DHUK
macrumors member
I agree. Remember Steve's last keynote when he mentioned iDVD? He said something along the lines of, 'And a new iDVD for those who still feel the need to burn to DVD'.
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Thin MacBook Design Details?
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I agree. Remember Steve's last keynote when he mentioned iDVD? He said something along the lines of, 'And a new iDVD for those who still feel the need to burn to DVD'.
😉
Markleshark
macrumors 603
emotion
macrumors 68040
Indeed.
The 12" powerbook wasn't a device for everyone either. However, that was wildly popular in it's time (in fact still is).
I think Apple can keep the cost of a small and light laptop to a minimum but I still think the spec that you want for this kind of device won't leave you much change from £1200. The list price of a black MB is around 1000 quid after all.
...some would say I've set my hopes a little low there (too conventional, too expensive) but only time will tell...
Tapered design suggests tablet?
I was just thinking about the tapered design. And this is fairly wild speculation, but I thought I would toss it out there in case it happens to be true (7 more hours, guys.)
Most other tapered notebooks seem to have a flat back screen, but a tapered body (e.g. Dell XPS). The Wired mockups show both the body and the monitor are tapered. What would Apple be putting behind their monitor?
The Wired article says: "But the Air seems more like a ultra portable with a physical keyboard and multi-touch screen, according to our source."
So if it has a multitouch screen, how is it used? I don't see the point in using a touchscreen on a normal laptop (would hurt your forearm), and it also seems to have a trackpad. Further, the tapered design suggests the monitor doesn't swivel or fold all the way around (which would leave the keyboard exposed, anyway), because this would result in a "super tapered" notebook.
Could it be (and this is wild, wild speculation) that the monitor is housing some vital computing parts, and some sort of minimal storage/ram. You could take the head off, and it would boot into "OS X touch" (ala iPhone, iPod touch).
You would use this for everything you would use an iPod touch for (except maybe movies or music -- depending on the space), and it would actually be a functional touch screen experience (a touch interface to OS X probably wouldn't work as well as a custom-made setup like on the iPhone.)
Anyway, this is just totally wild late-night speculation, based on the screen being tapered. So take it with a grain of salt.
I was just thinking about the tapered design. And this is fairly wild speculation, but I thought I would toss it out there in case it happens to be true (7 more hours, guys.)
Most other tapered notebooks seem to have a flat back screen, but a tapered body (e.g. Dell XPS). The Wired mockups show both the body and the monitor are tapered. What would Apple be putting behind their monitor?
The Wired article says: "But the Air seems more like a ultra portable with a physical keyboard and multi-touch screen, according to our source."
So if it has a multitouch screen, how is it used? I don't see the point in using a touchscreen on a normal laptop (would hurt your forearm), and it also seems to have a trackpad. Further, the tapered design suggests the monitor doesn't swivel or fold all the way around (which would leave the keyboard exposed, anyway), because this would result in a "super tapered" notebook.
Could it be (and this is wild, wild speculation) that the monitor is housing some vital computing parts, and some sort of minimal storage/ram. You could take the head off, and it would boot into "OS X touch" (ala iPhone, iPod touch).
You would use this for everything you would use an iPod touch for (except maybe movies or music -- depending on the space), and it would actually be a functional touch screen experience (a touch interface to OS X probably wouldn't work as well as a custom-made setup like on the iPhone.)
Anyway, this is just totally wild late-night speculation, based on the screen being tapered. So take it with a grain of salt.
emotion
macrumors 68040
I was thinking the same thing about the "hump". I like your thinking (you'd hold the thicker end of the detached screen).
I still think there are two devices though (more conventional laptop and a multitouch tablet). 🙂
I can't help but think you're right. As boring as it is, I'd still guess at WiMax support despite it not being deployed anywhere yet.
koobcamuk
macrumors 68040
How about keeping the shape "iWedge" from the first page, but have no keyboard. Make it a multitouch display - kind of like a giant DS. One conventional screen, then another with keyboard, trackpad, multitouch...
Now I have joined all the others on Mars. Oh well, we'll find out in 8 hours.
koobcamuk
macrumors 68040
emotion
macrumors 68040
In a lot of respects (for the music I do, not the typing) this would be my ultimate device.
Kinda like a laptop and the JazzMutant Lemur (1500 quid!!) rolled into one:
http://www.jazzmutant.com/lemur_overview.php
bengst
macrumors member
I have on too!
Haha.. the funniest thing on wired so far. It's obviously an Apple (wireless) keyboard edited in photoshop. They forget to lower the key.. If You close the the screen then all of the button are pressed!
PS: If wired's is true, then I think Apple are losing their taste of art..
I have one too! Here's my.. macbook air:
Haha.. the funniest thing on wired so far. It's obviously an Apple (wireless) keyboard edited in photoshop. They forget to lower the key.. If You close the the screen then all of the button are pressed!
PS: If wired's is true, then I think Apple are losing their taste of art..
I have one too! Here's my.. macbook air:
Attachments
tomjleeds
macrumors 6502a
What the hell is wrong with you people who are expecting a <$500 super-slim machine?!
Apple's products are fairly competitively-priced for their market position, but they're certainly not cheap by any stretch of the imagination. The top-end MacBook is £949 (or, arguably, £829) while a comparable Dell M1330 is £699. Dell's thin-and-light model is the Latitude D430, £925 buys you one with a 1.06Ghz Core Solo, a 12.1" screen and a standard touchpad.
Now, let's face it, people aren't going to be happy with a 1.06Ghz Core Solo and it's just not in Apple's nature to provide such a low-end CPU (take a look at the rest of the range - the MacBook starts at 2.0Ghz when its competitors, chiefly the M1330, start at 1.66Ghz).
So, we're looking at, I'd expect, at least £1149 for a super-slim Apple notebook. That puts it £200 away from the over-priced (I still bought one, though) BlackBook and £150 away from the low-end MBP, which appeals to an entirely different market altogether with its 15.4" screen. What people seem to be missing here is that the product which is missing from the line-up is the equivalent to the 12" PowerBook, which was a Pro-level machine. Sure, I have no doubt that if this super-slim notebook does appear, it'll be a feat of design and engineering, but such things simply do not come cheap (certainly not the £350 it would likely even out to with after the cross-Atlantic price increase).
Of course, my being the voice of reason could be exactly the wrong thing to do, Apple may have come up with some way to make a hundred of the things to the dollar, but I seriously, seriously doubt it. And the 'Air' thing? Why are people so frickin' bothered by that? I don't think it's the best name, but it's not terrible...plus for those who fly a lot it would make a lot of sense 😉 'Lighter than Air'? Don't see it?
What I would really like to see would be a super-slim notebook which was also a desktop replacement, a la the patent application for an iMac-style docking station we saw a couple of weeks back. Now that would have frantically hitting F5.
Apple's products are fairly competitively-priced for their market position, but they're certainly not cheap by any stretch of the imagination. The top-end MacBook is £949 (or, arguably, £829) while a comparable Dell M1330 is £699. Dell's thin-and-light model is the Latitude D430, £925 buys you one with a 1.06Ghz Core Solo, a 12.1" screen and a standard touchpad.
Now, let's face it, people aren't going to be happy with a 1.06Ghz Core Solo and it's just not in Apple's nature to provide such a low-end CPU (take a look at the rest of the range - the MacBook starts at 2.0Ghz when its competitors, chiefly the M1330, start at 1.66Ghz).
So, we're looking at, I'd expect, at least £1149 for a super-slim Apple notebook. That puts it £200 away from the over-priced (I still bought one, though) BlackBook and £150 away from the low-end MBP, which appeals to an entirely different market altogether with its 15.4" screen. What people seem to be missing here is that the product which is missing from the line-up is the equivalent to the 12" PowerBook, which was a Pro-level machine. Sure, I have no doubt that if this super-slim notebook does appear, it'll be a feat of design and engineering, but such things simply do not come cheap (certainly not the £350 it would likely even out to with after the cross-Atlantic price increase).
Of course, my being the voice of reason could be exactly the wrong thing to do, Apple may have come up with some way to make a hundred of the things to the dollar, but I seriously, seriously doubt it. And the 'Air' thing? Why are people so frickin' bothered by that? I don't think it's the best name, but it's not terrible...plus for those who fly a lot it would make a lot of sense 😉 'Lighter than Air'? Don't see it?
What I would really like to see would be a super-slim notebook which was also a desktop replacement, a la the patent application for an iMac-style docking station we saw a couple of weeks back. Now that would have frantically hitting F5.
Retrograffica
macrumors member
I completely agree. And to everyone banging on about how sexy this photoshop mockup is (if that's an 13" screen it's at about 1900x1200 resolution) - you're all wrong - it's ugly as hell and not something that Apple would put out
Cleverboy
macrumors 65816
Word. I'd rather avoid another round of comments that fanboys will buy it because its got the Apple label on it. The iPhone clearly broke the mold, and people still mewled about it being "behind" the times in some way.somebody needs more mockup artists who can do more than look through 4 year old sony catalogs
edit: and what after all would be revolutionary in a highpriced subnotebook ? (meaning 2000$ and above) unless it's cheap it hardly is more than a niche
~ CB
JesterJJZ
macrumors 68030
So it's aimed at rich people that like new and cool stuff that is pointless and overpriced? I really hope this thing is different from the rumors and is actually something logical.
limiting? what do you need an optical drive for? The few uses I can think of are pretty trivial and can be done easily with an external drive for the few occasions that it would be necessary (or a second computer). This obviously seems to be a model that was produced with mobility in mind.
1) (re) installing OS
2) burning CD/DVD?
3) ripping CD/watching DVD?
JesterJJZ
macrumors 68030
That's like saying books will soon be forgotten. Physical discs and media will always be supperior to downloads that are easily lost, deleted, ect.
Here's my silly mockup of my headless concept. I'm not very good with image editors, I'm afraid, but you get the idea I'm going for.
(Obviously the "OS X touch" interface would be different - more apps, etc.)
(Obviously the "OS X touch" interface would be different - more apps, etc.)
emotion
macrumors 68040
You're clearly out of touch, the whole world is moving to media-less distribution, whether you like it or not.
Now, having said that I still love vinyl as the medium for the music I buy (as well as WAV downloads, and I DJ using Ableton Live on my mac) and there still isn't a better alternative to paper books (it might take Apple to come up with a better alternative to Amazon's Kindle).
You can't deny that's the way things are moving though.
As for an optical drive. I very rarely use mine. I wouldn't miss it. And if I did I'd buy one of Apple's other computers. This new machine isn't for you...move on 🙂 (especially if you're one of those wanting sub $500 pricing).
It REALLY depends on what that super-slim machine can do. If this is an iphone-type multimedia device with little RAM, small solid-state harddrive and no optical drive, comparable to the Palm Foleo or the Asus eeePC it shouldn't cost more than say 700$. 500$ for the hardware and 200$ on top of that for the design advantage it has over its competitors.
peter
asrmatt
macrumors regular
Off Topic: Kindle
I think Apple could mop the floor with Kindle, both design-wise and interface-wise, but the market isn't really proven yet. (They might even be able to do it on cost if they don't use cell towers to download the books, but instead go for the familiar docking method.) I don't know a lot of people buying eBooks, which is unlike the proven market for MP3 players (when iPod came out), and cell phones (when iPhone came out).
I think Apple could mop the floor with Kindle, both design-wise and interface-wise, but the market isn't really proven yet. (They might even be able to do it on cost if they don't use cell towers to download the books, but instead go for the familiar docking method.) I don't know a lot of people buying eBooks, which is unlike the proven market for MP3 players (when iPod came out), and cell phones (when iPhone came out).
steve_hill4
macrumors 68000
Arguably the best first post I've read, at least in a while. Too many around here seem to think not only about their own needs, but that Apple are desperate to introduce something that will not only wow everyone, but satisfy their personal requests. If they did, we would have something about 11" removable touch screen with full removable keyboard (interchangeable so touch board if you want), so light it floats above hydrogen, removable blu-ray drive, docking ability for charging, 2.8GHz Core 2 Extreme, 40 hour battery life, stealth usb and ethernet that only appear when they sense you want to use them. Basically, you name it, we want it.
This will disappoint a lot when it is announced, it will also surprise and wow a lot, either way most will be complaining that if only it had one or two extra features they would buy. Me, I plan on an iMac next and have the cash ready. I could carry on with this MBP for another year or two no problem, but I will retire it for travel and use around the house soon. I've been holding on a year for Leopard pre-installed and such, but now I feel I shouldn't wait any longer, yet part of me is also itching to hold out for 24" with Blu Ray. Once that's bought, I would hold out about another year then buy a 11-13" MacBook of some description. Smaller and lighter for travelling would be better, and I can rip movies for travelling beforehand, or visit a movie theatre.
Apple no longer seem to release breathtaking computers with features light-years ahead of the competition. This has been proven with all the concept images which look like modified Dell or Sonys currently on the market. Sure they may have extra features like induction charging or collapsable ports, but more than likely not. People need to get used to disappointment from Apple. Perhaps we have been expecting too much, perhaps they haven't been holding the standard they usually hold so high, either way when was the last time Apple released something that was so different to its predecessor, or something else on the market, that everyone took notice. My MacBook Pro isn't too different in many respects from the basis of the 12" PowerBook from 5 years ago, (or 15" from 4.5 years). Webcam, DVD±RW etc, but minor feature additions and a new processor architecture are less revolutionary "wow" features and more evolutionary. The iPhone was the last real "wow" they introduced and similar technology was around before that. It was merely a refinement.
God^Cent
macrumors member
First off this is a concept of what the MacBookAir could essentially look like... It is likely the designer put little to no thought into its internal housings, but rather the function. If the screen could swivel 180 degrees around and fold down so the screen was facing upward laying flat, covering the keyboard, the two sloped surfaces would make a wonderful angle to work on; that would be much like a drawing desk and great for Multitouch and better viewing then if it were lied just flat.