MacBook with Blu-Ray, Networked HDTV from Apple?

[kolax]

+1. As much as I love to have an Apple-made anything, I don't want my computers made by a home appliance manufacturer.

An HDTV with built in features to stream content from your computer is still computer based technology. It is just a big screen with a wee computer.

I'd hear your point if Apple was releasing toasters though.

 

[Macinposh]

I seriously doubt that Apple is going to get into the selling large screen tv thing. I know they make existing computer displays and some peripheral gear, and it's not an impossible stretch for them, but it's a big jump and I just really doubt it. Apple retail stores are already crowded, where would they put the things?

I am very happy you dont work for apple.


First : There is a world outside the US and A. You do know that? There is very little to no apple stores there. Apple are sold amongst sonys,lenovos and the like in the stores.
How do you think apple looks like with their products and displays?

Apple mops the floor with the competitors.


How do you think apples tvs would fare when displayed alongside with Sharps, Thomsons,Sonys and Luxors?

Yes,they would mop the floor ,again.

Apple has to broaden their market area and apple does just that with their tight integration of hardware+Content.



And making TVs is hard. Not neccessary if you dont make the panels and systems yourself. You lease that technology from,say LG and put the and TV together. Preferably in the hosts factory to keep the costs minimal.

Tadaah!

 

[Lo Aul]

I don't watch enough movies for bluray to be useful to me. If they do include it I hope they offer an option to downgrade to SuperDrive for less money.

 

[Blu-Ray]

If the Mac Books have a BD drive at the current price points, that would be a HUGE victory for Apple. A high powered, dual core laptop running OS X with BluRay? AWESOME!

Oh yeah - now we're talking.

 

[Scottsdale]

Brick (blu Ray - - -)

Since the casing photos we have seen do NOT seem to support the BRICK as a new manufacturing process, the first two letters of BRICK could be for BLU RAY.

So, what do the other three letters say about our new MacBooks? This is really getting interesting. Seriously, Blu Ray supported by a MacBook even.

 

[Westside guy]

I want a Mac Mini upgraded with a Blu-Ray drive.

Actually I just want a Mac Mini upgrade, period, so I can roll my own media box without paying a premium for year-old tech. I don't want an Apple TV - I understand why Apple hasn't put a DVD drive in them, but Apple's business model (in this area) doesn't jibe with what I really want connected to my television.

A Mini with BR would be fairly future-proof...

 

[polar-blair]

A real apple TV Exciting, Ill get my folks to buy one and replace the old crappy one.

How amazin would that be. Please let the TV hook up to an external drive or networked drive for extra storage. Also a built in free view box with smart TV guides, like the Genius feature on itunes but with TV shows and also you can record them and send them back to your mac to copy onto your ipod. It would be so Goooooood!

Then apple could release a game console at MWSF! replace the mini with the apple console, and have the option to use ipod touch's and iphones as controllers! Ohhh so excited

 

[ryanwarsaw]

WOOT! YAY! $800 macbooks with bluray!!

 

[iMacmatician]

It is possible within their current price points to include it as a CTO option on MBs, but I would expect it to be standard on MBPs.

I don't want to pay extra for a Blu-ray drive I would never use.

BR will be incredibly handy for storage/backup of large media files (RAW camera formats, HD formats, etc)

I prefer to use flash drives and HDDs for that.

Don't get too excited. This could very possibly be just BD-ROM.

You're probably right. And it may be limited to the MacBook Pro at first.

 

[jcb10]

Why buy everything twice?

... do people realize that you're not getting the full potential from BR on a 13.3" MacBook screen?

Well, duh. The reason I want Blu-Ray on a MBP is mainly because I already have a Blu-Ray player at home (for my HDTV) and all my movie purchases are already in that format. If I want to watch movies on my laptop (and I often do on planes and trains), I'd either have to buy everything twice (on DVD or iTunes PLUS Blu-Ray) or go through some complicated, time-consuming ripping process of questionable legality. I shouldn't have to do either of those.

 

[jbrenn]

blu ray prices

Remember people the EXTERNAL BDRs are $500-$700.

not any more i have seen they for less than $250
as much as i would like to see it in a macbook i think that is going to be a pro feature.

 

[corinhorn]

Apple please remember that you were a computer company...

I agree that Macs have been put on the back-burner of late, but remember Apple changed its name from Apple Computer Inc to simply Apple Inc. Further evidence that they will expand even more.

 

[DoNoHarm]

Why is this at all important?

Hey people. I have a 32" LCD at home and I watch DVD's on it. The picture quality seems fine. I really don't understand why you would want Blue Ray on a tiny laptop with it's tiny screen when DVD's are fine... Could someone explain to me why this makes any difference, and why apple would make all of us who don't need a blue-ray drive pay for this feature?

Even those who want to watch blue ray movies on their 50"+ TV's, wouldn't you want a dedicated blue ray drive to power your system instead of having to hook up your macbook to your equipment?

 

[ryanwarsaw]

I agree that Macs have been put on the back-burner of late, but remember Apple changed its name from Apple Computer Inc to simply Apple Inc. Further evidence that they will expand even more.

They are on the front burner now.

 

[danBARKER]

No... REALLY?

I don't think apple would do this. They haven't got Apple TV right yet so why would they do this? I don't think we will be seeing a HDTV from Apple this year, maybe next WWDC, but not this time!

 

[Kwill]

The problem with specific rumors like this is that they raise expectation so high that if one detail is wrong, everyone is disappointed with the true offering.

 

[MaynardJames]

Lol. you wanna inform me about one?

Edit: Microsoft is making a external bluray player for xbox 360. Do you think that will work with OS X?

There are already links to some in earlier posts in this thread.

I will also mention the better way to go would be to buy an internal which is cheaper, and throw it in an enclosure.

Not so sure about that, there are drives which can read BD discs but not burn them which are much less expensive. those same drives can burn CD's and DVD's.

Internal readers can be had for around $130. Internal burners can be had for as low as $200. Burners are not really that much more expensive.

 

[ThinkBrilliant]

3D Video: Rendering of an "Apple iTube"

These rumors have been around for a while now. If only because Apple is already setup to launch into this market. Regarding the push to all digital..."President and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters, David Rehr, has described the digital transition as “the most significant advancement of television technology since color TV was introduced.” What better an opportunity for Apple to penetrate what is already an enormous market bursting at the seams with people in need of a Digital TV upgrade."

So it only makes sense for Apple to exploit the timing, which they do so well, by launching a new product. An HDTV, particularly a "networked" one could put a very worthy contender in the ring when it comes to the "living room wars." Currently, Apple has the Apple TV (bleh) and some wireless streaming stuff (bleh) in their corner. Adding a networked HDTV set seems like an intelligent, logistical move.

I posted a 3D Video Rendering of an "Apple iTube" on MacBlogz a few months ago... It's at the link below. The image below is a screenshot from the video.

LINK: http://www.macblogz.com/2008/10/10/apple-itube-apple-is-working-on-hdtv-sets-calacanis-claims/

PS - Hopefully if this comes true, we can hack Firefox onto it.

 

[Tallest Skil]

WOOT! YAY! $800 macbooks with bluray!!

No... NO.

Blu-ray, $800, MacBook

You may pick two.

 

[pavelbure]

i guess we know what will be at macworld now. apple tv displays that include apple tv.

 

[CyberBob859]

Apple built a manufacturing plant and no one knows where it is?

I'm starting to think that Apple has a PILOT facility someplace on their campus for rapid prototyping and working out design issues using the "Brick" manufacturing process, but manufacturing is still going to be in Asia for the near term.

 

[petermcphee]

i want battery life in my macbook (not pro) not bluray.

I agree with this. I think Bluray would be a nifty feature to have that I would never, ever use. For my uses, a Blueray drive would be more appropriate on the iMac at home. Nahmean?

 

[hdhanani]

kevin rose

Kevin rose did mention that the source for his macbook predictions was a "bad" source and not the same source he had for the ipod predictions... so he said to take it with a grain of salt...


BUT if blu-ray did come standard with the macbooks that would be huge... I assume they will be for the higher end macbook and come standard on MBPs...

 

[JG271]

Hm. Unlikley that the macbook will get it, i would have thought that the iMac, Mac Pro and Macbook Pro would all get it before the macbook!

If it is true, it better not come as standard or i won't be able to afford one!

 

[ryanwarsaw]

No... NO.

Blu-ray, $800, MacBook

You may pick two.

Being literal, sarcasm

You can only choose one.

I thought tha all caps WOOT! gave it away.