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Thin MacBook Design Details?

Wouldn't it be neat if the external optical drive was wireless? Either via wireless USB, bluetooth (is that fast enough?) etc.

And hell, put wireless HDMI on it as well to feed other displays...like...

I don't know new Apple Cinema displays with wireless HDMI inputs?

Just thinking about what apple could do to make this thing cooler. Obviously it'd have wireless N.

Think wireless everything. It could come with it's own Wireless USB hub, which perhaps a normal wired USB optical drive could plug into. The wireless USB hub could be the centerpiece eliminating a need for a docking station (with Wireless HDMI for the display)
 
andiwm2003 said:
this is what i can see would be useful to me. anything less would be a dealbreaker for me.

less than $2000
13 inch screen (anything less than 13 inch is too small for me)
dual core with 1.6 GHz minimum
2 GB ram
integrated graphics
minimum 60 GB flash based HD
full keyboard
2 USB ports
ethernet port via USB adapter
trackpad
SD card reader (can be used as expansion slot for 8 GB or 16GB cards)
wifi and bluetooth
dvi out
microphone, speaker, camera
audio & microphone connectors
hopefully dock connector
external DVD drive
less than 3 pounds
firewire would be nice but not necessary
Click to expand...

I agree with most of that, but not the SD reader. Apple hasn't done it until now (not even on the iPhone, where it makes a lot of sense), and I doubt they'll do it now. Get a Sandisk SD plus USB card...folds in half to expose a USB connector. I have one in my camera and my treo...it's amazing.
 
ugh...enough! just give me a 13.3 MBP with an updated chassis design!

Just give me a better MBP! Screw this lite book...
 
rainmanbk said:
For all the angled haters like myself. Plus more room for battery, goodies inside!

macbooknanocw4.png


macbooknanolefted9.png


And yes, I'm also an 'Air' hater. :rolleyes:

EDIT: Gah! I just realized I forgot FireWire for the external optical drive! Imagine it to the right of the MagSafe :D
Click to expand...

Now THAT does look pretty sweet! I would hate a non-consistent thickness in the bottom and in the top. Nice photochopin' ;) And yes the Air is not as good as the nano name.


-Victor
 
Fast Shadow said:
Glass screen? Wouldn't the weight of a 12-13" chunk of glass be contrary to a lightweight design?
Click to expand...

If it were a cube, then yes. Otherwise, a thin sheet of tempered glass may not be prohibitively weighty. We shall see soon enough I guess. I think plastic is still quite likely, especially if it's not a touchscreen (which I hope it isn't).
 
I hope it doesn't look like that.

If it's not a MBP update I just hope that it has a matte screen, better video card, optical drive, and no touch screen.

I really just want the regular mb with a good video card and a matte screen.

If they did that I have said it before, but I'll sell my current 15" SR MBP immediately.
 
Eidorian said:
USB to Ethernet adapter anyone? Maybe an induction charger as well.

It looks quite slick though getting rid of some excess hardware.
Click to expand...

perhaps ports on a/the "powerbrick" or possible using mini/micro-USB and micro-FW?

dont know how plausible that is, but than again that is why I'am NOT a designer for Apple i guess, lol.

I do think the whole New-style wireless keyboard powerbutton on the side would be an excellent idea; though wouldnt it still be alittle thick?
if they did do that and IF there is a labtop this year.
 
gifford said:
I'm still dubious on this one, even though the evidence is stacking up. There is something not right about it.
Although it's hard to tell, I looks bigger than I expected, IMO it should be between 7" & 10" to be significantly small enough for me to warrant buying one as a second computer. Which is the market I can only presume a product of this type is going for.
Also, on a computer of this size, I would get rid of the traditional keyboard and replace it with a multi-touch screen.

Also, if it's multi-touch and > 10" thats a very expensive screen.
Also, I dont like the slope, although it's probably just inevitable evolution.
Click to expand...

What is with these multi-touch screens...they're great and all but if you need to type a paper it won't be a-lot fun. Print out a keyboard on a piece of paper, place it on a flat desk and try to type...then you'll see what I mean.

I was hoping for this to be a more inexpensive laptop then the Macbook, but it looks like my hopes were miss placed :(
 
Twilight Elk said:
Believe it or not, I don't like it. I actually would not buy this item, probably BECAUSE its so thin.
Click to expand...

"And I would not buy cars with better gas mileage, BECAUSE they'd cost less at the pump... And I would not buy "North Face" because it's so warm in the cold, and I would not buy movies because they're moving images and have sound, and I would not buy music because a person's soul has been trapped in the evil machine, and and and..."

:rolleyes:
*sigh*
 
akm3 said:
Wouldn't it be neat if the external optical drive was wireless? Either via wireless USB, bluetooth (is that fast enough?) etc.

And hell, put wireless HDMI on it as well to feed other displays...like...

I don't know new Apple Cinema displays with wireless HDMI inputs?

Just thinking about what apple could do to make this thing cooler. Obviously it'd have wireless N.

Think wireless everything. It could come with it's own Wireless USB hub, which perhaps a normal wired USB optical drive could plug into. The wireless USB hub could be the centerpiece eliminating a need for a docking station (with Wireless HDMI for the display)
Click to expand...

This actually sounds pretty tempting, and with wireless-n, i think its all possible.

it would eliminate the hassle and ugliness of regular docking stations, plus, you could theoretically use anything attached to it from anywhere in the house.
 
benspratling said:
"And I would not buy cars with better gas mileage, BECAUSE they'd cost less at the pump... And I would not buy "North Face" because it's so warm in the cold, and I would not buy movies because they're moving images and have sound, and I would not buy music because a person's soul has been trapped in the evil machine, and and and..."

*sigh*
Click to expand...

that was a horrible comparison...try again please.
 
The more I read the thread, the more I am convinced, that either they didn't make it, or they made a mistake. Slightly smaller + less functionality = too many deal breakers.

People want:
more cpu
more disk space
more ram
more screen
more battery life
more usb ports
optical drive
integrated graphics
ethernet
firewire 800
etc

Compare that with:
smaller form factor
smaller weight

It needs to be drastically different, or have most of what people want/need.
Pocketable or almost would make it justified. Just being a little smaller makes it a niche product. Apple doesn't do niche, much.

P6
 
benspratling said:
"And I would not buy cars with better gas mileage, BECAUSE they'd cost less at the pump... And I would not buy "North Face" because it's so warm in the cold, and I would not buy movies because they're moving images and have sound, and I would not buy music because a person's soul has been trapped in the evil machine, and and and..."

:rolleyes:
*sigh*
Click to expand...

ummmmmm:confused:

Is he not entitled to an e-pinion?
 
pyramid6 said:
The more I read the thread, the more I am convinced, that either they didn't make it, or they made a mistake. Slightly smaller + less functionality = too many deal breakers.

People want:
more cpu
more disk space
more ram
more screens
more battery life
more usb ports
optical driver
integrated graphics
ethernet
firewire 800
etc

Compare that with:
smaller form factor
smaller weight

It needs to be drastically different, or have most of what people want/need.
Pocketable or almost would make it justified. Just being a little smaller makes it a niche product. Apple doesn't do niche, much.

P6
Click to expand...

I agree. I really dont think this is it
 
pyramid6 said:
The more I read the thread, the more I am convinced, that either they didn't make it, or they made a mistake. Slightly smaller + less functionality = too many deal breakers.

People want:
more cpu
more disk space
more ram
more screens
more battery life
more usb ports
optical driver
integrated graphics
ethernet
firewire 800
etc

Compare that with:
smaller form factor
smaller weight

It needs to be drastically different, or have most of what people want/need.
Pocketable or almost would make it justified. Just being a little smaller makes it a niche product. Apple doesn't do niche, much.

P6
Click to expand...

these needs represent macrumors readers, namely professionals who need powerhouse computers. thats not who this thing would be targeting.
 
ekdor said:
I like it, not that I can see much of it. But what a shame it's only running 10.4... but then again 10.5 isn't turning out so good for me. What I want is 10.5 updated... Really really bad. Make my brand new Macbook Pro work properly again. Although i'd also like a laptop with the guts of the desktop machine as I like the portability but need more power for apps like maya and mudbox.
Click to expand...

agreed. I would rather see a macbook pro with more power and a new form factor, even if it's not thinner. Something that can revolutionize the desktop replacement but still be reasonably portable
 
tgildred said:
What's really unbelievable is that picture you just posted makes me want a razr2...
Click to expand...

I had to get a Krzr (pretty razr) because AT&T won't let me use an iPhone with my company's pooled minutes plan. (DAMN YOU AT&T!!)
Believe me... you don't want one. Not if you've ever touched an iPhone.
 
thechidz said:
ummmmmm:confused:

Is he not entitled to an e-pinion?
Click to expand...

And some people still think the world is flat. I, however, design spacecraft. Notice I am not arresting him for his opinion, simply ridiculing him. I never said he wasn't entitled to his "e-pinion," but so am I, so why question me for questioning him?
 
what does Wired know? First off, this image looks WAY too much like a thinner version of this Dell XPS notebook
1031104873_b9946ce3a7.jpg


with the wedge shape to accomodate that ridiculous hinge. The USB ports on the side are all wrong. Judging from Apple past designs they are not going to stick two side by side USB ports on one side and leave all the other ports on another side? If anything, they will be on the back and incorported into the hinge somehow with that folding port for the Ethernet cable and Monitor connection they patented a few years back. The wedge shaped slivers on top of LCD half of the notebook are all funky looking too. Why add that additional material? unless there a stiffness issue? I would think that Apple would be forced into using Aluminum or Titanium not just from a conformity standpoint with their other models, but from the necessity in achieving the thinness while still not feeling cheap or fragile. Just my opinion here's to hoping Steve drops a megaton on this thin notebook and blows us all away. (great, I made that impossible now). Is it me, or just MacBookAir sound like it should be sponsored by Nike or something?
 
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