Tired of all the buzz surrounding iPad, iPhone, and iPod events? Relieved to hear that next week’s event takes a nostalgic leap “back to the Mac” from the rampantly discussed iOS, Apple’s mobile operating system? Well, prepare to be disappointed, because “Lion”, the new version of OS X, might actually take the OS X closer to the iOS — the operating system for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch.

Besides the obvious cost advantage of using the same resources, why would Apple want to merge the two OSes?

First, Apple possesses the capability to do so. This may sound simple, but it is important that there is a feasible evolution path to merge the two OSes. I am by no means an expert on the OS, but I know that the iOS and OS X share the same kernel (Darwin) and language (Objective C), thus making the merger possible if not easy.

Second, computing devices are becoming lighter and more portable. This has resulted in a greater demand for applications that use mobile features such as GPS, and a lesser need for hardware peripherals such as DVD drives and USB ports. Whether via WiFi or 3G, Internet connectivity has become almost ubiquitous in the US. Therefore, it makes sense to develop a computing device that is lighter than today’s laptops and thus more mobile. iOS is designed to fit the bill.

Third, Apple could instantly leverage the abundance of iOS apps available for existing iOS devices. This could tip the balance of the developers ecosystem in favor of Apple from Microsoft. While Windows has traditionally held a huge advantage over Mac OS X through its greater number of available applications, with iOS laptops, Apple could end up leading the pack. Of course, developers would have to be convinced to port apps designed for smaller screens to work on larger screens. But if the iPad is any indication, many developers would make the switch fairly quickly. And the Magic Trackpad could simulate the multi touch experience people are used on the mobile devices.

I’ll admit that it’s a long shot — the chances that Apple will merge the two OSes so soon are small, especially when you consider that Apple has not yet been able to port the latest iOS (version 4.1, available on the iPhone 4) to even the iPad.

There are a number of issues Apple will have to deal with before making such a radical change. Most importantly, the time and effort to achieve compatibility of existing Mac applications with the new OS will be far from negligible. Furthermore, Apple must be wary of not bogging down the pace of innovation in the evolution of the iOS: mobile devices evolve much faster than laptops. This could result in fragmentation of the iOS, forcing developers to make sure their apps run on all iOS versions, and thereby defeating the greatest advantage of a uniform operating system across devices: the reusability. Moreover, the iOS is not yet ready for prime time multi-tasking and the greater power expected from a Mac or MacBook.

Will Apple merge the two operating systems in this event? Most probably not. But be on the alert for changes that could take us one step closer to a radical shift in the Mac OS strategy.