Plug in keyboard that almost turns it into a desktop when you use the flap to stand it up. Plastic back. I will upload a photo tomorrow. Runs OSX with some modifitcations for tablet. Easy to carry
Plastic back? Scratchtastic! Apple: Please stop torturing all your OCD customers. Ah well; all the accessory makers can rejoice in providing users with cases, covers, and sleeves.
My bet is that the tablet is going to have an all-aluminum case. Apple seems to be moving in that direction with unibody Macbook Pros and the new iMacs. I doubt that their flagship new product is going to come with a plastic case.
I have a hard time believing that Apple is going to release the product you describe. Traditional hard drive? No good for highly portable products. Apple is not going to want to deal with crashed drives. 2GB of RAM? Why slow down responsiveness when RAM is relatively cheap? Wired keyboard? Aren't they shipping the iMacs with Bluetooth keyboards? Why would they use a wired keyboard with their most portable computer?
I also have a hard time believing that Apple would let someone use their top secret product on an airplane. If they were THAT loose with their product testers, we'd be flooded with images and leaks by now.
At best, Apple may have sent you a test unit significantly different from the one they plan on releasing to evaluate a limited set of features. At worst, you are lying to such a great extent that your pants are in danger of combusting.
Can't wait to see that promised photo. My guess is that we never will or it will be so blurry or poorly exposed as to be useless. If I'm wrong, I will offer a heartfelt apology and buy you several beers should you ever pass through Toronto.
My guess is that Apple is going to release a $1,000+ computer tablet (not book reader) with a largish screen (at least 10" but 13" would be better for me), and full OS. At some point, they may release smaller and more limited products (iPod > iPod Shuffle, iPhone > iPod Touch) but the first one will be a halo product for the brand.
Take a 13" Macbook Pro, remove the screen and the keyboard, tack on a touchscreen, and give it a 128 or 256GB SDD. Offer 3G capability and subsidies down the road but keep the bar for buying it low at the beginning by not requiring data subscription. You would see people using these everywhere: reading on the train; sharing photos at a cafe; taking notes in lecture halls; and bringing notes to and from office meetings. I don't think this thing is going to be any smaller than 10".
Mike