I’m on board with you on this one. I’m a pharmacy student and the paper load we have been given is really out of control. I would guess that each student has a ream or two of paper in their possession at any given time. I also prefer to physically write something vs typing it in, which never seems to work as far as retention goes. Nearly all of our notes are delivered and accessible online, so we could go almost paperless, which would be a HUGE reduction in clutter and waste. We could achieve the same form of notes- with powerpoint slides and notes written on the tablet. I would buy a mac tablet in a nanosecond if they come out with one…The iphone is cool, but won’t work for serious school duties!

I hope Apple comes out with a multi-touch tablet so that the only step to use, is taking it out of my bag.
- I could write notes, draw sketches on it and file them all away.
- I could read my course books (which by the way, 75% of my classes now distribute the book via powerpoints and pdfs instead of physical copies)
- Lightweight construction, high resolution screen.
- And I can watch a movie, play games, surf the internet, and chat with friends all at the same time.

The screens on the iPhone/iPod touch are too small for reading text books.

As for the mini-CD, that will not be integrated. It is obvious Loop Rumors capitalized on that patent filing to increase their page views for the day.

Yeah, I completely understand that just because I might not use something, that doesn’t mean others won’t – but your argument is missing the point of the post.

The iPod filled a need. People needed and wanted a way to play mp3s that was well designed and thought out.

Can you tell me what mainstream need this device would fill?

I get the medical argument – but I would counter that those medical people would want something at least the size of a sheet of paper – which is not how this device is described.

If you look at the picture, that disk is supposed to be a min-dvd – which puts the size of the device at something around the size of a paperback book.

That doesn’t make sense.

It’s only slightly larger than an iPhone, but not near large enough to function as a computer.

I am ALL FOR a Tablet Mac – but the device being described here is NOT a tablet Mac, it’s a small tablet with its own version of Leopard and a disk drive that no one ever uses.

The rumor doesn’t make sense. The idea of a Tablet Mac is a great one – but this device being described would be a terrible move on Apple’s part that would not make sense for the company.

What need does this device fill for a mainstream user base?

Just because YOU won’t use it, doesn’t mean that others won’t.

That’s a good point – but would this be that device? Would Apple create a new disk standard for it (or adopt one that almost on one uses)?

I hope Apple does make a Tablet…but I think in that situation it should be a device that is more like a tablet notebook, don’t you?