Apple to Launch an $800 Laptop?

[JAQ]

Doubt it.

Geez... so even when I put a smiley on it, in follow up to an obvious joke, people still don't realize that I was joking? "Apple is about to release as tablet," is a running gag by now, repeated to the point of absurdity by people who (mostly) haven't thought it through. If Apple produces one, half of the people clamoring for it will be pissed off that it doesn't work with a stylus (like the ModBook), or the other half will be pissed off that it doesn't work with fingers (like the iPhone). Or if it incorporates both technologies, half will be pissed off that it costs so much. And that it doesn't come/comes with a keyboard. And internal optical drive. And that it runs Mac OS X/iPhoneOS. And then it'll sell like aTV 1.0.

But it would be cool to see a Newton replacement.

Oh, I get it... you're joking. Your Newton replacement is called the "iPod Touch".

 

[JAQ]

Please, use "BD" instead of 17 different variants of capitalization and spelling....

Or better yet, just avoid the issue by ignoring it. Most of the public is.

 

[AidenShaw]

Or better yet, just avoid the issue by ignoring it. Most of the public is.

But "most" of the public would still be using 8-track tapes if they could still buy them!

Apple's pretense of being a high-end purveyor of consumer computer goods is likely to suffer if they don't actually sell high-end goods.

Since, more than any other Intel computer maker, Apple is about "image" - one would have expected Apple to lead the BD charge.

Instead, ....

 

[sushi]

Oh, I get it... you're joking. Your Newton replacement is called the "iPod Touch".

Unfortunately, the iPod touch is not up to the Newton yet in functionality.

And no, I am not joking.

 

[Haqq]

So when do you think they'll bring it out in 10days?

 

[McGiord]

It will be mobile or mac mobile , or mac Me or whatever you want call it and it will include the 1st year of mobileME service in the purchase price. So it will fill the gap between the iPod Touch and the macbook.
So if the macbook starts at $800, this other one will be ~450-600.

 

[Floridian]

Anyone want to predict that the $800 model STILL has a combo drive?

That would be infuriating. What exactly is APPLE's theory in offering an ill-equipped base model with insufficient RAM and a dated optical drive?

 

[Floridian]

I just sold my MPB (3500$) so I have alot of money to spend
But I doubt they will be released as sonn as the 14th. I think most Apple fanatics is just blinded by hope or something... But i am crossing my fingers myself though
I live in Norway, therefore the prices. Btw a fully upgraded 17 incher costs almost 5000 USD here... :/

Why do they cost more there? I thought that the Euro v Dollar was making things cheaper for you.

 

[Eidorian]

That would be infuriating. What exactly is APPLE's theory in offering an ill-equipped base model with insufficient RAM and a dated optical drive?

It's a Mac and people are "willing" to pay that price.

 

[Beric]

That would be infuriating. What exactly is APPLE's theory in offering an ill-equipped base model with insufficient RAM and a dated optical drive?

It's customers who will buy Apple no matter what, and feed on Apple's high prices and profit margins.

The only people who support this kind of behavior are the consumers themselves.

 

[tobyw7]

The $999 Macbook above the $799 will have some must have feature I bet. And the $3,100 Macbook sounds like it will have Blu-Ray.

Sureley Blu-Ray support won't be included until 10.6 Snow Leopard?

 

[Axemantitan]

Why do they cost more there? I thought that the Euro v Dollar was making things cheaper for you.

Norway doesn't use the Euro. They use the Krone.

 

[Metuas]

That would be infuriating. What exactly is APPLE's theory in offering an ill-equipped base model with insufficient RAM and a dated optical drive?

Because they will only offer slot-loading drives, which are more expensive. The only Blu-ray slot loading drive is, what, $800 or something like that?

Now, the RAM, because they can.

 

[Rassybat]

I have this terrible feeling the $800 Macbook is going to have that darn Combo Drive. GO AWAY COMBO!!! JUST DIE ALREADY!!

Oh, and I know this might be slightly off topic but...how does one reinstall the Mac OS with a computer without an optical drive?

 

[Dybbuk]

Because they will only offer slot-loading drives, which are more expensive. The only Blu-ray slot loading drive is, what, $800 or something like that?

Now, the RAM, because they can.

We're not talking about Blu-Ray, the base MacBook has a Combo Drive.

 

[jodelli]

But "most" of the public would still be using 8-track tapes if they could still buy them!

Lol, those things were awful even when they were new.

Oh, and I know this might be slightly off topic but...how does one reinstall the Mac OS with a computer without an optical drive?

See top of this post.

 

[AppliedMicro]

What exactly is APPLE's theory in offering an ill-equipped base model with insufficient RAM and a dated optical drive?

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/6380994/

The base model is an inexpensive model for the computer-illiterates and those seeking a basic typewriter replacement / email machine / browser. Read: People who haven't burned a DVD in their life and won't notice if their computer has one or two gigabytes of RAM cause they use only one application at a time. It makes for a lower price in the ads (MacBook - starting at 1099$) and is a sneaky way of extorting more money from customers and obfuscating its high high price point. If they weren't selling it, it would be all too obvious that the MacBook is pretty expensive ("It starts at 1299? I can get a decent notebook for almost half of that") Of course Apple wants as many customers as possible to get at least the medium model.

Unfortunately, the iPod touch is not up to the Newton yet in functionality.
And no, I am not joking.

So does it offer decent web browsing?
If you have a web browser, you have a lot of functionality as good as built in.

 

[Ironduke]

I have this terrible feeling the $800 Macbook is going to have that darn Combo Drive. GO AWAY COMBO!!! JUST DIE ALREADY!!

Oh, and I know this might be slightly off topic but...how does one reinstall the Mac OS with a computer without an optical drive?

You know apple could probably put leopard on a USB key they are so cheap

 

[sangosimo]

Norway doesn't use the Euro. They use the Krone.

and norway has super high taxes. stuff is expensive there.

 

[sushi]

So does it offer decent web browsing?

Actually, back in 1997 it offered good web browsing for the times. E-mail as well.

Sure the Newton is showing it's age and there are things that the iPod touch can do that it can't. However, if the touch were updated to include some Newton functionality such as:

- Soups (Object oriented data that could be shared (read/write) by all apps.)
- Handwriting recognition.
- Great graphics drawing engine.
- Built in microphone and decent speaker.

I could go on. For example, some folks have used their Newtons as a low volume server. But I think that I've made my point.

A few months ago, I was seriously considering purchasing an ASUS Eee PC. However, the iPod touch has filled that need for me when I am on the go and need to access my information. I wish the touch had more functionality, that has not changed. However, I no longer need a netbook for my needs.

 

[PCMacUser]

Actually, back in 1997 it offered good web browsing for the times. E-mail as well.

Sure the Newton is showing it's age and there are things that the iPod touch can do that it can't. However, if the touch were updated to include some Newton functionality such as:

- Soups (Object oriented data that could be shared (read/write) by all apps.)
- Handwriting recognition.
- Great graphics drawing engine.
- Built in microphone and decent speaker.

I could go on. For example, some folks have used their Newtons as a low volume server. But I think that I've made my point.

Functionality hasn't been a priority for Apple for a long time now. It's all about the cool factor. Or the latest fad - the slim factor.

"How slim can we make a notebook? How slim can we make an iPod? How slim can we make a desktop computer? Features? Who cares?"

 

[Beric]

Functionality hasn't been a priority for Apple for a long time now. It's all about the cool factor. Or the latest fad - the slim factor.

"How slim can we make a notebook? How slim can we make an iPod? How slim can we make a desktop computer? Features? Who cares?"

Quoted for truth. As of late, Apple seems to care only about thinness. They seem to forget that they have the best OS on the market, and people don't always want to run it on a super-thin device. What about a little more functionality, and a little less "thinness", Apple?

 

[djens]

lol

Why do they cost more there? I thought that the Euro v Dollar was making things cheaper for you.

Norway is not in the EU. Here we use Norwegian Kroner(NOK).
Norway is the richest country in the world due to its oil and MASSIVE taxes on everything. Example: Buy a car for 150,000$ in Sweden and import it to Norway. You will end up paying more than the car itself to the Norwegian Government... Thats why I can only afford a BMW 116i and not a new Mustang in the states as I could afford if I lived there :/

 

[AppliedMicro]

Functionality hasn't been a priority for Apple for a long time now. It's all about the cool factor. Or the latest fad - the slim factor.
"How slim can we make a notebook? How slim can we make an iPod? How slim can we make a desktop computer? Features? Who cares?"

Far from it!

Functionality is a top priority for Apple. They just might have a slightly different definition of "functionality". For them it's not about cramming as much as possible in a certain form factor. It's rather about providing (basic) functionality as ergonomically as possible. What are notebooks and iPods made for? They are made for carrying around. So yes, thinness does matter. As does weight. They are among the most important factors for making a (portable) device "functional".

What about a little more functionality, and a little less "thinness", Apple?

Probably not going to happen unless teh Steve itself puts on some weight.

Norway is not in the EU. Here we use Norwegian Kroner(NOK).

A country doesn't have to be a EU member in order to have the EUR and vice versa (not all member states have introduced the EURO).

 

[Beric]

Far from it!

Functionality is a top priority for Apple. They just might have a slightly different definition of "functionality". For them it's not about cramming as much as possible in a certain form factor. It's rather about providing (basic) functionality as ergonomically as possible. What are notebooks and iPods made for? They are made for carrying around. So yes, thinness does matter. As does weight. They are among the most important factors for making a (portable) device "functional".

Your definition of "functionality" is my definition of a useless feature that drives up the prices and the heat, while decreasing the specs of the notebook.

I seed something that's fairly portable that is useful mainly in one place. 1 inch is too thin, and 5 lbs. is plenty light.