More Magnets in the Intel iBook?

[Mechcozmo]

Not to take anything away from Apple's awesome idea to use magnets in the plug of a laptop, but magnetic breakaway plugs are nothing new. Fondue pots (and probably other portable cooking devices like deep friers, crock pots, etc.) have had them for at least 5 years.

I think most people here have the idea that Apple didn't use magnets first. They did use them in laptops first, however, possibly after watching the food industry's experiences with them and waiting for the technology to become 'ready'.

I think the white casing could look better. a little more finesse and I'd have probably got an iBook over my Powerbook.

If Apple got you to pay for that PowerBook, then why should they change anything?

Wow it sure is hard getting first post around here 😱

Linkety. Careful about trying to post first just for the sake of it.

 

[Esben]

Birthday day after 28th

From what i'vee been reading on the rumor sites this new MacBook sounds amazing! I've 100% faith in Apple that this laptop will be the dogs b******s! My credit card is just waiting for this!

I do have a bad feeling that they won't release this quite yet though and will probably annouce it on the 30th birthday. Lets hope its this week though!

Anyone else noticed this Microsoft Origami thing yet? Sounds just like the rumors to do with the new iPod. Again i don't think this (if it is real!) will be released until 30th b'day.

I predict Mac minis and iPod accesories. I hope for this MacBook though! Fingers crossed! 🙄

Seems a lot of folks talk about the iBook/MacBook as the 30th anniversary computer, which it might well be - though I highly doubt it. But a lot of people think that's a reason it won't be released on tuesday - but common people Apple's birthday is on April 1st!!!

 

[kahos]

Correct me if im wrong, but i believe that's what the sony laptops are using.
I like this better then the latch most laptops are using.

 

[MacTT]

I can't seem to find it now, but someone in the forums a couple days ago linked to a review of the MacBook Pro that was by someone who apparently had no idea what he was doing. He dropped the MacBook to test if the power connector would really disconnect itself.

Smart....do you know the link? 😱

 

[yankeefan24]

Linkety. Careful about trying to post first just for the sake of it.

it's also against MR rules, and it will be deleted.

 

[monkeyandy]

MacBooks !

Seems a lot of folks talk about the iBook/MacBook as the 30th anniversary computer, which it might well be - though I highly doubt it. But a lot of people think that's a reason it won't be released on tuesday - but common people Apple's birthday is on April 1st!!!

All I can say is that I really, really hope you are right! 😀

 

[ieani]

I really hope they are announced tueday. I cannot wait to put my order in. Its after many hours of research the perfect machine for me.

 

[amateurmacfreak]

PS: WOOOHOOO, Just realised, NOT A "NEWBIE" ANYMORE!!! 😀 😀 😀 😀

Welcome to non-newbie status, my friends. Sure, I'm not a demi-goddess welcoming you, but welcome nevertheless. 🙂
Can't wait until you're a regular!!

 

[D3LM3L]

I don't think Apple will introduce the MacBook just yet because it can steal from MacBook Pro sales. They'll probably introduce it on April 1st along with their 30th Anniversary Macs- the plasmas rumored before MacWorld '06 🙄.

Also, the magnet rumor is a bit too young... usually such rumors come a month or two before the introduction of the product.

This Tuesday is probably going to be the iPod BoomBox and the Intel Mac Mini.

 

[this is funah]

bah to the same white enclosure, but im looking forward to a 13''

it continues the theme of white for consumer (ipod, imac), metal for professional (macbook pro, powermac)

 

[yankeefan24]

I don't think Apple will introduce the MacBook just yet because it can steal from MacBook Pro sales. They'll probably introduce it on April 1st along with their 30th Anniversary Macs- the plasmas rumored before MacWorld '06 🙄.

Also, the magnet rumor is a bit too young... usually such rumors come a month or two before the introduction of the product.

This Tuesday is probably going to be the iPod BoomBox and the Intel Mac Mini.

I highly doubt that PPC ibooks are still being purchased by anyone who doesn't absolutely NEED one. Think about it for a minute. We all know that apple will release an intel ibook by april 1. So why would you buy one now, ESPECIALLY if you are a consumer who uses mostly apple's apps which are already UBs and other UB apps. It just doesn't make sense. How many people do you think purchased the iMacs after they were intel before they lowered the price? The sooner apple gets these ibooks out the door, the sooner the amount of people purchasing them goes up. think about it for a minute.

 

[Esben]

30th anniversary mac

I don't think Apple will introduce the MacBook just yet because it can steal from MacBook Pro sales. They'll probably introduce it on April 1st along with their 30th Anniversary Macs- the plasmas rumored before MacWorld '06 🙄.

Also, the magnet rumor is a bit too young... usually such rumors come a month or two before the introduction of the product.

This Tuesday is probably going to be the iPod BoomBox and the Intel Mac Mini.

I highly doubt that - IF - they introduce a 30th anniversary mac, that they'll introduce the new iBook on the same day as it would sort of steal it's glory.

I think that would be a 30th anniversary event only.

 

[D3LM3L]

I highly doubt that PPC ibooks are still being purchased by anyone who doesn't absolutely NEED one. Think about it for a minute. We all know that apple will release an intel ibook by april 1. So why would you buy one now, ESPECIALLY if you are a consumer who uses mostly apple's apps which are already UBs and other UB apps. It just doesn't make sense. How many people do you think purchased the iMacs after they were intel before they lowered the price? The sooner apple gets these ibooks out the door, the sooner the amount of people purchasing them goes up. think about it for a minute.

That's true and I did think of that, but there are also probably many people that might jsut say "oh what the heck I'll just get the cheapest MBP- I'll get a lot more bang for the buck anyway."

 

[amateurmacfreak]

I highly doubt that PPC ibooks are still being purchased by anyone who doesn't absolutely NEED one. Think about it for a minute. We all know that apple will release an intel ibook by april 1. So why would you buy one now, ESPECIALLY if you are a consumer who uses mostly apple's apps which are already UBs and other UB apps. It just doesn't make sense. How many people do you think purchased the iMacs after they were intel before they lowered the price? The sooner apple gets these ibooks out the door, the sooner the amount of people purchasing them goes up. think about it for a minute.

Yeah. I told this family to wait for Jan b/c I thought Intel iBooks would be then. Now it's only the iBook and the MacBook Pro they're really considering, so as of now (they haven't bought a laptop) they have a choice between the $999 iBook G4 or the $1,999 MacBook Pro. 😱 They only trusted me on the iPods b/c I told them they'd most likely be coming out the next day the day before they did. 😱
I personally hope they spring for the MBP....🙂

 

[ryanw]

Magnets ... EWWWW....

All this talk of magnets around computers scares me. I know several computer components have heavily utilized magnets forever, but I find that "random issues" keep cropping up more and more due to components being near magnets.

FOR EXAMPLE, cheap hotel swipe keys.. those get wiped clean anytime I set them close to my magnitized money clip holder. My credit card's dont seem to be affected .... But I would imagine putting old floppys or even sensitive harddrives and any other stuff like that near those magnets might cause some issues.

 

[amateurmacfreak]

That's true and I did think of that, but there are also probably many people that might jsut say "oh what the heck I'll just get the cheapest MBP- I'll get a lot more bang for the buck anyway."

Yeah. My mom has no serious need for the Powerbook over the iBook (when she bought it 6months ago) but she walked into the Apple store just looking for a good laptop and walked away with a Powerbook b/c they were "so much nicer."
I mean, don't get me wrong, it's a better comp definitely, but she didn't really need it. She's about as consumer as you can get.🙂

 

[Regular_John]

umm don't magnets tend to erase harddrives?

 

[ieani]

umm don't magnets tend to erase harddrives?

Stong magnets near unshielded drives, yes. Since information is magnetically aligned on the hard disk. But as this is commonn knowledge I dont think Apple overlooked it.

 

[yankeefan24]

Yeah. My mom has no serious need for the Powerbook over the iBook (when she bought it 6months ago) but she walked into the Apple store just looking for a good laptop and walked away with a Powerbook b/c they were "so much nicer."
I mean, don't get me wrong, it's a better comp definitely, but she didn't really need it. She's about as consumer as you can get.🙂

i know exactly how that feels. it happened to me twice. But i am a new yorker, with new yorker patience, so i need speed. and i found with the iBook G4 Rev A that i had, it was just too slow. I figured that i need around a 1.5 duo (preferably) to have my patience settled. I like the powerbooks design alot, but i feel that if i were to buy another one so similar, i might start to regret it during the times when i don't notice all the extra power. I don't do that much which requires all of the processor power, but doing some high powered things (such as dashboard, games, and when i have alot of apps at hidden at a time) i would love to have a higher powered processor.

 

[w_parietti22]

Yea! This is good. A kid in my class was playing with the latch on one of our iBooks and he broke it, now the lid doesnt close all the way. On the same iBook he also some how caused it to have 2 white vertical lines going down the middle of the screen. Idiot.

 

[rye9]

Stong magnets near unshielded drives, yes. Since information is magnetically aligned on the hard disk. But as this is commonn knowledge I dont think Apple overlooked it.

I agree, I don't Apple would have overlooked something as obvious as the fact that magnets are a hard drives worst enemy. So you have nothing to worry about, its such common knowledge, and Apple has been working on these new products for a while, everything will be just fine. Heck, we dont even know if its true anyways, its just a rumor.

 

[Regular_John]

Stong magnets near unshielded drives, yes. Since information is magnetically aligned on the hard disk. But as this is commonn knowledge I dont think Apple overlooked it.

Yes I am sure apple knows what their doing, but I have this mental red flag about computers & magnets

 

[BlueRevolution]

i am sure they have. it could simply be a little stronger than the magsafe, that would hold it and it would be fine. It could also have a small button on the side that would cut power to it if it is an electric magnet. I don't know how many people probably got crumbs or something inside of that little slit in the case (i have only gotten some cream cheese), but it could happen alot. Also, having that tiny little clip on the top. if it got stuck open or something, it could break. The fewer moving parts and openings in a laptop the better IMO.

have you thought about the fact that electromagnets draw power? if they used a setup like you describe after about a day of being closed (without even being turned on) the battery would be dead and the lid wouldn't stay down anymore.

Yea! This is good. A kid in my class was playing with the latch on one of our iBooks and he broke it, now the lid doesnt close all the way. On the same iBook he also some how caused it to have 2 white vertical lines going down the middle of the screen. Idiot.

it just amuses me that the lines are automatically his fault...


also, I'd like to see the iBook in an enclosure like the new iMac, with the transparent plastic enclosing the white. or they could give it brushed aluminium sides like the Mac Mini.

or they could give us a new design already 😀

 

[Avicdar]

I don't think Apple will introduce the MacBook just yet because it can steal from MacBook Pro sales.

I agree that it probably won't be introduced yet, but not for the reason you suggest. It is always in Apples best interest to fill in gaps in the product line as soon as they possibly can. Anyone who wants an Apple notebook computer and finds the Macbook Pro as their only option isn't going to automatically buy one. For some its simply too expensive, so they may turn to another vendor for something in their price range.

The iPod line demonstrates this point in spades. A lowball entry level iPod (shuffle) all the way up the chain to the video iPod. If Apple truly believed that one model causes cannibalization of sales of another model, they wouldn't have the others at all. If anything, the non-existence of the Macbook will cause people to wait and see if it meets their needs, and then decide on the Macbook or Macbook Pro, so getting it out ASAP should give consumers the information they need for an informed decision. How many people here are waiting to see the specs on the Macbook before deciding which line to go for?


If Apple doesn't introduce the intel iBook replacement (Macbook) next week, its simply because its not ready, or will clash with the focus of the next week announcements (the fun new products theme doesn't suggest a new notebook computer to me).

 

[Mr. Mister]

Will all these magnets affect the screen and(or) HDD curious. I know people in the past complaining that the ACD and iMac G5 has a magnet on the top of the screen to mount an iSight, and it used to cause problems. Unless I am confused in the whole matter and Apple is shielding the magnets. 😕

So now I can stick magnets on my notebook along with "to do" notes. 😉 🙂

Yeah, I've been wondering that too...