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

Now we need two computers to manage iTunes

Spades said:
For those with iTunes libraries over 32GB the answer is simple. You'll be able to sync songs through iTunes as if this laptop was another iPod. Hopefully they'll add in iPhoto syncing with other computers too. That's long overdue...
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Now we need two computers to manage iTunes? How about a wireless harddrive that serve both as backup and storing your music?

Personally, I would love to run a laptop for the entire day without the need to plug in.
 
I'd personally pay a premium if the $1500 base model was only 32 or 64 GB SSD to get to 128GB. Depending on the machine specs, I'd likely go up to $2000 for a 128GB SSD model. For me, the nearly instant-on boot speed would be worth the extra cash for an ultra-portable.
 
mashinhead said:
Sounds great but how mooch memory could it possibly have using flash only? That's really my only concern. And how you install software without an optical drive.
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I'm glad you mentioned that... with the fear of sounding naive, I really have a hard time believing that Apple would get rid of the optical drive and start selling their software, what, on flash drives? That just seems ludicrous to me. Either that or they'll start selling their software as download-only? Looking at Apple's product history, I highly doubt that they would sell a laptop with an external optical drive in the box...

I dunno, in theory it sounds great... no optical drive and an SSD HD to dramatically decrease size, but I have a hard time believing it. :confused:
 
This is totally fabricated and fantasy.

You lost me at $1,500. Add in the specs, and it's fantasy land.

1. Not one company in the marketplace can meet this price point.

2. Even if Apple could match that price, it's not going to happen.

I could go on and on, but this is just stupidity.
 
amac4me said:
I think it will have at a minimum 64GB, not 32. Perhaps the option to upgrade it beyond that. MacWorld can't get here fast enough :rolleyes:
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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...
 
BWhaler said:
This is totally fabricated and fantasy.

You lost me at $1,500. Add in the specs, and it's fantasy land.

1. Not one company in the marketplace can meet this price point.

2. Even if Apple could match that price, it's not going to happen.

I could go on and on, but this is just stupidity.
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Dell Latitude 430 is $1600. Same exact computer as what this will probably be. It also uses an external optical drive.
 
Jaymes said:
I'd personally pay a premium if the $1500 base model was only 32 or 64 GB SSD to get to 128GB. Depending on the machine specs, I'd likely go up to $2000 for a 128GB SSD model. For me, the nearly instant-on boot speed would be worth the extra cash for an ultra-portable.
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Lets hope the "instant On-ness" of the all Flash Mac will translate to the MB/MBP lines.
cloudnine said:
I really have a hard time believing that Apple would get rid of the optical drive and start selling their software, what, on flash drives? That just seems ludicrous to me. Either that or they'll start selling their software as download-only? Looking at Apple's product history, I highly doubt that they would sell a laptop with an external optical drive in the box...
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What happened to the iTunes disc that came with my iPod? They haven't done that since the iPod color. And what is wrong with a flash drive as a software ROM? Discs take space to ship, this is why apple will do away with them. The new iPods are a tool to test for implication of this non disc distribution system. This is evident because apple makes more money if they can ship more units in a smaller package, as was addressed with the 5.5 and later models of ipod packaging.
 
zioxide said:
It would be nothing more than a gimmick. You can't type for **** on it because there would be no tactile feedback. That completely eliminates 90% of the market: students who want it for class (me), businesses, people who want a small laptop to travel on a plane. It just leaves the gimmick market for people who want something that looks cool.
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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.
 
I'm buying this ultra-portable the minute it comes out! It sounds just like what I want. I'll be calling in sick for school on January 15!
 
OdduWon said:
Lets hope the "instant On-ness" of the all Flash Mac will translate to the MB/MBP lines.

What happened to the iTunes disc that came with my iPod? They haven't done that since the iPod color. And what is wrong with a flash drive as a software ROM? Discs take space to ship, this is why apple will do away with them. The new iPods are a tool to test for implication of this non disc distribution system. This is evident because apple makes more money if they can ship more units in a smaller package, as was addressed with the 5.5 and later models of ipod packaging.
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Well, stupid question... I should probably know the answer to this, but... can you write-protect a flash drive? I mean, obviously the main concern about having a flash drive given for software is the fear of writing over the install files. I guess that's the only real concern :/
 
Considering I have an iMac, I'm not too worried about capacity size of my future ultra portable investment...

If I really wanted to carry my whole iTunes library with me I would bring my iPod with me and just play my music through the iPod itself or through the computer from the iPod

With that being said I'm thinking there will only be a 64GB version which will be plenty good for a bunch of music and a collection of photos
 
So I assume this means that there will be no upgrade in size for the iPod Touch for a while?
 
$1500? are you kidding me? do people not realize the prices of SSD drives in the market?

if this "super laptop" does have one, it'll be 16GB or less. and honestly, that's just pointless.
 
Djspice said:
Why? Imagine a 12" Iphone screen where you wouldn't even need a keyboard. All of your input would be multi-touch. This sounds great to me. I don't even have an Iphone or a Touch yet and I think this could "revolutionize" the way we interact with computers.

Ever since I first played with one (an Iphone), I thought that this would make an incredible form-factor for an ultra-portable. The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that this could be another "ground-breaking" product for Apple.

Again, I too, think that this would not be a replacement for a main system but be a way to portable-ize everything you do on your home or office system. Granted, this may not be what they are actually releasing so I could be getting all excited for nothing! :eek:
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The problem I see with multi-touch is that this wouldn't be able to run traditional Carbon/Cocoa apps, because those apps aren't really built for a multi-touch interface. So while you could run iChat and Mail and Safari, you couldn't run Office or whatever without switching back to a conventional GUI.

A laptop which doesn't run "normal" programs is not a computer. It's a CE device. What Apple would need is a way to switch between GUIs, from an iPhone-esque GUI to a regular one. I don't really see this as feasible

A multi-touch laptop would become more feasible when the iPhone SDK is out. Apple could provide utilities to port Mac apps to a touch GUI. In theory, they could enable you to be able to easily design a Touch/ARM version for the iPhone, a Touch/x86 version for the tablet/Nano, and a OS X/x86 version for the "regular" Macs.
 
ibn. said:
$1500? are you kidding me? do people not realize the prices of SSD drives in the market?

if this "super laptop" does have one, it'll be 16GB or less. and honestly, that's just pointless.
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The Dell D430 has a 32GB SSD and it costs $1600. It has the option to upgrade to 64GB for an additionally $399.
 
sam10685 said:
If the ipod Touch came in more gigs... say-- 32, or more... I'd get one in a second.
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If the Nano came in 12+ GB, I'd have bought one of the new ones. I'm maxing out my 8GB Nano and need a bit more space. Not a lot, but 12-16G would be perfect. The Touch doesn't work for me since I need to be able to change the playing song without having to look at the screen. They're putting 16GB of flash in the Touch -- why not in the Nano?

A new iPhone middle of next year would be perfect for me since I imagine they'll increase the capacity at the same time as they introduce more features. (I know you still have to look at the screen to control it, unless the remote can do that -- can it? but for the iPhone, I'll cope. Or just buy an extra Nano).

And I got my AT&T Tilt at the business-discount price so I can actually sell it for more than what I paid for it. (great phone, but WM is WM and it's got design headaches).
 
tonywob, you got iPhone, iPod touch n TWO mbp, I envy you!
as far as the iPhone update length, I think its typical.. Every cellphone company made new model every year.. And iPhone isnt priced high now, so I think its reasonable.
 
I doubt this will be a primary machine ...

bagelche said:
Some nice points above.

I doubt this will be a primary machine, but as someone who moved from a 12" 4lb. PC notebook to a 15"MBP, I certainly notice the weight/size difference in my travels. If I had the $, I'd love to get a nice small notebook for less power-needing work (meetings, plane travel, etc.). I can see how Back To My Mac would fit in very nicely with a unit like this.

Foleo is an interesting comparison, but it was just an unfortunate machine at an unfortunate time. With stronger tech and better integration into a server-connection system (BTMYM) this could be a real winner along with whatever else Apple has up their sleeve to throw in it.
...
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Finally!
Someone with some sense. :)

The whole point of an ultra-portable like this is that it *won't* be your only/primary machine. All those people above talking about adding HD's and modems and whatnot would turn this into a chubby version of the 12" Powerbook.

I'm excited. :D This is beginning to look a lot like a machine I have been wanting ever since my 12" Powerbook was made obsolete by the move to intel.

The only way this could screw up now is if AppleInsider is right and they actually use a 13.3 inch screen.

Anyone else but me notice how AppleInsider claims they reported on this thing first when in fact Mac OS Rumours beat them to it a long time ago?
 
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