Apple Developing New Palmtop Mac?

[JtheLemur]

It's a good thing at least one of us has insider information. I know Jobsy is going to draw-and-quarter me for this but hey, whatever. Here you go baby.

 

[bdkennedy1]

I'm torn on this news. On one hand I think it's a cool idea. I've always liked PDAs and their potential, espeically if you combine this with Apple's newfound love of Motorola.... 🙂

However these devices aren't nearly as hot as they used to be. However Blackberries are doing well so maybe it's a variation on that theme?

I think the picture is misleading everyone to believe that's what it's going to look like. What has Apple done that wasn't jaw-dropping over the past 8 years? You can bet if they're going to do something like this it's going to be sweet.

 

[bdkennedy1]

It's a good thing at least one of us has insider information. I know Jobsy is going to draw-and-quarter me for this but hey, whatever. Here you go baby.

Pretty ugly Photoshop job.

 

[rikers_mailbox]

If this is mearly a note about some internal Apple spec for a palmtop, that by no means indicates there is any plan to produce such a device. A spec is SO early in the development cycle that this thing may not even be prototyped.

This rumor is in the noise, and rightfully posted on the deuce.

 

[JtheLemur]

Pretty ugly Photoshop job.

Thanks! 🙄

 

[Daveway]

This soo stupid. Everyone knows the pocketpc market is dying out as we speak. 🙄

 

[iindigo]

Found this on Apple's server when I was looking for Tiger stuff:

Ok, so I didn't 🙄 I made it myself tho...


I could see Apple bringing out something like that. I wish they would, the Newton left a gaping hole that needs to be filled -

 

[zv470]

Apple Palmtop

First thought.... Noooo 🙁
Second thought... phew... its just a page 2 rumor 😱

PDAs are dead. The Smartphones are taking over.

 

[Macheath_Messer]

PDA's aren't totally dead. . .yet

PDA's may be dead to all the nerds/geeks, but they're still alive and kicking pretty well for the Pharmacy/Medical nerds/geeks. 😀

As a Pharmacy student, I use my PDA for accessing drug information databases. It sure beats lugging around several large books.

If Smartphones are the way to go, they'd better start coming down in price! 😎

This "iBook Mini" concept would be interesting to me. I'd love something such as this for taking notes in class (including being able to draw freehand chemical structures), and then being able to use it for typing up papers on the go, as well as being able to go online while on campus.


Maybe that's just me; perhaps I'd be better served with an iBook. 😕

FWIW

 

[ccrandall77]

This would be awesome!

I love being able to get my email, ssh into my machine, browse the web, run SOAP apps, watching pre-recorded TV and movies, listening to MP3s, while I'm out and about. So to that end, I spent major $$$ for a Treo 650, iPod-mini (was a 40GB model), and a Zaurus SL-C760 with wifi/bluetooth.

Now my work stuck me with pager and I look like frickin' Batman (or Choda Boy) with all the gadgets on my belt. If Apple came out with a PDA-type device that integrated with OS X, had mini versions of their stock apps and some iLife apps, and had integrated 802.11g and bluetooth with a keyboard, I could sell all that other crap.

It's gotta have at least a 4-6GB HDD and builtin wireless, though!

Actually, it'd be very cool if they partnered with Motorola to update the A630. I owned one briefly (T-Mob coverage didn't work for me) and loved the form factor, but the software on it sucked. If they redid that model so it had a slightly larger internal screen, OS X lite, and at least a mini-SD slot (or a CF HDD!) that would be cool. That definitely would replace my PDA, cell phone, and iPod.

 

[swissmann]

I'd buy one. I hope this is true, but doubt it.

 

[superleccy]

No thanks.

My pockets are already full, carrying round an iPod and a mobile phone.

I used to carry a Palm too, but it didn't havet a single application that couldn't be handled in some way by either my 40G iPod or my Nokia 7610 (yes, even taking the SyncML/iSync issues into account). OK, so a PDA might be better at some tasks than either the iPod or the smartphone, but not so much that it's worth carrying yet another gadget everywhere.

S'leccy.

 

[wdlove]

PDA's may be dead to all the nerds/geeks, but they're still alive and kicking pretty well for the Pharmacy/Medical nerds/geeks. 😀

As a Pharmacy student, I use my PDA for accessing drug information databases. It sure beats lugging around several large books.

If Smartphones are the way to go, they'd better start coming down in price! 😎

FWIW

Yes, my wife is very dependent on her Palm Pilot. It allows her to download the latest drug, disease, and other medical data. Comes in very handy at a patients home. Anything new would need this ability.

 

[Stella]

They will come down in price.

Nokia want to bring series 60 devices to the mid range from the high range of phones.

Can't wait.. even more Symbian devices to dominate the smartphone land scape.

PDA's may be dead to all the nerds/geeks, but they're still alive and kicking pretty well for the Pharmacy/Medical nerds/geeks. 😀

As a Pharmacy student, I use my PDA for accessing drug information databases. It sure beats lugging around several large books.

If Smartphones are the way to go, they'd better start coming down in price! 😎

This "iBook Mini" concept would be interesting to me. I'd love something such as this for taking notes in class (including being able to draw freehand chemical structures), and then being able to use it for typing up papers on the go, as well as being able to go online while on campus.


Maybe that's just me; perhaps I'd be better served with an iBook. 😕

FWIW

 

[Yvan256]

I think almost everyone agrees that "PDAs are dead", but IMO a compact iBook (iBook mini) would surely sell. I know I'd buy one.

Don't make it any less than the iBook (no special OS X version, no special hardware) and you get a more portable than laptop, better than PDA solution.

Doesn't IBM have something like a low-power G3 with altivec? Imagine the batteries lasting for like 20 hours... 😀

Drop the CD drive, put in one PCMCIA type II slot. Keep the laptop 2.5" drive (the iPod drives can't last much when used as computer hard disks if I remember correctly).

 

[Graeme]

iWalk? iNewton? iBook Mini? Mini Book?

Pffffft I don't have any enthusiasm for this 'rumor' what so ever.

How about the PowerPod, a la the iPod. Only if it plays music too though.

 

[biohazard6969]

if they were going to do something like this, how big would it be? like r we talkin mini laptop? i.e. 6-10" screen? or PDA? and would it be like a foldout keyboard? (that would be rele cool)

 

[dotdotdot]

Ugh - I saw these before - they are like 7" or 8" laptops... they really, really suck. Like, big time.

Like, I wouldn't buy this...

...and neither would anyone when they can get a 12" iBook/Powerbook... why go DOWN when most (not me though) want a 13.3" Pb... although a 10.1", 13.3", 15" and 17" PB line would be cool, and a 10.1" would fit in w/ the iBook series...

 

[asphalt-proof]

I think that the only way his could be conceiveable is if its a communication device like blackberry. I love the Blackberry! I think that there is only one other company that does push communication so there would be room for Apple to get in there. Especially if its incorporated with .Mac. Its true that handhelds are dead, but the market is really growing for smartphones. An Apple Smartphones with a blackberry Push-type email program compbined with there ability to make things "just work" would put them in the forefront in another tech area. I REALLY hope this pans out! A clamshell device like the SideKick II or the Nokia 9xxx would be very cool.

 

[Cybernanga]

At least the guy's at Engadget have a much better mock-up

The bitchlog one looks sooo fake it's sad.

 

[ki-goi]

make it screenless, call it "ibook shuffle"

hey wasn't there another rumor of a flat mystery box with an altivec G3...?

anyway in defense of PDAs - it seems like, outside of sales execs, people just aren't really geeky enough for them yet - when we're out and about everything we need we get just by calling friends or something.

my handspring (aka "alkaline-powered quadra") is still chugging along with a beautiful research database setup using filemaker/jfile. various dictionaries, tide tables, star charts, books, travel guides, train schedules, outliner, stopwatch, international clock, advanced calculator, regular do-it apps. screen's twice the size of a smartphone's.

basically any time i wish i had some info, i go and find it for the handheld, load it, and it's there next time. it's true most of the info stuff you can get from the web... but carrying it in your pocket is a lot cheaper than paying for mobile web access...

 

[wdlove]

if they were going to do something like this, how big would it be? like r we talking mini laptop? i.e. 6-10" screen? or PDA? and would it be like a foldout keyboard? (that would be rele cool)

How about the PowerPod, a la the iPod. Only if it plays music too though.

Would like to see the size still be about the size of the Palm. My wife has leather bound protector. It doesn't really need a fold out keyboard, but a built in keyboard. A similar setup to the Palm.

 

[awinn233]

I doubt it...

 

[hob]

I would buy it in a second.

I have been waiting a long time for Apple to do the PDA properly... (I wasn't really old enough when newtons were around... Though I do remember some other kids dad letting him play with his newton on a train... I looked at my dad with dissapointment!)

 

[Analog Kid]

make it screenless, call it "ibook shuffle"

It's rare for a post to get me laughing out loud, but you got me with this one...