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Touch Panels for Apple Netbook Ordered?
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kdarling
Contributor
Hmm.
The touch panels could also be for a regular laptop size.
As for a form factor, how about something like Always Innovating's new Touchbook with removable panel?
It even has magnets on the back so you can stick the screen/cpu on your refrigerator, and become a family calendar or picture frame.
If it had solar panels to recharge, that would work out. Otherwise, I can't see taking it off the fridge every 8 hours to recharge! Perhaps appliances now need device docks?
The touch panels could also be for a regular laptop size.
As for a form factor, how about something like Always Innovating's new Touchbook with removable panel?
It even has magnets on the back so you can stick the screen/cpu on your refrigerator, and become a family calendar or picture frame.
If it had solar panels to recharge, that would work out. Otherwise, I can't see taking it off the fridge every 8 hours to recharge! Perhaps appliances now need device docks?
iParis
macrumors 68040
Hmm.. this is indeed interesting.
I'd be very interested to find out the price and specs.
DAMN! I'm a fanboy and even I say that's hilarious and accurate1
I'd be very interested to find out the price and specs.
DAMN! I'm a fanboy and even I say that's hilarious and accurate1
I just dont see apple doing a little Bitty Notebook AKA Netbook. The 12" power book was really nice and I know alot of people who used them BUT. IT wasn't even CLOSE to a netbook. The air is a science experiment nitch product just testing the waters for the eventual future. The netbook will be a true small tablet. Stop thinking Macbook netbook, start thinking MAC Touch PAD netbook.
If apple would build a good Touchpad And done this:
I know of people who wished apple would have went all AIR on the 17" pro. I'm not talking about just the No removeable battery, Im talking NO CD DVD Drive, really thin and shaped like a air, BUT still have FULL power and speed of what the current 17" is now. Basically an air on crack. Full processor speed and memory, SSD, ethernet, firewire 800, 1 usb, 34 express, same battery as the Current 17" for runtime, and finally NO CD DVD. They want the blueray but dont want a CD DVD drive at all if they cant get it, and most still would be happy with a Stand along Bluray like the air if it got them a really light powerhouse.
I would be really happy.
If apple would build a good Touchpad And done this:
I know of people who wished apple would have went all AIR on the 17" pro. I'm not talking about just the No removeable battery, Im talking NO CD DVD Drive, really thin and shaped like a air, BUT still have FULL power and speed of what the current 17" is now. Basically an air on crack. Full processor speed and memory, SSD, ethernet, firewire 800, 1 usb, 34 express, same battery as the Current 17" for runtime, and finally NO CD DVD. They want the blueray but dont want a CD DVD drive at all if they cant get it, and most still would be happy with a Stand along Bluray like the air if it got them a really light powerhouse.
I would be really happy.
michael.lauden
macrumors 68020
man i hope apple doesn't come out with a netbook.
if they came out with a maxed out iPhone with netbook specs - that'd be different.
netbooks are laym
if they came out with a maxed out iPhone with netbook specs - that'd be different.
netbooks are laym
Because the panels are not yet available, as in WinTek is still working on the new products (See website: almost ready).
Yup- sorry to say, the finder is pretty much garbage, and compares negatively to windows file management and exploring. They really need to overhaul the finder in SL, as it is in desperate need of it. There's so many frustrating limitations and quirks that makes searching, browsing, and opening files frustrating.
Did you happen to notice that if you counted just the computers, an Apple laptop came in at #10? Maybe the netbooks are top sellers, but not the only game in town.
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Scottsdale
Suspended
It's truly sad you had to reply to that. The new low-end Mac Pro is definitely the xMac. 8 GB RAM Max... same as an iMac.
The low-end Mac Pro should be called the xMac, but then Mac Pro seems to fetch more money. If Apple really thinks the low end is a Mac Pro, the Mac Pro had taken a huge step backwards last week. We all know that Apple thinks it just introduced the xMac, and in this economy we should all be so happy, too bad they didn't throw in a 24" ACD... at that price.
I do not see a netbook with a physical keyboard from apple, but instead a large Ipod touch. Imagine having a device with a 7-10 inch screen that is as thin as an ipod, and will be light enough to hold easily and confortably. Due to its size and weight, it will be ideal for:
ebooks
watching movies
TV
digital photo frame
Web browsing
Music
Web Chat
Multiplayer gaming (Chess, Monopoly, Risk, etc.)
and other media.
I would not include an optical drive because apple needs to separate this device from the traditional computer, and will boost revenue at Itunes because users will have to go through Itunes to purchase apps and music. Couple this larger Ipod Touch with a bluetooth keyboard will benefit those who want a physical keyboard. I'd also only include 1 or 2 USB ports a la the macbook air and I would not include Leopard or SL, but something closer to the browser on the Iphone. Releasing a netbook will cannibalize the macbook line, and keeping it larger than an Ipod touch should not dip into revenue from the ipod touch because I see this as a different divice. There is great potential for such a device.
ebooks
watching movies
TV
digital photo frame
Web browsing
Music
Web Chat
Multiplayer gaming (Chess, Monopoly, Risk, etc.)
and other media.
I would not include an optical drive because apple needs to separate this device from the traditional computer, and will boost revenue at Itunes because users will have to go through Itunes to purchase apps and music. Couple this larger Ipod Touch with a bluetooth keyboard will benefit those who want a physical keyboard. I'd also only include 1 or 2 USB ports a la the macbook air and I would not include Leopard or SL, but something closer to the browser on the Iphone. Releasing a netbook will cannibalize the macbook line, and keeping it larger than an Ipod touch should not dip into revenue from the ipod touch because I see this as a different divice. There is great potential for such a device.
Well said - I made a similar point earlier. I am not sure why others voice their decent against a product when it would do them no harm if it came to market? I would like to own an Apple NetBook versus my Acer One OS X netbook I currently use.
D
MattInOz
macrumors 68030
MikeELL
macrumors regular
Know what's even more amazing? People who are looking for Microsoft-Sheep seem to always FIND Microsoft-Sheep.
I'm not saying I think (or anyone else thinks) that Microsoft will blow everyone else out of the water. What I'm saying is that it will be "good enough". And in this market, with these types of buyers, "good enough" is what people want.
Windows Vista was WORSE than Windows XP. So people opted to either stay with Windows XP, or go with something brand new. But Windows 7 (having used it myself) is a drastic improvement in several areas... over both XP and Vista... Which means that, while it's no OSX... it IS an improvement over previous iterations, it opens a web-browser, runs office and the other bare necessities. And it's less expensive because it can run on any machine... no Apple tax. Again, for the average user... a "better-than-windows-xp/vista" system that won't break the bank.... that's all they want.
Whether Windows 7 isn't the BEST or not doesn't even matter. What matters is if it will do what most people want it to do. Windows Vista was ****, XP is almost a decade old. People just want something better than what they've been using... And if they can get that with something they're relatively familiar with... they'll do it.
People are lazy. People only move to what's new when the pros outweigh the cons.
kdarling
Contributor
Sounds a lot like current Internet Tablets, like the Nokia N800.
Only a bigger screen and thinner 🙂
Lesser Evets
macrumors 68040
There is nothing quoted about the size of the screens unfortunately. I wonder if they are high res, like the compressed quality on iPhone, and I wonder about the dimensions of the screen.
NETBOOK, being the word used, means small but probably between 6" and 13". Resolution is generally max of about 1024x800 something on netbooks. It would be nice to have something mildly better in resolution and big enough to hold like a book, but as a tablet with writing recognition.
Break out the Gregg shorthand manual and start taking notes and writing on an iTablet. They should use a bubble mode for writing on a small screen: the part of the page being written on bulges out as the stylus goes and then folds backwards as writing progresses along. IF they have a very small screen.
This is one of the two possibilities I have been thinking/saying.
You couple it with a Bluetooth keyboard and prop it on a little stand (dock) and you have a home browser for the kids or people who don't need larger computer functions. it also means Apple has ready made peripherals all set to make this thing function. No development costs on peripherals. It could also be possibly coupled with a Mini or other computer to become a monitor when docked.... but that's a little fantastic.
I still believe it will probably have a fairly complete or functional midget version of Leopard. Why? -- SOFTWARE SALES. If this thing can run iLife and iWork, more cash in pocket. Nothing too demanding--photos, music, websites, presentations, word documents, spreadsheets, simple games.
If it has the same input/outputs as an Air it succeeds. They can present the tablet on a TV via video out and hook up a drive/USB device. People can buy a USB splitter if needed.
64 or 128GB SSD.
That would be MY next "laptop" computer. I can't stand the design of laptops. The trimmed Mac computer as a tablet would be perfect.
NETBOOK, being the word used, means small but probably between 6" and 13". Resolution is generally max of about 1024x800 something on netbooks. It would be nice to have something mildly better in resolution and big enough to hold like a book, but as a tablet with writing recognition.
Break out the Gregg shorthand manual and start taking notes and writing on an iTablet. They should use a bubble mode for writing on a small screen: the part of the page being written on bulges out as the stylus goes and then folds backwards as writing progresses along. IF they have a very small screen.
This is one of the two possibilities I have been thinking/saying.
You couple it with a Bluetooth keyboard and prop it on a little stand (dock) and you have a home browser for the kids or people who don't need larger computer functions. it also means Apple has ready made peripherals all set to make this thing function. No development costs on peripherals. It could also be possibly coupled with a Mini or other computer to become a monitor when docked.... but that's a little fantastic.
I still believe it will probably have a fairly complete or functional midget version of Leopard. Why? -- SOFTWARE SALES. If this thing can run iLife and iWork, more cash in pocket. Nothing too demanding--photos, music, websites, presentations, word documents, spreadsheets, simple games.
If it has the same input/outputs as an Air it succeeds. They can present the tablet on a TV via video out and hook up a drive/USB device. People can buy a USB splitter if needed.
64 or 128GB SSD.
That would be MY next "laptop" computer. I can't stand the design of laptops. The trimmed Mac computer as a tablet would be perfect.
The size would eliminate most of the speculations here, but I guess that we have to wait a little longer for this kind of info to become public - they don't seem to have larger panels, and are working on new touch panel technology.
No doubt they'll make one. Apple is bent on having every product be mobile. If they could they'd drop the iMac, Mac Mini, and Mac Pro - they can't because of developers, designers, and the educational market.
I'd buy one in a heart beat if it were cheaper than the low-end Macbook at $699. 😎
I'd buy one in a heart beat if it were cheaper than the low-end Macbook at $699. 😎
Whether it's worth Apple entering the netbook arena is debatable but the people disregarding netbooks on the basis of "I'm not interested in them, therefore they are rubbish and there's no market for them" show a pathetic grasp of reason.
Attachments
No please, I want a real keyboard. I would prefer one like this:
PD: Sorry about my cumbersome english.
kdarling
Contributor
As a longtime touchscreen developer, I cringe when I see pics like that one, with full OSX onboard and no real keyboard. 🙂
There's good reasons why touch tablets have failed in personal scenarios, and have only been used in specialized field or sales applications. An onscreen keyboard prevents the use of most of the display. You can't touch type. And people put something that big down on a table top.... imagine trying to lean over and read the page above the keyboard while tapping away.
OTOH, a large portable touch tablet for mostly entertainment purposes, could work out. Portable web, TV, picture frame, etc. Lots of uses, mostly not requiring a keyboard.
My own idea of such a device would be based on the iPod touch, but combined with the application "cards" used in the Touchsmarts and Palm Pre. In other words, imagine multiple iPhone apps running at the same time in regular iPhone screen resolution, with about four apps visible at a time, and you just flick between them and others that are off the screen. This leverages both the larger screen and the App Store.
That said, it's more likely that Apple is simply going to come out with a touchscreen laptop option. Perhaps the screen will be the computer and can detach like the Always Innovating device mentioned previously.