The world is abuzz with talk of a new mac tablet or ultra-thin MacBook, and with Macworld now only one day away, people are brimming with anticipation. However, I do not believe that a mac tablet is really viable. Here's why:
Current Tablet PCs use an incredibly low resolution display to make targets bigger. A Macbook tablet would probably have a display comparable to today's model, Which is pretty much required to run OS X. Anything less would most likely not be able to fit the system preferences window on the screen. Then you have a problem, specifically the size of the menus as a target. this is something best shown in a picture:
That little dot is about the size of a stylus tip. That big dot is my finger (approximately). Even the stylus dot in the center of a menu item is still pretty close to the edges. Stylus input programs and operating systems should have a high tolerance for error and large targets; normal Mac OS X is too unforgiving if I stray a pixel or two, ano don't get me started about using my finger (it spans three menu items).
I am more willing to believe that Apple is planning a 12" Powerbook-esque ultra-portable and thin MacBook, because it would be stylish. Every now and then, Apple refreshes its product line, like how the iMac got a titanium case. The MacBooks were last visually refreshed when they first came out, so it would seem that they would be due for a refresh. What better difference than thinner? Refreshing.
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