MacBook 'Brick' Codename Speculation

[omega21]

My list:
1. Mac Mini
2. MacBook Pro
3. MacBook
4. MacBook Air
5. Mac Pro
6. iMac

+1

The mini is really neglected. If I was Steve I'd frankly be embarrassed.

EDIT I think that www.macpredictions.com might be on to something. Think about it. It's realistic and it could be something Apple is doing. I don't see it as "something our competitors simply will not be able to match", but it has Apple Innovation all over it.

 

[NT1440]

Since Legos are bricks, I think this bricks-with-brick must be it:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/seven13avenue/2335147346/in/set-72157603955484627/

And here is a pic of Steve meeting with Lego to discuss this great new collaboration:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joanna-bartkowiak/2737451255/


pics from:
http://www.brothers-brick.com/
and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/seven13avenue/sets/72157603955484627/

ZOMG HES RIGHT!😛

 

[omega21]

The other thing that would be cool is if Apple made a computer with upgradable components that are like Lego bricks. A ram block, processor block, hdd block, for easy upgrades. It won't ever happen, but cool thought. 🙂

 

[redkamel]

ok, rainbow=many colors. That meant they are adding colors/color to something. Simple enough.

brick: a building block, or squarish object

a windows smasher? c'mon. Like what? what would "smash" an OS? its has to be another OS. I don't think OSX is going to be what its all about. Plus, thats kind of a stretch of the tip.

power brick: I think this could be likely. Something that replaces the powerbrick and is small and light it is not noticeable inside the laptop. Hence, no more brick, just a cable. This would be awesome. But, the power bricks have not been progressively shrinking, so I think it would be hard to keep a big breakthrough like this really secret.

macmini: also likely. Perhaps the mac mini, a brick like object, will be getting an upgrade...that is, into a bigger brick that is upgradeable. Hopefully it will look something like the G4 cube, the best mac design IMO.

wireless USB hub: I dont think is it, namely because, there is no market. I mean, most people who have an apple laptop (college students) do not have a monitor and external keyboard as well. Most people with expensive laptops also like laptops cause they are small, so they dont want a big monitor and keyboard on the desk. IMO

wireless power: yeah, ok, wireless power has been developed into a super reliable way to charge things? I am really doubtful. I will literally be amazed in a way I have not been in years if this is the brick idea.

building block: most people don't really program or anything on their computer so I doubt its some sort of building program or tool.

laptopt port in imac/monitor: would require the "brick" to be a laptop, not a favorable or common term for a macbook.

 

[Anaxarxes]

Hm, well... I thought these two words had the opposite meaning of what Wikipedia says, but if they're to believed, then I think Kurdistan is a nation but not a country. Check.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to when more people realize that geographic divisions don't work in a globally-connected world.

Kurdistan is not a country, nor a nation. It's a geographical area where a specific ethnicity (Kurdish people) is dominant over other ethnicity (Turks, Iraqis, Persian, Armenian, Syrian, Jordanian, etc).

Get your facts when you list kurdistan with other countries in the same sentence...

 

[Toe]

Kurdistan is not a country, nor a nation. It's a geographical area where a specific ethnicity (Kurdish people) is dominant over other ethnicity (Turks, Iraqis, Persian, Armenian, Syrian, Jordanian, etc).

Get your facts when you list kurdistan with other countries in the same sentence...

Really depends on your definition. I conceded it's not a country, but Wikipedia's definition of nation is merely "a human cultural and social community" and "Members of a 'nation' share a common identity, and usually a common origin, in the sense of history, ancestry, parentage or descent."

In that sense, I think the mere fact that there is a "Kurdistan" to which people refer qualifies it as a nation.

 

[.Chris]

My list:
1. Mac Mini
2. MacBook Pro
3. MacBook
4. MacBook Air
5. Mac Pro
6. iMac

thats a nice list. Expect mine was based off design.

srry, i meant no one has heard any more rumors from him, and (i honestly cannot remember where i saw it, srry🙁) but apparantly he has lost a few sources because apple was so pissed.

he is however still around, not locked in apples torture rooms, i just watched his video on what hed like in itunes 9 today (apparantly he wants to see a social networking kinda thing like facebook 🙄 )

Dont you mean last.fm

Now thats not a bad idea. Last fm is a great music social networking site. Best one out there. There is already an app for it. Just depends if you in to that sort of thing. It could how ever take Genius to the next level as well as introduced the first ever revamp of itunes...

This made me laugh:
http://9to5mac.com/mac-is-a-pc

lol

Well a mac IS a PC. a PC is a personal computer. a mac is a computer. its yours, its personal

 

[dual64bit]

But a Mac is not quite a PeeCee...

Anyhow, about the Brick.. sounds like I might be scared of it!

 

[nicknack70]

I like this explanation - perhaps it is a rather comical new code name! We know what apple are like at poking fun at Microsoft...

😎
Very cool and very convincing to me.

About breaking windows... Does anyone remember the final sequence of the famous 1984 Apple ad? The hammer breaking a screen... the brick breaking a Window... 🙄

maybe we'll see something completely different, but in my fantasy I can already see the keynote startup movie. 😀

 

[NT1440]

Dont you mean last.fm

Now thats not a bad idea. Last fm is a great music social networking site. Best one out there. There is already an app for it. Just depends if you in to that sort of thing. It could how ever take Genius to the next level as well as introduced the first ever revamp of itunes...



lol

Well a mac IS a PC. a PC is a personal computer. a mac is a computer. its yours, its personal

He didnt give real specifics but to me it sounded like he wanted itunes to be an overly whored facebook like media hub. As someone who is sick of this social networking fad (its alright for things like business but I get sick of every person my age talking not stop about their damn wall), i just want my itunes to be my media hub, thats it. Make that aspect better and i will be a happy camper always.

 

[sra. Aguirre]

Life without walls? Here's my brick for you!

I really think that is wayyyy over reaching/thinking on macenstiens part.

No way....I think it makes perfect sense....I doubt that the Brick reference has anything to do with the physical product.... and since Windows is shouting that it's "Life without Walls" The brick would be a perfect analogy to use as response....Life without walls you say? Look at what my brick does to your window!!!!



I would also like this speculation to turn out to be the truth:

The more I think about the word brick possibly refering to a modular system, the more my imagination runs wild. How's this:

Perhaps we'll start to see the screen and keyboard divorced from the laptop, changing the whole concept of mobile computing. Not unlike the desktop concept, you choose your screen, keyboard, CPU "brick", and neatly attachable port/connector "bricks" from a few different options. They all lock together firmly when you want to use the system as a laptop, but you can also leave bits at home when you don't need them...AND (this is the best part) you can upgrade modules independently.

So whenever you upgrade your processor, you don't have to upgrade the screen and keyboard too. Want BlueRay? Fine, buy the BlueRay brick. Want a thicker keyboard instead of the chicklet one? Fine, buy the "classic" keyboard option.The difference between this and a desktop system would be the emphasis on portability and interlocking parts.

BTW I just love this "first ad" on Macenstein!

 

[Legoman05]

I don't think we'd even need a wire for power with the brick...

http://blogs.intel.com/research/2008/08/you_have_to_see_thiswireless_p.php

 

[Tosser]

I don't think we'd even need a wire for power with the brick...

http://blogs.intel.com/research/2008/08/you_have_to_see_thiswireless_p.php

2050 …

 

[stonefingers]

The Brick - Speculation Defined

Since then, the site has been told that ... the update ... will be 'all about the Brick. The exact meaning of which is left up for debate.

Article Link

My personal speculation on this is that we're going to see an amazing, multi-vectored release integrating even more tightly the internet tools, mobile devices, and mobile computing capabilities offered by Apple. It will be focused on new technologies for our beloved MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, the skyrocketing iPhone, and that latest internet tools service that took the nose-dive, MobileMe. Hence, code name - the Brick 🙂

 

[dwcasey]

What's the idea behind what?

Seriously, who takes a photograph of their computer screen to show you a 'so called revealing' on the Apple website when you can screen shot it?

I don't get this type of device. It looks like a macbook air, but thinner and some externalized disk/power "brick".

So I'm leaving for the day, I grab my thinbook ( netbook ) and leave the brick at home because it's too bulky and I don't think I'll need it. I could use the device all day, then plug it up when I get home and sync away?

I think of a Touch or iPhone. Most folks charge them overnight, then grab them and go for the day not thinking if they will be close to a power source.

A similar, larger device would be interesting. But if I have to lug around the brick, what's the point?

 

[tgildred]

This made me laugh:
http://9to5mac.com/mac-is-a-pc

🙂

That's really clever... someone should post it to the Mac Bytes section.

 

[Loumeer]

Brick -> Power Cord

Could they be referring to the power cord? Maybe they are going to add wireless charging. I know that technology is being developed but I am not sure how ready it is for production.

 

[MacManNM]

I had a new thought on that new 'brick'

Assuming that the Brick is USB/docking multiport type device for the new MacBook and Pro, what about this idea: you could have the same brick of all of the new notebooks -- MacBook, MacBook Pro, etc., ... you would get the same brick with each notebook. What changes is the notebook itself .. the display / motherboard / processor keyboard, but not the brick. That could reduce manufacturing costs, and then you'd have an interchangeable part that could be made and packaged with each notebook computer. So when they say 'it's all about the brick' ... it means that the brick is one unit that is the same, and central to every new notebook. We'll see...

 

[andrewdale]

I still hold on to my belief that "Brick" refers to an 16:9 ratio MacBook.

I posted something back a few pages about if there were any bricks with a 16:9 ratio.

Never know with Apple, right?

 

[Phrasikleia]

The mini is really neglected. If I was Steve I'd frankly be embarrassed.

If you were Steve, you'd be laughing all the way to the bank. Apple is probably selling minis at a good clip and have no reason whatsoever to reduce their margins on them by upping their own costs.

People forget how many millions of Macs are sold each year and that the vast majority of those consumers are not very informed about what's current in computer specs. For many of these consumers, the form factor of the mini is enough to win them over. They can use it for the basic computer tasks they're doing, and so it works for them.

 

[Eric S.]

Could they be referring to the power cord? Maybe they are going to add wireless charging. I know that technology is being developed but I am not sure how ready it is for production.

It is only in the experimental phase. Of course the real application for wireless power would be a worldwide power grid.

Assuming that the Brick is USB/docking multiport type device for the new MacBook and Pro, what about this idea: you could have the same brick of all of the new notebooks -- MacBook, MacBook Pro, etc., ... you would get the same brick with each notebook. What changes is the notebook itself .. the display / motherboard / processor keyboard, but not the brick. That could reduce manufacturing costs, and then you'd have an interchangeable part that could be made and packaged with each notebook computer. So when they say 'it's all about the brick' ... it means that the brick is one unit that is the same, and central to every new notebook. We'll see...

"It's all about the brick" would have to be the marketing slogan, or the fact that the emphasis of the release is on that product. But I agree that what you propose is quite plausible. I wouldn't expect to see it for all Mac laptops, but it could be an alternative.

 

[Trip.Tucker]

well, since macbooks break faster than you can say "genius bar", calling them bricks only seems natural...

Yuh......not.

 

[VoR]

Hello,
I would like 'the brick' to be a new mac mini system with a range of the fastest intel cpus and tonnes of space for ram. I would also like at least intel's newest gfx chipset. I'm not interested in an optical drive and don't mind what there is in terms of storage. It has to have digital a/v, usb and an ethernet port.
If it's not going to fit in my pocket, I still like the look of the old mini. I'm sure apple will wind those wires tight and make as small a psu as possible.

Goodbye.

ps. I'll buy a mini revision that is nice and cheap. Should ditch the apple tv and make 'monster' cash selling a/v extension cables.

 

[Phrasikleia]

Assuming that the Brick is USB/docking multiport type device for the new MacBook and Pro, what about this idea: you could have the same brick of all of the new notebooks -- MacBook, MacBook Pro, etc., ... you would get the same brick with each notebook. What changes is the notebook itself .. the display / motherboard / processor keyboard, but not the brick. That could reduce manufacturing costs, and then you'd have an interchangeable part that could be made and packaged with each notebook computer. So when they say 'it's all about the brick' ... it means that the brick is one unit that is the same, and central to every new notebook. We'll see...

And so what exactly would the brick contain if it's not any of those things you listed?

 

[dwcasey]

😎
Very cool and very convincing to me.

About breaking windows... Does anyone remember the final sequence of the famous 1984 Apple ad? The hammer breaking a screen... the brick breaking a Window... 🙄

maybe we'll see something completely different, but in my fantasy I can already see the keynote startup movie. 😀

Cool ad from 1984.

If it is something related to breaking windows ( literally, figuratively, whatever ), what is it? New software, laptop, netbook, desktop, etc, etc.???

Also think about Vista now and where it's headed. Today you read that Windows 7 will have a lot of it's accessory apps pulled, stripped out.

Mac has iLife, iWork, plus lots of little goodies built-in and MS is pulling stuff out?!? Future doesn't look bright for MS ( their new ad campaign is awful! ) at this time and I think Apple sees this as a perfect opportunity to 'break' windows.