At the very least it must function as a computer
Assuming the MacBook Air or whatever it may end up being called is actually a computer and not a glorified iPhone/tablet, Apple is welcome to streamline it any way it can but it must not remove all functionality such that the average person needs another computer to get by on everyday tasks.
If that were the case, then Steve Jobbs may as well take out a hammer during the keynote and drive a nail deep through his foot. If this thing can only be used effectively as a 2nd computer, then Apple will be cornering itself into a very niche market. Only the likes of some hardcore business users (who would actually need a second computer anyway to do most of their work) and Mac fans such as you and me would buy the thing.
I fully expect that if the MacBook Air is a computer (which I believe it will be), then it will still meet the very minimum requirements (in Apple's eyes) for a computer. Those goals may have changed since the PowerBook 12" came out - that means they are free to drop the optical drive and even ethernet (which could be solved by way of a dock very nicely).
But Apple isn't going to have spent the last 5 years trying to set up the Mac as the centre of your digital life if this thing can't run iTunes... or hold your photos, etc. This thing will be more powerful than people are crediting here - and I fully expect to be buying one to replace my ageing 12" PowerBook so that I can give it to my sister, not have to keep it for myself to run Garageband, etc.
If it can't run iLife properly, or there is no way to perform simple computing tasks, then this thing will not be classed by Apple as a Mac. And then it will just be something way too overpriced. If the only thing I want to do on it is browse the internet and read email, I might as well buy an iPhone or, goddamit even an iPod touch these days.
My prediction, or rather, gut feeling:
- Small single display (10-13" ish)
- Mega thin - all this effort cannot be just to shave a couple of mm - what's wrong with an inch thick anyway? It's got to get eyes staring, i.e. 1cm or less
- Flash or HD storage - probably the latter due to cost but maybe Apple has pulled some mega deal out of the bag
- Dock - as someone else said - this will be the magic and it will work seamlessly in the way only Apple could come up with. To include ethernet, DVI, Firewire and optical drive, etc - possibly an HD so that flash could be used on the go
- No collapsable ports - too flimsy. This is a Mac after all and they add clutter.
- Headphones and USB on the device itself, plus wireless I/O
- Something else revolutionary that is wireless-related: the 'killer app'
- Price around £800-1000 ($1500?) - includes dock because you couldn't function without
- Magsafe power cord also
Have faith in Steve. He will deliver.
