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Ultra-Portable Mac Expected at Macworld Expo 2008
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Here's what I want...
Make it into basically, an larger iPhone tablet:
- use something very similar to the new BT Apple Keyboard as part of the new laptop. The keyboard would be just a keyboard - the screen - more like a tablet/iMac, only small and thin
- figure out some way to make it detachable, and help wtih boot up of the pc while potentially wirelessly connected to the screen
- make it seem like a laptop when the keyboard is attached
- make it seem like a tablet when I'm using multitouch on the web.
- you've just made a much better tablet than anything toshiba and ms ever did!
- Ideally - make it as small as the bt keyboard itself (7-8 inch screen -raise the resolution), yet as powerful as a mac - if you do that, I'd probably carry it with me wherever I went.
Make it into basically, an larger iPhone tablet:
- use something very similar to the new BT Apple Keyboard as part of the new laptop. The keyboard would be just a keyboard - the screen - more like a tablet/iMac, only small and thin
- figure out some way to make it detachable, and help wtih boot up of the pc while potentially wirelessly connected to the screen
- make it seem like a laptop when the keyboard is attached
- make it seem like a tablet when I'm using multitouch on the web.
- you've just made a much better tablet than anything toshiba and ms ever did!
- Ideally - make it as small as the bt keyboard itself (7-8 inch screen -raise the resolution), yet as powerful as a mac - if you do that, I'd probably carry it with me wherever I went.
I'm picturing both keyboard and the iPhone dock. Then you'd have a hybrid computer/human interaction of keyboard and multi-touch.
Remember when laptops didn't have built in pointing devices? Getting a laptop with a trackball, trackpad or IBM little erase thing was a big deal when they first came out.
Remember when laptops didn't have built in pointing devices? Getting a laptop with a trackball, trackpad or IBM little erase thing was a big deal when they first came out.
This is really all going to come down to price. Considering that flash memory is so expensive, where are they going to draw the line? $1600 or cheaper .. or im not biting. My MBP fits well into my backpack and I dont think this is going to be small enough to fit in a pocket, so whats the point? Considering that it will have flash memory, it would be good for battery consumption, but wouldn't the battery be somewhat smaller as well?
The trackpad comments are a little overboard. Whats the point in making a sub-notebook if you are going to put something "revolutionary" into it? I mean there are room for advances but something like this is just going to add hundreds of dollars onto the final price tag because of the wow factor.
The trackpad comments are a little overboard. Whats the point in making a sub-notebook if you are going to put something "revolutionary" into it? I mean there are room for advances but something like this is just going to add hundreds of dollars onto the final price tag because of the wow factor.
I would guess that would depend on if the product is part of the MacBook or MacBook Pro branch of the Apple family.
Of course, there could always be two versions... though from these early rumors, it appears this would be a "pro" model, so your wish might come true.
"Half the weight of a MacBook Pro" is much lighter than the MacBook. The reason I've never been interested in the MacBook is that it is only 1lb lighter than the MBP. This new machine should be around 2.8 lbs -- about the same as the Sony TX and the Toshiba Portege.
To me, the existing MacBooks and MBP are already thin enough to hide in my brief case, but if this thing is close to 0.5", it will be a really easy fit -- even if the relatively large screen gives it a big footprint.
I am concerned about performance. They can't make it snail-slow (like the Sony TX/TZ) or it will be frustrating to use.
I'm not too concerned about the price. The Sony, in a decent configuration, is around $2500, so I'd be willing to pay that for a well-engineered Apple product.
And the portability -- if it is under 3lbs, that will be a big difference from the 4.6lb MacBook. If they make it head-turningly thin, that will really differentiate it from other subnotebooks in the market.
I think it will be a niche product. It would have to be around $1500 to go mass-market, and I don't think they could produce a suitably cool product for that price -- especially with SSD.
The lack of an optical drive doesnt exactly make it ideal for students. Watching DVD's and importing audio CD's is a big part of a typical student's computer use. And it def wont be cheap.
Exactly. What I want is a PowerBook with an intel processor. Added bonus if its thinner and lighter. But for me, its gotta be 12" alu with same form factor as PB.
My perfect machine: take my 12" PB, put in a 2.2 C2D Extreme, atleast an X1600 w 256 MB, up to 4 GB RAM, 200 GB HDD and I'm on board. But thats just pipe dreams, it wont happen
Who says a more advanced trackpad would be that much more expensive? Seems like with that item, you have some more cost but not a lot and you let software do all the magic whitch adds almost nothing to the cost of the final product.
How about a MacBook Shuffle?
You can't control what program it runs when you start it up. It picks one at random.
You just have to keep praying. I certainly am. Although if the rumored update doesn't occur, my year-old MacBook will still appear to be brand new.
Something like what the eMate was to the Newton MessagePad?
P.S. Yes, geeks will note eMate wasn't so much a docking device as it was a watered-down Newton MessagePad with a keyboard in a clamshell case... but you get the idea...
You know, one feature that I'm really waiting for in a subnotebook is "Instant On".
I use this sort of computer for carrying around to meetings and such, and even as quickly as a Mac boots, when someone wants info, or I want to quickly capture something that's going on, I want to pull out my little computer and use it right now, while the idea is fresh. If I want a "waiting period", I'll buy a gun.
I use this sort of computer for carrying around to meetings and such, and even as quickly as a Mac boots, when someone wants info, or I want to quickly capture something that's going on, I want to pull out my little computer and use it right now, while the idea is fresh. If I want a "waiting period", I'll buy a gun.
Methinks that rather than a portable productivity (or gaming) computer, this is going to be more of a portable media/internet device.
Hmmm. Experiencing some bondi-blue iMac deja vu here.
Hmmm. Experiencing some bondi-blue iMac deja vu here.
I don't think Apple will have ads for their new computer that are akin to a horror movie (see "Who Killed the Electric Car").
You really have to think of this as an "iPhone Pro" (without the phone).
The point of having a super-small portable is convenience. In order to get that, you're going to make sacrafices in drive size, computer speed, and other things like optical drives.
In other words, NO ONE would buy this as a primary computer. Thus, any complaintas about optical drives or total drive space is way off base. Does the iPhone need an optical drive? Of course not. This thing will work the same way. You put software on it by syncing it to your real computer.
So saying things like "this will be good for poor students" makes no sense. Maybe a student would buy one of these, but it's not going to save them money! In addition to needing a full "real" computer, remember that making things smaller IS HARDER AND THUS MORE EXPENSIVE.
I don't know how many times that has to be said, but the engineering and manufacturing techniques that go into shrinking things is a big part of the price. In other words, expect this to cost THE SAME as the current Macbooks but with slower/smaller specs than the Macbook.
People will buy it because they need something light when traveling. They will NOT buy it to save money or to replace their current laptop.
The point of having a super-small portable is convenience. In order to get that, you're going to make sacrafices in drive size, computer speed, and other things like optical drives.
In other words, NO ONE would buy this as a primary computer. Thus, any complaintas about optical drives or total drive space is way off base. Does the iPhone need an optical drive? Of course not. This thing will work the same way. You put software on it by syncing it to your real computer.
So saying things like "this will be good for poor students" makes no sense. Maybe a student would buy one of these, but it's not going to save them money! In addition to needing a full "real" computer, remember that making things smaller IS HARDER AND THUS MORE EXPENSIVE.
I don't know how many times that has to be said, but the engineering and manufacturing techniques that go into shrinking things is a big part of the price. In other words, expect this to cost THE SAME as the current Macbooks but with slower/smaller specs than the Macbook.
People will buy it because they need something light when traveling. They will NOT buy it to save money or to replace their current laptop.
Why is the PowerBook 12" holding price better than any other notebook?
Of course it can't be cheaper than the MacBook. You can't put smaller (better) technology into a notebook computer and expect it to be cheaper!
I have watched "Who Killed The Electric Car" and concluded that it was probably a little bit of everyone involved. My point stands though. The EV-1 did less and cost more. and this subnotebook would cost more and have lower specs without an optical drive.
All I have to say about this rumor is ... again?
With external power sources. How fun.
They're going to complain whether it gets released or not ... so there's no escaping the complaining.
With external power sources. How fun.
Everyone is going to be so disappointed. Just reading the comments above makes me think how much people are going to complain...
They're going to complain whether it gets released or not ... so there's no escaping the complaining.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but if there is no optical drive, then there would be no chance to upload music from CDs or play DVDs on the device, without using an external drive/computer? To me this seems like a bad idea, but at the same time, I can see how it would work with media being so easy to download now.
Wow- this a turning point. Suddenly playing DVDs on your pc is old-fashioned.
If this new Mac comes out, which I hope it does, I also hope that Mac updates its other devices to be BluRay compatible, or even better BluRay & HD DVD compatible. This technology is the only thing holding me back from buying a new computer.
Wow- this a turning point. Suddenly playing DVDs on your pc is old-fashioned.
If this new Mac comes out, which I hope it does, I also hope that Mac updates its other devices to be BluRay compatible, or even better BluRay & HD DVD compatible. This technology is the only thing holding me back from buying a new computer.