iMac + iPad = Enterprise domination

For the life of me, I can't figure out who would benefit, and how, by having a touch-based iMac. As an iPad user myself, there are definitely times when I want a traditional keypad, traditional mouse input, Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint. Similarly, I don't see robust applications from Adobe or even Apple's FinalCut being superior within a touch environment; at least, not for a few more years.

Plus, when I look at these pictures, like the one below, from Patently Apple, not a one appears to enhance the user experience.

Given that the value of Apple is now much more tied to iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod, iTunes..), could a iMac Touch (or MacBook Touch) be a deliberate hybrid, designed to transition the (few) loyal Mac users over to the iOS ecosystem?

Absolutely. Only, I don't believe this is the only reason, nor the primary one. In fact, I believe the notion of a 'iMac Touch' is a bit of a dodge. Instead, think iPad that can fully and instantly support true multitasking, keyboard and mouse input, Microsoft applications, enterprise-level security requirements, corporate email. An iPad that offers both iOS and Mac OS, that fully supports touch-based interface and iOS apps while supporting the (Intel-based, corporate-friendly) Mac offers many opportunities -- and one grand slam:

Apple as the *standard* computing device in the corporate enterprise.

Consider how many vertical markets, how many individuals would not simply love to have an iPad, but would be freed, liberated, by having a tablet they could walk around with and user their hands to interact with? Doctors and nurses. Teachers. Lawyers. Corporate training. Mechanics. Logistics. CEOs and show-offs. Is anyone surprised that Blackberry and Android and Avaya and even Microsoft (still) are announcing plans for their own tablet computers? With the possible exception of Android versions, these are not iPad competitors, per se, but rather, tablets for use in corporate vertical industries.

But they have a critical failing that an iPad - iMac Touch could overcome. It's hard to believe any competing tablet will have as great a user interface (and iOS ecosystem of apps) that the iPad delivers. Which may not even be the biggest hurdle. The fact is, thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of workers would love to have a tablet for numerous tasks, functions, meetings, training. Problem is, they then need a more traditional PC or laptop. Not being flush with cash to lavish their employees, companies make a choice. Tablet is nice, but desktop/laptop is a necessity. Thus, they choose the traditional computing mode. Only, what if they could have both? In one device? That actually worked great -- in both modes? An iMac Touch has this potential. And based on the patents Apple has filed, the device would intuitively know when you were using it as a tablet, when as a 'desktop' and when in transition.

Is Apple getting ready to take the tablet wars to the corporate office? Fact is, Apple has long focused on the consumer market. However, this has not been intentional. If you could imagine a quadrant with MARGIN on the Y-axis, and USER EXPERIENCE on the X-asis, Apple aims for that upper right hand quadrant, not surprisingly. And they hit their target more often than just about anyone else. This has always meant great profit margins, highly usable devices, but fewer customers. I cannot see Apple abandoning this strategy; it's in their DNA. However, while still operating within this strategy, they can combine the best of iPad and the best of Mac and sell millions more devices into industry verticles that they would have otherwise never sold.

This is the home run strategy for a iMac Touch.