Are you waiting for Macbook Pro Ultraportable?

[snowfall]

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.

Actually that's true, my beloved 12" PB isn't exactly the lightest laptop at 2.1kg, I was actually surprised how heavy I found it compared to my ol' HP omnibook 6100 which was 2.4 or so kg. The HP was lighter than it looked and the powerbook is the opposite. Still, the small form factor of PB is important to me too.

I have a 1.33 GHz PB, I'd seriously consider selling it and buying one of the 1.5 Ghz machines, just to last a little longer...

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

There's no way Apple would charge the little either!

 

[rockthecasbah]

I am not "waiting" persay because i am not currently in the market, but i am really hoping Apple releases one by next Spring/Summer because I will be in the market for a College notebook and an Ultraportable sounds fantastic granted it is technically a good value also

 

[Genghis Khan]

guys...where would the 12" mbp sit in the market?

the gap between macbook and macbook pro is so small price wise now, and the mbp is so much better...any mbp that is cheaper would kill the black mb and hurt the white one

 

[Catonow]

Why does everybody keep insisting that the ultraportable MBP has to be less expensive than the low-end 15" model? Many of us (I for one) would be willing to pay the same (around $2000) for a smaller pro model laptop. If I'm not mistaken, most of the PC ultraportables cost the same if not more than larger notebooks. Many are willing to pay a premium for a professional ultraportable. (And yes, I know in the past Apple charged less for 12" PBs than for the 15" model, but there is no law that states they have to maintain the same price differential. Times change, so does technology, so does customer demand.)

Oh, and thanks Roba, for answering my query about the weight of the PC ultraportable.

 

[dallasuo]

Why does everybody keep insisting that the ultraportable MBP has to be less expensive than the low-end 15" model? Many of us (I for one) would be willing to pay the same (around $2000) for a smaller pro model laptop. If I'm not mistaken, most of the PC ultraportables cost the same if not more than larger notebooks. Many are willing to pay a premium for a professional ultraportable. (And yes, I know in the past Apple charged less for 12" PBs than for the 15" model, but there is no law that states they have to maintain the same price differential. Times change, so does technology, so does customer demand.)

Oh, and thanks Roba, for answering my query about the weight of the PC ultraportable.

I agree. I have always wondered why this is so different from the pc to mac market.

 

[dcv]

I still want an ultraportable MBP but can't wait any longer...

My 15" MBP is on reserve at the Apple Store for me to pick up this evening. Almost went for the 17" Hi-Res option but realised I probably don't *need* the high-res and extra bulk.

My 12" PowerBook is exactly 2 years old this weekend. I still love it but it's been unusable recently as out of disk space etc. I would like to re-install from scratch and maybe keep it as my portable machine for carrying around when I need to. The 15" isn't really that portable in my opinion but Apple have left me with no other options.

 

[mccldwll]

My personal prediction is that new form iMacs will come out at about same time as Leopard. A big marketing campaign jointly pushing the two products. That's also when the ultraportable will appear. For university students, a 24" inroom iMac w/ TV card coupled w/ an ultraportable (think big, stripped down iPhone) for classes, etc. would become a must have pairing. Stop trying to have one machine do it all, w/ compromises. Don't sell someone just one computer when you can sell them two. Who here wouldn't like a set up like that

 

[netdog]

My personal prediction is that new form iMacs will come out at about same time as Leopard. A big marketing campaign jointly pushing the two products. That's also when the ultraportable will appear. For university students, a 24" inroom iMac w/ TV card coupled w/ an ultraportable (think big, stripped down iPhone) for classes, etc. would become a must have pairing. Stop trying to have one machine do it all, w/ compromises. Don't sell someone just one computer when you can sell them two. Who here wouldn't like a set up like that

While I am waiting for an ultraportable, the MacBook and iMac already offer that kind of classroom/out and about vs. home setup and I think that a lot of users here have in fact been sold two - or many more over the years

 

[emotion]

I don't want an ultraportable. I want a full strength (not LV/ULV chpped) small 12/13" laptop that's not cheap like the macbook (I have a c2d black macbook, that replaced a 12" powerbook....the macbook is not bad but not a 12" powerbook/mbp alternative).

An example of what I'm taling about wiuld be that small dell machine that's coming out in a few months (see above).

 

[mccldwll]

While I am waiting for an ultraportable, the MacBook and iMac already offer that kind of classroom/out and about vs. home setup and I think that a lot of users here have in fact been sold two - or many more over the years

Sure. But wouldn't you rather have a 1.5 lb. portable that syncs to the mothership like an ipod? Once students start carrying around 1 to 2 lb. portables, existing laptops will start feeling like Kaypros. Existing laptops will be for moving around in homes, offices, between home and work, but not for backpacks.

 

[emotion]

Aren't ultraportables in the 1.5Kg not 1.5lb range when talking about weight?

Otherwise what you're talking about is an iPhone with a big screen.

 

[mccldwll]

Aren't ultraportables in the 1.5Kg not 1.5lb range when talking about weight?

Otherwise what you're talking about is an iPhone with a big screen.

Yes. 9" x 12". Flash. Touchscreen. 1/2" thick. That may be revision C, but it's coming.

 

[emotion]

Yes. 9" x 12". Flash. Touchscreen. 1/2" thick. That may be revision C, but it's coming.

I don't doubt that but all I want is compact premium laptop. Like my 12" powerbook was.

There's a lot of interest in that.

 

[Butthead]

In a word...NO. Rumors of an ultra thin MB or MBP have been circulating around since what, the beginning of the year or earlier? Who knows when or if such an 'ultrathin' is coming? Maybe a revamped MBP or MB line will only be slightly thinner, they're already very thin, so they can't get that much thinner. That said, cellphones keep getting thinner and thinner, so it's not unreasonable to expect even thinner laptops in the future.

Since no reliable rumors are out there about an imminent "ultrathin" I"m not holding my breath.

 

[snowfall]

Since no reliable rumors are out there about an imminent "ultrathin" I"m not holding my breath.

Oh, we're not holding it anymore, we've moved on to full on meditative breathing with mantras....

"Apple-will-release-a-12-inch-MPB-ohhhmmmm"

"Next-tuesday-would-be-nice-ohhhmmmm"

"Namaste-Stevie-boy...."
​

 

[yadmonkey]

Turns out I'm still waiting. I may pick up a newer 12" PB soon for the meantime. But I think the demand is large enough that it will happen eventually.

Meanwhile, Apple doesn't offer a portable to meet my needs and I think that holds true for many. I simply will not buy a computer with a glossy screen and I won't buy a portable as large as the 15". I also won't buy a white notebook.

 

[fairnymph]

Oh, we're not holding it anymore, we've moved on to full on meditative breathing with mantras....

 

[newwavedave]

I don't know how much longer I can wait. I LOVE my 12 inch PB, however the 1 Ghz PPC and 768 of RAM are starting to lag quite a bit. And the 60 GB hard drive (I had the 40 replaced) is nearly full. I manage to keep 5 GB free from time to time, but it's not enough. Plus, this configuration isn't enough to run the FC Suite I just bought. I'll try to hold out another couple of weeks, but I think I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and buy a 15" MBP.

The person who was posting that they wanted a 40GB flash drive. That isn't at all what I'm looking for. I think Apple nailed it with the 12", where they had an ultraportable sized, full feature laptop. I'd love, and I think a majority of the people in this thread would love, a 12" version of the 1999 MBP.

PS, I love the fact that I've been on this forum for 3 years, yet I'm still a newbie. :-D

 

[snowfall]

PS, I love the fact that I've been on this forum for 3 years, yet I'm still a newbie. :-D

Yes, not quite as long as you but I JUST crossed over from being a newbie to a member (2 posts ago), despite being on the board for more than 2 years. Living the vida lurker... until WWDC and no announcement of a small laptop nor of a mini update!

 

[vaprof]

Apple, are you listening?

I have a 12" Powerbook and it is hands-down the best computer I've ever owned. The MacBooks just aren't the same -- not as solid, and I hate the glossy screen. Not to mention that they're too big.

I would buy two 12" MBPs tomorrow if they came out. I'd even be happy with the same form form factor, with just upgraded processor, disk, etc.

I cannot for the life of me understand how Apple has not made a replacement yet for the 12" Powerbook. There seems to be a large demand for it.

It's really starting to irk me, this waiting.

Wake up, Apple!

 

[Roba]

It is interesting to look at past history though and look what Apple has done with the GPU in different models.

With iBook's they came with a dedicated GPU card. For example the iBook G4 came with a 32MB dedicated card the 12 inch PB came with a 64MB and the 15-17 came with 128MB plus graphic cards. This worked very well for Apple in the past.

I seriously doubt that we will be seeing an pro ultraportable from Apple. The MBP has been out 17 months to date if they were going to do it they would have done so before now. Apple have changed their product line and are also following the more global notebook trend of integrated graphics. I think that people just have to accept that fact now.

There is a saying that goes that time does not wait for no man. Apple cannot expect people to sit around waiting for them to bring out a new product for ever. Some people will move on to something else or some will just adapt to whatever is out there.

 

[yadmonkey]

I seriously doubt that we will be seeing an pro ultraportable from Apple. The MBP has been out 17 months to date if they were going to do it they would have done so before now. Apple have changed their product line and are also following the more global notebook trend of integrated graphics. I think that people just have to accept that fact now.

I don't know. Apple's rarely been on the same schedule as demand. Maybe putting out a 12 or 13 inch MBP has thus far not been desirable in terms of their cost-to-pricing policies. However, as companies like Dell are putting out 13.3" machines, the prices of components, including video chipsets, are going to drop and Apple might reconsider their stance on it. It might already be designed and ready to go as soon as the market conditions are favorable in their eyes.

Integrated video is cheap for manufacturers. That's part of why the MBs are so inexpensive. But the fact remains that many Mac users won't consider glossy and don't consider the 15" to be portable, so I figure Apple will offer a comprimise eventually.

As it stands, they offer only really offer 3 models:

1. The Macbooks are all basically the same and you pay a lot extra for black. But I don't consider the three MB offerings to be different models.

2. The 15" MBPs are basically the same, except one has a beefier video card. But again, that's just a specs thing.

3. The 17" beast.

It seems to me that there's an awful lot of room between the Macbook and Macbook Pro 15". Take away the blackbook, which is just a surface thing, and there's a $700 difference between the two and a world of difference in design and portability. The demand is there and the market seems to be there, so hope remains for me.

Meanwhile, like many portable users, I have a desktop for power use, so I can afford to wait and continue to reject offerings which are either too big or too ugly (glossy).

 

[Lara F]

I went to the Apple store today and it just confirmed that 15'' is bigger than I want. Even the MB 13.3" is pushing it, though I'd get a MBP version in a heartbeat. Sigh. I'm going to wait till Leopard at least and see - here's hoping.

 

[vaprof]

This is the first time in 4 years since I started using Macs that I've been frustrated by Apple. In 4 years, I've easily dropped $10K on Apple products for me and my family (1 PowerMac, 2 12" Powerbooks, 2 iMacs, 2 MacMinis, 6 iPods, 5 Airport Express).

My 12" Powerbook is awesome, but I want to be able to run Parallels (mostly to use Ultraedit, but also for some GPS stuff that only works under Windows). The MacBooks seem flimsy to me, and I don't like the aspect ratio of the screen or the fact that you can only buy it in glossy. And they're too big. The 15" MacBookPro is way too big for using only planes, balancing in your lap in airports, etc.

I spent the weekend debating buying a Macbook or MBP. Just couldn't pull the trigger on either one. The screen lighting on the 15" MBP seemed uneven to me -- kind of odd considering the switch to LED. And it's just too big.

I would buy 2 12" Powerbook equivalents tomorrow if they were available. It's hard for me to believe that Apple doesn't want my money enough to have designed something already.

If they're not going to have a 12" Powerbook replacement, they should allow us to install OS X on Dell or Sony hardware so that we can have the form factor we want.

Ugh. This totally pisses me off.

 

[yadmonkey]

In 4 years, I've easily dropped $10K on Apple products for me and my family (1 PowerMac, 2 12" Powerbooks, 2 iMacs, 2 MacMinis, 6 iPods, 5 Airport Express).

By any chance do you want to adopt a 35 year-old???