Besides passive content, communications is the name of the game in the consumer sector. So the tablet needs iSight and iChat. No vidchat is a deal breaker for me.

Moreover, it is time to revolutionize the textbook print market for primary and secondary grades; there is no justification for kids hauling 70 pounds of textbooks around instead of a 2 pound dynamic, multimedia learning tool.One of the discussion threads a while back focused on this form factor. Here’s one set of spex from that discussion, for a tablet that would concentrate its feature set on consumer multimedia functions, rather than pro or enterprise uses. The price has to fall between the iPhone and the MacBook.

I agree with your take. I have several devices. In addition to a sweet iMac, I have a super-small Sony TR3A and an iTouch. I have quit using the Sony and prefer using the iTouch.

I imagine a device that is about 5×8. I see a stand on the back that pops out to prop it up like those cheesy photo frames. However, while this might come in handy for watching movies on it, I see a portable data entry device via a bluetooth keyboard. Would one use this all the time? No. But for taking notes in a meeting or heavy portable data entry, it’s a godsend.

One could leave the keyboard in their bag and then use the device as a tablet. I could forgo a camera but some type of speaker would help. The iTouch is missing this and it’s a real drawback for collaboration. A small tablet would be good for only about 3 people but video out would enable it for larger groups.

The other thing I’d like to see is Adobe Flash installed on it. Apple & Adobe need to kiss and make up. Flash is necessary for watching the embedded videos popping up everywhere. In addition, it could become a great portable learning tool.

The price point needs to stay around $750 or less. The MacBook is a great entry-level device and if this is too expensive, it would be difficult to justify.

Let’s hope it comes to fruition.

What would my ideal iPad be?

(1) Large enough to expand that miserably small keypad – you know, the one that unless your typing in Safari usually means typing at anything close to 50% of your normal keystroke speed means you increased your misstrokes y about 200%.

(2) WiFi capability. A quality camera. Ability to install software like a Mac… as in no iTunes tie-in.

(3) But I’d sacrifice *some* battery life for portability. I’m usually tethered enough.

So let’s split the difference… make it hand-size. About 6×9 (I have a lare hand!) But here’s where we really disagree… price.

No way would Apple initially charge bleeding-edge zealots like me under $1000 for something like this. I wouldn’t even expect that to happen in the year after the release. So I’ll guess they’d retail such an item for, say, $1400. With optional remote, adapters, cables (except a USB cable and brick of course), and dock.

One would also have screen size/battery life issues, especially on what would be mostly a media player. I suspect also that given battery and cost constraints, you’re looking at iPhone-class storage capacities, so if the Air is too small for you then an iPad is probably out of the question as well.