Apple's rumored flash memory based portable computer seems likely to be a real product born out of the iPod juggernaut. Does this mean Apple is going to step up to the plate at Macworld and smack another one out of the park? It has all the hallmarks of an Apple product success story. Just as the flash based iPod nano blew away the iPod mini, could a nand sub-notebook cannibalize MacBook sales? Possibly. Could it be priced just too darn high? Maybe. Will it be an unappealing product with no potential customers? No way. The success of this new Mac would seem to be a foregone conclusion.

The biggest question in my mind is the optical drive. I'm going to guess that Apple will build one in, even though I could live without one. With Firewire and USB 2, an external drive would do the trick. Maybe an external optical drive, hard drive combination for a Time Machine backup an added storage. A 13" screen or 12"? Would this new Mac have a touch screen as well as a keyboard or is there a tablet coming too? We will just have to wait and see, unless someone is willing to put their life on the line to leak this one.