More Magnets in the Intel iBook?

[BlueRevolution]

The most common magnets can be aligned in one direction with an applied electric field that maintains that alignment even after the field is removed. This is called a ferromagnet. To reverse the alignment, an opposite field must be applied. So, I could see an entirely magnetic latch based on this, which would not require continous applied power, just a small pulse of power when the latch requires opening. Seems pretty straightforward to me.

my impression of ferromagnets (which I now know the word for 😛 ) was that it would take a lot of power to make them strong enough to be useful. you could be right though.

i want both, something new (innovated, not like, intel ibooks/mini )and something improved (like intel ibooks/mini).

I'd imagine they're saving the "innovated" product(s) for April 1st.

i dont get the purpose of having the remote for the laptop except for presentations.. no one is going to watch a movie on a laptop so far away from them that they cant use the keyboard.. theres a few exceptions like if you have it hooked up to a monitor, but it just seems like something to loose..

that's the problem with infrared... it compels them to bundle the remote to explain the black spot on the front. if they used bluetooth they wouldn't have to worry about it. sigh.

 

[jsw]

i am cracking up with joy! i recently gave my ibook to my sister, with an deal with my parents to buy me an intel ibook when they arrived. i did this last week, so i am living on an old quicksilver untill this arrives.
I CAN'T WAIT!

The article wasn't proof-read enough. It was supposed to say:

The Intel-based iBook, which may make its debut under a new product name such as MacBook, is rumored to be the heaviest redesigned Macintosh to come out of Apple's industrial design labs in the last two years.

They don't want the MB Pro people to be jealous, so they've made the MacBook (non Pro) weigh 15 pounds. Actually, it's just an iMac with a lid.

 

[yankeefan24]

I'd imagine they're saving the "innovated" product(s) for April 1st.

unfortunately, i think you're right. But updated products would be cool too (especially if it was an iBook😀 )

 

[tjwett]

glad to see they are moving away from those flimsy latches. the one on my new 12" PowerBook doesn't even work. less moving parts is always better i say.

 

[ChrisWB]

I just hope that Apple doesn't give the new iBook pretty crappy specs so as to make the MacBook Pro appear more appealing.

 

[yankeefan24]

I just hope that Apple doesn't give the new iBook pretty crappy specs so as to make the MacBook Pro appear more appealing.

i couldn't agree more. Even though, by the end, the processor power seemed at a good comparison point. Everything else wasn't though🙁

 

[virus1]

The article wasn't proof-read enough. It was supposed to say:They don't want the MB Pro people to be jealous, so they've made the MacBook (non Pro) weigh 15 pounds. Actually, it's just an iMac with a lid.

haha.. bungie corded to a car battery..

 

[DeSnousa]

I have not read the entire thread, but what kind of resolution would a 13.3 inch screen have? Also any word if DVI out will be supported and possibly in closed mode?

Sounds like the next iBooks will be major 🙂

 

[monkeyandy]

No new Intel iBooks for a while

Was just checking out AppleInsider. They report that Intel Mac Minis will be what Apple reveal on Tuesday and no new iBooks till later. John Lewis stores in UK report Mac Minis out of stock. Check it out, coincidence?

http://www.johnlewis.com/Computing/Computers/Computers/Desktop+Computers/2/0/ProductType.aspx

😱

 

[jsw]

Was just checking out AppleInsider. They report that Intel Mac Minis will be what Apple reveal on Tuesday and no new iBooks till later. John Lewis stores in UK report Mac Minis out of stock. Check it out, coincidence?

http://www.johnlewis.com/Computing/Computers/Computers/Desktop+Computers/2/0/ProductType.aspx

😱

It would certainly make sense that they wouldn't intro the MacBook until they had more to offer in the MacBook Pro lineup (different sizes, etc.).

 

[moesker007]

Summing things up

Ok, so the new ibook or "MacBook" by reading this thread will seem to be something like..

13 Inch screen (Same brightness as the MacBook Pro?)
Mag-Safe Power Connector (Seems obvious apple will unclude this)
Possible Core Solo and Duo Models (Makes lower $$ for consumers and extends battery life)
Front Row w/ Remote (Would also make sense for apple to include)
Built-in iSight (Makes sense for Apple)
Magnetic Latch (Does MacBook Pro use this? If it does it makes sense to include.)
Same Firewire and USB ports (hopefully that old rumor about firewire going just dosen't make sense if you are going to use iMovie)

I would really love them to incude a backlit keyboard, but then the iBooks "MacBooks" will be getting too close to the MacBook Pro's. I interested to see what Apple will do to keep the price of this laptop cheap, and what it's meant for, consumers who need to do simple things and have lots of battery. I surrently have an IBook and love it. It can handle most things i throw at it, but after i stop using my main PC computer and go complety mac, i will want a nicer laptop for college, and if they make the new iBook's nice enough maybe i will be able to get away with one of them because i think the 15" MacBook Pro wil be a little too big, for college I want an ultra compact that goes with me everywhere. The 13" for factor of the iBook would be perfect. I had the 12" PowerBook for a while, and it's still the best laptop i've ever owned. I hope the new iBooks are nice, or them come out with a smaller MacBook Pro. I guess first we'll see what next Tuesday will bring us, hopefully the Mac Mini and Ibook updates and some cool accessories!

Was just checking out AppleInsider. They report that Intel Mac Minis will be what Apple reveal on Tuesday and no new iBooks till later. John Lewis stores in UK report Mac Minis out of stock. Check it out, coincidence?

http://www.johnlewis.com/Computing/Computers/Computers/Desktop+Computers/2/0/ProductType.aspx

😱

Ok maybe next week won't bring iBooks but a new intel Mac Mini sounds pretty awesome still!

 

[yankeefan24]

Was just checking out AppleInsider. They report that Intel Mac Minis will be what Apple reveal on Tuesday and no new iBooks till later. John Lewis stores in UK report Mac Minis out of stock. Check it out, coincidence?

http://www.johnlewis.com/Computing/Computers/Computers/Desktop+Computers/2/0/ProductType.aspx

😱

1GB ipod shuffles were out of stock before MWSF. they didn't receive an update.

I have not read the entire thread, but what kind of resolution would a 13.3 inch screen have? Also any word if DVI out will be supported and possibly in closed mode?

Sounds like the next iBooks will be major 🙂

i remember hearing somewhere that it would have 1280x760 or something like that (i think, ill go check). I doubt it will work in closed mode. Also, DVI may be supported, but i am not sure. haven't read anything about it yet.

(Does MacBook Pro use this? If it does it makes sense to include.)

The MacBook Pro does not use a magnetic latch. It does use magnets to get the hook down as the ibook and old powerbook do currently. That does not mean that it will not have it. I believe (and so do others) that it will be released as a redesigned computer. not slightly like the MBP but major. the ibook design has been around longer, and needs a redesign more desperately.

 

[Willeisen88]

Move the magnet...

They could still have the button and just have it move the magnet off to the side/forward so that the "latch" releases...I don't know, just thinking...

Great feature though...

 

[jsw]

They could still have the button and just have it move the magnet off to the side/forward so that the "latch" releases...I don't know, just thinking...

Great feature though...

I thought so too.

 

[IndyGopher]

Think about it for a minute. We all know that apple will release an intel ibook by april 1.

Just how does this mythical "we" work? I know no such thing. In fact, I don't really even expect it. I won't go so far as to say I would be surprised by new consumer notebook from Apple before/around then... but I certainly don't understand this sense that it is a fait accompli.

 

[ieani]

How many people here are waiting to see the specs on the Macbook before deciding which line to go for?

I am.

How about a 6 GB nano? Call it : the brick. Go to eight BG and use it in gravitational experiments... It's been a while since apple did something completely new like the ipod, or the imac. I'm hoping for something new, and not just improved.

How long do we wait for 8x MBP burning? How fast is the CD burning already. Speaking of discs... Blu-Ray? HD-DVD support? Nobody seems to know what's this event is for.

The 30th anniversary will bring something completely new. Tuesday will just be imrovements.

i dont get the purpose of having the remote for the laptop except for presentations.. no one is going to watch a movie on a laptop so far away from them that they cant use the keyboard.. theres a few exceptions like if you have it hooked up to a monitor, but it just seems like something to loose..

Its so useful for presentations though and it is a "pro" notebook, which is meant for presentations.

 

[PlayUltimate]

(Also, I still see no need for Apple to limit themselves just two distinct lines of laptops as in the past. The new naming lets them have multiple categories if they wish some day, not just consumer/pro. Maybe a top-end ultrathin ultraportable, for instance, that in some ways is lower than an iBook/MacBook, but in other ways higher.)

Moving to 4 computer lines saved Apple. No reason to confuse things again as it was in the early '90s.

BTW, looking forward to the new iBook. We have two currently (900MHz G3 and 1 GHz G4, both 12") My daughters (9 & 10) are biting at the bit to get their hands on these "hand me downs."

 

[Val-kyrie]

Anyone know much about Magnets???

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.

I agree. I am intrigued by the idea of the Mag Safe power adaptor connector and by the idea of a latchless lid, but I can't help but wonder what the inherent risks are, especially when Apple Insider reports, "Apple has reportedly asked some of its service partners to warn customers about placing magnetized items near the power port of the MacBook Pro."

Does anyone here have any specific knowledge about magnets and how they affect hard drives, lcds, floppies, etc.?

 

[MacMosher]

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.

Maybe this is common knowledge, but I just thought I'd mention it. Appleinsider kind of makes it sound like Apple is the only company to use magnets for anything besides sticking a shopping list to the fridge.

ok, some of you may not know how much magnets can frig up electronics... so it can be a little more complicated then a deepfrier...

The magnets can induce different current patterns through the circuit and could cause some damage, thuse apple took all these things into consideration to ensure that it would not occur it takes alot of time to make sure of these things Im sure.

 

[jsw]

Does anyone here have any specific knowledge about magnets and how they affect hard drives, lcds, floppies, etc.?

Floppies? Floppies?!? They could turn them into cheese and it wouldn't matter. Who uses them?

LCDs: magnets are not a problem for LCDs, at least magnets of the strength Apple could possibly put in a laptop.

Hard drives: magnets are bad for hard drives*. Fortunately, both magnets and hard drives can be shielded, so this isn't an issue.

The most likely victim of the magnets? Things like old credit cards and their magnetic strips. Those are actually pretty hardy too, but interaction with a magnet could adversely affect them.

Light is bad for unexposed film... and yet film cameras managed to work fairly well. Shielding, people. Shielding.

* But also essential - without magnetism, hard drives wouldn't store any info.

 

[MacMosher]

Floppies? Floppies?!? They could turn them into cheese and it wouldn't matter. Who uses them?

LCDs: magnets are not a problem for LCDs, at least magnets of the strength Apple could possibly put in a laptop.

Hard drives: magnets are bad for hard drives*. Fortunately, both magnets and hard drives can be shielded, so this isn't an issue.

The most likely victim of the magnets? Things like old credit cards and their magnetic strips. Those are actually pretty hardy too, but interaction with a magnet could adversely affect them.

Light is bad for unexposed film... and yet film cameras managed to work fairly well. Shielding, people. Shielding.

* But also essential - without magnetism, hard drives wouldn't store any info.

You got it my friend, but thats why I was saying it took longer for them to put things like magsafe into a laptop then a deepfryer cause it requires alot more shielding

 

[rockthecasbah]

this could be Apple's chance to venture in the not-so-developed realm of ultra portables, aka screen of like 9 or 10 inches. A 9/10'' and 13'' model is a very diverse but fitting model lineup for the iBooks, or i guess "MacBooks." 🙂

 

[50548]

Redesigns

I don't know about you guys, but I think these new iBooks will be THE most attractive machines out there in the market...

They will represent Apple at its best, with a complete redesign and the same beautiful/resistant white enclosure...think of them as a white MacBook, thinner and smaller, with almost all features of a MBP, including a 13" widescreen, Core Duo et al...simply irresistible!

My G3 500 is still doing great at work, but I would love to get some money and spend on a new snowwhite...GO APPLE! 😉

 

[Mechcozmo]

glad to see they are moving away from those flimsy latches. the one on my new 12" PowerBook doesn't even work. less moving parts is always better i say.

I agree, less moving parts the better. My latch sometimes sticks a bit... perhaps when I want to sell my PowerBook I'll use that as an excuse to send it to Apple and have it cleaned up, checked out, etc. 🙂

Although it is quite fun to play with... people wonder how the lid stays closed more often than you'd think.

Floppies? Floppies?!? They could turn them into cheese and it wouldn't matter. Who uses them?

I use 'em. Wonderful drink coasters.

Actually I do have a few around... PCs love the things when all else fails. I still think that a floppy drive is a must for a PC. Optical drives sometimes refuse to work, hard drives die... but floppies live forever. Although that is mostly true with older hardware. Newer boxes tend to be pretty good about starting up from USB devices. (Still haven't been able to get my USB flash drive to work as a boot disk, nor an old ZIP-100 drive, but USB floppy drives seem to be O.K.)

 

[Maclvrforevr]

annoying

it would be annoying if apple released something on the 28 and then improved it on the 1st of april like they did on the imac