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

that looks really good

mailmanbaby said:
Don't ask how just look.

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

Here is what I know about it. I dont know how new these are but they seemed pretty recent as they have shots of them.

-The MacBook Touch is the computer part. It has Multi Touch of course and works well as a thumb keyboard when turned vertically. It has minimal inputs outputs since it is has Wireless USB, blue tooth and WiFi, and the Dock Systems will accomplish the heavier stuff. It has a hinge to prop upright when used with the keyboard base station dock thing. It has iSight and microphone and speakers in the bottom. It has Headphone jack and bluetooth audio. It runs OS X with modified Touch commands.

-There are 2 docking type of systems. One with screen, one without.


- The Keyboard Wireless Dock connects to the dock using Wireless USB.

It also has a bigger hard drive, Some sort of DVD player/burner, inputs for your USB and Firewire devices.

The whole keyboard part itself is used as a large multitouch track pad. Since the keys need to be depressed when hit, you can do lighter touches as you move across the whole thing.

- As you can see in one of the pictures the keyboard and touch are on top of each other, this is accomplished with magnets.

-The Screen docking system is uses normal apple keyboards and mice, wired or bluetooth. It connects power and Mini-DVI, and everything else is run through Wireless USB.
Click to expand...

that one is soooooooo much better than the "iMove" that I did ;) - http://www.pimpmyumpc.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=9
 
haimeaabm.jpg


Sorry, I'm terrible in Photoshop, but here's my mockup.
 
rezonat0r said:
Not sure what you mean by "realistically", but if you mean a "real implementation" of haptic feedback it has been done for a while. It's not difficult to make a flat surface vibrate.

For instance, this Samsung phone:
http://www.unwiredview.com/2007/11/05/samsung-sph-m4650-multi-touch-smartphone/

Nokia's doing it too:
http://www.intomobile.com/2007/11/06/nokia-shows-off-some-seriously-cool-haptic-feedback-touchscreen-tech-haptikos-takes-haptic-feedback-to-a-whole-new-level.html

The future of multitouch includes haptic feedback. The iPhone just doesn't have it yet. The new ultraportable may not have it yet. But like I said, the first step is to lose the big single mouse button.

It's one less button for Apple to design around, saves space, plus it will REALLY throw the "haha-macs-have-one-button" haters for a loop. I hope they do it.
Click to expand...

Of course you could do that, that's obvious. However when it comes to mouse clicking, in my opinion I feel like the "click" is important. I know when the button on my touchpad gets stuck for whatever reason, and doesn't click, it's VERY annoying.

If you don't feel it's necessary, and you don't feel the lack of the click will bother you then that's fine. To each his own.

Digital Skunk said:
Agreed. I can see where some people would just want to know that they pressed a button, so haptics on the Touch trackpad would be a nice addition. If done I hope Apple puts in the software to turn it off just in case I and others don't care for it.
Click to expand...

This would be better than nothing.
 
rezonat0r said:
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).
Click to expand...
I think the button is there for one of the same reasons the iphone home button is there. A multitouch trackpad would be software controlled, so how would it work without the correct software. During OS X installation you have to use the button. Tapping the pad doesnt work (much to my annoyance). I suppose it can be rectified through firmwares etc, but even then you need the button to eject cds from macs that wont start properly!

Cooknn said:
I assume you missed the recent Apple Patent Filing :eek:
Click to expand...
Just because its patented, doesnt mean its going to be used. I hope they dont, because it will be the biggest waste of money, resources and space ever created. Thats just my opinion though.

psychofreak said:
Its horrible IMO...
Click to expand...
+1. One of the few things windows gets right. I can do it on windows laptops, but macs tend to be a little less predictable.
 
thegman1234 said:
However when it comes to mouse clicking, in my opinion I feel like the "click" is important. I know when the button on my touchpad gets stuck for whatever reason, and doesn't click, it's VERY annoying.
Click to expand...

The biggest criticism of multitouch is the lack of tactile feedback, so obviously they are working on this. The question is will they show a solution at MW. If they do, I hope the same trackpad is implemented on the 15 and 17". Then we will start to see real separation between ordinary PCs and a Mac when it comes to multitouch.

notsofatjames said:
One of the few things windows gets right. I can do it on windows laptops, but macs tend to be a little less predictable.
Click to expand...

Dragging with the touchpad? It works fine in OS X. I think I know what you mean though. I find the current trackpads on the MBP line to be laggy and fairly imprecise compared to the old Synaptics pad on my Dell. Another reason I hope the trackpad gets an update.
 
Oh, and thesdx, you did fine with the mockup. I do think the new laptop will be thinner though. Probably .5" or less when closed.
 
rezonat0r said:
The biggest criticism of multitouch is the lack of tactile feedback, so obviously they are working on this. The question is will they show a solution at MW. If they do, I hope the same trackpad is implemented on the 15 and 17". Then we will start to see real separation between ordinary PCs and a Mac when it comes to multitouch....
Click to expand...

If they can come up with a way to recreate the feedback from a mouse click I will more than welcome a multi touch trackpad.

Maybe they could do something like the way my old touch screen in-dash dvd player worked. The screen was raised, and when u touched it, it depressed very slightly.
 
Cooknn said:
I assume you missed the recent Apple Patent Filing :eek:
Click to expand...

I saw that... A vertical docking station: possible. A docking station that IS an iMac (or any other kind of Macintosh computer in itself): not a hope.

Edit: What could be possible, is a universal docking station that works with the ultraportable and all the Macbook Pro's. This could be an option for all professional Apple notebooks. For this, the ultraportable and the new MBP's will have to have the same port configuration on the side. The docking station could have an optical drive, 20 inch screen, and better stereo speakers, as well as sockets for all remaining the notebook ports. This would be quite expensive, but it could still make business sense.
 
I hope all of the new laptops will have multitouch trackpads. I'm not too fond of ultra-portables but after having my ipod touch, i cant live without multitouch either!
 
anti-microsoft said:
Cool!! What exactly is that though? 'cos the MacBook Nano is next to it (Right) and on its left, is that the external optical drive??
Click to expand...

That's what I thought... Very interesting and the only "it could be real" pic's I've seen. The 8" is a OSX touch seemingly ultra Ipod. And it does look like a "nano" book next to it w. ext. drive. I don't think a totally new and revolutionary product will be forthcoming at MW but evolutionary - ipod touch into 8" touchbookwhatever, MBP into nano MBP to fit the long missing 12" PB spot in laptop line.
 
NC MacGuy said:
That's what I thought... Very interesting and the only "it could be real" pic's I've seen. The 8" is a OSX touch seemingly ultra Ipod. And it does look like a "nano" book next to it w. ext. drive. I don't think a totally new and revolutionary product will be forthcoming at MW but evolutionary - ipod touch into 8" touchbookwhatever, MBP into nano MBP to fit the long missing 12" PB spot in laptop line.
Click to expand...

Newton II??
 
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