I don't know why apple would want to create a small 10 inch notebook when they already have the macbook air. Apple said they would never want to compromise on keyboard size and screen size in a light weight notebook when they created the air. I can see a market for a sub $1000 netbook like device with a touch screen being attractive though.
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MacBook Mini Photos Generate Speculation
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I really hope this is a fake, mainly so I don't have to hear people cry about how netbooks don't cost $899 (imo, they do if they're from). Also, I want it to be fake, because I don't want a netbook. I'd rather see a 10" touchscreen tablet.
Sorry, but an $899 netbook totally negates the point of one. They're made to be low-cost computers for people who basically want basic Internet usability, e-mail and office suite stuff. In other words, probably not most people who are on here. Now some on here might buy a similar product as an additional computer to travel with, but I don't forsee many people on a Mac forum buying bare bones notebooks. Also, the $100 price difference for an entry-level model just isn't enticing enough.
If you actually read this thread, you'll understand that the Air doesn't qualify for the product niche of a netbook. It's too big and overkill for the use profile and size of a netbook. It's also way too expensive.
The MacBook Air isn't an ultra-mobile (as someone else suggested), it's just a thin version of a dinosaur-book.
Good luck typing on the onscreen keyboard with your 5 inch thumbs
That's how you handle a virtual keyboard on a 7" - 10" tablet. Just re-imagine it in an Apple style. And a bit more translucent.
The air IS nice... But I like the small footprint of a 12" PB, audio in, multiple USB ports, ethernet, firewire, and optical drive. I just think that the MBA is not full-featured enough and isn't small enough. So if my PB died, I'd pick up a new MacBook.
Please be real...
If this is real, it will make me feel a lot better for deciding to buy an MSI Wind U100 to use as a Hackintosh.
I can pick one up for $300 used in Japan with 2GB Ram, 160GB HDD and often with decent memory, overclocked to about 1.8Ghz.
With native support for all it's hardware in OS X including wifi and web camera, Apple would really have to offer something in the same universe (price-wise) to get any netbook marketshare.
I love Apple, have invested heavily in their previous models, but funked if I will buy another one until they lower their prices.
Hackintosh rules!
If this is real, it will make me feel a lot better for deciding to buy an MSI Wind U100 to use as a Hackintosh.
I can pick one up for $300 used in Japan with 2GB Ram, 160GB HDD and often with decent memory, overclocked to about 1.8Ghz.
With native support for all it's hardware in OS X including wifi and web camera, Apple would really have to offer something in the same universe (price-wise) to get any netbook marketshare.
I love Apple, have invested heavily in their previous models, but funked if I will buy another one until they lower their prices.
Hackintosh rules!
I never said the air was a netbook. This product wouldn't qualify in my opinion as an ultra-mobile netbook either though. A 10 inch notebook with a full size keyboard is still way too big.
I see something more like the Sony P-Series as an ultra-mobile netbook. It's really small and fits in your coat pocket. Although one could argue that why would you need such a device when you already have the iPhone?
I just don't understand why people really need netbooks? An iPhone is way smaller and does pretty much everything a netbook does and more.
Im calling fake on the macbook mini, The keys have the same shadows on them, sorry its not the greatest of comparisons in terms of the contrast being the same, but you can see the similarities especially the white dots on the "P" keys aswell as the vertical shadows on the "Y" Keys.
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That's how you handle a virtual keyboard on a 7" - 10" tablet. Just re-imagine it in an Apple style. And a bit more translucent.
Not very user friendly, unless apple dreams up something thatll really knock your socks off ease of use wise, thats not going to be implemented in any form.
Yeah, isn't it funny how this MBA-knockoff is exactly what Jobs & co. said they *didn't* want to do, for a number of reasons.
A watered-down laptop that also manages to be a lamea$$ netbook?
Yeah, that sounds exactly like the "ideas" that Apple has said they're working on. Highly doubtful.
I agree - fake. But, without reading all 16 pages of posts, I'll chime in and say I'd love a MacOS-based netbook. I've got a $300 Asus netbook (running XP) and it comes in very handy some times. I'd even pay ~$600 for an Apple, but not $899. No thanks.
Poorly written
This little blurb is poorly written.
I really enjoy how well composed the macrumors site is. It really elevates to the level of a journalistic venue with even handed, thoughtful items.
This bit, though, was not up to par.
This little blurb is poorly written.
I really enjoy how well composed the macrumors site is. It really elevates to the level of a journalistic venue with even handed, thoughtful items.
This bit, though, was not up to par.
When it comes to netbook pricing, Apple is all about "think different".
Seriously, I'd love to see Apple release a sub-$500 netbook. I'd even buy one eventually. However, expecting Apple to release a low profit margin/loss leader computer is unrealistic.
That's why I think it's more realistic to expect a tablet, because there won't be price expectations from certain people--who will most likely be disappointed.
Macbook Mini
Apple will make a new line of netbooks and release them by mid to late summer. The reason? There are several existing netbooks that can seamlessly run OSX, and even a commercial website offering such netbooks, for a cost of between $500-600. Apple could easily produce a netbook slightly more powerful and better designed than these that would sell for under $800. In the first year they could sell a million units easily, so why wouldn't they? It would look like a miniature macbook air, have a ten inch LED screen, and probably a speeded-up atom processor and a solid state drive. Apple quality at that price point would jump off the shelves.
Apple will make a new line of netbooks and release them by mid to late summer. The reason? There are several existing netbooks that can seamlessly run OSX, and even a commercial website offering such netbooks, for a cost of between $500-600. Apple could easily produce a netbook slightly more powerful and better designed than these that would sell for under $800. In the first year they could sell a million units easily, so why wouldn't they? It would look like a miniature macbook air, have a ten inch LED screen, and probably a speeded-up atom processor and a solid state drive. Apple quality at that price point would jump off the shelves.
You've pretty much convinced me it WILL be happening. Sorry, but that's the definition of Apple since Steve came back. Overpriced and underpowered...but they're 'pretty' so it's OK.
He didn't say that. He said there are netbooks that seamlessly run OS X, not that anyone is selling them that way.
The Dell Mini 9, for example, is apparently a perfect hackintosh platform (I wouldn't know, haven't tried it).
The HP Mini 1000 is apparently almost able to do it ... and apparently looks rather pretty when doing so. (again, I haven't tried it)
Well, I would choose the good 10" over a ***** 13" screen... Interesting machine though, sounds great for travelling. If only it wasn't fake.
Just as a note the HP Mini 2140 comes with a 80gb ssd option and can run OSX reasonably well with a few driver adjustments and now comes with an HD screen option all for under $550 or so. Also of note, people are having trouble install OSX on devices running the Atom Z line of chips, mainly because of the GMA500 as OSX doesn't support it, and to a lesser extent the Z chip is also not being properly supported in OSX(or so the Viao P guys mention).