Yep - Siri is exactly what Gates demoed in 1996. Would be nice if it turned up. I'm with you on shortcut keys, and yes there may be physical alternatives to a mouse - better trackpads for one, maybe built into the keyboard. Given lots of people never use anything but a laptop any more we're part way there.

I still struggle with the touchscreen as a complete replacement for the reasons above, and more too. For one thing a touchscreen involves more glass in the screen so the image is rarely as good as a non touchscreen monitor. I also think the distance between user and screen needs to be shorter. If you look at that HP demo video I link to above -- I couldn't write with the screen that close. It would feel wrong. Writing and fiddling around with photos are different.

Maybe designers would feel differently of course.