Apple's so-called netbook will be a folding iPhone

Pull-down keyboard overlay

Apple could build a pull-down, roll-out rubber keyboard overlay, on top of the dual-screen device pictured in the article. That would provide tactile feedback to the fingers, which I think are important for accurate high-speed typing without looking at the keyboard. This rollout would be stored in the spine when not in use. It would pull down like a window shade and cover the lower screen. There should be guide tracks on the left and right sides so it feels like all part of one device, not just a flap of rubber on top. You could place a little strip of lead (or something) weight across the leading edge of this pullout keyboard (under the spacebar), so the device wouldn't fall backward when opened up in laptop mode. Finally, the keys on this rubber keyboard could thus be backlit in low ambient light conditions, via the lower screen under it. Anyway that's what I'd do.

You got it almost right...

Yes, it should fold, with a screen on top and real keyboard on bottom. And there will be two screens. But 2nd screen is on the other side of the first screen, so that when it is closed, there is a touchscreen, like a tablet. This might use e-ink tech, like the Kindle, to increase battery life. You can set it up so that your email and tweets show on the top-screen, so you can check and reply (software keyboard on outside), then open up to do some major typing or color work. Uses SSHD and all the appstore apps. And a camera pointing in either direction than can stream video, even when closed. Tethers to your 3G for extra $20/mo.

I have been using both

I have been using both MacBook Air and iPhone ever since they came out. They complement each other well, but what is the possibilities for a middle ground?

The iphone fits in my pocket and can make phonecalls, but sometimes the screen is to small for proper browsing and searching and the phone is bad for writing long texts or emails. Macbook Air on the other hand has everything you want from a laptop but it cant make phonecalls and it needs a bag to be carried around.

The issue is really the screen estate. It would be pointless to make the Air much smaller as it already fits ito any bags, but wont fit into pockets. It would be equally pointless to make a bigger iPhone that doesnt fit in a pocket.

So the only middle ground would be a clamshell dual screen, which can provide more screen estate while retaining pocket portability.

Its certainly not something I would be excited about - but knowing Apple they would only launch it if its worthwhile.

maybe you are right but...

Maybe you are right in some things like using the OS from the iphone and all the apps, but I doubt that it will be a folding computer.

Only think on why the iphone is not a folding phone? Making something that folds give you a lot of problems like cracking or breaking very easily.

I am sure that the new laptop/netbook or whatever it is called will use an hybrid OS that let you use any app from the iphone store and also use mail, dashboard and almost any software from Mac OS X.

Why the double screen is a good concept

Think of the traveler to remote locations, the one with the camera, notebook and kaki clothes gone for 4-6 weeks to an exotic locale. He needs a tank for backing up one-in-a-lifetime photos; a device to catch and send e-mails and logs/blogs, or a photo of the last creature that bit him to see if he's going to die or not before sunrise; a computer to write and check e-mail (boring) or capture those five-senses-on-overload scenes (exciting); a storage device with sufficient memory for the photos as well as the three or four or more e-books he needs to carry along. He doesn't need a laptop (even a MacBook Air) to take into the Amazon River. Weighty, delicate, with all those heavy cables. Or a delicate little $350 netbook that will crash at the first hint of humidity or the first roach to antennae its USB ports.

A robust dual-screen tablet with few moving parts (i.e., no physical keyboard), clammed shut for the night, with good RAM and a solid-state HD (there would be space for a few cards inside to make it worthwhile). We all claim or crave some adventure in our lives. The Amazon River is not far from the humid environs of South Florida. The African deserts can feel like Arizona in the summer. The Andean mountains can be as cold as Philadelphia in the winter. Heck, think of the smoky, humid, dusty, clammy, moldy etc. of many of our rooms, workplaces, party places, and recreational places where we take our computers. Have you seen a white MacBook after six months on the hands of a freshman?

I'd buy it, at $500-$600. It would make my year.

Apple's so-called netbook will be a folding iPhone

Apps on a netbook would not work due to screen size issues. The apps currently in the app store would not scale up for a larger screen just as they would not scale down for a "nano" iphone version. Trying to out think Apple will just make you crazy...

Knowledge Navigator

Some one put up the link to Apple's Knowledge navigator video/commercial/prediction. The video will show what this folding full screen device could easily be!

Interestingly, I totally agree...

...with Elgan. Whenever I tell people what I think the iPad or iTab will be, I use the OLPC 2.0 as the example. The only difference is that the screen won't be as big, not yet. It'll be iPhone-sized when folded. And, double iPhone size when unfolded.

It will be that way for two reasons. One they have economies of scale already with the iPhone 3.5" screen. Two, they can scale the existing UI and apps quite easily. Going from 480x320 to 640x480 makes ALOT of sense. Apps will look fine without having to do anything. You don't want to fragment the AppStore with apps that can work on the iPhone and different ones that work with the iTab. You want one app to work on both the iPhone and the iTab. A 640x480 sized screen, scales easily. You do realize that like anything, getting multi-touch enabled screens exponentially larger will be much too expensive. Right now 2 of these screens in one device is manageable for a price point that Apple must be targeting. I'd say $400 to $500 depending upon installed ram.

The keyboard thing, I proposed a fluid keyboard that moved based upon where your fingers were resting. That way you don't need an ergo keyboard, the two halves of the keyboard tilts into the optimal position for where your fingers rest. I should patent that idea.