i completely agree, a laptop is a laptop... i can carry around my MBP just fine... and its not MISSING anything like an optical drive. apple needs to come out with something that is actually unique, usefull, and new to the market.
Thin MacBook Design Details?
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i completely agree, a laptop is a laptop... i can carry around my MBP just fine... and its not MISSING anything like an optical drive. apple needs to come out with something that is actually unique, usefull, and new to the market.
You want a chick magnet get one of these
Haha, that reminds me of what one of my friends used while hitchhiking back in the 70s. girls always go for the dog.
FreeState
macrumors 68000
Yeah I know... I have been hit on by more girls in the last year since I got him than the 10 years before that combined. Such a pity too - I keep trying to get a straight friend to take the dog out and take advantage of it - might as well use it to his advantage since I keep having to tell girls I have a boyfriend already
The iPhone did get me a lot of attention in the beginning too. Im hoping that tomorrow brings some goodies to the iPhone via .mac and hopefully Bluetooth integration with OSX - it would be nice to see who is calling on my screen and auto sync etc.
Streetmentioner
macrumors newbie
Hooray for my first post. Maybe. I feel I may be losing something by giving in.
Anyways.
For the people saying this isn't for them, do you say that for every product ever produced that you don't use? If so, you must spend all of your time posting on forums, in which case I fail to see how the rumored hardware isn't enough for you.
Sheesh, people are so egocentric about what they want that I haven't seen one post acknowledging the two huge markets that will devour this:
1. College students
College students write papers, takes notes in class, check e-mail, IM, and listen to music they download or share. This is perfect. Open the shared libraries in iTunes while online in any college dorm and you'll see how fifty connected 32GB hard drives is more than enough music without CDs. A tiny computer to fit in a bag filled with the myriad other things students have on a given day: great! Built around wireless? Perfect for a campus. Film and music departments have labs chock full of monstrous towers that make buying your own silly for any student who's also paying $40,000 a year.
2. Writers
Funny how people forget them, despite reading newspapers, blogs, Apple rumor sites, CNN.com, ESPN.com, and those wacky "books" every day. Not to mention watching TV or movies. A huge number of people write for a living, certainly as many if not more as the designers on this forum clamoring for attention. Thousands of pages would be nothing for 32GB solid state internal. No need for an internal optical, and who wants to type thousands of words on a touch pad.
Also, I agree with the [possibly a little too prosaic] post that Bluefusion (If I got the name right) wrote. If a piece of technology changes how things work, well, it is by definition at the beginning of the change. Before it, the change won't have started.
People said the iPhone wasn't much new. Phones had internet and touch screens before. That much was true, but the implementation of the iPhone drastically changed things. The grossly disproportionate internet usage by iPhones proves it.
Technology is moving online. It won't be long before we don't buy movies on discs; hell, we probably won't even store them on our own drives. The internet will be able to support perfect streaming and instead of buying files, we'll buy permission to view streams. Sound wild? It's how a regular old cable box works. Technology is also moving wireless. Wimax will be getting soft launches before you know it. Apple would be brilliant to have the one computer designed for that when it hits.
So why is a versatile little, network oriented machine that does the basics and can flawlessly tap into internet so useless? Seriously, the future of personal computers for most people is an easy to use controller/screen for the unbelievably-mega-computer that is the internet.
Apple innovates. You know this. So why dismiss something because you don't see the use yet?
Anyways.
For the people saying this isn't for them, do you say that for every product ever produced that you don't use? If so, you must spend all of your time posting on forums, in which case I fail to see how the rumored hardware isn't enough for you.
Sheesh, people are so egocentric about what they want that I haven't seen one post acknowledging the two huge markets that will devour this:
1. College students
College students write papers, takes notes in class, check e-mail, IM, and listen to music they download or share. This is perfect. Open the shared libraries in iTunes while online in any college dorm and you'll see how fifty connected 32GB hard drives is more than enough music without CDs. A tiny computer to fit in a bag filled with the myriad other things students have on a given day: great! Built around wireless? Perfect for a campus. Film and music departments have labs chock full of monstrous towers that make buying your own silly for any student who's also paying $40,000 a year.
2. Writers
Funny how people forget them, despite reading newspapers, blogs, Apple rumor sites, CNN.com, ESPN.com, and those wacky "books" every day. Not to mention watching TV or movies. A huge number of people write for a living, certainly as many if not more as the designers on this forum clamoring for attention. Thousands of pages would be nothing for 32GB solid state internal. No need for an internal optical, and who wants to type thousands of words on a touch pad.
Also, I agree with the [possibly a little too prosaic] post that Bluefusion (If I got the name right) wrote. If a piece of technology changes how things work, well, it is by definition at the beginning of the change. Before it, the change won't have started.
People said the iPhone wasn't much new. Phones had internet and touch screens before. That much was true, but the implementation of the iPhone drastically changed things. The grossly disproportionate internet usage by iPhones proves it.
Technology is moving online. It won't be long before we don't buy movies on discs; hell, we probably won't even store them on our own drives. The internet will be able to support perfect streaming and instead of buying files, we'll buy permission to view streams. Sound wild? It's how a regular old cable box works. Technology is also moving wireless. Wimax will be getting soft launches before you know it. Apple would be brilliant to have the one computer designed for that when it hits.
So why is a versatile little, network oriented machine that does the basics and can flawlessly tap into internet so useless? Seriously, the future of personal computers for most people is an easy to use controller/screen for the unbelievably-mega-computer that is the internet.
Apple innovates. You know this. So why dismiss something because you don't see the use yet?
Streetmentioner
macrumors newbie
Double post for my first post? That's just bad luck.
Or a sign of awesomeness. I'm not sure.
Or a sign of awesomeness. I'm not sure.
illitrate23
macrumors 6502a
this mockup by wired does look absolutely awesome and i would buy it in a heartbeat - but i am worried that it looks so good, that now we're going to be disapointed by whatever is announced this evening at MWSF
because, a photoshop mock up doesn't have to worry about phyiscally fitting all the tech inside the box. and when Steve says "this is the thinnest laptop in the world" we'll all be thinking "meh, Wired's one was thinner!"
because, a photoshop mock up doesn't have to worry about phyiscally fitting all the tech inside the box. and when Steve says "this is the thinnest laptop in the world" we'll all be thinking "meh, Wired's one was thinner!"
queshy
macrumors 68040
Solid first post. Welcome to the forums.
As a uni student I completely agree. I really never use the optical drive of my macbook pro. And barely any of the hard drive is filled up either.
NorrisKillsKids
macrumors 6502a
I registered just to say one thing. I've been lurking for years and time and time again there is a large amount of people who seem disappointed or let down either because it isn't what they want or they think it's stupid/useless. A lot of people here were talking a TON of trash when it was revealed and considering half the things said I hope they all feel really stupid.
Anyway I'm a university student and am buying a laptop in the near future and I really hope that this one works out and I think it really will. I saw a Vaio at school that had almost the same shape as these mockups and it looked OK. I'm sure if Apple goes with the same style they'll definitely somehow make it look better. Can't wait for tomorrow!
Anyway I'm a university student and am buying a laptop in the near future and I really hope that this one works out and I think it really will. I saw a Vaio at school that had almost the same shape as these mockups and it looked OK. I'm sure if Apple goes with the same style they'll definitely somehow make it look better. Can't wait for tomorrow!
luminosity
macrumors 65816
Outstanding post
.A smaller laptop can reach a market that may not fully exist yet, or could literally come together out of smaller groups because of it. That's what innovation can do.
The iPhone is great because it doesn't try to replace my notebook or desktop. It adds some extensions (email, web, music). A sub-feature smaller notebook isn't going to replace my notebook or desktop either. I'm not saying Apple shouldn't create a smaller notebook, I'm just saying it's not the holy grail of computing. Back to my Mac on the iPhone would be more revolutionary for OS X. A pocketable Mac would be revolutionary for OS X. A tablet would be revolutionary for OS X. A smaller notebook would just be smaller.
P6
P6
I like the idea of thin and light notebook to surf websites etc, but I'd rather buy a more powerful notebook to do all the things I need to do with my computer. It's interesting to see what Apple releases, although I'm not the target audience for the Macbook Air. I'd rather have a update to MB or MBP.
bdkennedy1
Suspended
Yay! In 10 1/2 hours half of my Apple products become irrelevant!
Dissapointing.
If that's all apple has to respond with to all the hype.. its a disappointment to me. A laptop with a space wasting edge to make it look much thinner. I'd rather have 3 full size usb, 2 fw,power, a dvd, an ethernet, multiple media card readers and cardbus. And has it still got a macbook sized footprint?
Its only a rumour. It might be better in reality.
If that's all apple has to respond with to all the hype.. its a disappointment to me. A laptop with a space wasting edge to make it look much thinner. I'd rather have 3 full size usb, 2 fw,power, a dvd, an ethernet, multiple media card readers and cardbus. And has it still got a macbook sized footprint?
Its only a rumour. It might be better in reality.
Chupa Chupa
macrumors G5
Clearly you don't travel a lot. I love my MBP, but hate schelping in the airport and pulling it out of my bag. A 2lb sub would be awesome. I use my MPBs superdrive once in a blue moon. Maybe its not for you, but then that is why Apple has a complete line of laptops to fit different needs and desires. A sub would be great for those of use with a desktop to to our heavy lifting.
And as far as a "laptop is a laptop" I suppose a phone is just a phone and digital music player is just a digital music player?
No offense to anyone, but those of you who really want this thin laptop to come to life, I have a question. Why? I cannot imagine that Apple will charge anything less than $1500 for this laptop. What you are going to pay for is the engineering and innovation. I think it looks really cool.
It seems to me that this new notebook is going to be a notebook mini if you will. For years mini's have been acclaimed or trashtalked that they are the simple mac for web browsing and email. But they are small and portable and kinda cute. As cute as they are, most users would buy an iMac for a little bit more. I think when push comes to shove, people will realize that both the Macbook and Macbook pro are thin and light enough for them (and damn they are thin and light). Why not pay an extra $500 and have a pro machine that you can make amateur movies and photoshop and have slightly less portability?
A user earlier stated that this new laptop may open other markets up such for college students and writers. For the writers I can see where they might just want the simplest and lightest laptop available and this would be perfect for them. As for college students, eh not so much. Yeah it is light but comon, students are used to carrying backpacks weighing 20 pounds for their entire lives. Are they really going to tell the difference between 20 pounds and 18 pounds? (This would be a comparison with 15 pounds of 'stuff' and a 5 pound vs 3 pound laptop. If I am not mistaken, students often carry their laptops in their backpacks nowadays considering the multitude of laptop backpacks available. This laptop will by no means be a 'budget laptop' like the poster a few posts above mentioned. A budget notebook with be a Dell Inspiron, Acer, Gateway, etc. If they have their mind set, I see no reason not to get the Macbook or upgrade to the Macbook Pro.
It seems to me that this new notebook is going to be a notebook mini if you will. For years mini's have been acclaimed or trashtalked that they are the simple mac for web browsing and email. But they are small and portable and kinda cute. As cute as they are, most users would buy an iMac for a little bit more. I think when push comes to shove, people will realize that both the Macbook and Macbook pro are thin and light enough for them (and damn they are thin and light). Why not pay an extra $500 and have a pro machine that you can make amateur movies and photoshop and have slightly less portability?
A user earlier stated that this new laptop may open other markets up such for college students and writers. For the writers I can see where they might just want the simplest and lightest laptop available and this would be perfect for them. As for college students, eh not so much. Yeah it is light but comon, students are used to carrying backpacks weighing 20 pounds for their entire lives. Are they really going to tell the difference between 20 pounds and 18 pounds? (This would be a comparison with 15 pounds of 'stuff' and a 5 pound vs 3 pound laptop. If I am not mistaken, students often carry their laptops in their backpacks nowadays considering the multitude of laptop backpacks available. This laptop will by no means be a 'budget laptop' like the poster a few posts above mentioned. A budget notebook with be a Dell Inspiron, Acer, Gateway, etc. If they have their mind set, I see no reason not to get the Macbook or upgrade to the Macbook Pro.
Chupa Chupa
macrumors G5
He reads MacRumors just like the rest of us. It's a sad state of journalism when they start reporting rumor as fact...and people believe the report b/c it's on the news.
while I don't absolutely have to have an optical drive INSIDE the laptop, I definitely need an external, slim one to take along. I'm a photographer and need my notebook to make backups while I'm on the go. A very small and light laptop would be godsend to me - but I need some sort of external drive to make backups.
kis
CF Fighter
macrumors member
I'm going to be a teacher and a laptop like the rumored "Air" would be great for me to write my lectures and such on. Be able to take it to the library if I need to do research or have it on my dining room table as I prepare for my instruction or grade papers.
I also wouldn't mind just seeing a somewhat redesigned MacBook. I mean it is the last plastic machine Apple makes and is an eye-sore when looking at their entire lineup. I would love to see it in aluminum with maybe a color choice between black and silver.
I also wouldn't mind just seeing a somewhat redesigned MacBook. I mean it is the last plastic machine Apple makes and is an eye-sore when looking at their entire lineup. I would love to see it in aluminum with maybe a color choice between black and silver.
Chupa Chupa
macrumors G5
OK...
1) MacBooks are the laptop eqiv of a Mac Mini. Virtually same guts including the shared video.
2) Yes, when you have to schelp a laptop through an airport or crosstown on a backpack or brief case for an extended period of time 2 lbs can make a huge diff. Ever bigger when you have to pull out your laptop in a crowded security line. A 2lb laptop you can one hand easily. I don't dare grab my MBP with just one hand.
A sub isn't for everyone, just like a MB isn't for everyone, or a MBP. More choices are a good thing as long as they are distinct and don't confuse the customer. Not every likes Vanilla. Just respect that and if a sub doesn't appeal to you just ignore it.
If they want to compete with Asus (eeePC) and the UMPC market they'd better charge a lot less.
While I'd definitely buy a "Macbook Air" if the price is right, I'm not sure this thing will be very successful on the market.
Palm tried to launch a very very similar device a couple of months ago. The reaction to the Foleo was devastating - I had never read so many negative comments and press articles on a newly announced device before.
People on treocentral etc. were immediately trying to find out what the Foleo could be used for - just like what's going on here right now (as matter of fact, the discussions on macrumors are almost identical to the ones over at treocentral when the Foleo was announced...).
Palm obviously realized that there simply isn't a market for such a device and pulled the plug. I think it would be incredibly strange if Apple now went ahead and released a very similar device for double the price.
Unless the Macbook Air is a full-fledged notebook computer (however, I'd argue that the optical drive isn't necessary to call it full-fledged) with a full version of Mac OS, not the stripped down and very simplistic iPhone version, this thing is not going to sell - even if they sell it for under 1000$ - the Foleo was going to be less than 500 - the eeePc sells for 300...
kis
I can see where you are at but think about it, what will you be able to do on the run with this baby: Internet, email, pictures, text. So yes if you are a huge traveler and travel at least once a month, then maybe one would enjoy something small and lighter.
There seems to definitely be a targeted group of people who would want this laptop and I just do not think it is big enough to be successful with such a notebook. Right now they have two lines that target giant groups of people. One line is a consumer grade laptop, macbook. It does everything for most people. Then there is the MBP, which does everything else not quite possible on the Macbook, or just a little faster. A subnotebook will probably only be an option for people who have the money to spill on a second laptop that needs to be nothing but an on the run friend, or budget minded college students who want something a tad cooler than a macbook.
coryetzkorn
macrumors regular
I think that mockup is very un-apple becuase of the taper and overall ugliness. I think we will all be pleasantly surprised tomorrow, but not by this abomination of design. I'm hoping that the entire MBP line gets thinner and gets the nice black glass border around the screen like the iMacs.
1. Full-sized laptops cook your boy junk
I want my boy junk uncooked(wife and I want 1 more)
2.My 17" PowerBook is fine for travel if I really need to work, but 99% of the time I am using my laptop, I am just goofing off.
3.The bathroom
And no, I don't mind spending $2000 on the "MacBook bathroom"