple is interested in licensing this technology to other companies since Apple likes to make the "whole widget". This is disappointing, IMHO, because if you could just imagine a HandSpring or a PalmPilot with Inkwell built in -- Yummy!
-It is now
built in to the OS. Imagine, if you will, a PowerBook that fits easily into a extremely cramped coach class flight... Imagine, if you will, a Powerbook without a keyboard...
I mean, what if MS got it right... Sort of. We want a
Tablet PC... Just not like how MS envisions it. We want portablity, but we don't want a "central server" streaming the GUI to a LCD screen. We want it as the
whole widget. If I'm going to have a LCD screen with input, I want the whole computer, not the screen just Timbuktu'ing or VNC'ing to my "Tablet".
Imagine, if you will, a Powerbook, but no keyboard (you'll have to excuse those that cry blasphemy to this), implement a "touch screen" (but only for pen input, not actual finger touching
), with all the inputs on the side, as per the Powerbook right now.
How do we get around the "how does the computer know if I'm using the mouse or the "handwriting" recognition? Easy:
--Buttons
We all have seen pens with the notch at the top of the pen that bring the point in, and out. That could work. Tip is out, your handwriting, tip is in, your using the mouse. "BUT" you say, "what if I don't want to always click the top of the pen?" Easy, say the pen has either a 2nd button on the side, ala mechanical pencil, for switching of the pen tip input/output. Quick, fast, easy. "BUT" you say, "what about the 2nd mouse button!? I there isn't a control key I could use anymore!" Easy, the pen should be able to dicsern between "holding the pen button down" as left click, as opposed to "retract tip bit". Say a less than 1 second click = retract bit, longer than 1 second wouldn't retract the bit, but would act as a left click.
Granted, this isn't meant to replace the entire keyboard, but the majority of the functionality. If you absolutely need a keyboard and mouse, that's what a USB port is for
"But I'll loose the pen!"
--No worries, just have a optional thin steel cord attachment you can hook up to the pen and the powerbook, but have it detach, ala XBox (and you thought no innovations came from MS
)
You won't loose your pen, and your Powerbook won't go flying if you put the pen in your pocket and take off down a flight of stairs.
Of course, heat is an issue, but I guess that's why I'm not a engineer.
But what do you all think? Possible this could sound like the next Powerbook?
When I got my LCD I kind of wished I could do what you are describing, but alas, I don't travel with my tower and LCD and keyboard, and mouse, and dsl modem, and printer and switch, and soundsticks... ect... ect.. 
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