An Apple patent that we saw recently can redefine the whole concept of a computer and at the same time take us back to the days of the eighties. Let me explain: in Cupertino, they studied the possibility of fit an entire Mac inside the Magic Keyboard evoking the era of Spectrum, Amiga, MSX and others.
A desktop computer or a laptop?
This concept is easy to imagine, but it’s only now that technological advances in Apple computers are making sense of the idea. To display a button: the motherboard of a MacBook Air fits perfectly into the Magic Keyboard. So yes, this keyboard can perfectly adapt to an entire computer.
A USB-C port could connect to a compatible monitor, providing video signal and power. Other ports placed on the keyboard (or on the monitor itself) could provide additional connectivity. You would only need a Bluetooth mouse to complete the set. Another way to imagine it properly is to remove the screen and trackpad from a MacBook Air.
The keyboard itself wouldn’t change much in appearance if we pay attention to the patent diagrams, simply would be a bit thicker to accommodate all the interior electronics. Could it be the new Mac mini? Of course, that would be taking the miniature desktop concept to the extreme.
There would also be the debate on how to rate such a machine. It would be something very portable, but of course… you need a desktop monitor with a plug to be able to use it. A desktop PC you can comfortably take anywhere you have USB-C monitors available. Viable I don’t know, but interesting for a while.
Imagen | Jay Wennington
