Apple Ultra-Portable MacBook Rumor Roundup

[masse]

I'm not sure they'll keep it in the pro family unless they can squeeze in dedicated graphics, an optical drive, and sufficient drive space. Without dedicated graphics it's just a macbook, and without an optical drive or hard drive space its just not useful enough for mainstream users.

I think it would be appealing to a lot of college students that want something that looks cool like a macbook pro and is small and cute. Yes I'm talking about girls. Girls want a cute little whatever its called. And they'd be willing to pay for the style.

 

[137489]

The R500 really needs to be our benchmark. .

Hey NYCMacFan - Looked up the specs based on your link. Nice Computer, but a way to pricey for most people (myself included). I also liked your picture of the external Opticle Drive.

Good points - smaller PC.
Bad Points - lugging around more external devices. I had an IBM think pad years back that had an external floppy. It was a pain to lug around and I also had to make sure I had a case with a pocket for it. I also burn CD's on the fly for people, especially if we make changes to our church program at the last minute - so I would be lugging around external devices. Also worry about the underwrite errors that external CD drives used to have.

The R500 and the New Dell XPS's need to be the bench mark in size and performance, but the price needs to be about that of a MacBook or a low-end MBP. I like the fact that the R500 shows a tray loading drive, since media sizes are an issue with Slot loading.

Goes with my last posts - the technology is out there, Apple needs to be innovative to come up with new plans not just copy what is already done. But price is a factor for most people - especially college students. With the price of college education, how can anyone afford a $2,000 base model laptop that will probably only get them through their college years.

Atleast on what I see on ebay - Apple runs for ever, people still want them - even the old Pizmo's, G3 clamshells with 10gb hd. PC on the other hand - prices much lower and no one buying.

Give us something new, exciting, meets our needs, but also affordable with multiple configurations available.

 

[Clive At Five]

Sorry to be one of "those" guys, but.........

Unless this thing is less than 13", or is REALLY fricken thin and light, it is going to be a subparbook. There are plenty of people who make a small notebook, but the key to redefining this "industry" is cut the BS. Screen size is a gimmick. It's how you use the space. 32GB SSD is fine for a computer that is designed to be a compliment to your desktop/main computer. As is a Core Duo (maybe even Solo). I see no reason why this computer shouldn't be small, lightweight, and reasonably priced as long as it is designed to fit the "complementary" role.

Any other sort of laptop from Apple would be a copycat of someone else's subparbook.

-Clive

 

[slffl]

Interesting post. Hopefully we will see that at MWSF...otherwise there will be a lot of complainers on the forums!

Apple will probably release something fantastic...but we all know what has happened in the past with "Rev A" computers...

No what? My 'Rev A' 17" Powerbook is still going strong. 'Rev A' is a myth!!!

 

[NYCMacFan]

Hey NYCMacFan - Looked up the specs based on your link. Nice Computer, but a way to pricey for most people (myself included). I also liked your picture of the external Opticle Drive.

Good points - smaller PC.
Bad Points - lugging around more external devices. I had an IBM think pad years back that had an external floppy. It was a pain to lug around and I also had to make sure I had a case with a pocket for it. I also burn CD's on the fly for people, especially if we make changes to our church program at the last minute - so I would be lugging around external devices. Also worry about the underwrite errors that external CD drives used to have.

The R500 and the New Dell XPS's need to be the bench mark in size and performance, but the price needs to be about that of a MacBook or a low-end MBP. I like the fact that the R500 shows a tray loading drive, since media sizes are an issue with Slot loading.

I agree pricing is an issue and would expect Apple to deliver an expensive, but not outrageous machine. I will buy via work and so will pay whatever the cost is (it's been blocked out of my expense account for over a year waiting for this), but this is not true of others.

One option for them naturally is a less expensive HDD option and two levels of SSD (64 and 128).

I think the notion of the external DVD would be for the user that has it in case of emergencies or only needed it occasionally. This is never a good option for someone that expects to use their DVD drive a lot (though they can be smaller and USB powered in some cases). Note SSD are less prone to failure and on the road you can almost always find an Apple store or a repair place that fixes them (I had no problems even in the middle of nowhere in Asia and Europe finding a place.)

They could try the Toshiba route and squeeze a DVD in. Just not sure they will. I also just have a strange gut feeling that like the floppy they do not see this as important for the target users. Could be wrong though. Also, having no DVD will reduce peak power consumption and allow for longer life and/or a smaller, lighter battery (especially with an LED and SSD).

One final issue: That R500 is a bit flimsy (check out the CNET reviews or the Mossberg review on youtube) with lots of give and flex. This may be unacceptable to Apple and force them to add weight to ensure better build quality.

 

[lkrupp]

Oh really...

Interesting post. Hopefully we will see that at MWSF...otherwise there will be a lot of complainers on the forums!

Apple will probably release something fantastic...but we all know what has happened in the past with "Rev A" computers...

I've owned nothing but "Rev A" machines over the last decade or two. From the original Power Mac 8100, to the original G4/400/AGP "Sawtooth", original G4 Titanium 667 Power Book, and three years ago the Dual 2.5/G5 liquid cooled tower. All "Rev A" machines...and all PERFECT without a single problem or repair performed during their years of service. So far only the PM8100 has made it to the recycling plant. The others are still in use by family members.

When will people get a clue that reports on user forums are anecdotal at best, amplify the negative, and in no way what-so-ever provide any indication of the scope of certain problems? Hey, there are a couple dozen posts on xyz.com about a problem. Not a couple dozen unique user reports with the same problem. For sure multiple posts and rants by several disgruntled users. Yet these post counts are seized upon as proof of widespread trouble, design flaws, manufacturing defects, and on and on. Same goes for OS X updates. A few users have the same problem and, presto, it's a 'widespread', 'known' issue worthy of rampant Apple bashing.

Baloney! Get a clue.

 

[137489]

I agree pricing is an issue and would expect Apple to deliver an expensive, but not outrageous machine. .

Thanks for quoting, but I just noticed something about the R500

Product Specifications

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Processor
Processor Type * : Core™2 Duo Processor Number * : U7600 Processor Speed * : 1.20GHz Front Side Bus * : 533MHz
Operating System **



Processor seems small for a $2000 machine. Form factor nice, but performance? Unless this is a new chipset.... Also, from the product reviews - slow performance and the cursor jumps around when typing. Usually a problem with most PC laptops - but the reviews so far is, it is much worse and rather annoying....

We will just see what happens comes January - or if this is more of the same hype that has been going on for a year now.... As for me, it seems everytime I buy (whether PC or something else), days later a new model comes out that has evertything I was looking for already standard..... I have been waiting for almost 2 years to buy a mac. I don't want a desktop, Mini is on the way out, issues with Macbooks when they first came out (some stuff people are still complaining that is not fixed), and MBP is out of my price range. However the more I see available for MAC, the less I want to go the PC route again... Everytime I get ready to buy, something better comes out on the market from Apple for almost the same price.

Touch screen - ok, but we had touch screen monitors in the field for years. Lost stylus = people using pens and gouging the screen. Most icons on applications are too small for the average finger.

 

[Clive At Five]

One option for them naturally is a less expensive HDD option and two levels of SSD (64 and 128).

And at $2000, and $4000 respectively, those SSD drives will barely affect the price of the machine at all.

Meanwhile, 32GB can be had for ~$250 retail.

So let's not try to be unreasonable here, people...

-Clive

 

[Snits]

Why a $1500 subnotebook? Just buy another MacBook at $1000. The MacSnackBook should be in the $600-$900 range, upscaling the iPhone with iSight (and iChat) and making kindling out of the Kindle. And giving schools a real choice.

Side rant: When are we going to see digital textbooks? Why are we still buying 70 pounds of books for 90 pound kids for the same price as a creative learning tool. How first millennium.

 

[tuneman07]

From reading these posts it is pretty obvious that many if not most of the people on this forum are technological professionals of some kind who have multiple computers and apparently see their laptops as a "supplement". Thats understandable, but what about your average Joe (me)? I don't use my laptop for work at all and it is my only computer. Most of the people I know have a laptop not because they need to carry it everywhere but because it is soooooooooo much nicer than a huge bulky desktop which has to be in 1 spot in the house with all sorts of wires. I don't need a Macbook pro for 2 grand that has all that power and dedicated graphics, but I need a computer that can do everything because its my only computer. Macbook fits that pretty well although a 15 inch one would be nice. My point here is you guys seem to be forgetting that not everyone has 4 computers and needs some sort of pocket sized supplemental computer to use once a week. Honestly I'm hoping the Macbook just gets a face lift and not some crazy overhaul.

 

[gugy]

MAC PRO FIRST then we talk about gadgets

I agree, this lack of announcement of a killer MacPro is just driving me crazy.
I really look forward to the most powerful Mac ever than all this talk about ultra-portable.
Apple needs to address their most faithful users. The creative pro community.

Please bring alongside new displays and a new design for MacPro as well.

 

[sam10685]

If it's true I might have my credit card standing by......

I think most of us will.

 

[archer75]

Still waiting for a non workstation tower. With C2D processors and DDR2 ram. Something that will allow me to upgrade the video card in and not use funky ram like the mac pro. That would be nice.

 

[Clive At Five]

but what about your average Joe (me)? I don't use my laptop for work at all and it is my only computer.

While I might agree that the price difference between the high-end MB (I'm talking about the white one, not the black-taxed BlackBook) and low-end MBP is a little extreme, I don't agree that there's a performance gap there. Either you need more than a MB or you don't.

The only sticking point I see is the price jump, which is unwarranted. The low-end MBP should cost no more than $1600. And the BlackBook should cost $1399, maximum, but that's a different story.

-Clive

 

[Clive At Five]

Apple needs to address their most faithful users. The creative pro community.

And might I add "Creative users who don't need four (soon eight) cores-worth of server-class processing power" to the list? I like to do high-end things, just not as part of my career. Yet I've been an Apple Faithful since my parents first bought us an Apple IIgs. Where's the computer for me, Apple?

Still waiting for a non workstation tower. With C2D processors and DDR2 ram. Something that will allow me to upgrade the video card in and not use funky ram like the mac pro. That would be nice.

Hey, Apple, are you listinging?!?! Here's yet ANOTHER consumer dying for an xMac. Are you deaf?

-Clive

 

[jlbrown23]

How would they do this with no optical drive? I dont like that.

What if you wanted to format and reinstall the OS? Are they going to include that on a thumb drive? What if you want to rip CD's with iTunes???

No Optical drive sounds like a dumb idea, in any computer. Even if you use it for ultra portability, and/or buisness, you would want a DVD player for downtime or whatever.

I disagree - in an ultraportable, it is a great idea. I have an IBM X40 for work, and the size/weight are great for travel. I almost never use a drive (w/ USB flash & fast networks, drives are becoming less important), and when I do need one I use an external USB DVD drive. But I have to say, the drive collects a lot of dust between uses.

 

[archer75]

I see absolutely no point in a 12" ultraportable. The macbook is 13" and i'm sure that one inch isn't going to make a difference. Seems like a pointless product.

 

[Schtumple]

Hey, Apple, are you listinging?!?! Here's yet ANOTHER consumer dying for an xMac. Are you deaf?

-Clive

It'll never happen, get over it.

 

[Vikash]

Won't be suprised if they release a multitouch tablet macbookpro.

 

[NYCMacFan]

And at $2000, and $4000 respectively, those SSD drives will barely affect the price of the machine at all.

Meanwhile, 32GB can be had for ~$250 retail.

So let's not try to be unreasonable here, people...

-Clive

I agree. I think that the storage choice (HDD vs. SSD) and drive size will be what drives the price differences...

 

[Clive At Five]

It'll never happen, get over it.

If Shaw Wu or Walt Mossberg decides to pull the rumor out of their ass (or steal from AppleInsider) as they do all with all their rum- I mean "Insider information", they'll keep reiterating it until there's so much shareholder pressure that Apple HAS to release such a computer. It's the way things have been going recently.

Now to trick AI into rumoring an xMac...

-Clive

 

[NYCMacFan]

Thanks for quoting, but I just noticed something about the R500

Processor Type * : Core™2 Duo Processor Number * : U7600 Processor Speed * : 1.20GHz Front Side Bus * : 533MHz

Processor seems small for a $2000 machine.

I agree and noted the same thing earlier. I do not think that Apple will go with a weaker processor, but will be a recipient of the new Intel chips. So Apple will be faster, but use more power than say some ultra low voltage chip. Low voltage chips also run cooler, which is handy for laptops. But I still do not think Apple has a history of going with these.

(I lack a technical background on chip tech, but do believe understand that better power management on a faster chip can be used to reduce power load somewhat - it only has to work half as hard and so drains less battery, but again I do not have a background in chips...)

But a U7600 uses 10watts while other processors are at 17w and 34w. SSD uses 1 watt, HDD at peak use is 2 watt. But these numbers seem odd. Here is a link that breaks down power consumption issues in mobile computers:

cache-www.intel.com/cd/00/00/10/27/102727_ar024103.pdf

 

[iVoid]

Well, one way they could make a ultra portable Mac smaller is to remove the touch pad. Then use a bluetooth connected iPhone as the touchpad interface.

 

[twoodcc]

While I might agree that the price difference between the high-end MB (I'm talking about the white one, not the black-taxed BlackBook) and low-end MBP is a little extreme, I don't agree that there's a performance gap there. Either you need more than a MB or you don't.

The only sticking point I see is the price jump, which is unwarranted. The low-end MBP should cost no more than $1600. And the BlackBook should cost $1399, maximum, but that's a different story.

-Clive

but someone might need more than the macbook, but not a bigger screen

 

[dabirdwell]

So by this logic...

And at $2000, and $4000 respectively, those SSD drives will barely affect the price of the machine at all.

Meanwhile, 32GB can be had for ~$250 retail.

So let's not try to be unreasonable here, people...

-Clive

If this is accurate pricing, is there anything to preclude Apple from offering an upgraded version with two of these drives in some sort of SSD-RAID out of the box? Are there technological limitations on this, or could it potentially offer both performance and storage size advantages?