Apple Sub Notebook Hints: External Optical Drive, MultiTouch Trackpad?

[sushi]

Don't ask how just look.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/macbooktouch/

The top photo has some promise to it.

IMHO, the OQO Model 02 and the Sharp MM20 both epitomize the ultra-portable concept in that they both dock and are not desktop replacements.

The OQO Model 02 does it by having a cradle with an optical drive that you place it in, which then allows it to be connected to an external keyboard, mouse, and display. When you need to leave the office, you just undock your OQO and off you go. All your files are there (with the exception of any external drive files).

The Sharp MM20 does it in similar fashion, but you close it up to place it in the cradle. The cradle is connected to your main computer and the MM20's hard drive shows up on your main computer which allows use of the files on the MM20's hard drive. So if you have all your work files on your MM20, then it is the same as the OQO, you just undock and off you go.

The advantage of the MM20, is that you are really using a desktop machine when you are connected. So you get the full capabilities of a desktop system. Where as with the OQO, when in cradle mode, you are still using the OQO to run the system.

My guess is that Apple is going to pursue the MM20 style concept and use FW in target mode to connect (dock) it if they go that route.

Apple will want a fully functional ultra-portable. What does Apple believe to be a fully functional ultra-portable? That is the 64 dollar question for sure.

This reminds me of the introduction of the iMac. From what I understand, SJ did not make the decision to not include a floppy drive until very close to it's introduction. The inside of the original iMac is hacked together more than any Mac I have every seen and indicates this to be true. I remember all the complaints about not having a floppy drive, and what was Apple thinking. Yet today, how many PCs, desktop or laptop, do you see a floppy drive as standard? Not many. Apple was definitely ahead of the market that time.

Apple also surprised the Mac community when they switched to Intel. The decision was made at the very last minute before the MWSF a couple of years ago. At first everyone thought, oh great, another CPU change like we haven't been through this before. How long is this going to take? When will it be available? And then SJ towards the end of the presentation showed everyone that what he was demoing was done on an Intel Mac. Totally surprising the crowd. Very cool.

And of course for those of us who were around when Apple introduced the first Powerbooks with the trackball in front of the keyboard. Another first that was adopted by the industry -- thankfully.

With the ultra-portable, I see Apple may do the same thing and surprise all of us. The iPhone and iPod Touch have great new multi-touch interfaces. Apple has been known to create excellent laptops and other portable devices. On a side note, the Airport Express still amazes me. Anyhow, daily I get to see my Apple laptop beside Sony and other brands. You can see an inherent difference and approach with Apple. I bet the ultra-portable will be no exception. My best is that we will see Apple crossing some new boundaries with it.

 

[Kentucky Mac]

well you raise a good point...... if the machine does come out similar to this who would buy it...... like where would you use it ? I'm sure Apple are not trying to get a bigger share of the laptop market.... they've already got a big chunk of that.... seems they want a chunk of a new market..... so how does this device separate from laptops/desktops/iphone ?

Now hands up who really uses anything but internet and email for their home PC's ? I think there's your answer..... this aint a pc/laptop in the traditional sense..... Apple also wouldn't slice into their very profitable MacBook sector...... this is for a new market....

Let me preface this by saying that I work from home on a daily basis and sit in front of the computer all day long. All of my accounts are in other cities away from my own.

That being said, when I'm working in the office, I need a full desktop work environment. Currently, I achieve this with my dell and external monitor along with a docking station. With this new concept, I would have that, providing the processing power is capable.

Next possibility, I want to go out on the patio, sit in the recliner, sit in bed, etc. and check my emails, forums, and etc. This unit would allow me to have all of my bookmarks, email accounts, picture files, etc. in a small syncable unit that I can dock every morning and it would automatically sync with the desktop. This is obviously speculative on how the unit would interact with other hardware.

The final option is I take the small portable unit with me on my out of town trips. Usually I spend time at those locations actually working on files. Providing the unit is powerful enough to run bootcamp, and the proprietary windows design software I use, I could use the portable keyboard/docking station and basically have a fully functional desktop configuration in a completely portable unit that takes up muck less space than my 17" Precision 6300. It is though heavily dependent on processing power.

I'm probably asking for too much, but can always hope.

 

[Digital Skunk]

Just out of curiosity, has anybody seen this video? It shows a different perspective on how the new ultra-portable laptop might be, though it seems unlikely.

Terrible.

Ugly, but at least they didn't plaster an iMac screen to a Macbook Pro.



Sorry but the one down here isn't very creative. Ever since the iMac G5, I have wondered why mockup artists insist that a new iMac design is photoshopping the chin out.

 

[Kentucky Mac]

Terrible.

Ugly, but at least they didn't plaster an iMac screen to a Macbook Pro.
View attachment 96506

I agree, ridiculous, let's hope not.

 

[goldenlotus]

Terrible.

Ugly, but at least they didn't plaster an iMac screen to a Macbook Pro.

View attachment 96506

Sorry but the one down here isn't very creative. Ever since the iMac G5, I have wondered why mockup artists insist that a new iMac design is photoshopping the chin out.

View attachment 96507

Come on... this is the ultra mobile design a lot of us having been hoping for. I'm not too keen on the docking system, but the design of the Macbook Touch is exactly like an ipod touch except about 4 times the size and can run the full osx.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/macbooktouch/

This is exactly the device I've been hoping would come out at Macworld. Anyone else with me?

 

[GfPQqmcRKUvP]

I am excited for this new product and will definitely buy it to replace my aging 12 inch PB which has served me well.


I, however, fail to see why people care AT ALL about the weight of the thing? If a 1 or 2 pound difference is important to you, you really need to go to the gym and get in shape, because that's really unimportant in the grand scheme of things. What IS important, however, is the footprint of the device. Of course this is all my opinion and should be taken as such, but if people are complaining between 3 and 4 pounds, that's getting a little bit ridiculous. I care about how much space it takes up and how portable it is.

 

[rezonat0r]

I do think a docking system makes sense, but if they are going to do it, I would think they would have it support the full Macbook Pro line. So if they are going to do it, Jan 15 would be the time. Release the dock, release the ultraportable with the dock connector, and refresh the MBPs with a dock connector.

I, however, fail to see why people care AT ALL about the weight of the thing?

Status. Marketing. Bragging rights.

 

[goldenlotus]

So if they are going to do it, Jan 15 would be the time. Release the dock, release the ultraportable with the dock connector, and refresh the MBPs with a dock connector.

Yeah that sounds pretty solid. Can't wait to see the MW keynote!

 

[NAG]

I just find it amusing people keep thinking they'll go with some sort of enlarged iPhone monstrosity for the subnotebook. Guys, it isn't going to happen. Just because it looks like it came out of star trek doesn't mean it is actually functional.

 

[Peace]

Terrible.

Ugly, but at least they didn't plaster an iMac screen to a Macbook Pro.

View attachment 96506

Sorry but the one down here isn't very creative. Ever since the iMac G5, I have wondered why mockup artists insist that a new iMac design is photoshopping the chin out.

View attachment 96507

I agree.What's with these mock-ups connecting to an iMac period.Do folks realize how much this "dock" would cost?.

 

[aswitcher]

I just find it amusing people keep thinking they'll go with some sort of enlarged iPhone monstrosity for the subnotebook. Guys, it isn't going to happen. Just because it looks like it came out of star trek doesn't mean it is actually functional.

Andy Ihnatko seems pretty hot on the idea http://www.macworld.com/article/131399/2008/01/predictions.html
I can see this coupled with the new BT keyboard as being a device for many people.

Its the sort of thing that could be a second/third mac for many people if its priced right and that SDK works well.

 

[Maldini]

Even if this is fake, it might be really close to the real deal

"Embodiments of a portable computer having one or more input devices including a keyboard and an enlarged or wide touchpad are described herein. A portable computer includes a display assembly and a base assembly coupled by hinge assembly that allows display assembly to change (i.e., rotate) between an open position and a closed position. The display assembly includes a display screen which displays images, data, and a moveable cursor. The wide touchpad and keyboard disposed on the base assembly allow a user to interact with the display screen (e.g., enter data). In one embodiment, the wide touchpad may be a cursor control device having the capabilities of conventional computer mouse devices, such as the ability to point, drag, tap, and double tap objects on a graphical user interface, as well as more general purposes such as scrolling, panning, zooming, and rotating images on display screen. The wide touchpad extends into the areas on the surface of the base assembly that are normally reserved for palm rest areas (e.g., flat areas on the surface of the base assembly that support a user's palms and/or wrists while typing). " read here

 

[TatsuTerror]

However, I can't see the 'button' extending that far, or even existing (in the situation the patent describes). While a multi touch sensor area can be programmed to tell if someone's palms are resting on it, a button is a button, and can't do that.

 

[rezonat0r]

However, I can't see the 'button' extending that far, or even existing (in the situation the patent describes).

Exactly. The obvious solution is to lose the button. Apple despises buttons! The current trackpad doesn't even need its button, so lose it and make the pad multitouch, and most people won't miss it (after a while).

 

[montana]

Exactly. The obvious solution is to lose the button. Apple despises buttons! The current trackpad doesn't even need its button, so lose it and make the pad multitouch, and most people won't miss it (after a while).

Looks like the button is a touch button. Not a physical button. I dont see a rim. Maybe I am seeing things. Anyway. Bed Time

 

[thegman1234]

Exactly. The obvious solution is to lose the button. Apple despises buttons! The current trackpad doesn't even need its button, so lose it and make the pad multitouch, and most people won't miss it (after a while).

I can't see Apple, or any brand for that matter, taking away the mouse button from any laptop or desktop computer. Maybe a tablet, or something similar to the iPhone, but not a "personal computer". Tactile feed back is too important for mouse clicks. It's not necessary on the iPhone because there is no mouse, just your hands. As long as there's a pointer, there will probably be, and should be, a mouse button.

 

[goldenlotus]

I just find it amusing people keep thinking they'll go with some sort of enlarged iPhone monstrosity for the subnotebook. Guys, it isn't going to happen. Just because it looks like it came out of star trek doesn't mean it is actually functional.

Apple won't stop making laptops, no one is saying that. But I think the user interface of the iphone/ipod touch has been proven extremely effective for casual computer use. Apple will want to further market thier products with multi touch and the form of a laptop is not the ideal form to use multi touch comfortably.

They will absolutely continue releasing standard form factor laptops but I don't see why the the idea of a larger more fully featured iphone type device(whether or not it includes phone capabilites) would be so amusing. It would be foolish not to build upon the sucess of these devices.

 

[rezonat0r]

I can't see Apple, or any brand for that matter, taking away the mouse button from any laptop or desktop computer. Maybe a tablet, or something similar to the iPhone, but not a "personal computer". Tactile feed back is too important for mouse clicks.

Who said there was no feedback? There are plenty of ways they could implement feedback. If they want to start weening people over to multitouch, losing the big single mouse button would be a good start.

Plus, if SJ could halve the number of buttons on their laptops to 1 (power) I bet he'd go for it...

 

[kontheur]

 

[anti-microsoft]

Real cool!! I'd buy that (The only downside is the massive trackpad, I'd make it smaller)

 

[Kentucky Mac]

Would someone please explain to me what the benefit of this monstrously large track pad is. I just don't get it. To me the idea of a keyboard width track pad is as antiquated as the trackball. It's time to move into the 21st century.

What I would envision for the Macbook Pro, is a redesigned case with a brushed black finish. Obvious upgrades to processsing power. And lastly a new trackpad design which is essentially a glass screen similar to the iphone screen. This new trackpad would have icons to each side to create shortcuts to most used programs and the icons would all be customizable. Essentially it would be a mini dock right at your fingertips. The glass screen would permit the multitouch capability along with some of the benefits of the Iphone experience.

Finally, the new Mactouch Pro, if that's what it is called, will create a whole new segment for Apple. It is not, and I repeat, is not, meant to replace the Macbook Pro line. Think about it. Everyone has been talking about a Ultra Mobile PC unit. Excuse the PC part. Not a not a mini notebook. This would completely fill the niche to which Apple has no product. If you look at the computer product line-up, they go from the Iphone, to the macbook, to the Macbook Pro line on up to the desktop units. I know the macbook is a small portable notebook, but it is not innovative and is not likely to create a buzz for Apple and their sales. A whole new segment for them will, just like the Iphone did last year.

Maybe I'm wrong about all this considering I am a Windoze user at the moment, but I am definitely converting to a mac after the 15th. Whether I buy a Imac and a 15" macbook pro for portability, or I buy whatever is in the works for this highly portable unit.
One thing is for sure, all of my Windows hardware will be for sale by the end of January. I guess Steve must have done something right as I never considered an Apple product until I bought the Iphone.

 

[fiftydollarshoe]

Real cool!! I'd buy that (The only downside is the massive trackpad, I'd make it smaller)

I still don't understand...... if its a sub-notebook with MT and docking capability why do you want to jam the entire OS X into the notebook ? Isn't this what we are trying to get away from ? ie Microsoft make the mistake of trying to jam Windows and its apps into its mobile device..... Jobs is trying to have cut down OS X into a mobile device which is then synced or docked.... this way you have people who will buy both devices thus not sabotaging your current market.... Jobs said at a Q&A this year that MT really only works on smaller devices with simpler interfaces.... I cant see an entire full blown OS having multitouch.... its not practical and makes the OS way to complicated...... remember modeless OS is the key here - Alan Kay was big on that (The mini laptop uses a mesh network and is similar to a cell phone with a big keyboard and screen There’s a crank to generate power)........ also having the mouse button in the middle of the trackpad is stupid.... the user is required to continually reach over from left or right back to the center of the keyboard.... also it will be brushed continually by the palms of your hands and thumbs.... wont work.... the nintendo DS style notebook will work thou.....

 

[fiftydollarshoe]

Would someone please explain to me what the benefit of this monstrously large track pad is. I just don't get it. To me the idea of a keyboard width track pad is as antiquated as the trackball. It's time to move into the 21st century.

What I would envision for the Macbook Pro, is a redesigned case with a brushed black finish. Obvious upgrades to processsing power. And lastly a new trackpad design which is essentially a glass screen similar to the iphone screen. This new trackpad would have icons to each side to create shortcuts to most used programs and the icons would all be customizable. Essentially it would be a mini dock right at your fingertips. The glass screen would permit the multitouch capability along with some of the benefits of the Iphone experience.

Finally, the new Mactouch Pro, if that's what it is called, will create a whole new segment for Apple. It is not, and I repeat, is not, meant to replace the Macbook Pro line. Think about it. Everyone has been talking about a Ultra Mobile PC unit. Excuse the PC part. Not a not a mini notebook. This would completely fill the niche to which Apple has no product. If you look at the computer product line-up, they go from the Iphone, to the macbook, to the Macbook Pro line on up to the desktop units. I know the macbook is a small portable notebook, but it is not innovative and is not likely to create a buzz for Apple and their sales. A whole new segment for them will, just like the Iphone did last year.
.

Well stated... they are not trying to replace the MacBook here.. thats crazy.... they want a new market.... and you're the perfect demographic..... most people never ever use anywhere near all of the functionality of a full blown OS - on the move..... so why have it...... functions is the key here as you describe above....

 

[Mr Ikasu]

That comes the closest to what I imagine will come out. Maybe in aluminium but other than that, probably about spot on.

I imagine they are going to create a small, light laptop and that will be about it. Nothing else too groundshaking. You never know though.

Either way, I have just sold my year old MacBook C2D to fund a purchase of whatever Apple decide to bring out.
For me the combination of iMac (hopefully a Mac Pro before too long) for most of my work and a light laptop for when I do need to leave the house is perfect.

10 days...

 

[goldenlotus]

Finally, the new Mactouch Pro, if that's what it is called, will create a whole new segment for Apple. It is not, and I repeat, is not, meant to replace the Macbook Pro line. Think about it. Everyone has been talking about a Ultra Mobile PC unit. Excuse the PC part. Not a not a mini notebook. This would completely fill the niche to which Apple has no product. If you look at the computer product line-up, they go from the Iphone, to the macbook, to the Macbook Pro line on up to the desktop units. I know the macbook is a small portable notebook, but it is not innovative and is not likely to create a buzz for Apple and their sales. A whole new segment for them will, just like the Iphone did last year.

Yep that's why continuation of the iphone form factor into a larger portable is highly likely at Macworld. They want to create another buzz, something an updated macbook won't do. Doesn't mean there won't be an updated macbook as well though.