3G iPhone and $1500 'Super Laptop' in 2008

[sikkinixx]

I dunno about most people, but when I had my Macbook, the problem wasn't it was too thick, just that 13.3" is still too big for 'small' laptop (still tiny compared to my friend's Dell beasts), hence the reason I bit the bullet and went for the mbp because frankly, that little bit bigger wasn't a huge issue since the Macbook isn't super small anyways and the performance/resolution differences are nice.

A nice 10" Sony-style one would be awesome and might actually make me considering buying the smaller laptop again (*sigh* I miss the 12" PB). The price certainly seems nice on the supposed Apple one but if the specs are too far downgraded to cram it into the teeny body then will it be worth it?

 

[zioxide]

Pshysical Media is so 2007 looooool i know it's just that i really need to burn cds (and dvds) sometimes...and carrying an external burner in my bag when i go to college kinda sucks...and i don't have an .Mac account..and youtube has bad quality... i mean...it's no big deal to include the drive...and probably will come handy!! for me it is...even if for you no...eventually..
imagine updating from Mas OS X 10.5 to 10.6 from a pen drive?!?!!? LOL
no optical...web update??? nice idea but will it work?....

i nead lots of space all the time...i think that 512gb drives will be perfect...but juts 32gb is to small...
with the OS...the apps...you will have like 25gb available...and i had that in a pc like 10years ago as the HD...i don't want to keep moving files to an HD from time to time...and sometimes when you need something that you made some time ago..and already moved it...it's like ...so more space and an optical and that's it... i'm studying biology, and i have software that come only in cds and i don't want to keep copying it to a pen to install nor having to carry an external optical...

The external optical would be staying at your desk.. you wouldn't carry it the whole time. Those 512GB drives are a few years off too. You don't really seem like the market for an ultraportable, more like a regular Macbook. Ultraportable is for people who really want portability to supplement a main machine. Like, I'm a film student and I have this massive MBP for editing, but its way too big to take to classes for note taking on the tiny lecture desks. I'd love to have a small laptop (I had a 12'' ibook but its dead) (the size of a small textbook) to put in my bag to take to class, the library, etc. My MBP right now is pretty much like a desktop replacement.

SSD is a gimmick - no measurable advantage in speed, power consumption, or weight, only in shock resistance (great if you need a Toughbook)

SSD won't be in a $1500 notebook (64GB SSD is still $1000+)

What could be done at a $1500 price point is 8/16GB of flash for the operating system and a few of the most used applications, with a "regular" 2.5" hard drive for the rest.

What I've appreciated about my MacBook is just how cheap and easy it is to upgrade (4GB RAM $100, $125 for 250GB hard drive), so I hope future notebooks keep that aspect of the MacBook's design.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820208317

32GB SSD for $279. A company like Apple buying in huge quantities would be able to get that for like $200. That's feasable for a $1500 laptop.

Dell offers a 64GB SSD upgrade (from 32GB) for $399 extra on their D430 12''.

 

[winterspan]

Surely, rather than using SSD, wouldn't it make more sense (and be alot cheaper) to use a iPod sized hard drive, or one slightly bigger, just something that spun at 4,200 pm so you'd still get some kind of relatively normal performance?

hahahah 4200RPM 1.8" HDD. Do you have ANY IDEA HOW SLOW THOSE ARE???
I've had 1st hand experience with a subnotebook with a 1.8". It was the slowest damn thing imaginable. If I had one, I would replace it with an IDE-to-CF adapter and stick in a 16GB compact flash card... That would be twice as fast...

 

[winterspan]

Fantastically put, EDGE/GPRS works perfectly for what the iPhone is designed to do. All I get is GPRS and have no complaints about it. If I want to watch streaming videos or download large files, I use my broadband at home

WHAT? GRPS at 60kbps? Wouldn't you get like ~30kbps in the real world? Half the speed of 56kbps dialup??? Tell me.. How long does it take to load ONE nytimes.com news article page?

 

[Cheffy Dave]

I would so pissed off if apple did come out with iphone 2 in june, I just got my iphone.

Apple can't keep everyone happy,somebody,somewhere,will be pissed off at them somewhere. We just have to jump in when we can, and be happy with what we got

 

[pubwvj]

What we need is for these devices to be wirelessly connected to our home networks and syncronized when not in use so that they are accessible.

 

[phlabse]

Will this "super laptop" be conducive for a college student who does word processing, browse the internet, have some photos/videos (nothing more than a couple gb), and an itunes library of 5 to 8 gb?

If so, I'm in!

 

[ncbill]

32GB is too small for a main drive, and again, SSD offers no performance advantage in a consumer notebook over a regular 2.5" SATA drive.

No chance of a 64GB SSD for $400 extra - Apple demands healthy margins on component upgrades (check their prices for factory-installed RAM)

But there's still more than enough room on the motherboard for 16GB of flash RAM (Apple's already buying plenty) and a 160 or 250GB 2.5" SATA hard drive ($125 retail for 250GB)

32GB SSD for $279. A company like Apple buying in huge quantities would be able to get that for like $200. That's feasable for a $1500 laptop.

Dell offers a 64GB SSD upgrade (from 32GB) for $399 extra on their D430 12''.

 

[winterspan]

I don't personally think there will be solid-state memory in this laptop. It's too new and it's too expensive. But I could always be wrong.

SSDs have been used in subnotebooks/"ultra-portables" for 5+ years. Many subnotebooks from Panasonic, Sony, and other Japanese companies have SSDs, but they have been expensive.
The other major user of SSDs are military/industrial/Aerospace applications including laptops and embedded computers.

I agree with previous posters that Apple won't release a < 32 gb machine. They really need to have AT LEAST 80 gb.
How reliable is flash memory long term for heavy usage? Right now flash drives are generally used in devices that act more like "storage." I literally have computers with harddrives that have been going strong for 10+ years ... I think they might be more reliable than flash drives.

Flash SSDs are still at $10-15/GB.. 32GB is likely... maybe an upgrade to 64GB. But that will throw the price into the $2500+ range. About reliability, flash SSDs are VERY RELIABLE! Much more so than HDDs, especially the smaller/cheaper ones. No moving parts. The reliability/toughness is precisely why the military/aerospace industry has been using them for years...

I agree... *if* they do SSD, I definitely think that they would go with 64GB as a bare minimum... but I wouldn't be surprised if it was 128GB, upgradeable to something more...

See above

SSD is a gimmick - no measurable advantage in speed, power consumption, or weight, only in shock resistance (great if you need a Toughbook)

Flash SSDs *can* be much faster than a 2.5" 5400rmp drive .. and they can blow the 1.8" 4200rpm drives out of the water! And actually, SSDs do have a considerable advantage in power consumption. Ive seen
some testing benchmarks around the net. Looks to be >25% reduction in power usage.

I think it would have the exact opposite appeal. I travel with my stupid Acer laptop on the plane all the time. I find it too big and cumbersome as well as awkward to use with the flip up screen. (Not to mention all the Windows problems I've had with it, but that's another story) If they came out with a design like a tablet that had a cover that folded underneath and you could just work on the surface of it...I'm sold.
And while I do agree with you in that typing would at first be awkward, we adapt, man. I'm sure we would get used to it.
Finally, alot of folks said that the Iphone was gimmicky, too. 'Nuff said.

Onscreen keyboard good for iPhone thumb-typing... as a replacement for a full size "regular" typing keyboard? Not so much. Seems like it would be very difficult to type on. (coming from an Iphone user)

Excellent news! I'll be in the market for a laptop this spring so I cannot wait for an ultra portable to tote around on the college campus. I need 64GB minimum though (35.6GB iTunes Library) or it won't work... I'll likely be disappointed in the capacity range and have to opt for a Hard Drive based notebook but you never know

Why on earth would you need to put all your music on a subnotebook?? Get a small 2.5" external drive to keep in your dorm or whatever. if you want a 64GB+ subnotebook, you better be a rich college kid.

Whenever this thread comes up, I always feel like a certain segment is looking at a 'Think' car and asking where they're going to put their 427 Hemi.

People have to get over this idea that they're going to get (or need) desktop/developer/graphicsdesigner performance out of an ultraportable or tablet. That's just not where the new users and market are going. Japanese users are showing the canary-in-the-coalmine for big honkin' desktop systems (and even for overpowered laptops).
A lot of users will still need that power, but way more don't.
I think the market is shaking out into the 'trucks' and the 'high milage 2-seaters'.
Megaprocessingpower is really only needed by a small % of users. The power needed for 95% of everyday use doesn't justify it or its associated costs. The market will ultimately reflect that.

Exactly...

i nead lots of space all the time...i think that 512gb drives will be perfect...but juts 32gb is to small...
with the OS...the apps...you will have like 25gb available...and i had that in a pc like 10years ago as the HD...i don't want to keep moving files to an HD from time to time...and sometimes when you need something that you made some time ago..and already moved it...it's like ...so more space and an optical and that's it... i'm studying biology, and i have software that come only in cds and i don't want to keep copying it to a pen to install nor having to carry an external optical...

512GB?? Hahahah. thats funny. Do you really need more than 32-64GB on a small laptop? What would you need to be on there that an external 2.5" 250GB drive couldn't hold? If USB is too slow, I'm sure Apple will put a Firewire 400 or 800 on there. Maybe an eSata?

What we need is for these devices to be wirelessly connected to our home networks and syncronized when not in use so that they are accessible.

That wouldn't be too difficult to do at all. Have a sync daemon on your laptop that waits until the home network becomes available then runs a synchronization program in the background.

 

[winterspan]

32GB is too small for a main drive, and again, SSD offers no performance advantage in a consumer notebook over a regular 2.5" SATA drive.

Some would disagree. A subnotebook after all shouldn't be a primary machine. I figure 32GB is good enough with a 200GB external. Maybe even a 64GB upgrade, although that would probably put the laptop into the $2500+ range.
however, I doubt it will be $1500 in the first place.

SDD offers no performance advantage? Thats definitely an over-generalization.. A decent SSD is easily faster than a 2.5" 5400RPM HDD and uses >20% less energy. a 2.5" 7200rpm in a subnotebook will be too loud.. too much power draw. Obviously, an SSD will blow away any 1.8" 4200rpm. Not too mention the fact that it will allow a smaller enclosure, better heat dissipation, etc.
[/QUOTE]

 

[matthewHUB]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/3B48b Safari/419.3)

assuming this comes out in January, what are the chances of an upgrade/speed bump/larger hd by WWDC in June? I reckon I can get 6 more months out of my PowerBook.

 

[phalewhale]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/3B48b Safari/419.3)

assuming this comes out in January, what are the chances of an upgrade/speed bump/larger hd by WWDC in June? I reckon I can get 6 more months out of my PowerBook.

Jee Wizz dude. You gotta be taking the p1$$! LOL. Here you are asking if a machine that isn't even released yet is gonna be updated by WWDC. Excellent.

Apple love people like you! I must say though, I've had my share of it.

Anyway, the reason I wanted to post was to say that I really doubt a 3G iPhone is on the cards in 2008. There will definitely be at least one upgrade to the iPhone in 2008 but 3G won't be making it. I'd put money on it. In fact, I'm going to the bookies tomorrow to see what odds I'll get. Worth a fiver I think.

I can see a smaller/slimmer iPhone with at least a 3.2MP camera as well as other improvements live video shoot capability, improved phone functionality. A 2MP camera is paltry by today's standards. My current Sony Ericsson K810i takes lovely little photos for a phone.

 

[dpierre]

There's a TON of pent-up demand for an Intel-based 12-inch Mac portable. Ever since the transition away from PowerPC, people have been waiting for a smaller MacBook or MacBook Pro. These things will sell like crazy.

Exactly the reason why I still haven't upgraded my 12" pbG4 yet.

 

[sushi]

Now if it was $400 *less* than the cheapest MacBook, I might buy one.

Guess you won't be buying one then. Ultra-portables are for those with $ that need portability.

well 32 gb fells kinda short
i actually expect more like 64gb,

I would imagine that Apple will offer a base model and have upgrades, like they do now with Hard Drives.

DELL is taking a bath on that price point as well. Their margins are very lean.

Out of curiosity, how do you know this?

AFAIK, we do not know the actual price that Dell pays for their memory and other components.

somebody doesn't understand the concept of an ultraportable.

Looks like many don't.

Will this "super laptop" be conducive for a college student who does word processing, browse the internet, have some photos/videos (nothing more than a couple gb), and an itunes library of 5 to 8 gb?

An ultra-portable is for those folks who have the $ to pay for portability and light weight solutions.

An ultra-portable is not for those who want a full featured laptop.

Unfortunately, these two concepts are mutually exclusive at this point in time.

 

[amac4me]

Exactly the reason why I still haven't upgraded my 12" pbG4 yet.

I know 2 owners of 12-inch PowerBooks that have not given them up. I spoke to one of them today and he's willing to buy a MacBook Pro if it comes in a size less than 15-inches.

 

[mccldwll]

Would anyone like to buy a bridge?

I wouldn't get too excited if I were you. I would put Goldman's story right up there with the tooth fairy and easter bunny. One questionable source in Asia who knows about the iPhone, the iTouch, the ultraportable, AND the price point of the ultraportable. That's one well-informed dude. It came out of the financial sector, was given an extraordinary amount of play on cnbc, and was picked up by Rupert Murdoch owned Dow Jones. The object is to create volatility and impact the price of Apple's stock.

 

[wizard]

You are not the only one!!!

I don't know if I can wait yet another 5 months, I'm getting obsessed with buying one!

It is certainly a thing that I have to watch myself on, I sometimes have to pass the Apple store rather quickly. Not only is the constant talk about the current machine and the coming 3G machine maddening, the talk about the next software rev is hitting all cylinders. There the issue is rumors of features I want that are coming.

Disk mode, is one thing I want in my portable devices. It is just another little check box less on the acceptance list. Now If Apple could just get a few other things moving for the coming software update and I'd be hot to trot for this rev.

Dave

 

[ckurowic]

I don't know if I can wait yet another 5 months, I'm getting obsessed with buying one!

Why? I've brought up this point before. Why would you want a laptop with less functionality than a normal lap top but for $1,500? You have more money than me, man.

I wouldn't get too excited if I were you. I would put Goldman's story right up there with the tooth fairy and easter bunny. One questionable source in Asia who knows about the iPhone, the iTouch, the ultraportable, AND the price point of the ultraportable. That's one well-informed dude. It came out of the financial sector, was given an extraordinary amount of play on cnbc, and was picked up by Rupert Murdoch owned Dow Jones. The object is to create volatility and impact the price of Apple's stock.

FINALLY some logic to this forum.

Exactly the reason why I still haven't upgraded my 12" pbG4 yet.

Says who? You? Show me some quantitative data and maybe I'll half way believe you.

For some reason it did not reply to the correct post. I am replying to the guy who said there is tons of pent up demand for a 12 inch intel powered Apple portable.

SSDs have been used in subnotebooks/"ultra-portables" for 5+ years. Many subnotebooks from Panasonic, Sony, and other Japanese companies have SSDs, but they have been expensive.
The other major user of SSDs are military/industrial/Aerospace applications including laptops and embedded computers.



Flash SSDs are still at $10-15/GB.. 32GB is likely... maybe an upgrade to 64GB. But that will throw the price into the $2500+ range. About reliability, flash SSDs are VERY RELIABLE! Much more so than HDDs, especially the smaller/cheaper ones. No moving parts. The reliability/toughness is precisely why the military/aerospace industry has been using them for years...


See above



Flash SSDs *can* be much faster than a 2.5" 5400rmp drive .. and they can blow the 1.8" 4200rpm drives out of the water! And actually, SSDs do have a considerable advantage in power consumption. Ive seen
some testing benchmarks around the net. Looks to be >25% reduction in power usage.




Onscreen keyboard good for iPhone thumb-typing... as a replacement for a full size "regular" typing keyboard? Not so much. Seems like it would be very difficult to type on. (coming from an Iphone user)



Why on earth would you need to put all your music on a subnotebook?? Get a small 2.5" external drive to keep in your dorm or whatever. if you want a 64GB+ subnotebook, you better be a rich college kid.



Exactly...


512GB?? Hahahah. thats funny. Do you really need more than 32-64GB on a small laptop? What would you need to be on there that an external 2.5" 250GB drive couldn't hold? If USB is too slow, I'm sure Apple will put a Firewire 400 or 800 on there. Maybe an eSata?


That wouldn't be too difficult to do at all. Have a sync daemon on your laptop that waits until the home network becomes available then runs a synchronization program in the background.

Why in Gods name do you need all that storage? 1 GB equals 100 pickup truck loads of paper documents. Do you REALLY keep all that junk on your HD? Your are high man, sorry. Rarely do people need that much storage, ESPECIALLY in a ultra-portable computer that will NOT have the functionality of normal laptops. Wow. Go get a MBP, seriously, and some external HD's. Get a clue.

 

[NYCMacFan]

Apple offers build-to-order options for hard drives on most machines. This would be no different. The iPhone was simply marketed differently, more like an iPod than like a computer (which makes sense).

My note applied to the idea of showing off in January and selling in March that the author wrote about and not the notion of different options setups with build to order...

I agree with your point though.

 

[tringo]

I think that a touchscreen is guaranteed. Apple has become obsessed with making everything touch now. You should see all the patents they have on multi-touch devices!

So therefore I think it will be a tablet format, basically a big iPhone. Hey guys remember when you all said that a touchscreen phone wouldn't work?....

 

[twoodcc]

now i really wanna see this laptop. man, it's gonna be hard to resist....

 

[Virgil-TB2]

blame software companies then. the razzle dazzle of Vista and Leopard DO require a decent amount of processing power just to do tasks that were quite basic in in previous generations of the OS's ...

I know what your trying to say here and I sort of agree, but I am not sure it's fair to have thrown Leopard in the same lot with the crapulence that is Vista and the slow, slow web pages of a horrible site like CNN.

First, I am typing this post on Leopard running on a six year old Mac G4 with almost no speed hit at all. Leopard is still eminently useable even on old hardware and relatively fast as well. As fast as Tiger was on the same machine anyway.

Secondly, if anyone is trying to push for faster web page loading and less crap like Flash, it's Apple and the Safari browser. Each version of Safari has been faster than the previous one IMO although the same can't be said for Explorer. Each version of Apple's home page is busier, more complicated, and has more scripting and stuff than the previous one, but they still manage to load in almost the same kind of time frame.

 

[Virgil-TB2]

SSDs have been used in subnotebooks/"ultra-portables" for 5+ years. ....

Great summation.
Nice to know someone is thinking out there.

 

[SwordOfHumanity]

New Macbook

Errrr, i dunno if neones mentioned this already or not, im too lazy to read through 11 pages But new macbook pro's have been shipped to the bestbuy in vancouver already. They are labelled not to be sold until mid january. The size of the packaging suggests that they are the 15.4" macpro. Dunno if this helps

 

[SirOmega]

32GB will be entirely enough for an untraportable. I've got 60GB in my Rev A MacBook and get along just fine and I've got 15GB free, and I've got a bunch of movies and stuff I dont watch on here. I'm sure if Apple worked to strip down the OSX Install a bit (remove unused languages, etc) they could ship the drive with 20GB free.

Regardless, I'm sure Apple will offer a 64GB SSD upgrade for like $400 or so.