I am sure you know that IOS 5 is supposed to be the move to the "PC Free Era" (thank Apple for the clever name). While I agree that this is a needed move it seems as if Apple has put the cart before the horse. Why do you think they jumped the gun on its release?

I think the technology is at a point where the PC does not have to be the center of your technology. With products like iCloud and offerings by Google, Dropbox etc., you can have access to your content and tools wherever you maybe. So now you don't have to connect your iDevices to your PC, you can stream content to an Apple TV from your iPad or iPhone instead of from your mac or PC. You can create content on these devices as well so it may get to a point where the PC as we know it right now will no longer be a factor.

I don't think the PC needs to have the universe revolve around it either. I think the PC free era should have come a long time ago. The fact that it took them this long is very disappointing indeed.

I don't think that is the biggest disappointment. I think all of the battery issues themselves have been a problem. I think that has probably had an impact on Apples Branding reputation.

Under Steve Jobs, it's always been don't do it unless it really works. Of course, MobileMe is one the few exceptions. So far I have been happy with the way iCloud has been working as well as the update and syncing over Wi-Fi. If I had to compare it to MobileMe, I feel it is much snappier. I only wish they had a web app version of iWork so I can do some editing on a PC once in awhile. I just think about how I wanted it to work this way when I got my first (and only) Palm six years ago. It was such a pain to move data around. Now, it just works.

I am pretty sure that laptops will be around for a while, but I don't see how anyone can actually sit at a computer anymore. I can't sit still for more than hour. It causes back problems.