With that in mind, how about this scenario a few years down the road: SBC Communications buys Disney/ABC and then merges with Apple. The resulting company could offer bandwidth, content and hardware with a good interface. Of course, this is a predictions column, not a wishes column, so let me focus on something closer to home: hardware.

On the computer side in 2006 -- and I don't really think I'm on much of a limb here -- look for new PowerBooks sporting dual-core Intel chips and perhaps an integrated camera. (Yes, I've got a thing for the iChat A/V.) I am hopeful that a low-cost tablet Mac will also be released.

In enterprise applications, Apple would do well to upgrade its e-mail server offering, and just such an application may be in the works for later in 2006.

Overall, 2006 will see a further expansion of mind share for Apple as it moves to Intel chips, leading perhaps to market share growth in the consumer space. The iPod will continue to be the growth engine of the company and will continue to challenge the business model of the entertainment industry.

Did I miss something? Do you have an opinion to share? Send your questions, comments and curses to y.kossovsky@ieee.org.