Apple Ultra-Portable MacBook Rumor Roundup

[champ]

thoughts on size, weight, optical

My primary work computer is a Dell D420. It has no optical drive in the unit, but is only 3 pounds. The screen is a 12.1 inch wide screen. I love this laptop! One problem is that its running Windows, but at least its not Vista!

Anyway, here's my thoughts on this new macbook mini/nano, or whatever its going to be called. First, Its not for everybody. If you don't like small screens, smaller flash-based hard drives, lack of an optical drive, etc, DON'T BUY IT! There are plenty of regular laptops on the market just for you, buy one of those.

Some of us like small, light laptops. Take the EEE, my only gripe on the Asus EEE PC is that there's plenty of room for a larger screen, but the didn't utilize the real estate. I'd pay more for a screen that filled the laptop lid!

Any computer over 3 pounds is not an ultraportable. If Apple wants my money, here's what I'd like to see:
1. 12 inch wide screen @ 1280x800 with LED back light. (probably gunna be 13)
2. an ultra low power Core Duo for long battery life. That probably means the 1.2Ghz U2500 (or U7600 for 64 bit)
3. 32GB SSD standard, with a 64 & 128GB upgrade at build time.
4. NO internal optical drive. Leave it out so it can stay thin & light. I'll take the external optical for the handful of times when I use optical.
5. Absolute max weight of 3 lbs.
6. Please, an SD card reader built in. I love that my Dell D420 has this.
7. Ok, on Price. realistically, I think its going to be $2,000.

Remember, engineering all that miniaturization costs $$! Now, if I could get something at $1,500 or less, I'd be thrilled, but don't expect Apple to continue the price model where cost follows physical size. When you get really small electronics, expect to pay more.

 

[Digital Skunk]

My primary work computer is a Dell D420. It has no optical drive in the unit, but is only 3 pounds. The screen is a 12.1 inch wide screen. I love this laptop! One problem is that its running Windows, but at least its not Vista!

Anyway, here's my thoughts on this new macbook mini/nano, or whatever its going to be called. First, Its not for everybody. If you don't like small screens, smaller flash-based hard drives, lack of an optical drive, etc, DON'T BUY IT! There are plenty of regular laptops on the market just for you, buy one of those.

Some of us like small, light laptops. Take the EEE, my only gripe on the Asus EEE PC is that there's plenty of room for a larger screen, but the didn't utilize the real estate. I'd pay more for a screen that filled the laptop lid!

Any computer over 3 pounds is not an ultraportable. If Apple wants my money, here's what I'd like to see:
1. 12 inch wide screen @ 1280x800 with LED back light. (probably gunna be 13)
2. an ultra low power Core Duo for long battery life. That probably means the 1.2Ghz U2500 (or U7600 for 64 bit)
3. 32GB SSD standard, with a 64 & 128GB upgrade at build time.
4. NO internal optical drive. Leave it out so it can stay thin & light. I'll take the external optical for the handful of times when I use optical.
5. Absolute max weight of 3 lbs.
6. Please, an SD card reader built in. I love that my Dell D420 has this.
7. Ok, on Price. realistically, I think its going to be $2,000.

Remember, engineering all that miniaturization costs $$! Now, if I could get something at $1,500 or less, I'd be thrilled, but don't expect Apple to continue the price model where cost follows physical size. When you get really small electronics, expect to pay more.

I like your proposed specs but I think the optical can be left in there and the weight still be under 3 lbs. since many other companies have done this already.

I agree that shaving off the optical will lower the weight and power consumption, and even make room for more ports and features, but I think the optical can remain in a slot loading form and fit inside the case and not add that much weight.

 

[AidenShaw]

DVD, it's the new floppy

...the optical can remain in a slot loading form and fit inside the case and not add that much weight.

For the thin and light - drop the optical.

Use the space and weight for something more useful (like a slightly larger battery).

The external optical is much more flexible - if you need a DVD player, then pay the price of the space and weight (and the ultraportable DVD players are tiny - about the size of a DVD jewel box).

 

[Digital Skunk]

For the thin and light - drop the optical.

Use the space and weight for something more useful (like a slightly larger battery).

The external optical is much more flexible - if you need a DVD player, then pay the price of the space and weight (and the ultraportable DVD players are tiny - about the size of a DVD jewel box).

Yeah... same reason to put it in there. And you can get up to 8 hours battery and still have the optical in there.

OR,

Give users the option to put in an optical drive one day and an extra battery the next, but give us the option to have a builtin optical drive.

 

[AidenShaw]

Yeah... same reason to put it in there. And you can get up to 8 hours battery and still have the optical in there.

OR,

Give users the option to put in an optical drive one day and an extra battery the next, but give us the option to have a builtin optical drive.

Apple hasn't been big on "bay options" for some time - which is unfortunate, since the Dells and Lenovos that we use at work let us swap between a second battery, an optical, or even a second hard drive.

Bays, however, are usually in larger laptops.

 

[CaptainCaveMann]

Who's gonna buy a revision A? Knowing Apple, I'd wait till rev. B's come out hahaha. But I may not be able to resist!

 

[Digital Skunk]

Apple hasn't been big on "bay options" for some time - which is unfortunate, since the Dells and Lenovos that we use at work let us swap between a second battery, an optical, or even a second hard drive.

Bays, however, are usually in larger laptops.

Right again. They haven't used bays since the Lombards. I have seen them in Lenovo books that are 1.1" thin, only a tenth of an inch thicker than the MacBook Pros. I'd take an extra tenth of an inch to get that kind of functionality though.

As for the ultra portables... I don't see bays happening, but I would be pissed if Apple gives us an ultra portable book with an external optical drive and it's only a tiny bit smaller than the Sony model. If it's larger than the Sony model, has an external optical drive, and battery life is less than 7 hours then it's a failure in my book. If machines that can do these things are already out and in the dimensions we want Apple should produce comparable or better spec'd machines.

 

[Zadillo]

Right again. They haven't used bays since the Lombards. I have seen them in Lenovo books that are 1.1" thin, only a tenth of an inch thicker than the MacBook Pros. I'd take an extra tenth of an inch to get that kind of functionality though.

As for the ultra portables... I don't see bays happening, but I would be pissed if Apple gives us an ultra portable book with an external optical drive and it's only a tiny bit smaller than the Sony model. If it's larger than the Sony model, has an external optical drive, and battery life is less than 7 hours then it's a failure in my book. If machines that can do these things are already out and in the dimensions we want Apple should produce comparable or better spec'd machines.

Which Sony model gets 7 hours of battery life? I assume you're talking about the TZ - if so, the most I've ever seen one get is usually in the 5-6 hour range, and that usually is with the screen brightness turned down fairly low, etc.

Usually in real-world usage (usable brightness, wi-fi on, regular use, etc.) you're looking at more like 4-5 hours of real battery life. I think 7 hours would be some sort of best case scenario (brightness at minimum, no wi-fi, no activity).

 

[Digital Skunk]

Which Sony model gets 7 hours of battery life? I assume you're talking about the TZ - if so, the most I've ever seen one get is usually in the 5-6 hour range, and that usually is with the screen brightness turned down fairly low, etc.

Usually in real-world usage (usable brightness, wi-fi on, regular use, etc.) you're looking at more like 4-5 hours of real battery life. I think 7 hours would be some sort of best case scenario (brightness at minimum, no wi-fi, no activity).

That's still a good amount of time for the industry. I agree with you on that one since Sony and Apple use the same battery materials and manufacturer to make their batteries.

I am talking about the TZ and the I do know that getting up to 7 hours is with the lowest clocked processor and SSD as well as with turning everything down or off. But just like the MacBook Pro and Mac Book, you get optimum battery life by turning everything off. The MBP gets about 2 hours with steady use, the 17" less than that. The Mac Book, even though smaller and not as powerful gets about the same amount of time.

 

[Zadillo]

That's still a good amount of time for the industry. I agree with you on that one since Sony and Apple use the same battery materials and manufacturer to make their batteries.

I am talking about the TZ and the I do know that getting up to 7 hours is with the lowest clocked processor and SSD as well as with turning everything down or off. But just like the MacBook Pro and Mac Book, you get optimum battery life by turning everything off. The MBP gets about 2 hours with steady use, the 17" less than that. The Mac Book, even though smaller and not as powerful gets about the same amount of time.

Gotcha. I just wanted to clarify, since I think we should be talking about real-world battery life, not these theoretical battery lifes that no-one ever sees. Since you quoted 7 hours, I think some people might get the wrong idea and think that is a typical battery life usage people might get.

Is that really true that the MBP gets only 2 hours with steady use? I've known people who own them who seem to get more than that in real-world usage, more like the normal 3-4 hour range (I think with brightness in the half to 3/4 area and wi-fi on and doing things like web browsing and typing and such).

Either way, whatever this new Apple system ends up being, I highly doubt it will be a slouch in the battery life area. Apple does seem to be one of the few companies that still does put an emphasis on that (compared to some other companies like Asus who have really gone down the drain in terms of battery life lately).

-Zadillo

 

[aswitcher]

Who's gonna buy a revision A? Knowing Apple, I'd wait till rev. B's come out hahaha. But I may not be able to resist!

No, I dont think I can wait. I'll just make sure I get Applecare.

 

[zedsdead]

No, I dont think I can wait. I'll just make sure I get Applecare.

They did a pretty good job with the generation 1 iPhone.

I really did not plan on buying a new laptop for a while, but all of this ultra portable mac rumors is getting very exciting. I really hope it is some sort of sync device that I can use with my new iMac.

 

[Digital Skunk]

Is that really true that the MBP gets only 2 hours with steady use? I've known people who own them who seem to get more than that in real-world usage, more like the normal 3-4 hour range (I think with brightness in the half to 3/4 area and wi-fi on and doing things like web browsing and typing and such).

Yeah the MBP does get better battery life. I can push it up to 4 and a half with the screen turned down to the last notch, energy saver turned on, no wifi, no bluetooth, and not too many applications running.

As for the battery on the ultra mobile Mac... I hope it's longer than the current MBP with useable settings.

 

[champ]

... give us the option to have a builtin optical drive.

er,
I think pic on this page has it right:
http://www.slashgear.com/mac-sub-notebook-uses-external-optical-drive-029301.php


Or just see the pic:

That keyboard beats the crap out of the current macbook keyboard. I hate that "space between the keys" thing they have going on. Oh, and i think the color is wrong here, but the rest of it looks right to me

 

[pamon]

as much as i like a ultra portable, for what i do day to day, i need an optical drive and don't mind carrying a lb or 2 extra with it vs an external drive that can break or get lost...IMHO

 

[iW00t]

Sorry - see post #327.
A predictive check could easily check for home position walk, but i was suggesting that the glass would only be half of the interface - the glass (with or without a screen display underneath it showing the desktop), with a normal keyboard above it.

Predictive check?

How would that work for software developers?

Hell, nevermind the geeks... just think about the teenagers who can no longer type their L@L! and LMAOs anymore!

Leave the MBP keyboards as they are please. Just because a vasectomy is "new technology" doesn't mean I'd see YOU do it on yourself, you are still relying on a variation of some three thousand year old technology.

 

[GregA]

Give users the option to put in an optical drive one day and an extra battery the next, but give us the option to have a builtin optical drive.

Isn't that like asking for a porsche but wanting it to seat 8 people?

ie: the smallest most portable size will not have an optical drive. And they have laptops with optical drives already for those who need it.

Yes it is possible that they could build something as small as possible in every way EXCEPT for having an optical drive... instead of "ultra mobile PC" they could call it "penultimate mobile PC"

I suppose that's what you're saying - "I want the smallest possible but for me the dvd drive is crucial, so make it a bit bigger".

 

[CWallace]

Perhaps Apple will go with a dual-spindle(?) sub-notebook, with a lower unit carrying the optical drive and more battery power and perhaps some docking-station connections (like FW, more USB, RJ-45 leaving just USB and Power on the actual machine)? That way, if you just need the base PC, it's light and thin. If you need it all (or when docked at home/work), you have everything in the lower unit.

 

[akira117]

I'm hoping this is what it will be
12", Ultra-Thin, Hard Drive, Dual Core, 32GB SSD (OS+Core apps)
I have no idea if this is at all realistic or not.

 

[t0mat0]

Predictive check?


Leave the MBP keyboards as they are please.

> I don't think it'd work either - but it'd be nice to have in normal writing perhaps? like Word's autosuggest where you hit enter. Only relevant for writing though, and you might not want it auto-overwriting what you type.
>Agreed. BUt you could always add multitouch alongside

 

[DMann]

Ultra-Thin

I'm hoping this is what it will be
12", Ultra-Thin, Hard Drive, Dual Core, 32GB SSD (OS+Core apps)
I have no idea if this is at all realistic or not.

Realistic, for sure. We'll see it 10 days from now.....

 

[champ]

I'm hoping this is what it will be
12", Ultra-Thin, Hard Drive, Dual Core, 32GB SSD (OS+Core apps)
I have no idea if this is at all realistic or not.

While there's no technical reason why they couldn't put both a traditional hard drive and a SSD in it, I don't think it would be in line with Apple's "simplicity" style to have 2 separate "hard drives" in a ultraportable notebook.

 

[aswitcher]

While there's no technical reason why they couldn't put both a traditional hard drive and a SSD in it, I don't think it would be in line with Apple's "simplicity" style to have 2 separate "hard drives" in a ultraportable notebook.

And space.

What they "might" do is put a 16 for the OS and Apps, and a 32 for space.

 

[Digital Skunk]

er,
I think pic on this page has it right:
http://www.slashgear.com/mac-sub-notebook-uses-external-optical-drive-029301.php


Or just see the pic:

That keyboard beats the crap out of the current macbook keyboard. I hate that "space between the keys" thing they have going on. Oh, and i think the color is wrong here, but the rest of it looks right to me

I get ya, but even that design isn't that good looking. Maybe if you just want a small mac it's fine, but for a computer that would actually be comfortable to use and practical, it's just not there at all. The trackpad is a little on the small side as well.

Hey, if you want a machine that is lighter than a pound and costs $3000 with no optical drive go for it. Me and the 12" PowerBook users will go for the Apple computer that mimics the Sony TZ or beats it and still give us the option of an optical drive and a real trackpad and keyboard.

Isn't that like asking for a porsche but wanting it to seat 8 people?

ie: the smallest most portable size will not have an optical drive. And they have laptops with optical drives already for those who need it.

Yes it is possible that they could build something as small as possible in every way EXCEPT for having an optical drive... instead of "ultra mobile PC" they could call it "penultimate mobile PC"

I suppose that's what you're saying - "I want the smallest possible but for me the dvd drive is crucial, so make it a bit bigger".

It's more like asking for a Porsche that doesn't have it's roof and doors taken off so it could be lighter. That's what many people are asking for. "Give me a Porsche but make it lighter... OH! Take off the doors and roof since I will only be driving it in the day with clear skies. I don't mind limiting myself in my driving experience.

I want a Porsche that is small and light and still gives me the roof and doors so I can actually drive it and usse it anywhere. Push limits of engineering in other words, and don't take any shortcuts out of laziness.

The last point is exactly that. How small and light can we make this Mac Book and still fit in the essentials. Bluetooth, USB 2, DVI/HDMI, SSD/HDD 2.5" non of that 1.8" crap , good keyboard and trackpad, and yes... an optical drive that doesn't have to be plugged in or lost.

 

[champ]

I get ya, but even that design isn't that good looking. Maybe if you just want a small mac it's fine, but for a computer that would actually be comfortable to use and practical, it's just not there at all. The trackpad is a little on the small side as well.

Hey, if you want a machine that is lighter than a pound and costs $3000 with no optical drive go for it. Me and the 12" PowerBook users will go for the Apple computer that mimics the Sony TZ or beats it and still give us the option of an optical drive and a real trackpad and keyboard.



It's more like asking for a Porsche that doesn't have it's roof and doors taken off so it could be lighter. That's what many people are asking for. "Give me a Porsche but make it lighter... OH! Take off the doors and roof since I will only be driving it in the day with clear skies. I don't mind limiting myself in my driving experience.

I want a Porsche that is small and light and still gives me the roof and doors so I can actually drive it and usse it anywhere. Push limits of engineering in other words, and don't take any shortcuts out of laziness.

The last point is exactly that. How small and light can we make this Mac Book and still fit in the essentials. Bluetooth, USB 2, DVI/HDMI, SSD/HDD 2.5" non of that 1.8" crap , good keyboard and trackpad, and yes... an optical drive that doesn't have to be plugged in or lost.

What I hear you saying is that you don't really want an ultraportable. That's fine. You should be prefectly happy with the current macbook and macbook pro line. But don't tell us that do want an ultraportable that it should be bulked up.

For the Porche analogy. Maybe we should say that some people might want to remove some items that others find "essential" so we can teak weight, and power... things like removing the Air Conditioning, radio, leather, and other things that might make some less comfortable, but will reduce weight and reduce power drains. For some (like you) removing the A/C might be unacceptable, but that's why there are options. If you want all the bells & whistles, there are products on the market (current macbooks) that meet those needs. If others are willing to sacrifice the optical in order to get it super-duper thin, then we should all have that OPTION; that option being an ultraportable macbook.

The rumors I've heard say that Apple couldn't make an optical drive as thin as they wanted the ultraportable macbook to be. For me, and many others, we want Apple to go to the extreme and make this thing as thin and light as possible. You say you want it only kinda thin and light, because you want it to have an optical drive, and to you I say, buy a macbook.