Apple's announcement of the ultra-thin, ultra-light MacBook Air yesterday has got Ewan both reminiscing about past attempts to do something similar and wondering what indeed users do want . Why does the concept of a small instant-on mini-laptop keep failing so miserably? Is there a (reasonably-priced) void between Nokia E90 and Dell laptop that needs filling?

"For a long time after Symbian formed (in 1999), debate raged inside as to whether the correct answer was a one-box solution, with everything in a single device, or a two-box solution where you have your ‘computer’ and your ‘phone’ working in partnership. As is evident now, this is still an unanswered query.

For a long time, it looks like the all in one-smartphone was going to gain the upper hand, and devices like the Nokia E90 and the Sony Ericsson P1i (and Windows Mobile-powered HTC TyTN II) backed this up. But my Nokia Tablet experience (currently the N810 and N800 models) shows a serious consideration to a two-box strategy. The prominence of home (and work) Wi-fi is also something that has helped to alter both models of operation." 

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