Re: Apple Event 27th Jan
it's more than likely the iSlate. Apples lawyers have been sending cease and desist letters out about the iSlate to Gawker over their
iSlate bounty (they've offered $100,000 for anyone to let them have an hours play on one).
I'm not quite sure why Slates are seemingly the big thing this year. It was tried before with tablets a couple of years ago. I don't really see the need for them apart from in specialised scenarios, there's no real point to the general consumer to have one.
For example, in the case of the rumored iSlate, if it runs the iPhone OS, then it's just an iPhone with a bigger screen that's nowhere as portable (try sticking a slate in your pocket), so what's the point of it. If it runs OS/X then it probably won't have the same sort of power as an equivalent size MacBook and will cost more, so again, what's the point.
Having said that, they will be ideal for anyone who's job involves some sort of clipboard and writing.