Tablet Event, how will it go down?

In case you hadn't heard, Apple's got a pretty big event scheduled for tomorrow where they are going to reveal their new "creation".  Here's how I think it is going to go down.

Steve Jobs will come out on stage, hopefully having gained some of his pre-transplant weight.  He'll talk about how Apple changed the world with their Mac, iPod, and iPhone and that they were going to do it again with the wundr-tablet.

Since the tablet is most of what they are going to talk about, you need a background.  Something like Apple changed music with iTunes.  They're working on TV and Movies as well.  So why can't they do for books what they've done for music?

(This is where the music industry probably starts blaming Apple for its woes.  Apple hasn't really made the music industry rich, you could say they've thrown them a life line.)

Then they'll do a little history lesson and talk a brief bit about the Newton and how it ushered in pen computing ... then onto the iPhone and multi-touch and now there's a new kid in town.  Mr. Tablet

After unveiling the product (Jobs pulls it out of his European carry-all fanny pack?) they'll throw around some specs.

The consensus is that it is an Apple-PA Semi ARM Cortex A9 powered, 10-inch screen device with 3G and Wifi capabilities.  It will be svelte and borrow some visual cues from iPhones and aluminum from MacBooks.

Apple will tout its relationships with all of the major publishers.  Partnerships with book app makers, newspapers and magazines will be touted.  Apps from the NY Times will be shown.  Then Jobs will say why would you want a Kindle screen when you can have one of the best color screens anywhere.

Then Jobs will start going into Sham-wow mode saying it doesn't just  kill the Kindle, it also is a fantastic way to watch video.  In the car, around the house, or in line at the DMV.

But wait.  There's more!  The tablet is also an incredible gaming device.  It has more power than a netbook and plays the latest EA Games.  In fact, here's one now.  They've got hundred of thousands of developers lining up because it can do anything that is in the app store.

But really, this isn't just a tablet.  It is a computer.  And you can do just about anything a netbook can.  Which means it is a netbook too and that fast growing market is something they're after.

New versions of iLife and iWork that are developed with touch in mind are unveiled.  iChat Video conferencing as well.

Here's where you'll see lots of apps demoed and special guests brought in to talk about their apps.

Then there will be the announcement that a lot of this technology will be available in the iPhone 4 SDK which is available to developers.  Oh and maybe a new iPhone is coming.

Apple has a lot of other stuff that needs updating.  Recently Intel leaked that Apple had some new laptops coming in January.  Those might make an appearance.

At that point, my computer batteries will be dead and I'll just be taking pictures and video to upload to Computerworld.

How do you see it?

Come back tomorrow to see if you're right: 

Apple live blog: January 27th, 2010, 1 P.M. Eastern time