MacBook Mini Photos Generate Speculation

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/03/30/macbook-mini-photos-generate-speculation/)


http://images.macrumors.com/article/2009/03/30/090348-macbookmini_425.jpg


A series of images from a Russian magazine which claims to depict a "MacBook Mini" have been circualting on the internet (http://9to5mac.com/new-macbook-air). The specs (http://i.gizmodo.com/5189531/the-perfect-macbook-mini-leak-concept-or-fake-we-love-it-anyway) on the described machine as said to include the following:

- 10.4" WXGA display.
- 1280 x 768 pixel with LED backlighting.
- NVIDIA MCP79
- Intel Atom Z740 1.83GHz with 1MB L2 cache.
- 2GB DDR3-800.
- NVIDIA GeForce 9400M
- 64GB Solid State Drive.
- Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n
- 1 x USB 2.0
- 1 x Mini Display Port
- Battery Li-Ion 5100mA

We don't know what to make of the images (scan #1 (http://9to5mac.com/new-macbook-air), scan #2 (http://9to5mac.com/macbook-mini-2)), and have our doubts about the legitimacy of the images. Still, with rumors have been circulating that Apple will be entering the netbook market, it makes for interesting speculation. The machine would reportedly retail for approximately $899 in 2009.

Article Link: MacBook Mini Photos Generate Speculation (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/03/30/macbook-mini-photos-generate-speculation/)

[Abstract]

Funny, that battery capacity is higher than a MacBook's, and nearly as high as the 15" MBPs. :rolleyes:


And is Nvidia making a board that would fit an Intel Atom and a 9400M just for Apple?? I don't believe such a thing exists for anyone else right now.

[talkingfuture]

When I saw these elsewhere I immediately thought Rendered speculation.

[student_trap]

got to be fake, but i'd be all over this like a flannel:)

[notjustjay]

The keyboard depicted is full-size layout. If indeed this product has a 10" screen, like the Asus netbook I'm typing on now, then those keys are going to be pretty tiny. Most netbooks use a combination of shrinking the physical key size down a bit as well as making some compromises with key layout to reduce wasted space.

$899 is pretty high, but sounds about right for Apple.

[Harun]

Would be a neat little machine but I don't think Apple would be doing this now. Doesn't seem to fit their MO.

[fogelbaby]

Looks a bit fake to me. I also think that if they do this they will be at a much lower price point than $899. Ultimately I think it is more likely they are going to do a tablet running UIKit rather than OSX.

[dwl017]

LOL the very first $1000 netbook lol :) netbooks are supposed to be dirt cheap in price, just for checking email etc..

[Tallest Skil]

I don't believe it, but they were smart enough to not just scale down the MacBook Air side-view picture. The "MacBook Mini" has a smaller body, as evidenced by the hideaway port door sticking out of the profile.

[JammySTB]

Looks nice, but fake... Early April fools? :rolleyes:

[thejadedmonkey]

That's priced more like an under-speced laptop, not a netbook...

Go figure:rolleyes:

[Tallest Skil]

Looks nice, but fake... Early April fools? :rolleyes:

In former Soviet Russia, MacBook fools YOU! :D

[TraceyS/FL]

Too expensive..... but more in line with my needs!

[douglasgb]

This new model features a new über-thin manufacturing process. Instead of carving out space for the logic board from a single piece of aluminum, the actual circuits are etched into the slab itself.

[Michael73]

Personally, I can't see the attraction with only a *reported* $100 difference in price between this and the low-end MB. If as the pic shows they made it in Aluminum it would be cool. But, are people so concerned with size that they'd got for this when for $100 more they could get a 13" screen?

[JRTeK]

r u serious? the msi wind has 3! that would be ridiculous... :eek:

[bytethese]

Ahh crap, I was sold until the $899 pricetag. I don't really need a solid state drive, I'd rather have a 160GB+ spinning drive. It's cheaper, and just about right capacity I'd need on the go.

[hamis92]

Funny, that battery capacity is higher than a MacBook's, and nearly as high as the 15" MBPs. :rolleyes:

Actually, the new Unibody MacBook Pro batteries (15" ones) only have maximum capacity of 4600 mAh. At least that's what coconutBattery is telling me.

[basesloaded190]

Looks sweet, I'm sold if it's under $800

[DharvaBinky]

$899? For $100 more you'd get a macbook with a bigger screen, faster processor, and other goodness? Ridiculous.

[lftrghtparadigm]

$899 = not entering the netbook market

again, no such device could fit into the product line. Nope. Sorry. Not happening.

[4np]

Fake, apple wouldn't install AdiumX and World Of Warcraft on a promotional laptop. Also, if they would really utilize the Atom processor to create a netbook kind of device I somehow think it would be running the multitouch OS X on a tablet kind of device instead of regular OS X on a shrunken MacBook. But that's just a hunch of course :)

http://9to5mac.com/files/image/00000/attachment-2.jpg

[Kilamite]

Full size keyboard with a 10" screen would be awesome!

Probably fake, but I'd want one.

[billystlyes]

I saw this the other day on Gizmodo. It's a fake...

[iSee]

Fake or not, this is the "netbook" that Apple would make (if they made one).

[talkingfuture]

As preposterous as $899 for a Netbook sounds, I reckon it is fairly realistic for an Apple Netbook. Don't forget this is Aluminium whereas the bottom end Macbook is not.

Ultimately I think Apple will make something more innovative than this (think touchscreen) to justify the price tag in consumers minds.

[KALLT]

That thing is just plain ugly. :eek:

[pcorrado]

In former Soviet Russia, MacBook fools YOU! :D

Haha! That was great!

[Abstract]

That's priced more like an under-speced laptop, not a netbook...

Go figure:rolleyes:

The keyboard depicted is full-size layout. If indeed this product has a 10" screen, like the Asus netbook I'm typing on now, then those keys are going to be pretty tiny.

That's why this thing is a fake. :p

And I've seen the layout for a 10.6" netbook on Engadget, and it's nearly big enough for a full-sized keyboard, albeit on the smaller size of the spectrum.

[TheWelshBoyo]

And is Nvidia making a board that would fit an Intel Atom and a 9400M just for Apple?? I don't believe such a thing exists for anyone else right now.

Nope, this platform is known as the Ion platform.
Ion netbooks however, are yet to see the light of day.

[mambodancer]

$899 = not entering the netbook market

again, no such device could fit into the product line. Nope. Sorry. Not happening.

Yep, and that's what they said about the iPod and iPhone when they first came out.

[plumbingandtech]

It's fake.

Just plain fake.

[Tallest Skil]

Yep, and that's what they said about the iPod and iPhone when they first came out.

They said no such thing about the iPhone...:confused:

[colonels1020]

$899? For $100 more you'd get a macbook with a bigger screen, faster processor, and other goodness? Ridiculous.

People would pay that price because they don't want the big screen and large size of the regular macbook. They pay for small because that's all they want/need. :)

[statik13]

I'd be all over this if the price and ssd are right. All I want is a little laptop to haul around when I'm out of town and a 10" screen is just right.

[Prometheus2000]

I would take that as replacement for my MBA if the screen is a bit bigger and it has 3G and an Atom dual core...

[aresinferno]

As preposterous as $899 for a Netbook sounds, I reckon it is fairly realistic for an Apple Netbook.

And the price for a VAIO P is? (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644608896)

Apple would need to do something major to compete with that.

It's just someone's rendering and not anything that apple would make.

[BenRoethig]

Personally, I can't see the attraction with only a *reported* $100 difference in price between this and the low-end MB. If as the pic shows they made it in Aluminum it would be cool. But, are people so concerned with size that they'd got for this when for $100 more they could get a 13" screen?

Its half the weight of that 13" screen. Think of it as the consumer equivalent to the MBA.

[ux4all]

I would take that as replacement for my MBA if the screen is a bit bigger and it has 3G and an Atom dual core...

I am with you. The screen size isn't as important as the dual core.

That being said, since the Mac Mini (my first post and I thought it was a fake) fiasco, I will not be proclaiming anything.

However, is it a stretch (possibility) that the MBA could come in a 10" size perhaps?

[student_trap]

$899? For $100 more you'd get a macbook with a bigger screen, faster processor, and other goodness? Ridiculous.

i think that you are missing the value of portability. Yes it would be expensive for a netbook, but would still fall in a different category to the macbooks: if you want to be able to slip it in a bag to take with you every day, there is no way you would take a macbook

[haravikk]

It looks like the kind of things I'd expect them to make, though I'd much rather they did a touch-screen device with on-demand on-screen keyboard like the iPhone.

The specs seem quite off anyway.

[That-Is-Bull]

$899? For $100 more you'd get a macbook with a bigger screen, faster processor, and other goodness? Ridiculous.

$1800? (http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_air) For $800 less you'd get a Macbook with the same screen size, a faster processor and other goodness. Ridiculous.

Except this Macbook mini would actually be smaller rather than just thinner/lighter.

Fake, apple wouldn't install AdiumX and World Of Warcraft on a promotional laptop.

http://i44.tinypic.com/2l9k1ax.jpg
:D

[allmIne]

Of course it's fake; I'd imagine Apple would be unlikely to have promotional shots taken so far ahead of any release. Unless of course its release is imminent.

It'd be more believable if it was a spy shot or something. Of course that'd be more difficult to mock up.

[commander.data]

And is Nvidia making a board that would fit an Intel Atom and a 9400M just for Apple?? I don't believe such a thing exists for anyone else right now.
It's called Ion and it exists as demo kits. The problem is that Intel isn't enthused about people coupling Atom with non-Intel chipsets and nVidia has been begging someone to adopt Ion to get the ball rolling. If anyone would adopt Ion, it would be Apple.

However, I find it hard to believe that Apple would adopt Atom or Ion in a notebook. The performance just isn't there. The most likely use of Atom and Ion was thought to be the Apple TV which hasn't seen a hardware refresh since launch and could really use the 9400M for h.264 acceleration.

[ericinboston]

For giggles I am going to assume that Apple is entering the Netbook market...and that they are trying to sell a netbook class machine for $899.

Apple is on major drugs if they think their netbook is going to compete with Dell or HP's that sell for $275. Yup...$275. You can add a few upgrades and max it at $499.

I bought a Dell Mini 9 a few months ago for $275 to my door...1gig ram, 16gig solid state hard drive...weighs 2 pounds and battery runs for about 5 hours (believe it or not)...I strictly use it for streaming my iTunes from one end of the house to my stereo...works like a charm.

I hear/read that more and more people are buying netbooks for the casual couch-surfing rather than plopping down hundreds more.

Hopefully I am wrong about Apple's price...it would really need to be under $500 to even seriously compete with the pc-side of netbooks...and before people jump in about pc/mac bashing...we're talking about netbooks here folks...essentially web surfing plastic devices. :)

-Eric

[zen]

Fake but looks quite nice. I'd be very tempted by a Macbook mini, if it was the right price.

But even the specs looks fishy. Wouldn't a SSD push the price out of the netbook range? I would have thought a cheap netbook would use a mini HDD rather than an SSD.

[mr_matalino]

If true, it needs to be under $600. I'd rather own a white MB for almost the same price.

[dwl017]

Have we already forgotten about the hundreds if not thousands of post calling the new Mac Mini fake :rolleyes: no one here has any creditability at all!

[student_trap]

Fake but looks quite nice. I'd be very tempted by a Macbook mini, if it was the right price.

But even the specs looks fishy. Wouldn't a SSD push the price out of the netbook range? I would have thought a cheap netbook would use a mini HDD rather than an SSD.

quite a lot of the pc netbooks use SSD, in particular i know the eee 1000 9 months ago had 40gig SSD and retailed for £400, so 64gig could be very possible.

whole thing seems tremendously unlikely though, but i still want one!:)

[wavelayer]

I wonder if it's possible for Apple to turn out a netbook in the $499 to $599 price range. I've actually been thinking about getting an Acer One for basic web surfing, emails, etc, just because the price is so appealing...but I'd be more than willing to pay a bit extra for an Apple. This just isn't the time for luxury products.

[Jpoon]

This has Russian keys. Since when did product leaks from an American company start out with any keyboard that's not sold primarily in their biggest market?

Fake. All they did was rework a MacBook Air picture.

[NightFox]

Fake until Tallest Skil says it is. ;)

[fleshman03]

http://i44.tinypic.com/2l9k1ax.jpg
:D

Interesting... Although those aren't promotional images....

[Mad Mac Maniac]

Not buying it.

Jobs claimed they had very 'interesting' ideas if they were to jump into the netbook market. This seems very 'boring' for lack of a better description. Just a macbook... shrunk. I don't think there is enough of a market to buy up one of these puppies for $900....

Apple needs to do one of 3 things to make a netbook a success
Either:
a) make a netbook for < $600
b) subsidize a netbook through at&t for their 3g coverage. sell around $100
c) revolutionize the netbook concept. not just carbon copy the macbook

[irnchriz]

LOL the very first $1000 netbook lol :) netbooks are supposed to be dirt cheap in price, just for checking email etc..

Sony Vaio P series STARTS at $899. They don't call it a netbook but the specs dictate otherwise.

If Apple did release a 'netbook' the pricing quoted here would be spot on.

[michael.lauden]

i don't think it will be under 600$.

if it is it will be severely under spec'd.


i really hope this doesn't come out. something about netbooks is just so lame

[NightFlight]

$899?

That is crazy. Apple needs a lower priced machine, especially after that ad from Microsoft. That will be a real eye opener for the average person.

[student_trap]

I wonder if it's possible for Apple to turn out a netbook in the $499 to $599 price range. I've actually been thinking about getting an Acer One for basic web surfing, emails, etc, just because the price is so appealing...but I'd be more than willing to pay a bit extra for an Apple. This just isn't the time for luxury products.

FYI the acers are pretty decent (bought an aspire one last year with my gf), however for sofa-surfing the ipod touch is not so far away as an internet device, hence the speculation that any apple netbook would not confirm to current laptop styling at all, perhaps some sort of enlarged itouch

[reebzor]

I would totally buy it. I'm not going to speculate whether its fake or not, but if this machine were to be released, who in their right mind would buy a MBA?

[bagelche]

It's fake.

Just plain fake.

I think you're fake. The pictures I saw of you were clearly photoshopped renderings of a japanese companion robot that had been done as ASCII art and then run through babelfish.

[TheWelshBoyo]

It looks like the kind of things I'd expect them to make, though I'd much rather they did a touch-screen device with on-demand on-screen keyboard like the iPhone.

The specs seem quite off anyway.

Sorry, but can you just explain to me how you would use a keyboard like that?
Unless the screen was 7" or so, it'd be fiddly to hold and difficult to do anything on. You'd be stretching your hand a lot, covering up the screen and you would find it very un-Apple. It'd have to be something hand-held, like, I don't know... maybe an iPhone/iPod touch. A touchscreen keyboard wouldn't work on anything that has a screen size of 7" or more, and even that'd be pushing it.
I think a 10" Apple MacBook Mini would probably be called a MacBook nano, as the iPod mini was replaced by the nano, which was considerably smaller.
The reason the current Mac Mini is called so, is because it's been the same form factor consistently.
The MacBook nano would be called so, because it is considerably smaller than the current MacBook.
Also, you mentioned the specs 'seem quite off'. What do you mean by this? This is very similar to netbook standards, if not higher. It has a 9400M, much better than the Intel GMA 950, wouldn't you agree? The Intel Atom Z740 is almost the same clockspeed as the MacBook Air. Yes, it's a single core, but that doesn't matter. It's a netbook. Heck, they may even get hold of a portable version of the Intel Atom 330, the dual core chip. Just like they did with the first MacBook Air. They got hold of an Intel Core 2 Duo chip before anyone else knew about it. That's the kind of relationship between Apple and Intel nowadays.
It has 2GB of RAM. Is that off somehow? Is that not a standard? I think if Apple were to do a netbook, of course it'd come with 2GB. And it's DDR3. Then again, the reason for all this is because that is the Ion platform's specifications. I mean, a 9400M, at the end of the day, is still an integrated graphics chip. The more RAM in the computer, the better. Why do you think all of Apple's computers come with a minimum of 2GB now? They're not gonna dip on their standards. They may've temporarily dipped with the White MacBook after the Aluminium's came out, but they're not gonna dip again, even for a netbook. The maximum current netbooks support is 2GB as well, so it makes sense for Apple to make this either their minimum & maximum or even just their minimum. Who knows, maybe this is the lower end model. Maybe a higher end model has 4GB? I mean, I doubt it, but it sure would raise the bar for other netbooks. Just like the iPhone did for phones.
I think it could draw in a lot of new users.

[benbridle38]

I bought a Dell Mini 9 a few months ago for $275 to my door...1gig ram, 16gig solid state hard drive...weighs 2 pounds and battery runs for about 5 hours (believe it or not)...I strictly use it for streaming my iTunes from one end of the house to my stereo...works like a charm.
-Eric

$275 to stream your itunes library to your hi-fi?!!!!!

why didn't you just buy an airport express and use airtunes?

[tjcampbell]

If it's real I'll buy one.

[QCassidy352]

atom processor... Pass.

[Rocketman]

This discussion is focusing too much on the details. The real question is if this new form factor might be needed at all. Apple sells a whole lot of MacBooks, and sells less but a whole lot of Books above it in price point. When they made the Air which is essentially a PowerBook Lite, they sold more than they expected and it did not cannibalize another line much. I suspect this if released, is about the same thing, a MacBook Lite positioned one step below the MacBook in size with a minimal price differential and a substantial reduction in port count or "features". I think it would indeed sell a lot of units and not cannnibalize others much and the battery technique from the 17" PowerBook in this smaller unit would be a huge utility upgrade.

The form factor that is really needed is a bigger iPhone. One that does not get lost in a pocket, but fills it, and older people can more easily read and gamers can have a larger graphical experience. Also more suitable for eBook and Videoconferencing and navigation applications.

Rocketman

Intel is announcing new cooler, lower power, server chips today according to CNBC.

[bagelche]

Wheee. the MR pricepoint ride is running full tilt again.

Why are people shocked at $899 from apple? Given what this is (pretending it's the real deal for a sec.) that sound just about right on the mark. Look at the cost of the MB Air.

Assume this has unibody construction. Assume this takes advantage of whatever they learned on batteries in producing the Air and the 17" uMBP. Assume that Jobs said they couldn't price a machine in the $500 market. Assume that miniturizing and a non-plastic body justify a close price point to the white low-end MB. Assume there is an Apple "premium". Assume there are already machines in the the "netbook" class that approach and exceed $899.

Doesn't seem like such an unrealistic price to me.

[ditzy]

$899?

That is crazy. Apple needs a lower priced machine, especially after that ad from Microsoft. That will be a real eye opener for the average person.

I know that this sounds terribly snobbish, but I ultimately think it is true. Apple aren't going after the average consumer. If your first consideration when buying a computer is cost, Apple will never be the place for you. Macs are seen as elitist and Apple like it that way.
If this is not a fake, I'll be ordering on the day they come out.

[wavelayer]

FYI the acers are pretty decent (bought an aspire one last year with my gf), however for sofa-surfing the ipod touch is not so far away as an internet device, hence the speculation that any apple netbook would not confirm to current laptop styling at all, perhaps some sort of enlarged itouch

The ipod touch rocks for occasional browsing, email (& of course mini apps). The Touch actually has fed my desire for a netbook. I want a bit larger screen, flash, and a few more normal apps. Come on Apple, bring on my $499 love nugget.

[jemo07]

Well, I would not get one.
Too little power to run OS X as is today! (I have a Dell Mini 9 so I know :D)

Also, no HD... I'll bet Apple would rather put in a larger DH (to store more music and movies that you would buy for iTunes) than an expensive :mad:and at times slow SSD:confused:.

I would bet that if there is a netbook in apple, it ¡s a tight lipped as the iPhone was.... not to mention how this would create a slowdown in customer purchase for their full Laptop range, a market where Apple is ridding high right now. ... so the image has got to be fake! :eek:
:D

[gianly1985]

Fake or not, this is the "netbook" that Apple would make (if they made one).

Am I the only one VERY skeptical about Apple going Atom? I don't see atom-Macs coming....they'd rather put a custom-made (remember the first MBA?) intel full-blown Core 2 Duo in the thingy....this is what I expect from Apple...

[Stately]

Regardless of how much I want my tablet, I would definitely take one of these with pro specs.:cool:

[TheWelshBoyo]

Well, I would not get one.
Too little power to run OS X as is today! (I have a Dell Mini 9 so I know :D)...

I have an Eee 1000H, and it runs Mac OS X beautifully.
Obviously, I am using a few hacks to get it working, but that's not the point. It runs very well.
The only modifications I have made are a 320GB HDD and 2GB of RAM rather than 1.
Don't go comparing two netbooks, which are at two different ends of the scale. Dell Mini 9 has 1GB of RAM, this has 2GB. Dell Mini 9 has Intel Atom N270, this has a Z740 at 1.86GHz, rather than 1.6GHz. Although, may I say, the N270 @ 1.6GHz still does a spectacular job.

[csimmons]

According to the tech press, nobody's making money selling netbooks, so it would seem odd for Apple to make a product for a market where they won't make tons of money. I mean, even AppleTV - not Apple's best seller compared to the Mac & the iPhone / iPod touch - turns a good profit.

[Ploki]

this mockup is hidious :D

[acidfast7]

I'd buy one. It makes sense for me. I have an iMac for the office and a MacBook for home ... when I travel, I want something smaller for typing on airplane/train/bus tray tables.

I think that $899 is a premium price that I'd be willing to pay to have everything synced between all of my machines. In fact, I really couldn't care less about specs, except for size and potability. Unless I was traveling, it wouldn't be used.

[kzin]

The keyboard depicted is full-size layout. If indeed this product has a 10" screen, like the Asus netbook I'm typing on now, then those keys are going to be pretty tiny. Most netbooks use a combination of shrinking the physical key size down a bit as well as making some compromises with key layout to reduce wasted space.

Except for the Sony Vaio P, and the HP Mini Note 1000. Both go with the "10 inch wide screen and full keyboard" arrangement. I wouldn't be surprised to see Apple do the same if they go into the netbook market.

$899 is pretty high, but sounds about right for Apple.

Yeah, a little high for a netbook, but still cheaper than most laptops.


$899? For $100 more you'd get a macbook with a bigger screen, faster processor, and other goodness? Ridiculous.

That's one way to look at it. Another way to look at it is:

For $100 less than a Macbook, I can have a device that isn't dinosaur sized.

netbooks aren't just "small laptops", they address a completely different use niche than laptops. If you want the faster processor and "other goodness", buy the dinosaur-book.

If you want something lighter, more portable, and that's just intended for basic use (ie. the slower processor isn't a problem), then you get a netbook.

[mj6252]

Dunno what to think of it. 899? It's more expensive than I would've thought. I might keep my old white macbook... but who knows? It's apple...

But if there's smoke, there should be fire... And the rumors are spreading like one.

[TheWelshBoyo]

this mockup is hidious :D

Because it looks like one of the Aluminium MacBooks?

[Eraserhead]

r u serious? the msi wind has 3! that would be ridiculous... :eek:

Same as a MacBook Air ;).

[Bubba Satori]

I'd buy one. It makes sense for me. I have an iMac for the office and a MacBook for home ... when I travel, I want something smaller for typing on airplane/train/bus tray tables.

I think that $899 is a premium price that I'd be willing to pay to have everything synced between all of my machines. In fact, I really couldn't care less about specs, except for size and potability. Unless I was traveling, it wouldn't be used.


Agreed. For $699-$899, depending on configuration, I could sell them faster than we could keep them in stock. Come on Apple. Step up to the plate and hit a four bagger. Back to the glory days of Apple Computer. :apple:

[TheWelshBoyo]

Same as a MacBook Air ;).

Hopefully, it'd be one of Apple's superpowered USB ports, and would be able to power the external SuperDrive :D

[ditzy]

According to the tech press, nobody's making money selling netbooks, so it would seem odd for Apple to make a product for a market where they won't make tons of money. I mean, even AppleTV - not Apple's best seller compared to the Mac & the iPhone / iPod touch - turns a good profit.

I hear what you are saying but then most wouldn't sell netbooks for $900. I'm sure they can turn a profit on that.

[acidfast7]

I'd also gladly pay and extra $100-$200 if it had Turbo3g integrated (so I wouldn't need to buy a USB Turbo3g dongle).

edit: then it could be subsidized just like the iPhone ... but we'd probably have the with/without contract prices (usually we get an option of no locking on the phones or 4 different plans at most carriers and an inverse relationship between iPhone outright price and monthly cost of contract).

[Egnat69]

1.) The first number key is smaller than the others ... why is that? do we use "1" and "!" less than the others?!
2.) NVIDIA MCP79 is a c2d chipset marketet as competitor for intels centrino 2 --> atom cpus would use ion
3.) talking about atom... Z740? never heard, not even at intel
4.) 10 inch display with 1280 x 768 seems quite unusual
5.) as mentioned b4: adium and wow on screen? i dont think so either...

[John Jacob]

I would buy one if it was real. But this seems obviously fake enough that the whole story should have been on page 2.

[Prometheus2000]

I am with you. The screen size isn't as important as the dual core.

That being said, since the Mac Mini (my first post and I thought it was a fake) fiasco, I will not be proclaiming anything.

However, is it a stretch (possibility) that the MBA could come in a 10" size perhaps?

an even more compact MBA but still uncompromised on keyboard, trackpad size and frist rest...please with iPhone like 3G (no dial in, just on) and I am sold. I started to care less for the computational performance then for the ergonomy of my notebooks. Specwise every laptop is outdate after a couple of month, but its good ergonomy will be with you for a couple of years...

I am just a bit disappointed if that is all Apple has to say about the "ultra compact" or "Netbook" market. Where is the gamer changer device like the iPhone? Its just more of the same type of computer device...

[gkarris]

1.) The first number key is smaller than the others ... why is that? do we use "1" and "!" less than the others?!
2.) NVIDIA MCP79 is a c2d chipset marketet as competitor for intels centrino 2 --> atom cpus would use ion
3.) talking about atom... Z740? never heard, not even at intel
4.) 10 inch display with 1280 x 768 seems quite unusual
5.) as mentioned b4: adium and wow on screen? i dont think so either...


The photos may be legit prototypes. Apple experiments with different form factors all the time.

If so, $899 is feasible - replaces the White MacBook, making all their notebooks Aluminum...

[kzin]

Ultimately I think Apple will make something more innovative than this (think touchscreen) to justify the price tag in consumers minds.

Yeah, I want something more tablet/touchscreen-ish as well.

Some thoughts:

HTC Shift format device, with the iPhone UI in a Front Row type overlay over Mac OS X. 7" or 9" screen.

Something like the Touchpad: pure tablet, but with an optional attachable keyboard.

Convertible Tablet format device: least likely, IMO, as they're all ugly ... and I don't see Apple releasing something ugly (nor do I see them fixing the ugly factor on these devices). However, it might be the most useful of these formats.

I'd probably buy something from Apple in one of those formats.

Though, I'd also like to see the Modbook folks take a crack at turning a Mac Mini into a Touchpad type device. Even if it cost a little more than $1000, starting with the low end Mac Mini, I'd still consider it if it was a 9" or 10" screen.

[student_trap]

I know that this sounds terribly snobbish, but I ultimately think it is true. Apple aren't going after the average consumer. If your first consideration when buying a computer is cost, Apple will never be the place for you. Macs are seen as elitist and Apple like it that way.
If this is not a fake, I'll be ordering on the day they come out.

the problem is that for a short while the 'macs are so expensive' argument left over from the older days (which was one of the most prevalent in most anti-osx arguments) became a pointless one as apple catered very handsomely to the middle market and above (while students in particular could buy imacs or macbooks for £600, while mac minis were at £350 and mac pros at £1400...Very good prices indeed)

Its a big shame that the only hardware that even approaches this sort of value now is the soon to be gone white macbook.

Im not saying that the price changes aren't understandable in todays current climate (as those who 2 years ago would have 'stretched' for a mac now will go cheaper, leaving only those who are financially comfortable buying, and it is these people who can stretch to a slightly higher price without too much fuss, which can make up to some extent for aforementioned lost sales), just that pricing people out undoes a lot of good that has been done over the last decade

[TheWelshBoyo]

If this were an ickle bit cheaper, I would snap one up like nobody's business.
While I love my current MacBook nano (Eee 1000H w/ 320GB HDD and 2GB RAM :D), I would love this more. It has a better processor than my Eee. 2GB standard. Much, much, much (x 1,000,000) better graphics. And hopefully, a working mic :P. The actual only downsides I see on my Eee are the microphone not working in OS X and the graphics. And this would address both, while allowing me to legitimately run Mac OS X :P.
Also, they'd have to allow Garageband to run with less that 800px vertically :P.

[polaris20]

Funny, that battery capacity is higher than a MacBook's, and nearly as high as the 15" MBPs. :rolleyes:


And is Nvidia making a board that would fit an Intel Atom and a 9400M just for Apple?? I don't believe such a thing exists for anyone else right now.

No, they already have demo'd it before, playing back full 1080p video.

[TheWelshBoyo]

the problem is that for a short while the 'macs are so expensive' argument left over from the older days (which was one of the most prevalent in most anti-osx arguments) became a pointless one as apple catered very handsomely to the middle market and above (students in particular could buy imacs or macbooks for £600, while mac minis were at £350 and mac pros at £1400...Very good prices indeed)

Its a big shame that the only hardware that even approaches this sort of value now is the soon to be gone white macbook.

Im not saying that the price changes aren't understandable in todays current climate (as those who 2 years ago would have 'stretched' for a mac now will go cheaper, leaving only those who are financially comfortable buying, and it is these people who can stretch to a slightly higher price without too much fuss, which can make up to some extent for aforementioned lost sales), just that pricing people out undoes a lot of good that has been done over the last decade

In the words of a great, great man: Apple's UK Prices for 2009 = A big bag of hurt.

[student_trap]

netbooks aren't just "small laptops", they address a completely different use niche than laptops. If you want the faster processor and "other goodness", buy the dinosaur-book.

If you want something lighter, more portable, and that's just intended for basic use (ie. the slower processor isn't a problem), then you get a netbook.

spot on

[WRXface]

the shot with the aerial view the bottom corners looks blurry as if it came from i dunno photoshop?:D

i like the idea of it, its awesome! :rolleyes::apple:

[iPave]

I would buy that. Small, sexy and has horsepower for my needs. But unfortunately it is fake:(

[kzin]

For giggles I am going to assume that Apple is entering the Netbook market...and that they are trying to sell a netbook class machine for $899.

Apple is on major drugs if they think their netbook is going to compete with Dell or HP's that sell for $275. Yup...$275. You can add a few upgrades and max it at $499.

Actually, a Maxed out Dell mini-9 goes for about $600ish.

Personally, comparing a $275 Dell Mini 9, with Ubuntu (since Windows just isn't an option) ... to a potential OS X machine, that isn't a hackintosh ... yes, I'd pay $500-$600 more for that.

[fry3k]

Guys!
$899 is very much a very plausible price.
its APPLE!!

they're selling a Cell Phone for $600.. so, yeah, a netbook for $899 seems about right! :]

[archer75]

For a netbook it's way too expensive. Drop the price by at least $400 and then we'll talk.

[paja]

This whole thing is an April Fools gag anyway.

I'd pay $799 for it if it were the real thing.

[kzin]

Apple needs to do one of 3 things to make a netbook a success
Either:
a) make a netbook for < $600
b) subsidize a netbook through at&t for their 3g coverage. sell around $100
c) revolutionize the netbook concept. not just carbon copy the macbook

I understand the point you're making, but I disagree with (a).

They could easily make a device targeted at the Sony Vaio P. $899, 10" ultra-wide screen, full-ish size keyboard. It wouldn't be a low-end netbook by any means, but I bet Apple fans who want a netbook (like me) would buy it (I probably would).

Though, I hope they go with a combination of (b) and (c).

[Reao]

LOL the very first $1000 netbook lol :) netbooks are supposed to be dirt cheap in price, just for checking email etc..

no sony has the first $1000 netbook LOL. http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644608896&parentCategoryId=16154&XID=O:sony%20netbook:corp_vaiop_gglsrch

[Dagless]

I'd like to see Apple bring a netbook to the table, but I'll stick with my MacBook. Can't do without a DVD-RW (would like a BR drive though :o).

[*LTD*]

If a netbook's in the cards from Apple, they'll price it similar to the Mac Mini.

[drlunanerd]

So a smaller, even more under-powered and under-featured overpriced version of the MacBook Air?

I don't care if it's fake or not :rolleyes:

The only thing that would redeem this is built-in cellular networking - 3G, 3.5G, 4G, whatever. Apple won't do this though. The next iPhone + external keyboard (yes, they are coming) will be a better buy.

[ericinboston]

$275 to stream your itunes library to your hi-fi?!!!!!

why didn't you just buy an airport express and use airtunes?

I considered numerous options and even started a thread on MacRumors.

Ultimately the reason was that for a whopping $100 more I could have a full functioned (albeit tiny screen and lightweight processor) computer...which means I can surf, print out a doc, etc...there were some other reasons too but I forget. I love my choice.

-Eric

[fry3k]

The next iPhone + external keyboard (yes, they are coming) will be a better buy.


i would REALLY like to be able to sync my bluetooth keyboard with the iphone! once they allow that, i'd be all over it! lol

[dernhelm]

This is what, a smaller, less powerful, Macbook Air?

I'm not seeing the market here. How many MBA customers turn away because at 13.3" it's way too large?

This isn't a netbook, as it's $300 too expensive for that. But it also isn't powerful enough to do much more than surf the net - and with only 64GB of disk space. The only point of the SSD is to reduce weight, something that Netbook owners don't really care about.

I dunno, the whole thing seems odd - unless of course, it's a fake.

[kornyboy]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5H11 Safari/525.20)

The image appears to me a modified picture of a MacBook Air. Nice try but I'm not buying it. I'll believe it when I see it.

[MACingIS4Me]

there is a couple of things that make me say this is fake, take a look at the shift key, and the enter key. they dont look like the keys from other apple laptops.

[Apple iKid]

I think this one has to be a fake. It seems to me that it is just too thin. I understand that the MacBook Air is also very thin, but the actual computer on this one is even thinner than the screen.

[koobcamuk]

I wonder what will happen this summer :)

[Hawkeye411]

I thought that the attraction of netbooks was the low price. This doesn't fit the bill. :mad:

But I would probably buy one anyway because I'm a FREEKIN' RICH GEEK!!!! :eek:

[ZiggyPastorius]

LOL the very first $1000 netbook lol :) netbooks are supposed to be dirt cheap in price, just for checking email etc..

Vaio P...?

[flopticalcube]

$900!!! Next batch of netbooks should have similar specs for under $500.

[LillDrutten]

No firewire, nothing for me. Checkout lenovo, they have express card slots on their netbooks!

[fry3k]

there is a couple of things that make me say this is fake, take a look at the shift key, and the enter key. they dont look like the keys from other apple laptops.

they do on foreign keyboard layouts.

thats a russian layout i believe.

[edesignuk]

Would be great if true.

No doubt they will completely miss the point of the netbook market and it'll be way over priced.

Oh well.

[iSee]

Am I the only one VERY skeptical about Apple going Atom? I don't see atom-Macs coming....they'd rather put a custom-made (remember the first MBA?) intel full-blown Core 2 Duo in the thingy....this is what I expect from Apple...

Well, people have atom-based machines running OS X just fine now. I mean, the iPhone/Touch are running OS X. To keep the GUI smooth and responsive, Apple will pair it with a competent 2D GPU that can execute all the common CoreAnimation operations pretty well.

We're talking a computer to do netbook-type tasks -- no heavy lifting.

[InkMaster]

no sony has the first $1000 netbook LOL. http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644608896&parentCategoryId=16154&XID=O:sony%20netbook:corp_vaiop_gglsrch

AHA! But thats where you're wrong! Sony's PR team claims its not a netbook!, its a lifestyle book or something along those likes or whatever the hell they're calling it these days. :rolleyes:

I think this one has to be a fake. It seems to me that it is just too thin. I understand that the MacBook Air is also very thin, but the actual computer on this one is even thinner than the screen.

Too Thin? TOO THIN?

THIS. IS. APPLE!

[Eric S.]

It's a fake, but I think Apple is more likely to come out with something like this than a tablet.

[kzin]

i would REALLY like to be able to sync my bluetooth keyboard with the iphone! once they allow that, i'd be all over it! lol

Except that the iPhone's screen is too small for some use scenarios.

I've used an N800, and N810, and a G1 as devices for general surfing and note taking... and it's good for basic notes, and maybe document viewing ... but when you get into more detailed use and document work, the screen really does become a limitation.

For me, I need a 7" screen at least.

Now, one compelling idea might be something like the Redfly.

A 7" or 9" Redfly-type device that can talk to an iPhone might be worth buying. Especially if that Redfly type device is a convertible tablet, or a tablet with an attachable/detachable keyboard.

And, if it's actual Redfly, then they'll be making their software available so that you can display your phone on a desktop computer.

An Apple version of that could be interesting and compelling. And might be done for relatively little money. Plus, it would get people to buy more iPhones and iPod-Touches (it might actually get me to switch to an iPhone).

Though, the ideal for me might be an HTC Shift type Macbook-Mini with conventional OS X, accelerometer for screen rotation, an iPhone like Front-Row overlay interface, and Redfly software. If the iPhone could also work with Redfly, and they enable tethering (and add a decent SSH client), then I'd probably think about switching away from my G1.

[ZiggyPastorius]

Too Thin? TOO THIN?

THIS. IS. APPLE!

Even Apple can't defy the laws of physics.

[nilka]

Well I am actually happy to say I think thiese pictures are fake. Not because I dnt wan an Apple Netbook, I really want, but mainly because this is a non inovative way to look at the netbook. The reason I think they are fake is simply some slight insider information and also a very much because I have close understanding at how the apple product design work.

Apple would not release a netbook without multitouch. This is for 2 reasons. 1 they want to incorporate multitouch on smaller devices before they put them inn full use of the range as that is a way to see if people actually like it. Especially in cheaper product lines. Not that Apple have any cheap product linup but you get my point.

Secondly many of the netbook manufacturers already have touchscreen computers coming up and the preview and reviews of those are really good.
Apple would need to surpass them and thats what they will do with snow leopard in combination with these new multitouch netbooks.

Then to my point, apple would never have a touchscreen on a normal computer. It have at least to turnable. To actually have onscrren keyboard would be a really horrible idea, you would use half the screen as keyboard who really wants to use up half their screen to type anything.

My guess is we will see a device not with the modern swiwel tablet but mora along the slide cellhphones. Wher the keyboard is under the screen. This would promote use of the touchscreen in everyday tasks and you could easyly get to the keyboard if you needed to type much.

This is just my 2 cents. Pay me when you see I am spot on ;)

[Apple iKid]

AHA! But thats where you're wrong! Sony's PR team claims its not a netbook!, its a lifestyle book or something along those likes or whatever the hell they're calling it these days. :rolleyes:



Too Thin? TOO THIN?

THIS. IS. APPLE!

Yes, I understand that Apple is amazing, trust me. But this just seems a little ridiculous. I dont think anyone can make a decent computer that is this thin, yet. When it does happen, I'm sure it will be by Apple, but I dont think it will be this summer.

(prove me wrong Apple... :D)

[krye]

$899!? Pleeeeeze. Besides being small, the one main reason to get a netbook is that they are supposed to be cheap.

I bought a WIND for $299. It runs OS X like a champ. True, it's not the real deal, but if I had $900 to drop on a Mini MacBook, I'd probably just spring for a white MacBook. If this is true then it looks great, but come on Apple, $900 bucks totally defeats the purpose. The whole reason everyone is saying that Apple needs to get into the sub notebook market is due to the failing economy. Who's going to spend $900 on a netbook?

[fry3k]

Even Apple can't defy the laws of physics.

They probably have a whole RD division dedicated to working on that. ;]

[Bullox]

Fake, apple wouldn't install AdiumX and World Of Warcraft on a promotional laptop.

*cough* Demonstration of Spaces in Leopard had a space for games(WoW), Steve Jobs even played a little WoW in his keynote :D *cough*

[archer75]

Yeah, those mac mini photos were fake too....oh wait..

[the vj]

It is a fake, just a good 3D render, that's all.

[archer75]

*cough* Demonstration of Spaces in Leopard had a space for games(WoW), Steve Jobs even played a little WoW in his keynote :D *cough*

Yeah, why do you think he took 6 months off? It wasen't for health reasons. Wrath of the Lich King just came out and his guild is raiding hardcore and his undead priest doesn't level himself!

[ux4all]

The image appears to me a modified picture of a MacBook Air. Nice try but I'm not buying it. I'll believe it when I see it.

That was it looked like to me. It's like a bad mash-up of a Unibody MB keyboard and a scaled image of a MBA.

[neil1980]

I think it's probably a shop which is a shame as it does look very nice!

Personally don't think I'd go for one as there wouldn't be much size difference from 13" but if I'd gone for a MacBook Pro I would be begging apple to bring that out.

My main reason for thinking its fake is why would anyone buy a MacBook Air if this was available? I mean it would be more portable than one for a start... and if portability wasn't key then why not go for a 13" macbook?

I think if Apple do go and bring a netbook out it will be the priciest of the lot... ultraportable... maybe touch screen and £££££ or $$$$ depending on where you're from. Kind of would go against the idea that netbooks are meant to be cheap but this is Apple were talking about!

[MistaBungle]

I'm not sure how well the Air sells but wouldn't this cut into that market?

[Arnenys]

Although everyone else says fake, I will probably be the first one to say real.
It just looks very good, and if it really is fake, I have to say that it is done very good.

[GeekLawyer]

I'm not sure how well the Air sells but wouldn't this cut into that market?

I suspect that this would replace that (product in the) market. If it was true...

[iMacoo7]

The keyboard depicted is full-size layout. If indeed this product has a 10" screen, like the Asus netbook I'm typing on now, then those keys are going to be pretty tiny. Most netbooks use a combination of shrinking the physical key size down a bit as well as making some compromises with key layout to reduce wasted space.

$899 is pretty high, but sounds about right for Apple.

The screen is a little over 10" and I think its possible, the new aluminum keyboard layout (I have the new iMac with the scaled down keyboard as well as the aluminum bluetooth keyboard)which is 11.1"'s , that being said they could shave off a little bit of real estate.

[Sehnsucht]

FAKE!!!!!!!!!!1!!!!!!111!!!!!11!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You heard it here first! :D

[Ade-iMac-177]

Apple wouldn't use an atom. If they did do this sort of thing it would have the same specs as the Air.

[puckhead193]

price seems steep for a netbook.. may as well save up a few more pennies and get a macbook!

[j5045096]

Here's my prediction--this is the new MacBook Air, if anything. The Air does too much right now when compared to the UB MacBook. Now that the UMB has been released the Air is kinda the oddball--it's thinner and that's it - other than that it's a terrible buy compared to a MB. And Apple could probably get away with the $899 price by saying it's like half of what the Air used to cost (even though it's going to be more than double most netbooks). $699 might entice me -not a chance at $899 but I already consider my iPhone to be my netbook anyway, so that opinion on price may not matter.

But again, if anything, this is the next Air.

[spirko]

It's the new MBA with a black bezel to match apple's other laptops.

the specs are incorrect.

[brentsg]

Probably fake, and probably DOA if the price is true.

[slffl]

You know, this is too big. And the iPhone is too small. Coudl I get a 7.9" netpad please?

If you couldn't tell, I think 'netbooks' are a HUGE waste of time and money.

[Apple iKid]

Here's my prediction--this is the new MacBook Air, if anything. The Air does too much right now when compared to the UB MacBook. Now that the UMB has been released the Air is kinda the oddball--it's thinner and that's it - other than that it's a terrible buy compared to a MB. And Apple could probably get away with the $899 price by saying it's like half of what the Air used to cost (even though it's going to be more than double most netbooks). $699 might entice me -not a chance at $899 but I already consider my iPhone to be my netbook anyway, so that opinion on price may not matter.

But again, if anything, this is the next Air.

I think you guessed that one right. To me, thats the only explanation that seems logical for this one.

[Foxglove9]

Looks great, I'm sold if Apple releases something like it!!

[bug67]

"...The machine would reportedly retail for approximately $899 in 2009..."

Waaaaaaaaaaaaay to much $$$ for this.

[iMacoo7]

Most are talking about the outright price of this product. Lest we forget if this is a netbook, that it will have some proprietors 3G service. All of this seems to be leaning into reality.
Few facts to cover:
1. The report from Boy Genius about the screen size of the opposed netbook.
2. Apple purchasing 10" touch panel screens.
3. ATT touting little notes about this summer is going to be great events.
All this being said.
$899.99 would not seem bad if the full screen was touchable.
But having this subsidized will drop the price tremendously.

I posted the add for this yesterday

[stagi]

I am hoping for a real mini, something arond 6-8" and touchscreen only, that would be sweet. This mockup would just be a little bit smaller than the current macbooks so I don't see the point of it.

[lftrghtparadigm]

One thing that has started to annoy me is the way Arn manufacturers "new" speculation around something that is just as old and fake and tired as the last attempt, whenever actual news drops discussion/page hits below a certain point. Then, without anything new occurring, he slaps something together that shows up on RSS everywhere and ultimately gives the Macrumors advertisers a bump for the day, on a day when it otherwise should not.

The only thing worse than this is the fact that we make it possible.

[Schizoid]

164765

[Lesser Evets]

Well, ok, reality--10" touch screens are being made/ordered by Apple.


Fake--this format with a touch screen would be ridiculous.
if this is true and those 10" screens are being placed on a notebook, it would be lame.

[skellener]

$899 - :eek:

[DELLsFan]

Nope ... besides, if Kevin Rose didn't leak it, it ain't happening, right? :rolleyes:

[Lesser Evets]

164765

haha Brilliant.

[MrCatMan]

I am hoping for a real mini, something arond 6-8" and touchscreen only, that would be sweet. This mockup would just be a little bit smaller than the current macbooks so I don't see the point of it.

I'm with you. 6-8 inches. Touchscreen only. Great if you are surfing bed or on the sofa (couch). Could also be used as a multi-function remote for EVERTHING.

[Apple iKid]

I'm with you. 6-8 inches. Touchscreen only. Great if you are surfing bed or on the sofa (couch). Could also be used as a multi-function remote for EVERTHING.

That would be awesome! haha.

[mogzieee]

i call fake

[SFStateStudent]

I'm kinda' looking for something that fits into the back pocket of my blue jeans; and even though I forget that it's there, no real damage can occur b/c it's invincible, and can leap tall buildings in a single bound, but must stay away from all types of kryptonite, and especially the green one......:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p

[Apple iKid]

I'm kinda' looking for something that fits into the back pocket of my blue jeans; and even though I forget that it's there, no real damage can occur b/c it's invincible, and can leap tall buildings in a single bound, but must stay away from all types of kryptonite, and especially the green one......:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p

haha. you want to watch mine for me too then? (not that i would ever put it in my back pocket in the first place....)

[merrymoon]

Sounds like this has already been decided, but it's definitely a fake.

Those specs are almost the same as the MBA - there is no way that apple would sell a notebook that similar for a thousand dollars cheaper.

[preservative]

Sold!

[notjustjay]

they do on foreign keyboard layouts.

thats a russian layout i believe.

Yeah, I love how the comments section on the original article (linked to from the first post) has degenerated into a massive flamewar about America versus the rest of the world.

[November]

I love it.... but not at that price :(

[Apple iKid]

I don't think I would pay that much for a computer with those stats. It seems more reasonable to save up a little more and just go with a MacBook. But size really isn't much of a deciding factor for me.

[baslotto]

The links are down!
Apple lawyers maybe?
:eek:

[chstr]

now THIS would be a breakthrough product and priced what i would expect from apple. its probably fake

[Clive At Five]

And is Nvidia making a board that would fit an Intel Atom and a 9400M just for Apple?? I don't believe such a thing exists for anyone else right now.

Can one buy the Atom unsocketed? If not, I doubt Intel will let NVidia at it, seeing as how they're feuding...

$899? For $100 more you'd get a macbook with a bigger screen, faster processor, and other goodness? Ridiculous.

Logic would dictate that this fabled MacBook would be a bad deal...

Apple refutes logic. Recall that the MacBook Air cost $800 more than a laptop with the same screen size, twice the processing power, triple the HDD space, upgradable RAM, and an optical drive... the only benefit was a laptop that was 2 lbs lighter and half the mean thickness. Yahoo?

The MBA is/was a failure. In time, it will be seen in the same light as the Cube... a piece of functionless bling.

[lostngone]

*Drop the price by $100

[Shivetya]

This new model features a new über-thin manufacturing process. Instead of carving out space for the logic board from a single piece of aluminum, the actual circuits are etched into the slab itself.

Shades of Battlefield Earth's teleporters

[niuniu]

I don't think it's unforseeable that Apple would produce a high-end netbook at $899 - lots of business commuters would happily tap away on one on the train/tube at that price. The price would be justified by the ultra-portable size and build quality I guess.

Just doesn't seem to be the right climate to push something like this out - I'd expect Apple to produce a cheap smaller version of the plastic white macbook, as the MB Air imo is already the luxury purchase portable in my eyes.

Lovely render though, whoever done this. I'd love one, even thought I'd have no need, or use for it :mad:

[Hattig]

When I saw these elsewhere I immediately thought Rendered speculation.

Or the fact that it is April 1st in two days time ...

[cubedweller]

For giggles I am going to assume that Apple is entering the Netbook market...and that they are trying to sell a netbook class machine for $899.

Apple is on major drugs if they think their netbook is going to compete with Dell or HP's that sell for $275. Yup...$275. You can add a few upgrades and max it at $499.

I bought a Dell Mini 9 a few months ago for $275 to my door...1gig ram, 16gig solid state hard drive...weighs 2 pounds and battery runs for about 5 hours (believe it or not)...I strictly use it for streaming my iTunes from one end of the house to my stereo...works like a charm.

I hear/read that more and more people are buying netbooks for the casual couch-surfing rather than plopping down hundreds more.

Hopefully I am wrong about Apple's price...it would really need to be under $500 to even seriously compete with the pc-side of netbooks...and before people jump in about pc/mac bashing...we're talking about netbooks here folks...essentially web surfing plastic devices. :)

-Eric

I agree and definitely recommend the mini9. Especially when you can install Leopard onto the little beast so easily :D I love my little Hackint0sh.

[Marx55]

The key is the weight. No more than 300-400-500 g at most and we are sold for our University. With full Mac OS X inside and VGA video-out port for full blown video-presentations from NATIVE Keynote and PowerPoint files.

[CaptainCannabis]

What would be the point on the Air if there was a MB mini....

I mean... I had the 1 Gen MBA 1.8/ssd and it was a piece of ****... i bought it because I was looking for an ultra portable from Apple... and I guess that most people who bought it was because of that too... a MB Mini would steal sooo many sales from the MBA... I think Apple wouldn't be so stupid.

Plus, I will NEVER buy a product when it comes out again... I still remember that $3000 hoover vacuum making that horrible noise in the middle of a lecture and with its core shutting down... it was SO embarrassing...

You couldn't even watch a youtube video properly.
Thanks Steve

[mrgreen4242]

I'll agree with everyone else - too expensive! Perfect machine, but at $899 priced out of the realm of reason for what it is. Actually, the price is good for what it is, but they could scale down and still have a nice computer and charge less. I'd like to see a smaller/lower res/cheaper screen, 32gb SSD, 1.6ghz Atom version that was under $500. I paid $350 for my Dell mini (1.6ghz, 2gb, 32gb, 9", BT/wifi/webcam) and it's a great little Hackintosh. I'd pay $150 more for OSX/iLife, better battery life, nicer design, multitouch trackpad, etc.

But not $550 more.

[tcphoto]

Talk about green, it's made from a recycled six pack of PBR!

[diemos]

that actually looks pretty real, and I will not be surprised one bit if its real. Though i was hoping for touchscreen, then again, April Fools is soon.

[11800506]

This screams a Photoshop especially with the Adium and WoW apps in the dock on one of the shots. Plus, I don't see why Apple would put in such a high battery capacity when their other computers have much less.

Anyways, if Apple were to release a netbook it likely would look like this. But $899 just seems a bit too steep and too close to the Macbook. I could see something like this at maybe $699 or $799, but $899 is just too high to compete.

[acidfast7]

they do on foreign keyboard layouts.

thats a russian layout i believe.

they look like that on my swedish keyboard except my left shift key is even smaller to make space for the "<>" key (the left shift key is about 1.3x times the width of a standard key) ... must have a lot fo coders over here to require that key ... lol

[BeakerAndGreg]

Reading emails, listening to music, surfing and watching movies is what I do when I'm traveling, and this is the perfect size for me for that. Heck, I might even be able to use it while riding in the sealed-tuna-sandwich-like CRJ's I end up flying on so much :-(

[yegon]

Fake as hell, but I'd kill for one nonetheless.

My Samsung NC10 is a brilliant companion to my 15" UMBP, it knocks the argument that netbooks are too small to be seriously usable into a cocked hat....but it'd be on eBay within seconds of hearing official word of something like this :)

Price doesn't seem right on this either - expensive for a netbook certainly, but how could Apple turn a serious profit on something so thin with a 64gb SSD/ LED at that res & a battery that size?

I like Apple, but they like to gouge, they'd charge way more than that. More likely is something with lesser spec/same price surely?

[Trexznl]

Is it just me, or does it look like the screen would shut onto the keyboard? Which to me seems a bit silly as you'd get every bit of rubbish of your keyboard on your screen.

http://9to5mac.com/files/image/00000/attachment(2).jpg

Also, I think the 'mini' part looks a bit off on this pic (and not to mention adium and WoW):
http://9to5mac.com/files/image/00000/attachment-2.jpg

[ChrisA]

Funny, that battery capacity is higher than a MacBook's, and nearly as high as the 15" MBPs....

The 10" LCD goes a long way to saving battery power. The power an LCD uses is proportional to the area of the screen. So I'd expect a 10 inch screen to use only 60% of the power that a 13 inch screen uses. You can get the same kind of sving in the CPU if you under clock and use sleep mode. Get rid of the optical drive and save even more while at the same time making room for more battery. I can see where it is technically possable to get longer battery life.

But who knows if this is even a real product. At $1K I'm not buying. Price would have to be 1/2 that at least or I'd buy a Linux powered netbook.

[iMacmatician]

Of course it's fake; I'd imagine Apple would be unlikely to have promotional shots taken so far ahead of any release. Unless of course its release is imminent.

It'd be more believable if it was a spy shot or something. Of course that'd be more difficult to mock up.The picture looks pretty "clean" to me. Looks like a promotional shot or a mockup rather than a leak.

The form factor that is really needed is a bigger iPhone. One that does not get lost in a pocket, but fills it, and older people can more easily read and gamers can have a larger graphical experience. Also more suitable for eBook and Videoconferencing and navigation applications.Agreed, although I've always thought a 10" display might be a bit too big for a larger iPod touch.

164765WIN. :D

Is it just me, or does it look like the screen would shut onto the keyboard? Which to me seems a bit silly as you'd get every bit of rubbish of your keyboard on your screen.

http://9to5mac.com/files/image/00000/attachment(2).jpg

Also, I think the 'mini' part looks a bit off on this pic (and not to mention adium and WoW):
http://9to5mac.com/files/image/00000/attachment-2.jpgGood catches! Agreed on all points. But I think it's worth noting that some previous leaked images with "errors" were actually real.

[andiwm2003]

that thing is great.


although it's certainly fake it highlights why apple has a hard time to fit a netbook in their product line.

it would cost $1500+ with these spec. then I'd rather get a MBA.

[Apple iKid]

Is it just me, or does it look like the screen would shut onto the keyboard? Which to me seems a bit silly as you'd get every bit of rubbish of your keyboard on your screen.


Wow, your right. It doesnt look like there is any space left between the keys and the screen.

More reason it is a fake.

[Bye Bye Baby]

Does not seem likely. Why would apple undercut the air?

Isn't that already the same thing, albeit at a price that is way over the top?

[oTaRu]

if this is real... another macbook with non-removable battery again...

[Drag'nGT]

....ummm

Rumors... first we have the 10" touch screen orders and now this. In either case anything over $700 would be retarded.
Why under cut the air and hurt it's sales?

[jmorrison0722]

No way I'd pay $899 for a Atom-based laptop. I'd buy that piece of crap Lauren HP laptop for $699 first. Netbook to me would need to be under $600.

[*LTD*]

Yeah, I love how the comments section on the original article (linked to from the first post) has degenerated into a massive flamewar about America versus the rest of the world.

The *new* Godwin's Law.

Every comments section will eventually end up like that.

The subject could be anything. Waffles and syrup, breast enlargement, golf clubs. Doesn't matter. Someone will drop the "Obama" bomb and it's all downhill form there.

:p

[gugy]

Looks fake to me.

This laptop is too close of the Macbook Air. It won't happen. The Netbook will be entirely different if Apple decide to make them.

Don't believe those Russians, they are very deceptive people. :D

[macFanDave]

How do I know this with such certainty? It's from RUSSIA! My friend, the Nigerian prince who has my bank account/routing number and is going to put his money into my account, says that you can't trust anything from Russia. I trust him because he is going to give me a sizable consideration for being able to park his money into my account. Since he has so beneficently assented to improve my life, I'm sure he is on the money with this call.

[jemo07]

I have an Eee 1000H, and it runs Mac OS X beautifully.
Obviously, I am using a few hacks to get it working, but that's not the point. It runs very well.
The only modifications I have made are a 320GB HDD and 2GB of RAM rather than 1.
Don't go comparing two netbooks, which are at two different ends of the scale. Dell Mini 9 has 1GB of RAM, this has 2GB. Dell Mini 9 has Intel Atom N270, this has a Z740 at 1.86GHz, rather than 1.6GHz. Although, may I say, the N270 @ 1.6GHz still does a spectacular job.

I had an Eee 1000 with two Gigs and it ran much better than the Mini 9, still toooooo slooooooow for my taste. ;)

I still think that economics will play into Apple. How could they offer a product that would substantially mitigate 10-15% of their MB/MBP sales and at a price point that would place then in the uber netbook category? Heck, i would still save a couple of weeks to get a MB if I was in that market and gain in performance and usability. Unless Intel and Apple are working on an Uber-Atom chip and there is a GPU we all don´t know about... this thing is far from plausible.

Sorry, but I keept the Mini 9 to take with me on those short trips where I did not want to cary my Work Air or my persona MBP. I run Linux on it because OS X is too slow for it even with two gig of ram. :confused:

I think this came in a couple of days before April´s fools day!
(Disclaimer, I am also an :apple: investor :D)

[tgmediapro]

If Apple was to make a netbook, it wouldn't be a book. Think of an iPod Touch with an 8 to 10 inch touchscreen panel. (i'm betting on the 8 inch size.) Netbooks have been done and Apple sets trends not follows them.
Netbooks are good for what? I'm thinking probably for surfing the web, and keeping in contact with friends/family/work. Watching streaming video is a must as well.
Keeping those things in mind:
The atom processor, I'm thinking not. I can see the core duo or even a pairing of the arm processors for the new iPhone tied tandem for performance. What ever it is it will be small and fast enough to run the new OSX or even the same OS the iPhone uses, and handle a speedy web connection.
One of those marvelous little iSight camera. Yes, great for Video Conferences and such. (would probably come with a stand)
2GB or 4GB installed Ram (probably soldered directly to the unit)
Look to the 30pin iPod connector as the only port besides the standard iPod headphone jack. (with a touch screen what's the need to tie to a keyboard, and for video out, well, thats the iPod headphone connector is for.)
Can't forget the Wi-Fi module. That one is a certian, as for Bluetooth, I can't say if it'd be incorporated or not.
And last Apple will include no larger than a 40GB solid state HD. Yes, thats right, several people will be screaming at me for this one. Think about it. If your doing everything off the internet then why do you need massive HD space. For video storage???? Apple reasons that everyone should have AppleTV for that. Plain information???? Don't forget about MobileMe. Why would anyone just surfing the web need more than 40GB of storage when the space can be eliminated for a sleeker product.

[ecoons]

Is anyone else seeing this as the 12" PowerBook replacement?

I feel like doing away with the 12" form factor left a void in the "small laptop" division that the air just never filled. Think about the laptop segment (and I believe $899 would be the perfect price point, especially if it has some sort of touchscreen.

10"-11" Macbook Air/Mini - $899 - $1199
13" Whitebook - $999 (could be discontinued if they dropped UMB prices)
13" Macbook - $1299 - $1599 (could be $100-200 less)
13" Macbook Air - $1799
15" Macbook Pro - $1999 - $2499 (hopefully drop the price of the high end)
17" Macbook Pro - $2799 (hopefully down to $2499)

[bchreng]

LOL the very first $1000 netbook lol :) netbooks are supposed to be dirt cheap in price, just for checking email etc..

Agreed. There seems to be little point in buying an Apple netbook when the iPod Touch and iPhone can be used to browse the internet as well.

[i.mac]

fake...

...but safari feels snapier just the same! :D

oh well, this rumor is going no where.

[w0by]

I agree, netbooks are netbooks because they're inexpensive and accessible to almost anyone.

[iMacmatician]

If Apple was to make a netbook, it wouldn't be a book. Think of an iPod Touch with an 8 to 10 inch touchscreen panel. (i'm betting on the 8 inch size.) Netbooks have been done and Apple sets trends not follows them.Also what I am thinking, although I see smaller display sizes as well. For this device I think iPhone OS will be used with some enhancements, rather than Mac OS X.

I see maybe 2x-4x the CPU/RAM/storage of the iPod touch. A few ports too. Software-wise I see mobile versions of iLife and iWork in addition to what's already there.

[Airforcekid]

It would kill the Air unless it had modified OS however they wouldnt invest in that much power and price for a simple OS so this is a fake.

[2002cbr600f4i]

There's no way that's legit. It looks WAY too much like (and specs are too similar to) the Macbook Air. It would decimate sales of the Air. No way in heck Apple would do that...

[cube]

No ExpressCard. One can find $300 netbooks with ExpressCard, and add FireWire or whatever.

[iMacmatician]

It would kill the Air unless it had modified OS however they wouldnt invest in that much power and price for a simple OS so this is a fake.The specs look overkill for iPhone OS and I'm not sure if they'll make a 3rd OS just for this device.

[cal6n]

Totally fake.

http://9to5mac.com/files/image/00000/attachment-2.jpg


"MacBook" and "mini" are slightly different font sizes.
The text has no perspective, although the dock items do.


If the photos are fake, so is the machine.

[Airforcekid]

Fake, apple wouldn't install AdiumX and World Of Warcraft on a promotional laptop. Also, if they would really utilize the Atom processor to create a netbook kind of device I somehow think it would be running the multitouch OS X on a tablet kind of device instead of regular OS X on a shrunken MacBook. But that's just a hunch of course :)

http://9to5mac.com/files/image/00000/attachment-2.jpg
Well that settles it WOW in store??? They ban facebook just to let people play WOW?

[litopine]

Even if this is real $900 for a netbook???????? Hardly worth it.
:apple::apple::apple::apple::apple::apple::apple::apple::apple:

[MatthewCobb]

If only it were true (apart from the price!). I have to clear out my AA account at work by the autumn or They will zero it, so I'm in the market for a netbook, Steve! Sadly, I don't think this is it - for a start, it's not in an elevator.

[WickedRabbit]

the pics themselves are more than likely fake, but I'm in agreement with others in this thread that "if" apple was to make a netbook, those would be the specs AND price of the machine. Apple making an 'affordable' netbook? Ha, that's a laugh. I don't seem them putting anything in the laptop category out that's significantly priced below the $1000 mark so a $899 sounds very realistic from them.

Also, they wouldn't be the first $1000 netbook. Sony has all ready taken that with the P series that just came out not too long ago.

Still, at $899, why not just get the $999 macbook with a better processor, bigger hard drive and larger screen resolution? Is shaving an extra pound or two REALLY that important when the macbook is all ready pretty light and you get a much more solid machine?

Then again, these are Apple products and if people could find a way to justify the ridiculous nature of the Macbook Air in all its limitations for the price, I'm sure those same people would justify owning this one too.

[Flashmanburgess]

Guess Microsoft is going to have to reshoot their latest ad.

[happydude]

this looks pretty snazzy. well, if it happens, if it doesn't . . . well, whatever. to me the pics look like a MBA and seems to have pretty close specs for $1,000 less.

i guess i'm just glad to have other rumors to read than the microsoft ad. cripes that was a doozy of a thread!

[cube]

Guess Microsoft is going to have to reshoot their latest ad.

Yes. 'I want a 10" netbook with ExpressCard for $350'.

[CANOLArabbit]

has anyone even conisidered how much money they would potentially lose if they came out with this? It is more like apple to go for the highest over all profit... and i think they could achieve that with releasing a larger tablet device that has the iphone OS and sell it 500-700ish (maybe even subsidize it), and then connect it to the app store for MAJOR profit. especially with the premium app store ($20 and up apps). --they would lose a ton if they just decided to do another clone of the macbook and expect people to want a mac that is tiny and runs like molasses with the atom proc. Anyways just my thought.

[PeterQC]

Call me crazy, I believe it. Apple did as I through they would do, they didn't reduce the complete size of the keyboard, just the length of some keys. They removed just enough of those keys (primary functions keys: Space, ctrl, alt, cmd, shift) in addition with the complete removal of the eject key (make sense, no CD drive) to remove one complete row of keys. Personally, looking at the 2 second row, they would have been better to cut some length to the back space and make the 1 key the same size like the other. The bezel is also slightly bigger then the Macbook, which is part of the unibody design (tiny bezel on the 17'', acceptable on the 15'', big on the 13'', bigger on the mini).

I like it, just like I said the 1 key is not right.

[Mac Heretic]

It seems to have en excellent display panel. Viewing angle is superb. Much better than an ordinary TN panel.

[koa]

Since Lauren discovered her HP is too heavy to haul around the producers give her the balance of her $1000 to find a netbook. Still not cool enough...

[nick9191]

We're watching that space, but from our [point of view] the products are based on hardware that's much less powerful, software technology that's not good, cramped displays. We don't think that people are going to be pleased with those type of products. It's a category we watch, we have some ideas here, but we think the products there now are inferior and won't provide the kind of experience people want.

Tim Cook

[j26]

The keyboard depicted is full-size layout. If indeed this product has a 10" screen, like the Asus netbook I'm typing on now, then those keys are going to be pretty tiny. Most netbooks use a combination of shrinking the physical key size down a bit as well as making some compromises with key layout to reduce wasted space.

$899 is pretty high, but sounds about right for Apple.

It seems to have a substantial bezel which would allow for slightly larger keys (probably not full size, but near enough)

I'm sure it's a fake, but I like it, and would buy it if the price is right (i.e. about 100 less than claimed).

[iMacmatician]

Call me crazy, I believe it. Apple did as I through they would do, they didn't reduce the complete size of the keyboard, just the length of some keys. They removed just enough of those keys (primary functions keys: Space, ctrl, alt, cmd, shift) in addition with the complete removal of the eject key (make sense, no CD drive) to remove one complete row of keys. Personally, looking at the 2 second row, they would have been better to cut some length to the back space and make the 1 key the same size like the other. The bezel is also slightly bigger then the Macbook, which is part of the unibody design (tiny bezel on the 17'', acceptable on the 15'', big on the 13'', bigger on the mini).My thoughts too on the keyboard. I also thought a smaller keyboard could be achieved by shrinking the widths of some keys.

[Shagrat]

Even Apple can't defy the laws of physics.

Staaaaaaaaaaaar Trekkin' across the universe....:D

And yes, NO FIREWIRE???? NO WAY!!!!

[Shagrat]

Staaaaaaaaaaaar Trekkin' across the universe....:D

And yes, NO FIREWIRE???? NO WAY!!!!

Sorry about that.

[daneoni]

No way...it would cannibalise MBA and probably even MacBook sales...unless it was priced at $5000 or even $900

[Undecided]

Give me a tablet with 3G!!! Argh.

[iMacmatician]

No way...it would cannibalise MBA and probably even MacBook sales...unless it was priced at $5000There sure wouldn't be cannibalization at that price. :p

[dewser35]

Is it just me, or does it look like the screen would shut onto the keyboard? Which to me seems a bit silly as you'd get every bit of rubbish of your keyboard on your screen.


My current unibody MB does this already when I close it... little oily squares all over the screen if I'm having a bad sweat day.

[ri0ku]

omg no blueray?!?

[minik]

I don't fancy for an Atom processor at all. Anyway, netbook is not my cup of tea.

[Hattig]

It seems to have en excellent display panel. Viewing angle is superb. Much better than an ordinary TN panel.

If the image was sourced from Apple (unlikely, given what's on the Dock) then it would be photoshopped on - all Apple PR images are heavily photoshopped. It makes "photoshop hunters" look silly when some Apple PR images get leaked.

Even if it isn't Apple PR, it is likely that the magazine would have cleaned up the desktop image for clarity. Not that this has any bearing on whether it is an April Fools or a real thing.

As a real thing, it isn't too far off what I would expect Apple to do (apart from not expecting Apple to release a subnotebook).

[jgbhardy]

That's why this thing is a fake. :p

And I've seen the layout for a 10.6" netbook on Engadget, and it's nearly big enough for a full-sized keyboard, albeit on the smaller size of the spectrum.

Remember the 12 inch powerbook the keys went right to the edge and that wasn't a widescreen as well, so i doubt that it would be a full size keyboard on a 10inch netbook

[roberry82]

I just can't wrap my head or eyes, for that matter, around these photos. The ratio of keyboard to trackpad real estate on the base portion seems to be off. In all the shots, it keeps changing. In one shot, the keyboard takes up seemingly lots more space, and in another, it appears to be less than half of the base.

Now if someone were to snap a photo of someone in a SF coffee shop on one of these things, that would be a different story. LOL.

[dlewis23]

That thing is just plain ugly. :eek:

I agree with you on that one. And thats why I think this is fake. Its just too ugly for something that apple would make.

[jgbhardy]

Since Lauren discovered her HP is too heavy to haul around the producers give her the balance of her $1000 to find a netbook. Still not cool enough...

I heard that someone actually offered to buy her a Macbook Pro after that advert, just to save her from the hell of M$

[BRLawyer]

got to be fake, but i'd be all over this like a flannel:)

I'd definitely buy one as a replacement for my old iBook G3 (which still works perfectly, by the way) during infrequent business trips, especially because it still has a relatively big screen and keyboard compared to most stupidly underpowered netbooks. In fact, it seems like a great machine for more-than-casual portable use, and a true follower of the famed G4 12" PB...GO APPLE!

[nfl46]

$899? LOL How about NO way! They need to price it under $800!

[Fishrrman]

PeterQC writes:
"Call me crazy, I believe it"

I believe it, too.

Some folks are claiming this won't happen because it would "compete against the MacBook Air". Nope. This REPLACES the MacBook Air, which has a high entry-price point and hasn't been that great a seller. Why are we seeing MBA's selling as $999 refurbs right now? The MBA seems to be nearing the end of its product cycle.

Some folks are claiming this won't happen because the $899 price point is "too high". Nope. Typical "higher-priced Apple stuff": the Mac tax. In any case, after a month we'll be seeing these selling as $699 refurbs.

Drop the new price to $799, and the upcoming MacBook mini looks _much_ more competitive. You might be able to get them close to that from amazon.com and the big mail-order Mac resellers.

Some folks are saying the keyboard ain't right. Nope. The keyboard is VERY "right" for such a compact size. I've tinkered a bit with the Asus eee and the keyboard, though small, is quite usable. This keyboard looks to be of that nature.

Everything about this looks consistent with Apple design. Look at the flip-down ports for USB, sound out, and the display. Right in line with Apple's design as used on the MBA. Again, this will _replace_ the MBA, at half the price.

If this is a fake (April 1st coming up), it's an _awfully_ good one.
But I think it's real.

I would expect an official announcement around June, certainly no later than July. Apple has to get this into the pipeline early enough to fill the hands of all the students going off to school by September.

I predict that if that is Apple's plan, the MacBook mini will be one of the best-sellers they've had in years.

- John

[Povilas]

We need somehing like bigger iPod Touch or like ModBook. 10" is perfect screen size, but images I see just make me sad and 899 makes no sense.

[jgbhardy]

there is a couple of things that make me say this is fake, take a look at the shift key, and the enter key. they dont look like the keys from other apple laptops.

I was sick of reading that on the 9to5 site! Come on people there is a world outside your own with different keyboard layouts! different languages require different keys sometimes more or less so arrangement and shape is changed!

[Roessnakhan]

I agree with you on that one. And thats why I think this is fake. Its just too ugly for something that apple would make.

What the hell are you talking about? Its like a smaller first gen MBA, no huge difference. Last I heard, Apple made the first MBA.

[gkarris]

http://att.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=164765

LOL - Nice catch...

Still, I personally believe if Apple comes out with a MacBook Mini at around $699-$899 (different configs), it'll replace the White MacBook.

[nagromme]

I like it! I'm not sure I like it more than the current Air with its larger screen (and still ultra portable) but I do like it.

And I don't believe it for a second.

Decent speculation about what COULD come along though.

[jgbhardy]

I'm hopeful that when Apple does bring out a netbook they will use a touch screen and get rid of the trackpad it would be just a keyboard and touch screen, but i think Sony has done something like this already. Maybe they could undercut them and make it cheaper.

[Terrador]

Paul Reed Smith guitars are among the best in the industry. For years they sold for $2000-$5000 and up to $150,000 for custom orders. They are like apple and don't compromise on parts or software, and they never made a truly "affordable" guitar. In 2000, they outsourced a project called "SE" to a guitar maker in Korea, and their new SE line of guitars, while still great instruments, now cost $500-600.

Now tell me, what is stopping Apple from cutting corners, finding cheaper means of making a computer, and putting a laptop on the market for $400?

Why would you miss out on that market? There is a whole mass of people out there that only want to surf the internet and REFUSE to drop $1000+ on a laptop. It doesn't take a lot of thought to make a decision on that one.

Just look at Nintendo. They discarded their attempts at "hardcore" gaming and released a system that the othere 70% of people under 30 would be interested in, along with many grandmas and 3 year olds. They DESTROY Microsoft and Sony in monthly revenue because they made a system that was made for the CASUAL gamer and made it cheap.

Apple needs to pull their wallets out of their butts and get to being intelligent again.

[niuniu]

Real or not - I can't believe people are saying it's too ugly! :(

[Roessnakhan]

Real or not - I can't believe people are saying it's too ugly! :(

Its traditional of spy (or rumored) shots to be called ugly and upon release be embraced.

[Eddy Munn]

Can you even fit a full-size keyboard on a 10" laptop? :S

At Terrador: Cutting corners isn't always the best option, but it's not as if they mass produce the laptops in the USA. Also, a lot of money is put into the building techniques and research. Even Dell tried making a small, high quality laptop which ended up being near the price of the MacBook Air.

[Clive At Five]

Paul Reed Smith guitars are among the best in the industry. For years they sold for $2000-$5000 and up to $150,000 for custom orders. They are like apple and don't compromise on parts or software, and they never made a truly "affordable" guitar. In 2000, they outsourced a project called "SE" to a guitar maker in Korea, and their new SE line of guitars, while still great instruments, now cost $500-600.

Now tell me, what is stopping Apple from cutting corners, finding cheaper means of making a computer, and putting a laptop on the market for $400?

Why would you miss out on that market? There is a whole mass of people out there that only want to surf the internet and REFUSE to drop $1000+ on a laptop. It doesn't take a lot of thought to make a decision on that one.

Just look at Nintendo. They discarded their attempts at "hardcore" gaming and released a system that the othere 70% of people under 30 would be interested in, along with many grandmas and 3 year olds. They DESTROY Microsoft and Sony in monthly revenue because they made a system that was made for the CASUAL gamer and made it cheap.

Apple needs to pull their wallets out of their butts and get to being intelligent again.

While I like the cut of your jib, some of us around here have been saying this exact thing for the better part of a decade...

-Clive

[Freyqq]

fake or not..$899? really? considering you could get a real laptop for $999 I don't think they'd get to many sales. $699 tops..

[Aegelward]

Heres hoping that if they put this out, at this price point Apple won't have the same pricing snafu as sony are having with the Vaio P

It's $899, at the moment.. say.. £650, but it's UK RRP is £850

Sick huh?

[avionicsman]

BUT!!!! I am going to be picky and say the SSD needs to be 128gb minimum and 3gb of ram would boast a more steady working platform. Some of us use these things for work you know!! Updating my Twitter is work right!!!

[Janglo]

Steve Jobs:

"Now we're really excited about this and we think you're gonna love it! And I can tell you that the MacBook Mini will be rolling out across stores today at the amazing price of $1499 / £1799!"