Apple announced a ridiculously thin laptop computer today, the MacBook Air. It's packed with powerful new wireless technologies, including some clever ways to live without an optical drive.
It also demonstrates an ongoing convergence between hand-held devices and the desktop computer. That is, the iPod and iPhone are becoming more capable (like full size computers) and full size computers are getting smaller and more portable. Before too long, I really think that we're going to use small tablets that combine the PDA, cell phone, iPod, and laptop in one device.
The last few times I went to the doctor, they were using laptops and tablets. We live in a world with cell phones and Wi-fi networks and email and text messaging. Half of the old movies I watch (downloaded from a satellite and digitally recorded to a hard drive) have plots that wouldn't work today because of cell phones and the internet.
The question is how big or how small of a device is a person willing to carry with them? Is pocket-sized too small for some purposes? Perhaps the size of a half sheet of paper is a better compromise? Is there a way to make one size fit all or do different kinds of people need to carry different sizes/form factors?
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