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Apple to Launch an $800 Laptop?

Eidorian said:
The original Merom line is over two years old now as well. It's a capable processor but keep in mind that your processors are attached to your chipset platform a lot more closely in the mobile world then on desktops.

The Mac mini is still effectively a 2006 era computer.
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I see what you are saying. Though it goes directly with what I was pointing out a few posts before. Since Intel, Apple has had some really long spaced platform updates (sometimes longer than the PowerPC Era).

At the time it was introduced, the Mac Mini Intel was a modern computer. However, with their long spanning release dates, the system is now quite dated (as you pointed out, and I agree with entirely).

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840quadra said:
I see what you are saying. Though it goes directly with what I was pointing out a few posts before. Since Intel, Apple has had some really long spaced platform updates (sometimes longer than the PowerPC Era).

At the time it was introduced, the Mac Mini Intel was a modern computer. However, with their long spanning release dates, the system is now quite dated (as you pointed out, and I agree with entirely).
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Apple has actually followed Intel's roadmap rather well given its history. I believe the problem is not the processors or platform changes but more so with the lack of changes in the pricing of its components over time. Apple could maintain its update cycle if prices dropped on the current hardware during those cycles like other manufacturers.

Apple has been the first to adopt some of Intel's components before others. The original iMac Core Duo was shipping immediately after CES 2006 and Apple did get a hold of the X7900 before others for the iMac.
 
AppliedMicro said:
It doesn't.
It's an economic choice. As more and more people are switching to the iPod touch/iPhone platform because of software features, sales of the classic iPod must have gone down considerably. Sales figures probably told them that fewer people bought the 160 GB version. So unifying those two models leads to economies of scale. Also, they probably can get the 120 GB drives cheaper. 160 GB is total overkill for most people anyway. This is the ultimate incarnation of the "classic" iPod anyway, it is near the end of its life. So there's not much of a point in keeping a high-end version with more storage now. Apple will cease production within a year and a 128 GB iPod touch will be released as successor, probably with next year's new autumn line-up. Flash prices will have gone down further by then, and the 128 GB touch will still be a slight upgrade on the current classic, capacity-wise (256 GB could still be too expensive for the mass market next year).

USB ports are suboptimal for that kind of thing. And the idea of a "docking" station is very, very unlike Apple. I'd rather see them taking the wireless route. But then, I am virtually sure we won't see a tablet announced on tuesday (or in the near futures).

I haven't seen 10" displays in 1280x768. But I've seen 9" displays. They are excruciatingly small for this resolution. Maybe not for you (and me, as I prefer slightly higher resolutions myself), but for a lot of people. I think Apple/Steve have made their point very clear with the Air: We're not going to see considerably smaller displays with OS X in its current form.
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when a device is being charged it makes it hard to use so you might aswell dock it and still be able to use it, using USB's give the device another functionality when docked and allows apple to pimp numerous accesories for profit.

Sony have used 10" displays in their sub notebooks for years.
 
Eidorian said:
Apple has actually followed Intel's roadmap rather well given its history. I believe the problem is not the processors or platform changes but more so with the lack of changes in the pricing of its components over time. Apple could maintain its update cycle if prices dropped on the current hardware during those cycles like other manufacturers.

Apple has been the first to adopt some of Intel's components before others. The original iMac Core Duo was shipping immediately after CES 2006 and Apple did get a hold of the X7900 before others for the iMac.
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Many good points, guess I didn't look at it that way. I guess my main issue is their lack of quickly adopting hardware outside of what it's current or previous hardware partners bring to the table. Cost and dated designs are also big factors, but honestly I am fine with the way the current hardware looks, I just would like to have the addition of a few additional IO Ports and the ability to slot load a BD title of my choosing ;) .

::Edit::

Also, It would have been entirely possible for them to incorporate Core2 Extreme into their model line without having a special media event, or entirely new design. Unless, cooling capabilities of the current form-factor prevented them from being employed.

I will just have to wait and see what they bring forward at this next event.

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This is horrible. Not only will quality suffer but i do not want anyone using macs. That is why they are great because they were exclusive.
 
windozeblowz said:
This is horrible. Not only will quality suffer but i do not want anyone using macs. That is why they are great because they were exclusive.
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And thus more users will stick with Windows...

What's wrong with more Mac users? You can make a quality laptop for $800. It might not be as capable but it'll still be a Mac. How many Mac mini problems have you seen?
 
Beric said:
I've heard of plenty of evidence that what you just said is true. It's basically a way to get another $200 out of someone who needs a DVD burner. A very cheap trick, I might add. :rolleyes:
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Yes it is pathetic, and I have to say, as much as I love Apple, I thought they would be a bit above that :rolleyes:

Hey Apple, find some INNOVATIVE ways to differentiate your products instead of screwing people out of more money with sketchy tactics!

I actually felt hell freeze over when I was glad that Microsoft announced the new Zunes in 8GB and 16GB because it forced Apple to match that with the new nano. I was also seriously disappointed to see that Apple was going to leave them at 4GB and 8GB for yet another revision.... that is pathetic Apple. The competition served us well there!
 
$800 laptop

you will see a lot of those on BesBuy, RadioShack, Circuit City.......

Do I need to sign a contract to get it at this price, what about school discount??????
 
AppliedMicro said:
It doesn't.
It's an economic choice. As more and more people are switching to the iPod touch/iPhone platform because of software features, sales of the classic iPod must have gone down considerably. Sales figures probably told them that fewer people bought the 160 GB version. So unifying those two models leads to economies of scale. Also, they probably can get the 120 GB drives cheaper. 160 GB is total overkill for most people anyway. This is the ultimate incarnation of the "classic" iPod anyway, it is near the end of its life. So there's not much of a point in keeping a high-end version with more storage now. Apple will cease production within a year and a 128 GB iPod touch will be released as successor, probably with next year's new autumn line-up. Flash prices will have gone down further by then, and the 128 GB touch will still be a slight upgrade on the current classic, capacity-wise (256 GB could still be too expensive for the mass market next year).
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Firstly, I like the way you've put some thought into this. But secondly, it's all speculation. We don't know what Classic sales figures are, and whether that affected the new model. We also don't know when it will be discontinued or what products are coming next year.

But your thinking is rational (presuming the theoretical scenario you set were true).
 
According to gizmodo I am crazy :D
Some crazy people really wish to see a touch notebook.
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Some really really crazy people have been dreaming about tablet Macs since 2007 and before.
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Now a pro tablet is just me doing a little wishful thinking. But a low-cost touch notebook is so probable in my eyes.

We shall see.
 
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Talk about the $800 notebook please. Any thoughts on a budget touch 10" like I have been mentioning?
 
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