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Apple Creating iMac-like Docking Station
- Thread starter MacHiavelli
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The "iMac" part would have a power button that would turn on the docked laptop inside. No need to remove the laptop and turn it on with it's power button.
My HP docking stations do it, so I am sure Apple can figure it out.
Remember when the orientation of the ports on the iMac switched?
Heh,
I always wondered why the ports on the back of the iMac were switched to go along the bottom, instead of vertically like in my 2GHz 20inch model - I mean they are easier to reach in my model - maybe this is why...
That would also give an indication of both how long they've been thinking about doing this, and their seriousness about actually doing it.
Can someone get this guy a straight edge?
Honestly... a free-hand drawing?
-Clive
Heh,
I always wondered why the ports on the back of the iMac were switched to go along the bottom, instead of vertically like in my 2GHz 20inch model - I mean they are easier to reach in my model - maybe this is why...
That would also give an indication of both how long they've been thinking about doing this, and their seriousness about actually doing it.
perfect
this would be perfect for my 15in macbook pro, i was going to buy the new slim line and an imac, but this would solve it.
they had better make one for each existing notebook, would be out of order if it was just for the new one.
you reckon this is actually gunna happen? and is so, jan?
this would be perfect for my 15in macbook pro, i was going to buy the new slim line and an imac, but this would solve it.
they had better make one for each existing notebook, would be out of order if it was just for the new one.
you reckon this is actually gunna happen? and is so, jan?
And for those of you who don't bother reading the thread before posting, someone already posted an image of the duo dock.
That doesn't really qualify as a dock, as a dock usually only has one connector. This just savages the laptop more than it should.
Easy.
The connector it will have to connect to the motherboard will also be able to access all the itnernals of the subnotebook such as power.
This makes perfect sense to me and is a real winner ;
A dock at work and a dock at home - the 'brain' travels around in between them.
The dock is effectively your 'big screen' with some extra ports and maybe a high end graphics card.
A 'next-gen' sub-notebook is going to be capable of running a 2.0 ghz plus core duo which is a plenty fast enough chip.
A dock at work and a dock at home - the 'brain' travels around in between them.
The dock is effectively your 'big screen' with some extra ports and maybe a high end graphics card.
A 'next-gen' sub-notebook is going to be capable of running a 2.0 ghz plus core duo which is a plenty fast enough chip.
Lol that dock in the iMac would be the worst idea ever. Can you imagine paying $1000 for a dock for your laptop?
And inserting the laptop in to that casing like that is just going to be like putting it in an oven.. it's going to overheat way too easily.
And inserting the laptop in to that casing like that is just going to be like putting it in an oven.. it's going to overheat way too easily.
The PowerBook Duo was very popular. Maybe this just is not targeted to you. Business people back then and now will have no problem with the price as it offers two in one computer possibly better then anything on the market.
I would actually get one now!
But that leaves to be said as to how it really works. What will the graphics be like? Would the information only come from the macbook's HD and someone through blackmagic, the content is synchronised with an on board graphics chip so that it doesn't require the macbook to mirror the image basically?
How will the macbook be cooled down if it's essentially working in a clamshell mode?
But it would be cool if there was a niche 2+1 product like this where Apple sells this iMac looking desktop device which is perfect but if you want on the go computing, just slide out an actual laptop included with it. And when your back, just slide it back in and any changes and stuff will be synched to the solid state HD on the iMac docks?
All just seems so interesting. Well done Apple.
But that leaves to be said as to how it really works. What will the graphics be like? Would the information only come from the macbook's HD and someone through blackmagic, the content is synchronised with an on board graphics chip so that it doesn't require the macbook to mirror the image basically?
How will the macbook be cooled down if it's essentially working in a clamshell mode?
But it would be cool if there was a niche 2+1 product like this where Apple sells this iMac looking desktop device which is perfect but if you want on the go computing, just slide out an actual laptop included with it. And when your back, just slide it back in and any changes and stuff will be synched to the solid state HD on the iMac docks?
All just seems so interesting. Well done Apple.
Someone's probably suggested this a few pages on, but I don't have time to read through all the comments at the moment. A thought struck me, though:
Assuming that the undocked base station would have a monitor and hard disk, what if Apple were to add just enough extra hardware to make it effectively an AppleTV? Then you've got a completely usable TV, with content loaded on it, ready for viewing while you use your portable for something else.
Sure, it's a pricey dedicated solution, but it does make the base station less of a space-waste.
Mini dock as well
One can envision a new Mini, no display etc., that slides into the same space as the laptop. It would allow for people to purchase an inexpensive computer and then upgrade to an iMac like device once they have fallen in live with it.
One can envision a new Mini, no display etc., that slides into the same space as the laptop. It would allow for people to purchase an inexpensive computer and then upgrade to an iMac like device once they have fallen in live with it.
So the Ultra Portable is basically a light computer/flash drive. And when docked to this iMac Dock will not only double it processing power, it will double or more the storage capacity, etc...
Interesting, however what would the cost be.
LCD screen have come down in price as OLED screen are just around the corner.
Point being is that you will pay a premium for the Ultra Notebook and then the cost of an iMac as well.
Unless the Ultra Portable is similar to the EeePC ($400) and this iMac Dock is ($800) seems the only price point that might work.
I will stick with my 17" Hi-Res MBP for now.
Interesting, however what would the cost be.
LCD screen have come down in price as OLED screen are just around the corner.
Point being is that you will pay a premium for the Ultra Notebook and then the cost of an iMac as well.
Unless the Ultra Portable is similar to the EeePC ($400) and this iMac Dock is ($800) seems the only price point that might work.
I will stick with my 17" Hi-Res MBP for now.
Yeah! You nailed it!
This is it folks.... makes all the sence in the world. Wouldn't it be great... if you could connect the tablet to the iMac docking station via WiFi from anywhere???? That is what I think we are going to see..... AWESOME!
Bold prediction:
The sub portable everyone is talking about *is* the next gen iMac. Comes in a range of sizes (12" - 24"), with multi-touch as the interface with the tablet when separate from the dock - which incidentally, *is* the external optical drive mentioned in some other rumors.
any takers?
This is it folks.... makes all the sence in the world. Wouldn't it be great... if you could connect the tablet to the iMac docking station via WiFi from anywhere???? That is what I think we are going to see..... AWESOME!
Wondering about the UP's processor...
I'm wondering if Apple may not have worked with Intel on some new performance management features that will allow them to include a more powerful chip than we expect in the UltraPortable. If so, it could match an iMac in performance when docked, and when undocked it could shut down a core and lower it's own voltage to a ULV state, giving the battery life people are going to expect from a device like this.
Possible?
I'm wondering if Apple may not have worked with Intel on some new performance management features that will allow them to include a more powerful chip than we expect in the UltraPortable. If so, it could match an iMac in performance when docked, and when undocked it could shut down a core and lower it's own voltage to a ULV state, giving the battery life people are going to expect from a device like this.
Possible?
This is the REVISED iMac, not a whole separate device
I'm not sure if you're quite catching onto the point, but the iMac, as indicated in the patent application and very well imagined above is NOT a whole new line of hardware, but in fact a revision of the current hardware.
Eg., ALL iMacs will have the ability to become portable since Apple is fully aware that people are gravitating more and more toward laptops and mobile devices. This is kinda like the whole "Every MacBook or MBP comes with a remote and a camera".
Ya get it?
This would really set Apple apart from the pack. This could potentially put them into whole new markets that were previously unattainable. I am very eager to see this come to light as being a standard feature on all desktop iMacs.
I wonder if the dock will have an integrated LCD and the whole laptop just tucks in behind it, or if it will be an open area that a Mac tablet (with multi-touch?) would slide into, as kontheur mocked up:
I'm not sure if you're quite catching onto the point, but the iMac, as indicated in the patent application and very well imagined above is NOT a whole new line of hardware, but in fact a revision of the current hardware.
Eg., ALL iMacs will have the ability to become portable since Apple is fully aware that people are gravitating more and more toward laptops and mobile devices. This is kinda like the whole "Every MacBook or MBP comes with a remote and a camera".
Ya get it?
This would really set Apple apart from the pack. This could potentially put them into whole new markets that were previously unattainable. I am very eager to see this come to light as being a standard feature on all desktop iMacs.
Haha thanks mate
Maybe macrumors (or you if you're feeling generous) will pay me money when it comes true. Not that I will know I'm an Aussie who's going to be in the middle of Patagonia, South America on the 15th... I have no idea how long it will be before I get to watch the keynote... arrrrgh!
Ah well *cough* hiking through pristine glaciers will have to do...
Maybe macrumors (or you if you're feeling generous) will pay me money when it comes true. Not that I will know
I'm an Aussie who's going to be in the middle of Patagonia, South America on the 15th... I have no idea how long it will be before I get to watch the keynote... arrrrgh!Ah well *cough* hiking through pristine glaciers will have to do...
There's a difference between a $100 port replicator/dock and a $1000 dock with integrated monitor.
There's no way in hell a business is going to go buy a bunch of these $1000 imac dock things because then you'd have to buy new ones when you bought new laptops in 3 years.
With a separate dock and monitor, you keep all the monitors and just have to buy new docks for $100.
This is just another one of the hundreds of patents that Apple has filed that are never going to materialize in to anything.
You idea does seem plausible, if that was the case then all you need to do is factor in a 20 or 24" LCD screen in an iMac shell, options actually upgrading the HDD and RAM on a Laptop with Desktop components. And the processor either tunes up or down when docked or undocked.
Interesting...it will merge the desktop and mobility line (synergy).