Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but the article states that

The mini laptop computers will likely have monitor screens...

Screens, as in plural. That makes me envision something like this:

olpc-xoxo-laptop.JPG
 
I agree! But I have a pretty good feeling that this is what is coming. I think the iPhone sales model will be the key to making a nice "netbook" that is reasonably priced (for an Apple product) but with decent specs.

Also, 500 posts! Woo!

I would only consider that if the $30 would include my iPhone data + a netbook. I'm simply never going to pay $60 a month. Not in this economy.
 
Four times the screen area of the iTouch, and a $499 price point would be the ideal 'netbook'. I think it will fill a needed niche, a device capable enough to surf the net, play games and do work, yet more portable than the Macbook or Air.
 
Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but the article states that

The mini laptop computers will likely have monitor screens...

Screens, as in plural. That makes me envision something like this:

olpc-xoxo-laptop.JPG

I really like that idea. I also like the iMac Dock idea... I'd be perfectly fine with either one. But I think we all can agree that having a pure tablet idea is not the way to go. How does one type on such a device?
 
Wasn't there a rumor before the recent hardware release which had Apple gobbling up Atom processors? Would make sense if it was for this device. Could Atom handle larger programs so this isn't a trimmed down iPod Touch + a larger screen?
Not so true.

Nvidia Ion
16gb SSD
BlueTooth + WiFi
No Optical Drive
2 USB
10" Touch Screen.

Done. You'll look at what... $400 to produce (High-Balling it) and $600 to sell?

16 gb SSd?? So this thing is the size of an iPT? Never.
2 USB?? The Air doesn't even have two.
$600?? Apple's monitors don't even break that barrier.
------------------------
Processor unknown
10" touch screen
No optical drives of course.
1 USB
1 Audio Out
1 Video Out (if lucky, or maybe through a dock connector)
64/128 GB SSD

$1099--yes. You'll have to accept it. There's no way to avoid it.
------------------------
I wouldn't be surprised if this computer is enough to take out the low end notebook in Apple's line up. If not on release, within a couple years.

Most likely this device is the pinky toe in the water for a new format device, IF they go tablet. Once they find out how people work with and accept the tablet, say goodbye to notebooks.
 
ok there are a few things that occur to me. there is no way apple is making a product that would fit the netbook category. netbooks are the exact opposite of what apple is all about, which is providing premium products and moreso a premium experience with those products. a netbook is underpowered and simply cant do a lot of what people try to use it for.



well, thanks for telling all the thousands of happy people that went out and bought a netbook that they are worthless.

They aren't a first/only machine for a household. they are a handy, portable, browsing/email/light use machine with great battery life.

IMO the battery life is almost more important than the portability.

I'm still doubtful they can pull off a 10" touch device without a keyboard/mouse interface. I can't stand typing on the ipod, and simply making those crappy virtual buttons bigger won't stop it being poor.

If I can't type on it, its useless as an internet device - full stop.
 
*goes into Steve Jobs mode*

If an Apple netbook is released:

It will come in one size - a dimension Apple has determined is best for their OS and its features. Likely 10".

It will be priced between $600 - $900 - more than a Dell Mini but less than a Macbook.

It will feature an ARM processor for power and portability.

It will have a webcam.

It will not be touchscreen, but will offer intuitive new interface features (via hardware and software) that make using a smaller screen easier.
What's the OS? Looks like iPhone OS, unless Apple has an ARM version of Mac OS X somewhere. And since the iPod touch goes up to $399, I'm expecting the netbook/mini-tablet to start at $499 to $599.
 
Wasn't there a rumor before the recent hardware release which had Apple gobbling up Atom processors? Would make sense if it was for this device. Could Atom handle larger programs so this isn't a trimmed down iPod Touch + a larger screen?


16 gb SSd?? So this thing is the size of an iPT? Never. It's meant to be an extention of a home computer. How many people do you know who would use a tablet for a main computer? Without a physical keyboard?
2 USB?? The Air doesn't even have two. B/c it needed to be thin. You can work with a whole inch with this class of computer
$600?? Apple's monitors don't even break that barrier. We're not talking about 20" here. Half that.

$1099--yes. You'll have to accept it. There's no way to avoid it.
------------------------
I wouldn't be surprised if this computer is enough to take out the low end notebook in Apple's line up. If not on release, within a couple years.

Why would Apple want to kill off a popular line of computers? Wouldn't it make more sense to fill a need for a $600 computer and draw more customers?
 
I really don't see why netbooks are so popular. They aren't that much more portable than a laptop, have poor battery performance, and can't do much anyway except internet and email. Heck, my iphone does that now and more with 3G connectivity.

IMHO, the iphone is the ultimate netbook. Sure the screen is small and the keys are virtual, but a netbook doesn't provide much more benefit in this regard.

So... I've got to ask... have you actually used a netbook for an extended period of time. More than say, 5 minutes at BestBuy?

A 9" netbook is night and day more portable than a 13" laptop, I regularly see 4 hours on the battery (Dell Mini 9) and it can do a heck of a lot more and is much more usable than the iPhone or a iPod Touch!

The screen and virtual keyboard on the iPhone are awesome for a quick web check or killing time surfing while waiting for your flight at the airport, but they are in no way anything you could use and be productive on for 3 or 4 + hours a day. I can easily use a netbook in place of a laptop when traveling and still do everything I could on my laptop with little to no loss in productivity!
 
let's hope it's not atom based before we get too excited! :D

I think if apple can make a sub £500 touch sensitive laptop with at least a 64Gb SSD that's got something along the lines of 2Ghz Core 2 Duo or equivalent low powered Core i7 processor, a decent amount of RAM, shared video or not, it would be an excellent little system and just as good value as the entry level white iBook. Mini USB 2.0 connectors, firewire 800

Without reading the rest of the thread (always a bad idea :p) I think a device like this would use the ARM architecture, as leveraged by PA Semi. Cost, size, power and thermal issues would likely prevent a mobile Core chip.

So what will this run? A beefed up iPhone OS 3.0? A slimmed down Mac OS X? Full OS X? Maybe Apple has a secret lab running OS X on ARM processors... in which case developers will soon be compiling *really* universal binaries.
 
After reading through some of the FAQ on Wintek's website and doing some Googling, it seems that Wintek manufactures flexible panels. From Wintek's site:

COF (chip on film) is basically a flexible piece of film mounted with components. This allows it to be folded at any place where there are no components.

So here's my big "what if." What if this new product is a tablet:

mac-tablet-rumor.jpg


which is hinged at the middle and can be folded into a touchscreen netbook:

olpc-xoxo-laptop.JPG
 
If this is an ARM device, then it might be able to run iPhone games, and whatever apps Apple ports over, but it isn't likely to be able to run standard OS/X apps.

Do I really want a "netbook" that cannot run standard OS/X apps? I don't think so. I mean I wouldn't be trying to run Photoshop or Final Cut Pro on it, but the standard Office / iWork suites would be essential. Expense reporting apps (or anything work-related) certainly would be nice. I have probably a dozen apps from small developers I'd want to run on it as well.

But maybe it won't matter anyway if everyone's app is not usable on such a small screen. It just seems like a non-starter if we have "yet another device" that developers would have to code to. Of course, apple could give developers the ability to produce "fat binaries" that would run on Intel/PPC/ARM.

That would be pretty amazing now, wouldn't it?
 
Why would Apple want to kill off a popular line of computers? Wouldn't it make more sense to fill a need for a $600 computer and draw more customers?

Kill off? nah, not kill off---transfer to a new, popular form that will expand customer base.

Apple can't make anything that inexpensive without a LOT of loss. Since the size is 10" it's far bigger than an iPT which is $300, and it will have greater function than an iPT. Even if this device is an ultra-thin, ultra-stripped down laptop which is like an iPT's smarter cousin and retard of the laptop line, it will still be well over $700. Maybe they'll fit it between the $999 laptop and the $299 iPT... don't expect it to be lower. This is Apple. It'll be higher. $799 for a large iPT, $1099 for a stripped down notebook-as-tablet.

I only say this because it tends to be the way of Apple, and someone will have to brace you for the eventualities.

Most likely Apple will do something BETTER and expect big cash for it. Most likely the miniaturization of the Air and iPhone have been leading to what is to come in the "netbook". Expect less size, less peripheral docks, less user modification, good internal function, and a large price.

10:1 -- it's a unibody design with RAM and drive soldered directly onto the main board so it can be well under .5" thick. The battery is locked in and difficult to remove and work with, so let's hope they get that battery right.
 
$499 or less and I am def there. I'd LOVE a small machine to take with me everywhere. Especially back and forth from my daily home-->work-->school routine. :)

Need for learning Cocoa Touch, increasing...

$499? Haw haw! Mr. Jobs stated himself that they don't know how to build a netbook at $500 that is not a piece of junk. Whatever they come out with, it's not gonna be cheap.
 
After reading through some of the FAQ on Wintek's website and doing some Googling, it seems that Wintek manufactures flexible panels. From Wintek's site:

COF (chip on film) is basically a flexible piece of film mounted with components. This allows it to be folded at any place where there are no components.

So here's my big "what if." What if this new product is a tablet:

which is hinged at the middle and can be folded into a touchscreen netbook:

That would be amazing. So it would fold up to be half the size? I wonder what the screen would look like near the crease and what the durability would be.

I'm also wondering about the "screens" quote that someone else just mentioned.
 
Are you kidding? This IS Apple we're talking about. If they do make this, it'll be priced as a Gucci accessory as you say. Apple has no real (apparent) interest in make an inexpensive (as in sub $1000) computer. Look how long the Mac Mini languished before it was updated.

If they DO make one, I kinda hope it is a GPS-enabled, full Mac OS X tablet. It won't be my main computer, just something I can take inventory with and do quick, 5 minute jobs with.

Apple already makes a sub $1000 computer. I'd say the $229 iPod Touch is it. If they add a bigger screen and a little more memory (and possibly a faster processor) they could come in around $499 and have a pretty decent product. I remember Apple about a year ago told developers not to make their applications screen resolution dependent. This means they should scale up to a bigger screened iPod Touch.
 
Apple already makes a sub $1000 computer. I'd say the $229 iPod Touch is it.

Actually, the small end Macbook is now $999, so they broke that barrier with REAL computers again. But, don't expect it to last or be the road into the future.
 
We will have a beautiful tablet. I hope later then sooner, because there's more of a chance that time will mean more R&D. It would be sweet to have the form factor below with some great specs, i.e. speedy processors, full os, a nice slot drive and enormous battery life. I would love the ability to design, with superior stylus recognition on the road as well. Running AI, PS etc... wherever I am with document editing and sending capability would be a huge boon. Anyway, we are almost there folks.
 

Attachments

  • Tablet.jpg
    Tablet.jpg
    62.7 KB · Views: 2,411
So... I've got to ask... have you actually used a netbook for an extended period of time. More than say, 5 minutes at BestBuy?

A 9" netbook is night and day more portable than a 13" laptop, I regularly see 4 hours on the battery (Dell Mini 9) and it can do a heck of a lot more and is much more usable than the iPhone or a iPod Touch!

The screen and virtual keyboard on the iPhone are awesome for a quick web check or killing time surfing while waiting for your flight at the airport, but they are in no way anything you could use and be productive on for 3 or 4 + hours a day. I can easily use a netbook in place of a laptop when traveling and still do everything I could on my laptop with little to no loss in productivity!

i find it odd how laptops are not portable enough anymore. not completely dissagreeing with whom i am quoting, i just think its odd.

my hope originally for all this was: a notebook that i can use to take notes in class (stylus) but not sacrifice the physical keyboard.

the more i think about it though, i could deal with keeping my current macbook, and then having a cheaper tablet on the side. (like an oversized ipod touch with a stylus and notepad. plus ebooks.) but its gotta be cheap for me to want to buy it without the physical keyboard because i'll still need another computer for typing up papers and stuff.

How awesome would ebooks be (text books, not just novels) with an interface where you can take notes, highlight, copy and paste passages/figures into your notes... i don't think thats where apple is going with this but i (and i'm sure a ton of other students) could get some real use out of it.
 
If it is a netbook I hope its at a realistic price. If they make it too expansive people will just get the Macbook. It will no doubt be the most stylish netbook out there, but many are drawn to the cost of netbooks these days, they are so cheap. My money is on a iphone replacement....
 
Kill off? nah, not kill off---transfer to a new, popular form that will expand customer base.

Apple can't make anything that inexpensive without a LOT of loss. Since the size is 10" it's far bigger than an iPT which is $300, and it will have greater function than an iPT. Even if this device is an ultra-thin, ultra-stripped down laptop which is like an iPT's smarter cousin and retard of the laptop line, it will still be well over $700. Maybe they'll fit it between the $999 laptop and the $299 iPT... don't expect it to be lower. This is Apple. It'll be higher. $799 for a large iPT, $1099 for a stripped down notebook-as-tablet.

I only say this because it tends to be the way of Apple, and someone will have to brace you for the eventualities.

Most likely Apple will do something BETTER and expect big cash for it. Most likely the miniaturization of the Air and iPhone have been leading to what is to come in the "netbook". Expect less size, less peripheral docks, less user modification, good internal function, and a large price.

10:1 -- it's a unibody design with RAM and drive soldered directly onto the main board so it can be well under .5" thick. The battery is locked in and difficult to remove and work with, so let's hope they get that battery right.

I'm asking them to make a $400 product and sell it for $600.

I'll meet you half way. I'd say that we will get 1 USB, 1 Audio + Dock Connector. Ion 1.6 Ghz. The HD space will depend on if it's meant to be docked or not. If it is meant to be docked, we'll see it with 32GB SSD. If it's not mean to be docked, I can then see 128gb.

Pricing... Well a 10" netbook can run $600. With this being from Apple, I'll venture $750, but not more. It would cut into MacBook Sales.
 
i find it odd how laptops are not portable enough anymore. not completely dissagreeing with whom i am quoting, i just think its odd.

Notebooks were never that productive AND portable simultaneously. I've always had trouble with the design--you need to sit down, open it up, maybe balance it somewhere if you don't have a table. So what you are essentially doing is using a computer like a normal computer but without being tied to an outlet: you are still tied to a seated position and support platform for the computer. If the new Apple "netbook" gets people away from needing a table or lap, it succeeds.
 
If it happens I'm sure it'll be fantastic.

I'm also sure it'll be priced with the utmost stupidity in mind. Which is a shame, because something like this would replace my poor old PowerBook very well for just surfing the net/other low power crap.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.