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bdkennedy1

Suspended
Oct 24, 2002
1,275
528
OMG. The end of the optical drive like the floppy drive on the iMac. Steve quit making me feel old! Or do you have some sort of technology for that?
 

Clive At Five

macrumors 65816
May 26, 2004
1,438
0
St. Paul, MN
If Apple tossed in a 4 or even 8GB flash drive, I'd say "see ya" to the optical drive. ODDs are barbaric. All these years and we're still using freaking spinning media! Not only that but think about how scratch-prone they are!

Not to say flash drives are indestructible (I know first-hand), but they're much easier, quicker, and sturdier than Optical media. The only complaint some might have is storage... in which case, don't buy this computer. Simple as that.

-Clive
 

Cepe Indicum

macrumors regular
Oct 11, 2006
160
0
This sounds great... the first rumour I've actually got excited about in ages! Probably because it's Mac related.

With the miniaturisation on show in iPhone, this should be fairly easy for Apple, shouldn't it? Take away the Multitouch, replace it with an actual keyboard and track pad, increase hard-drive and RAM (which there is plenty of room to do, given that it'll be bigger than iPhone) and - in the words of Mr Jobs himself - "Boom"! :)
 

siurpeeman

macrumors 603
Dec 2, 2006
6,318
23
the OC
I think anything smaller than 12 inches is almost unusable as a fully-featured computer. I think a 13 inch widescreen is the sweet spot in size. I'd really love to see a 13" MacBook Pro because I'd like more power than the MacBook, but in a smaller and more affordable package than the 15" MacBookPro.


If this is true, then mark my words: it'll be called the MacBook mini.

Not the MiniBook or NanoBook?
 

fraggle

macrumors member
Jun 10, 2003
75
0
Switzerland
I think anything smaller than 12 inches is almost unusable as a fully-featured computer. I think a 13 inch widescreen is the sweet spot in size. I'd really love to see a 13" MacBook Pro because I'd like more power than the MacBook, but in a smaller and more affordable package than the 15" MacBookPro.

I used a 10" Sony laptop a few years back. Of course no optical drive in it but for use on the road is was great! Today I would also prefer 12" as I need a decent resolution!

If this is true, then mark my words: it'll be called the MacBook mini.

MacBook Pro mini!

The reason mainly being that it will be more expensive than a MacBook (being smaller normally makes things more expensive...) and they will probably use an enclosure similar to the MacBook Pros (metal, not plastic).
 

Clive At Five

macrumors 65816
May 26, 2004
1,438
0
St. Paul, MN
Not the MiniBook or NanoBook?

No way. Apple LOVES its consistent product matrix.

Now the only odd ball is the iMac... or the lack of "iMacBook," however you choose to look at it.

If Apple ever DOES come out with a prosumer tower, how will they ever avoid just calling it "Mac"? Maybe THIS is why there isn't one.

heh... totally kidding.

-Clive
 

mixel

macrumors 68000
Jan 12, 2006
1,729
976
Leeds, UK
I really do not want a tablet to be released. What do you people use tablets for?

Art. I'd love a photoshop running mac-tablet. If it had a docking keyboard type thing that'd be fine too.

I'd *really* love something like a giiiant nintendo DS with a touch keyboard at the bottom.. That'd be crazy. :D as long as it was small enough to put on your lap fully open in any orientation anyway.
 

iMacZealot

macrumors 68020
Mar 11, 2005
2,237
3
No way. Apple LOVES its consistent product matrix.

Now the only odd ball is the iMac... or the lack of "iMacBook," however you choose to look at it.

If Apple ever DOES come out with a prosumer tower, how will they ever avoid just calling it "Mac"? Maybe THIS is why there isn't one.

heh... totally kidding.

-Clive


Yeah, they've split the line from the i's and power's to Mac and MacBook. You have the two pro's (Mac Pro and MacBook Pro,) and it would make sense to have a MacBook Mini to complement the Mac Mini. While the iMac doesn't really fit anymore, it wouldn't make sense to have a computer just called "Mac." However, I have a feeling that when it's redesigned, the iMac may also see a new name.
 

coffeecty

macrumors newbie
Jul 29, 2006
20
0
Why hasn't anyone suggested something like This?
I remember using this at my school ages ago. It was a DREAM to use.
Ok, I know it was running Windows... And yes, it was 1994, but Come on It was so cool for the time.
I could imagine Apple releasing something somewhat similar to that design. No trackpad, a touchscreen, and either a detachable (but I know Steve would never approve something that could possibly be removed from the product to make it slightly less usable) or built in KB.
And, possibly it would be clad in the same 5 colour scheme of the shuffles?
 

nagromme

macrumors G5
May 2, 2002
12,546
1,196
Ah, the Duo. The first Mac I couldn't stop myself from wanting even in my anti-Mac days.

I think I can hold out for Penryn to be added... but if the thing comes out with at least 128 MB of real VRAM, I may have to buy now! Even if that means giving up an iPhone and some meals....

I don't expect a touchscreen though. A keyboard and mouse have traditional advantages that make a touchscreen unnecessary--and I don't see it being a convertible if the plan is ultrathin. (Which is just what I want--and an external optical drive is A-OK with me.)
 

freddiecable

macrumors 6502a
May 16, 2003
656
196
Sweden
Specs:

1. 10 - 12" widescreen OLED.
2. 32GB NAND + 80 GB 1.8"-drive.
3. Regular keyboard (multitouch can't replace this as I see it).
4. Multitouch-enabled larger touch/mouse-pad for enhanced interaction with adapted applications like iPhoto? (don't believe the screen is going to be multitouched since it's going to be ruined and it's not properly fixed so it will be pushed back all the time).
5. No optical drive.
6. Very slim and light.
 

Philsy

macrumors 6502a
Jul 29, 2004
631
12
South coast of England
A Duo-type dock is so last century.

How about a mini notebook computer that automatically and wirelessly links to your full size keyboard, mouse and screen whenever it is in range of them?

That, I'd like. :apple:
 

pesc

macrumors regular
Jan 20, 2006
190
67
Not that I think it will ever happen, but I really wish Apple would have the guts to NOT use widescreen aspect ratio on a subnotebook.

For a computer meant to WORK with, the more pixels the better. Given the same PPI, a widescreen (reduced height screen) has fewer pixels than 4:3. And at subnotebook sizes, the extra pixels that 4:3 gives would be welcome.

Unless all you do is watching movies.
 

NewSc2

macrumors 65816
Jun 4, 2005
1,044
2
New York, NY
Does anybody seriously think Apple's "doing away" with optical drives? What is Apple going to do, sell Leopard pre-mounted onto flash drives? Download it?

We still use spinning hard drives, and spinning optical drives will be around for a long, long time. When we get affordable 60GB flash-based hard drives, we'll have cheaper 500GB or even 1TB laptop hard drives.
 

CaptainHaddock

macrumors 6502
Jul 6, 2004
382
0
Nagoya, Japan
They really need this for the Japanese market. Macs are big in Japan, but there is no laptop small enough right now. The current 13" Macbooks are far bigger than what most people buy. The typical laptop in use here is around 10", but Japanese text on a small screen in Windows is just hideous.

I suspect, even hope, that this product will be designed with the Japanese market in mind first, and also gain a following in Apple's other markets. There are boatloads of money to be made in Japan, but all Apple's recent products have been designed for Americans.
 

timmillwood

macrumors 6502a
Apr 7, 2006
955
1
Just what i want!

A Flybook with Mac OS X on it

12" sounds to big for what i want, i want an e-mail, web browser, word processer, quick code editor, which is bigger than a phone and smaller than a laptop. would like to see built in HSDPA

I switched from a Powermac to a macbook pro because i need portability for some small tasks, but all main tasks are at home. I am now missing the speed to would like a macbook and mac pro, but if i could get a smaller macbook (like flybook size) that would be so much better.
 

tny

macrumors 6502
Jun 3, 2003
435
81
Washington, DC
Does anybody seriously think Apple's "doing away" with optical drives? What is Apple going to do, sell Leopard pre-mounted onto flash drives? Download it?

The thing will have FireWire target mode, so you can do a reinstall from another Mac, or you can use an external FireWire or USB drive - maybe Apple will even release its own external solution (unlikely, though). This won't be a machine for Photoshop or Final Cut or Logic, but primarily for mail, web, and word processing, so they'll expect most of the software to be downloaded (not sure what the MS Office folks will do, unless MS starts offerring Office as a download). I'd expect an Apple subnotebook to be something like the VAIO VGN-TX2, with an 11.1 in. widescreen (though the 8.9 in. size has its proponents); I'd expect a miniaturized version of the MacBook keyboard and trackpad (fix the button, please), one FireWire, two USB 2.0, an audio jack, a mini-DVI connector, no memory card slots, and no iSight (which would also make it an ideal choice for use in no-camera environments), 1 GB of RAM, and a price in the $1999 range, and the name MacBook mini. Black finish like the black MacBook, glossy screen, WiFi and Bluetooth - maybe even built-in Cingular EDGE.
 

j26

macrumors 68000
Mar 30, 2005
1,718
606
Paddyland
A Duo-type dock is so last century.

How about a mini notebook computer that automatically and wirelessly links to your full size keyboard, mouse and screen whenever it is in range of them?

That, I'd like. :apple:

Not necessarily a good idea - you're in the living room checking your e-mail and the screen in the study lights up (where your wife is working) just as you're reading a lovelove from your girlfirend :eek: :eek: )
 

Philsy

macrumors 6502a
Jul 29, 2004
631
12
South coast of England
Not necessarily a good idea - you're in the living room checking your e-mail and the screen in the study lights up (where your wife is working) just as you're reading a lovelove from your girlfirend :eek: :eek: )

LOL! You obviously have a guilty mind. ;)

OK, so some sort of porn/illicite love letter/football result filter will be required.. :p
 

mrwonkers

macrumors 6502
Oct 31, 2004
362
0
Cyberia
I don't care about the specs as long as it comes in "Zune Brown". ZooPoo 4 short ;)

But alas I know Its just a fantasy........oh well....sigh....
 

Leoff

macrumors regular
Jun 8, 2004
140
0
Oh geeze

OMG. The end of the optical drive like the floppy drive on the iMac. Steve quit making me feel old! Or do you have some sort of technology for that?

This is HARDLY the end of the optical drive. Optical media is in far greater daily use to not be an abandoned format than the floppy.

The mini laptop itself will not have an optical drive, but that doesn't mean one won't somehow be included (a small external drive included? Part of an included dock?)
 

auyongtc

macrumors member
Apr 23, 2006
46
0
I'd say it'll be called the :apple: MacPad :p

What's smaller than a notebook? A notepad, of course! :rolleyes:

You heard it here first :D
 

devilot

Moderator emeritus
May 1, 2005
15,584
1
Figures this rumor solidifies the week I buy a MB. :eek: Sigh. Would definitely prefer a smaller, lighter notebook.
 

Hattig

macrumors 65816
Jan 3, 2003
1,457
92
London, UK
no optical drive would be ridiculous! no way apple would take such a huge step backwards.

I never use the optical drive on my iBook when I'm not at home.

So why have it internal on a subnotebook? It is a waste of space.

Stick the optical drive in the docking bay / slimline USB enclosure.
 
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