If There Is An iPhone Computer, Here Is What It Needs To Win

Published by on October 13, 2008

A mini-computer that slides in between the iPhone and the 13″ Macbook Air. It would have a 9″ screen, full-keyboard and be able to offer the portability and ease of use that the iPhone brings. Thankfully, Olo-Computer is bringing an iPhone laptop …coming soon.

When is the actual netbook going to be released? There aren’t many details. Is there an elaborate hoax? Perhaps, but the mere premise sounds like a good one.

The iPhone has a 624mhz processor, fast enough to run a limited-base machine, and given that the iPhone can only run one app at a time, there shouldn’t be much of an issue with lag or performance detractors.

Would You Buy an iPhone Netbook?

I think I would definitely try out the Olo-Computer laptop/netbook. Finding a name for this device, however, is another issue.

The device would have to be sold for around $200 for me to want to make the purchase, given that the iPhone is now positioned at $199. Having the netbook would allow me to ditch my laptop, and bring only my iPhone. I currently use my iPhone for data, email, twitter, etc. so not having access to the phone while talking wouldn’t be that big of an issue for me.

What Features Should the Olo-Computer Have?

So obviously it has a smaller form-factor, 9″ screen (or so), full-keyboard. Noticeably, no trackpad, however.

I think it would also have a battery that doubles to power the unit and charge the iPhone at the same time. Would it have some sort of storage? Perhaps an SD slot, but nothing more is really necessary.

What else should it have? Aside from the battery, that’s really my biggest gripe about the iPhone. I guess it should have a headphone port, mic, usb charging slot or perhaps a spot to plugin your iPhone charger.

Olo-Computer A Win?

Will this device be a success? Possibly. For manufacturers trying to play in the Apple space, there are very strict design and ease of use rules that need to be adhered to to satisfy Apple users.

If the look and feel isn’t there, it won’t cut it. If Apple doesn’t buy in, they’ll find some way to disable it. Ideally Apple will look at this device moreso as a speaker set for their iMacs than a true competitor to their Mac line.