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If a very compact size really matters, Mac laptops aren't really an option right now. The Dell D420 is not the smallest laptop around but it is smaller and significantly lighter than a MacBook.

Yeah, I'd consider 1.5kg very portable. It even uses an ultra low voltage core duo. Its a very small 12" with a 1.8" (ipod) hdd, external dvd drive. And being a latitude, its very well built.

Sure its not THE smallest, but its VERY small. Probably the smallest dual core 12".
 
I cannot believe you guys are still waiting, what are the odds that such a laptop will be released with not even a mention during the keynote?

Give it up already, the MBPUP is dead :p
 
Unless of course it was something that was announcement-worthy, i.e. with cool enough features that Steve wanted to talk about it. The MBP update last week was nice, but not really a big deal, or unexpected.

Here's hoping!

So much for that...
 
I cannot believe you guys are still waiting, what are the odds that such a laptop will be released with not even a mention during the keynote?

Give it up already, the MBPUP is dead :p

Who's still waiting? I'm the only person to post here since the keynote (other than you). In case you're unfamiliar with this common figure of speech, "Looks like it's going to be a long wait..." roughly translates the same as "don't hold your breath."
 
I'm still waiting. And I'm sure I'm not the only one. Obviously, not for a release this week. But I refuse to buy a laptop weighing more than 5 pounds (both MBP and MB).

Remember that rumor a month ago about Apple ordering 13" LED screens for the 3rd quarter? It wouldn't make sense to put those in MBs when they were just updated. The most logical move would be to slap the smaller LEDs onto a new, more portable MBP (which wouldn't be an update, but a whole new addition to the MBP line). September or October, perhaps, in conjunction with the Leopard release? The dream never dies....
 
people keep asking/waiting for ultra portable/ultrathin devices only to find themselves looking for skins/keyboard covers to "protect" it from scratches, dusts and stuffs.
 
people keep asking/waiting for ultra portable/ultrathin devices only to find themselves looking for skins/keyboard covers to "protect" it from scratches, dusts and stuffs.

people do that with ANY macs they get... just not dells :p
 
I'd love something "pro" but smaller than the 15", however I wouldn't want itin the same case design as the MBP, they're so dated, and have bad wifi reception.

I'd rather see Apple update the Black MacBook to have a graphics card and better specs, bridging the divide. Keeping the same case it'd be rugged like the MacBook and have good wifi, yet have better internal components like the MacBook Pro's...

That would be something I'd buy immediately.

As it stands I don't want the MBP because of it's dated appearance and ability to be dented so easily, but I do want the MB for it appearance, then at the same time I like the MBP for it's graphics abilities and pro features, and the MB less so.
 
yep, i'm still hoping that a MBPUP would be here someday. it's also one of the reasons that i wasn't too excited about the SR MBPs.
 
I'd rather see Apple update the Black MacBook to have a graphics card and better specs, bridging the divide. Keeping the same case it'd be rugged like the MacBook and have good wifi, yet have better internal components like the MacBook Pro's...


I'd probably buy that, too. Anything to get a smaller form size with decent graphics. Would like a matte screen option though.

But I don't know about MBP having a worse case than MB. I much prefer the metal case to a cheap-looking plastic one. I don't think of it as dated, but as classic.
 
Yes indeed, if they put an actual graphics card into the black Macbook and made it matte, then I'd buy one in a heartbeat, especially if they went to LED screens and Santa Rosa as well. Do that and I'll pay $18-1900 for it without batting an eye.

As for the "cheap" plastic, I think they should use whatever plastic they used on the Lombard and Pismo powerbooks. Mine still looks good to this day and it's durable as heck.
 
nope, just waiting for my damn 15 MBP. don't even want to think of how long i would wait for the 13''
 
The Sony SZ is the best in its class if you want an ultraportable. You have the option of having dedicated graphics or using integrated graphics to save battery life.
I don't think that Apple will be releasing a pro ultraportable so if people want one they may need to just buy a MacBook or the MBP or look elsewhere if they really do want one.
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...ngId=-1&categoryId=579&parentCategoryId=16154

I think that Apple should allow you to have an option at least for dedicated graphics card for the MacBook.
 
Okay, this has me really steamed. If the PC industry can put out a sweet portable notebook like that, what is Apple waiting for? Something along these specs would be perfect (though I wonder how much the Sony weighs? Anybody know?) I actually would probably prefer a 13" screen to a 12" one, in a smaller MBP (and I want a matte LED screen, not the glossy LCD in a MB). I'd pay $2000 for that, in a proverbial heartbeat.

Obviously the technology is there to make a machine with these specs in this size. What's the hold up, Apple? Sure, a whiz-bang ultraportable with a SSD, BR drive and touchscreen tech would be nice, but I'm not going to wait the year or so before that becomes commercially viable. What about a transitional 13" MBP in the meantime? You're going to lose a whole lot of customers to Sony, Dell, etc., until then. 20-year Apple loyalist that I am, I just may have to be one of them....
 
Who's still waiting? I'm the only person to post here since the keynote (other than you). In case you're unfamiliar with this common figure of speech, "Looks like it's going to be a long wait..." roughly translates the same as "don't hold your breath."

Yet so many of us will dream... I still love my 12" powerbook, and probably will still use it a year from now, but I'm afraid of what will happen when it dies. I don't really want a machine bigger than the little guy.

The Sony SZ is the best in its class if you want an ultraportable. You have the option of having dedicated graphics or using integrated graphics to save battery life.

I've recently rediscovered ubuntu on a friend's Thinkpad and although I doubt I'll switch from a mac, linux does exert a strong pull for me to adopt it again. Looks like it's come a long way, and there's a nice variety of small hardware it can run on. Ah well, I have some time before any such decision need be made.
 
hello dell

dell-xps-m1330.jpg


dell-xps-m1330-2.jpg
 
same here...I love my 12" PowerBook, although it is feeling slow these days...

I prefer the 12" form factor to the 13", not to mention, the 12" has the nice pro keyboard and doesn't have those sharp edges like the MacBook does.

I hope it (if it comes out) has a 12" screen, backlit pro keyboard, <1 inch thick, ExpressCard slot, 2 USBs, a FireWire 400 and 800, and a new version of mini-dvi, that supports dual-link DVI, for the 30" Cinema Display (as well as a dedicated graphics card.

Oh yeah, and a user replacable hard drive, like in the MacBook.

i like the 12" size too. i hope my ibook keeps working ok!
 
It's not coming.

Apple undoubtedly brought some tiny motherboards and fitted them out with Intel CD chips. Guess where these boards have gone?

Mac Mini.

iTV.

I don't know why, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Apple ordered a load of mobos and was in the process of designing an ultraportable to replace the PB 12'', when SOMETHING happened, and they came up with the Mac Mini / iTV to use up all the parts they'd ordered.

Evidience: the way the Mac Mini has been left without any hardware upgrades
for a very long time - I think Apple are using up their stock of CD intel parts that they ordered for the PB 12'' replacement. (yes the Mac Mini first came out with a G4 chip, but at that time, Apple were already engineering and placing orders for Intel parts)


With the expertise and experience in small form factor gadgets they've developed with the Mac Mini, iTV, iPod and possibly the iPhone, I feel there must be something stopping them from developing an ultraportable.

It can't be software - it would run the same OSX as the MB / MBP

It could be hardware - maybe all their hardware engineers were busy on the iPhone, but that was signed off in hardware a long time ago. (or maybe the engineers are still busy developing iPhone's second revision / slide out keyboard etc?)

What do you think?
 
I would love a Mac ultraportable.
My ideal specs would be:

12" screen
Under 2 lbs.
No optical drive (optional external)
wifi b/g/n
bluetooth
120gb hard drive (ideal I would love solid state but its still too expensive)
USB
firewire

<$800
 
I am buying myself a Sony Vaio SZ next month. I would be a fool not take it up seeing as though i am travelling and can pick it up for a very reasonable price. I can make most of the money up from selling my current hardware. I cannot settle for integrated graphics and i really just do not want to get a 15inch.

Catonow you asked how much the Sony weighs it weighs 1.68kg. It is not just the weight that concerns me i like the smaller form factor right now as well.

As i said i will miss Mac OSX but with Windows media centre on there and a few other things it won't be to bad. I'll be back though if Apple ever did bring out that ultra pro portable.

skubish there is no way that configuration given for your ideal portable would ever cost as little as that.
 
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