Padd from Star Trek becomes Apple Reality...
I have been wishing for something like this for some time.
Slate tablet. If you need a clam-shell, buy a laptop.
No built-in keyboard, not sliding, not folding. again, buy a laptop.
Full wireless, WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G cellular, network shared optical drive from other machines, or USB external drive.
Full cable connections, at least 2 usb, (I would prefer even an un-powered micro 1394/FW, but not holding my breath) miniDisplay Port, gigabit ethernet, even if it is on a retractable X-jack type connector, Audio in and out, ExpressCard slot, magsafe power of course.
A kensington lock port, or something to secure the device.
Perhaps even an iPhone speaker or two for the device to play audio without headphones. a small laptop-like mic for Speakable Items commands.
Full multi-touch, 4-finger gestures, plus stylus compatibility for drawing/precision.
Full MacOS, with interface modification, to make the interface more useable on a small screen with finger contact, basically full Mac OS capability, with the ease of use of the iPhone/iPT, on a 10" screen. A nice touch would be the ability to run iPhone/iPT apps, and the AppStore as well.
MacBook Air like tapered bottom, except port connection area, and glass top, one solid piece.
ARM (maybe dual-ARM?) or modest intel Core2 + Nvidia graphics processing.
DDR3 RAM like the laptops have, up to 4 GB.
2.5" SATA Solid-state drive, 32, 64, or 128 GB BTO.
Fingerprint reading capability for security access and FileVault... built into the edge-to-edge black glass surface. iSight camera built in, as well. Maybe two, one on the back side, video capture capability.
Perhaps software and a bluetooth headset could allow skype-like phone service to the device via internet connection, including 3G... but the device would not be a phone primarily, such as not having a SIM card, unless someone wanted to put a SIM card device into the expressCard slot or a USB port, and enable the device as a super-iPhone via a cell carrier. (package that option via AT&T?)
If the iPhone can be a real analogy to the Star Trek tricorder/communicator, then this tablet device would be more analogous to the PADD device. A full computer in a larger flat size, and very portable, light weight, and unobtrusive.
Add a small brace or stand, and you can set it as a small monitor with a wireless, or wired desktop keyboard and mouse, for more involved use.
But for a quick email-response, typing a URL, etc... most light web use and information recall, an on-screen virtual keyboard would be great, and the device would be lighter and less complex, hardware wise.
Such a device would be an amazingly utilitarian tool, as well, for network diagnostics, screen sharing into servers and larger systems, and all sorts of quick, portable work, that a folding laptop can get slightly cumbersome to handle without some sort of surface to set it on. Holding and working on a laptop, in your hands only is not very conducive.
A tablet device could be fitted with a tether strap or hand grip, or something, that would grip the device around it's corners and edges, or by VESA pattern screw lugs on the back... and be easy to hold with one hand, or wrapped to your forearm, and using the interface with the other hand, then taken out of that attachment and used in any number of other ways.
It can be used as home-automation control, quick server access, inventory control with an attached bar-code scanner, a head for a cash-register with added capability beyond that. (look at how AppleStore already uses hand-held bar-code devices for checkout-less store arrangements...), small kiosk displays, car-environment computing for citizens, or even law enforcement... and on and on and on.