iPhone also represents Apple’s foray into tablet computing. A very small tablet, mind you, but there will be a demand for similar devices but bigger. Think Mac Book Pro with the the main unit missing - all you have is the LCD display and a bezel - an iPhone with a 15″ diagonal touch screen.

Jobs quoted Alan Kay during the presentation. Recall Kay’s Dynabook?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynabook

or Sculley’s Knowledge Navigator?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge_Navigator

iPhone is a leap in that direction. It’s unusual, though that a product starts out being a mini version of what it will ultimately become, but the iPhone is the future of Apple’s computers…

By memory (and I could be wrong, so I trust that that others with longer and more Mac-centric memories than mine will set me to rights if that is the case) this is the first time that Job’s MacWorld keynote has not unveilled, announced a refresh or otherwise showcased some form of Mac - be it anything from a notebook to a desktop or a server, or even a key system component such as a display.

Eagle-eyed folk should also note that nor did we see any new software on parade - no updates to iLife or iWork, and of course not even a glimpse of Leopard (and without a schill for the OS here was no reason for Jobs to trot out a spokesperson from Adobe or Microsoft to briefly spruik forthcoming versions of CS3 or Office:Mac 2008 in support of the Mac OS).

I’ve got no doubt that all of those things will occur in the months ahead, most likely at a mix of scheduled events (such as other MacWorld expos plus WWDC) and specially-held launches (Apple has done quite a few of those in the past two years, as well as just slipping out some updated machines with just a press release!).

But all of this - the almost total and undoubtedly deliberate ‘ignorance’ (in the proper meaning of the word) of anything connected with the traditional ‘computing’ side of Apple, so that the keynote was almost entirely devoted to the ‘digital lifestyle’ products and partnerships of ‘the new more-than-just-computers’ Apple — it all seemed intended to underscore what Jobs was saying by rubbing out the ‘Computer’ from Apple’ his company’s name and “skating to where the puck would be, not where is is now”.

David

Apple Computer, Inc. was incorporated on January 3rd, 1977. And, I think it’s great that just after their 30th anniversary, they have changed their name to Apple Inc. - to stress their expansion into the consumer electronics space. Of course, the press releases and copyright block on most communications have simply indicated “Apple…” for quite some time now, so it seems this official change has been on its way for a while.

Here’s to the next 30 years!

They are designed to work with computers, not to replace them!

In fact, a good argument can be made that the iPhone is a glorified computer accessory. Sure, you *could* enter all your Address Book contact info directly into one, but most of us enjoy being able to use all ten digits for data entry. You still need a computer for iPod content, for iPhoto & contact sync, & so on.

Nobody is going to own one of these things without first owning a computer. And just like with the iPod, a Mac is a better choice for all who value the ease of use that is the distinguishing feature of the product.