I've been lugging around a laptop for about a year now, as well as a PDA, and I think there's something in the middle that would make the mobile information user much more productive.

Nothing really new, but just some of my own musings on what a really good portable PC would be.

I think a "slate" or "tablet" is a great place to start. Consider a laptop, with a touch-screen, and all of the laptop stuff (motherboard, memory, storage, battery) on the monitor half, and then rip the keyboard off. Pretty much done right there.

What would be nice to have, then, is good multi-touch (think iPod or Microsoft Surface...like on CSI), good scribble input (think handwriting recognition, or even Palm Graffiti), or a good, configurable, on-screen keyboard. Of course, any combination would be an improvement over any one choice.

If the device has USB ports (or Bluetooth) then users can add their own external keyboards if they gotta have 'em. Mice, too. Even web-cams, if they're really too expensive to include. Speakers (and headphone ports) and a microphone (or port) are a must. I know I can go to the PC store and get a $15 USB keyboard that is nicer than the $200 one built into my laptop. Maybe that's a little bit of an exaggeration, but you know what I mean.

Of course, Wi-Fi is a necessity, and Fast Ethernet would be nice, too. It isn't necessary to partner with a carrier (like Oqo does), but instead offer a tucked-away inside USB port (or bank of ports) where one could insert the dongle acquired from the carrier of their choice. There are plenty of USB Wi-Fi, so if the device couldn't have it built-in, at least give it a spot to keep the USB plugged in, and not stick it out the end where it can get snapped off. A nice panel on the backside or edge would do; a little plastic grate, so as to not block any radio.

The storage can be huge or not huge, as is required by the user. Most users would be surprised at how little they really need as they buy their 1TB monster drives. Maybe SSD for lower power use, maybe cheap USB or other flash-based storage would suffice. Heck, if someone could put together a reliable flash-based RAID system, I'd happily replace the occasional flash unit if it started to wear out. Of course, it has to be substantial enough to do real work on, not one of these 4GB pocket things; heck, I've got an 8GB SD in my PDA, mostly consumed by media, to be fair. Just make sure there's a slot for either USB thumb-style, compact-flash, or *SD or whatever. If there's room under that panel for the Wi-Fi, I can plug in some extra storage if I feel I need it.

The processor should be fast. Graphics to go with it. Not talking a gaming rig here, although if someone wanted to pay for it, why not? But something that could handle some rigorous use. A simple multi-core or multi-threaded CPU, in the GHz range should suffice. Maybe even something crazy like the Sun Niagara! But for most of us, on most days, a simple GHz is fine, and the simple multi-core upgrade is finer. There's a few multi-core, low-power options out there. I just don't want to need a giant fan blowing out the back or sides while it's on.

For the GPU, something to handle the device, with a pair (or more?) monitors. Having enough graphic horsepower to handle a large external display allows the device to consider smaller form factors for its portable mode. Thinking of my PSP, which has pretty good graphics; it compromises by having fast enough for the small enough display, but PSPs newer than mine can plug into TVs...sure, that's not more resolution, but you can see where I'm going. My PDA/phone can't always get the last program out of the way of the next program before I give up on what I want to do...that's just not acceptable. Lots of room in between.

Of course, an all-day battery would be swell. Perhaps a half-day would be acceptable, 'cause I can plug-in when I can. If the power cord could be built more like my cell-phone (little brick at the wall, long cord to the device) rather than the laptop (big brick with cords going from it to the wall and another to the device), then it could even be the case that power could be charged frequently throughout the day. Of course, then the battery needs to be able to handle many charges, or be inexpensive to refurbish or replace. My laptop lasts for about three hours, even with the wireless networking. Enough time to hang out at a coffee shop or whatever between charging. My PDA/phone will last all day, if I don't use it for much, but only a couple hours if I fire up the wireless (either Wi-Fi or cellular) and use the web browser or e-mail too long.

It'd be nice if the device had a convenient size. As I mentioned, I carry a PDA and a laptop. It'd be swell if the PDA-size could house full-on laptop power, but I realize that's unrealistic. Something in the middle, like the size of the new mini-notebooks (think the little Mac or EEE), but without the keyboard.

Mostly battery and screen, with a little space for the ports and computer parts in between. Really, how hard would that be?

A couple use cases would be like this.

Out and about, or propped up in bed before they turn out the lights, with just the slate, the user taps the power, the screen springs to life, network acquires, ready to go. Easy tap-on menu, keys, whatever, and that on-the-spot idea is captured, that list item checked-off, the quick search done. Unit powers off and is stowed for its next use later.

User is perhaps a little more stationary, but still away from their desk, waiting for their next thing to do at a corner coffee shop or restaurant, or in their appointment's waiting room. They pull out their slate and turn it on. They flip out the little arm and prop it up like a picture frame on the table in front of them. They also pull out their roll-up or fold-away (or laser) portable keyboard and wireless mouse to do some more work while they wait. Time passes, work is done, they can move on knowing a little production occurred.

Finally the user is at their desk. Maybe its at home, maybe at the office. Might be one of many such desks the user occupies from time to time. They dock their device, or plug in the peripherals they have (one USB to the hub...Ethernet, keys, mouse, printer, and web-cam all come on-line). This workstation could include a second, larger monitor, that either supplements or replaces the display on the slate. Maybe the slate is mounted on an articulated arm, suspended above their workspace as the primary monitor, because it's a bigger size and it works that way.

So, laptop makers, pull the keyboard off, replace it with a touch-screen, and let me get to my portable work.