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Apple Sub Notebook Hints: External Optical Drive, MultiTouch Trackpad?
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A person should look at the whole line-up!
The thing that strikes me is that Apple's overall line-up does not have it's usual flow. The new Aluminum iMacs look nothing like their consumer intended counterpart, the white/black MacBooks. They actually look more like the Pro-line products.
I see the entire Pro-line moving to a completely different form factor(Black Aluminum?) and away from the brushed, which will become the new consumer-line look.
I don't really see where an ultra-portable fits in. But I personally don't see any reason against an external optical drive. Then Apple could sell many types of drives(combo, Blu-ray or whatever is around the corner) in an elegant Apple enclosure. I actually see this a terrific step towards more customizable portables!
In any case, I think we will see some major changes announced on the 15th. The Pro-line needs something more than another anemic speed bump!
The thing that strikes me is that Apple's overall line-up does not have it's usual flow. The new Aluminum iMacs look nothing like their consumer intended counterpart, the white/black MacBooks. They actually look more like the Pro-line products.
I see the entire Pro-line moving to a completely different form factor(Black Aluminum?) and away from the brushed, which will become the new consumer-line look.
I don't really see where an ultra-portable fits in. But I personally don't see any reason against an external optical drive. Then Apple could sell many types of drives(combo, Blu-ray or whatever is around the corner) in an elegant Apple enclosure. I actually see this a terrific step towards more customizable portables!
In any case, I think we will see some major changes announced on the 15th. The Pro-line needs something more than another anemic speed bump!
iPhone Trackpad
Anyone think this is a good idea?
Take a black Macbook.
Where the touchpad is, make a recessed docking station for your iphone/ipod touch.
Now the iphone itself is the multitouch trackpad. Now imagine the possibilities. You could mirror your main screen right on the trackpad/iphone itself and interact via multitouch with whatever you wanted to (without the fatigue of reaching up to a multitouch main LCD)
You could have hot keys pop up on the iphone trackpad. Contextual buttons for various programs you may use frequently. New skins for Apple to sell you. Extra characters. Etc. The dock itself could live on the pad. One button to launch an app. Switch songs on itunes easily while running another app. Millions of possibilities.
It also is constantly syncing the iphone to the mac.
Any thoughts?
Anyone think this is a good idea?
Take a black Macbook.
Where the touchpad is, make a recessed docking station for your iphone/ipod touch.
Now the iphone itself is the multitouch trackpad. Now imagine the possibilities. You could mirror your main screen right on the trackpad/iphone itself and interact via multitouch with whatever you wanted to (without the fatigue of reaching up to a multitouch main LCD)
You could have hot keys pop up on the iphone trackpad. Contextual buttons for various programs you may use frequently. New skins for Apple to sell you. Extra characters. Etc. The dock itself could live on the pad. One button to launch an app. Switch songs on itunes easily while running another app. Millions of possibilities.
It also is constantly syncing the iphone to the mac.
Any thoughts?
You should wait. Either way you will still have access to current line-up for months after any new release is announces, more than likely with better pricing. It is much safer to wait, then you go into your purchase with your eyes wide open.
You must be one of those with Cellular Wireless. Most laptop's have wireless (Wifi), blue tooth, etc built in. I really do not see much use for those. A card reader for the little storage cards that go in camera's ok. But I do not pop my card out of the camera. Most manufactures agree that the connectors wearing out and risk of static when sliding those cards in and out is not work taking them in and out.
If that pic is fake. Great job. Even got the shading where the light hits the mac.
Wow, I want one even if it's fake
Honestly can't tell for sure if its fake or not.
check this:
http://66.226.75.96/pig/
it's clear that the fella who retouched the "monster pig" photos 'shopped this computer image, too. From a spot on the grassy knoll...
it was obviously disconnected (improperly) for the picture. See the error message
13 inches is NOT ultraportable, no matter how thin or light it is.
Why do people keep calling it that?! If indeed it is 13 inches, my guess is that it is either a 13 inch MBP or a completely new revision of the MB line, not an entirely new line of MB "nano"....why would they even call it that when the computer has the same footprint as the MB and when people see them side by side in a store, it will sound ridiculous to call it a mini version unless it's an actual mini computer, which this would not be!!!
I think the idea behind ultra-portable is the weight and thickness. think of the college student lugging around all the text books, or walking a large campus between classes. My dell XPS is small, but still weighs. I would not want to be lugging it around all day between classes. Nor if I was a travelling sales/business person would I want something heavy to lug around between meetings/presentations.
Apple could easily abandon the optical drive (in the ultra-portable) much like they did the floppy.
Sure, you need it to install software occasionally, but Jobs won't let occasional use of something stand in the way of a fantastic new product design. Nor would they include a bulky, inconvenient external drive for said occasional use. Not today's Apple.
What are the options? Assuming the ultra-portable is announced, would Apple even provide a software install option, even as an accessory? Possible. I doubt it would be included. Apple loves to "tell" people to buy extra hardware to meet their needs (indirectly, of course) beyond the ideal application of the product. Less likely would be a "docking station" of some kind, although some people might like that.
One thing certain is it will not be low-cost, but rather a premium product. Don't expect it to be cheap.
Sure, you need it to install software occasionally, but Jobs won't let occasional use of something stand in the way of a fantastic new product design. Nor would they include a bulky, inconvenient external drive for said occasional use. Not today's Apple.
What are the options? Assuming the ultra-portable is announced, would Apple even provide a software install option, even as an accessory? Possible. I doubt it would be included. Apple loves to "tell" people to buy extra hardware to meet their needs (indirectly, of course) beyond the ideal application of the product. Less likely would be a "docking station" of some kind, although some people might like that.
One thing certain is it will not be low-cost, but rather a premium product. Don't expect it to be cheap.
Apple needs to loose the "white" - they got rid of the white iPod...
The new Macbooks will match the colors of the iPod Classic - Black or silver.
The new Macbooks will match the colors of the iPod Classic - Black or silver.
There's been a lot of questioning along the lines of.. "if it doesn't come with a drive, then how will you use CDs / install software / etc." If I were Apple, the most obvious way I could see is to make it ultra simple to use other Macs as the CD drive. Most of us have more than one Mac, and Leopard makes it ridiculously easy to use stuff on other machines, so why not have some way to use your desktop Mac's drive as the CD drive on the sub-notebook too? Sure, an external drive will be required for those who don't have any existing computers, but could still be a paid option as most of us don't need it if they get cross-computer sharing working.
If this post accurately describes you, then it is not the product for you. Buy any of there other products. However, as you can see from the posts or any casual survey of people, a large percentage of people hardly ever use their optical drive. Apple needs to design a product to create a maximum market and to compromise the entire design a laptop to accommodate a handful of users (or people that think they need an optical drive but don't) just does not make sense.
I always get files on USB keys by the way as they are not common at 4gb and 8gb sizes.
P.S. Everyone will be downloading movies within the next year or so and so the DVD point is less relevant. Spinning an optical drive to watch films is a horribly waste of energy on a laptop.
Please note that there have been numerous laptops without optical drives over the years and that manufacturers (Apple, Dell, whomever) have lots of experience dealing with these kind of issues.
Sounds like you should get a MacBook or an MBP - you're not the target customer for the thin and light....
iPhone similar?
I would have to agree with this post. Think about it - My iPhone is the smallest sub-notebook you can buy. I have NO CD/DVD/Superdrive - yet I have all the Movies, Videos, Music, Appointments, Documents, Photos, and access to the Internet!!
Who in the world needs a CD/DVD Drive built in? The future is already here and the iPhone started the revolution!
Excuse me, but optical media is so old-fashioned. I mean, come on, gimme a break. Handing over a CD or DVD for data transfer in 2008 is like using a floppy disk in 2000!
Any of you ever heard of USB-Flash sticks? And given the amount of data, your clients transfer, they or you should consider setting up a VPN-connection with your laptop anyway.
Bottom-Line: By the time, the Lead-In on your optical media is written, you should have the most data on your laptop depending on transfer method.
I wouldn't mind leaving behind the optical drive. I barely use it. And to the nay-sayers: Apple could very well include a USB-stick for software restore. That'd be freakin' cool.
And on another note: We are talking about a sub-notebook, aren't we? In my mind a sub-notebook is a very nice and neat travel companion to access and modify data fast. But the real work is done on the office desktop, which is perfectly synced with the sub-notebook. Am I wrong here?
If you have your synced dektop Mac at the office, especially combined with Leopards Mac sharing features, then you even don't need optical media to access your media files anyway!
Gee...I'd love to have that nice little fellow, if it has enough power to do the basic work on the road!
I would have to agree with this post. Think about it - My iPhone is the smallest sub-notebook you can buy. I have NO CD/DVD/Superdrive - yet I have all the Movies, Videos, Music, Appointments, Documents, Photos, and access to the Internet!!
Who in the world needs a CD/DVD Drive built in? The future is already here and the iPhone started the revolution!
It is for me. Bring it in around .5 inch thick, 2.5 lbs and I'd consider it ultraportable. Moreover, the larger screen and full size keyboard will reduce eyestrain and make typing easier. I'd greatly prefer this to anything smaller. I always think people greatly overestimate how little usable space is on a 12 inch letterbox screen let alone a 10 or 11 inch one. I own ultraportables (non-Apple obviously) in those sizes as well and find them a bit tough for everyday use.
If that pic were real it would have 10.5.2 on it..
I have 10.5.2
The pic is fake
No it is running 10.5.3 with the new 7 inch long SUPER MOUSE button that gets depressed whenever you put your palms on the subnotebook to type.
It's not a bug! It's a feature!
I found the Spy Photos!!!!!!
I was just emailed this Spy Photo from Apple HQ.....
I was just emailed this Spy Photo from Apple HQ.....