Ultra-thin 12'' MacBook Pro?

[Clive At Five]

and ultra thin means too thin to have an internal drive.

Why wouldn't you want an internal HD?????????

I could care less if it was .5" thicker and weighed even a pound more.

This is coming from someone who uses a laptop every day. Weight doesn't bother me as much as limited features. I've carreid around a beast of a lappy but have never had any qualms about it. A little smaller/lighter might be nice, but < 3 lbs... is unnecessary, IMO.

-Clive

 

[whatever]

I found the keyboard illumination one of the most useful innovations on my 15" PB... it was really easy to see the keys, no matter how bright the screen was set.

And are you just following the crowd in your hating of the GMA, or do you actually have a reason? (Because you'd be in a minority!)

I don't really hate GMA, I just don't know enough about it.

Apple claims that 80MB of memory is automatically allocated to it, but how much can this grow?

If I knew that for example: if I had 2GB of memory, that the GMA could use 512MB if available and unused.

Or if I was told that this formula was true, 512MB with 80MB allocated to GMA, so 1GB it would be 160MB and with 2GB it would be 320MB.

 

[kddpop]

Why wouldn't you want an internal HD?????????

i think these folks are really looking for a small tablet/pda/newton and not a laptop. perhaps we'll see a newton again. i doubt it though...didn't steve really hate the newton? didn't i read that somewhere?

~kyle

 

[lmalave]

Why wouldn't you want an internal HD?????????

I could care less if it was .5" thicker and weighed even a pound more.

This is coming from someone who uses a laptop every day. Weight doesn't bother me as much as limited features. I've carreid around a beast of a lappy but have never had any qualms about it. A little smaller/lighter might be nice, but < 3 lbs... is unnecessary, IMO.

-Clive

Seriously. That's Madness. I think Apple would want the 12" MBP to stand on its own as a full-fledged memeber of the MBP family.

I'll repeat it for the 3rd or 4th time: I think the 12" MBP will be a full-fledged MBP with optical drive, Express Card slot, dedicated graphics, and possibly even an illuminated keyboard. In other words, a MacBook Pro
And I expect it will be in the neighborhood of 3.5 lbs., maybe a bit more (3.7 or 3.8 lbs. might be more realistic).

In other words, if Apple launches a true "ultrathin" by the "no internal drive" definition, then it WON'T be part of the "Pro" family. As has been suggested, it'll probably be marketed as something totally different like "MacBook mini", since it would have FUNDAMENTALLY different features than the PRO line.

For January, I would expect the true 12" MBP to be launched. I don't expect a true "MacBook mini" would be launched until at least mid-2007 when Santa Rosa is available.

 

[buffalo]

I'd love to have a small, light (under 4lbs??), pretty notebook to carry around. I'm not sure how I'd pay the estimated $1,700, but I guess I could wait for a refurb. Here's to hoping for MWSF!

 

[bigandy]

Why wouldn't you want an internal HD?????????

I could care less if it was .5" thicker and weighed even a pound more.

This is coming from someone who uses a laptop every day. Weight doesn't bother me as much as limited features. I've carreid around a beast of a lappy but have never had any qualms about it. A little smaller/lighter might be nice, but < 3 lbs... is unnecessary, IMO.

i was talking about an OPTICAL DRIVE, as you'll notice if you read the post i was referring to.

i go more for ultraportables. for two years i had a 15" powerbook, and while a stunning machine, was just too big. i need something with MacBook specs (plus graphics for FCS) and i need it in the same, or preferably smaller package.

I don't really hate GMA, I just don't know enough about it.

Apple claims that 80MB of memory is automatically allocated to it, but how much can this grow?

If I knew that for example: if I had 2GB of memory, that the GMA could use 512MB if available and unused.

Or if I was told that this formula was true, 512MB with 80MB allocated to GMA, so 1GB it would be 160MB and with 2GB it would be 320MB.

GMA allocates up to 80mb RAM. No more.

 

[johnnyjibbs]

This is the news I have been waiting for!

I am the proud owner of a 12" PowerBook G4 (rev B), which I bought in September 2003 and am using to write this post now. It's the best computer I have ever had and it still works wonders. I don't need replacing this any time soon, but my 80GB HD is brimming full with photos and music and, should anything happen to my beauty in the next couple of years, I will be looking for a new one to sit along side it - this Little Al has served me (is serving me) well!

I have to say that I never particularly wanted anything bigger - and the MacBook Pros are out of my price range for what I need. On the other hand, the Mac Books have crap video cards and I prefer metal to plastic. They are also bigger than my current model (and I need line in - not sure if they have them; the iBooks didn't).

Something around the £1000 mark, small, decent screen res, iSight built-in, dual Intel duo 2s, lightweight, thin, ultra-portable and stylish - fits the bill perfectly. In my opinion, this will happen because there has been a gap in the line-up since the disappearance of the 12". They couldn't exactly keep it there, considering everything else was so much powerful, but maybe it just takes time.

Now I know that there was always the issue of whether it was worth it over the iBook, considering the extra price, but the better keyboard, line in, metallic case, extra oomph and DVD-writing capabilities gave it the edge in my book. It was always crippled slightly and unnecessarily compared its bigger sisters I always thought, but let's hope Apple can pack as much punch as possible into the new one! And how about illuminated keyboards?

If this comes out at Macworld 2007, expect me to hop on board the rev B or C!

 

[XForge]

I am ***SO*** there.

 

[Clive At Five]

i was talking about an OPTICAL DRIVE, as you'll notice if you read the post i was referring to.

I stand corrected. Good riddance optical drive. Optical media is barbaric anyway. Why use something so susceptible to scratching? We could just use a matrix of 4 flash chips and have instant transfer speeds (limited only by the I/O speed of the port in use).

*rolls eyes*

Companies...

-Clive

 

[japanime]

I second wholeheartedly.

Not only is it the MacBook the best computer I've ever used, but it's also the best laptop value currently available, IMO. This was reaffirmed when I helped my girlfriend shop for a laptop a couple of weeks ago. Most of the laptops she looked at were the same price and weight (e.g. the Sony Vaio C series at 13.3", 5.1 lbs, and $1349). She ended up settling on the Sony Vaio SZ260 for $1649, which is much lighter at 3.8 lbs. and was only available at that price because it's the older Core Duo model (the newer Core 2 Duo version is $2200).

And guess what? After owning the Vaio for just 2 weeks, she already has spyware she can't figure out how to get rid of. When you factor in OS X and incomparable design (1" thin, MagSafe, etc.), the MacBooks are a *far* better value than the PC competition, IMO.

Agreed.

I bought a MacBook to replace my PB G4 12-inch. The two are miles apart (with the MB offering much better performance, even when running Adobe CS2 under Rosetta).

My guess is that many of the folks who are pooh-poohing the MB are the ones who can't afford a MB right now, and therefore feel compelled to bash it. (Not all, but many.)

 

[wmmk]

i would be mad, but i should remind myself that i got a 15" for $1499, which is amazing, I have more VRAM than this could ever have, i have a faster CPU than this would probably have, and a 12" widescreen would suck for photo work anyway. then again, if it's a touchscreen...

 

[Chef Medeski]

iTunes has already killed the CD.

ANYWAYS.

First of all, iTunes barely has a fraction of all the individuals out there. Secondly, their quality is so ***** anyone with any thoughts of getting the most of their money by not buying songs that sound like a cat attackin someone, will not buy. Thirdly, the number of people without iPods to play all this music is more than you think.

I personally have no songs from iTunes. Download no music. Its all from CD. And I have over 800 CDs on my computer. Just face it. The only thing iTunes has killed is the Radio star.

 

[Clive At Five]

The only thing iTunes has killed is the Radio star.

*sings* iTunes killed the radio star, iTunes killed the radio star, in my mind...

Cat attacking someone? That's a little overboard. Only true audiophiles will think that. Most people won't. For them, the iTS is a suitable cheap and conveinient alternative.

-Clive

 

[axboi87]

Hmm

I don't like the idea of it lacking an optical drive. I used to own a 12'' pbook but couldn't stand the lack of a card slot, gigabit ethernet, and the low ram ceiling. Oh and not to mention the lack of a backlit keyboard and Firewire 800. I've been hoping they'd come out with a 12'' MBP that has all things that the 12'' pbook lacked and more (camera, front row, dual core, magsafe). I could care less about it being ultrathin, especially if that makes it lack even more than the pbook.

 

[Chef Medeski]

Please, please, please be true!!!!!!

I am not buying a computer really soon (will be getting one around June or so) but this would be great!!! I have been wanting a small version of the MBP since the beginning and i think there is a market for one. My sis is going to be getting my 12in iBook (which I love the size and wait of) and i want to replace it with something close in size. I have my iMac for heavier stuff all i need in a portable is durability (aluminum case), portability (small size), and good battery life.

Please be true

Plastic is more durable than aluminum. You have an iBook. I have a PB. There is a hook in the bottom right corner. My battery is slanted. My screen is slightly tilted and the latch is uneven. Due to the durable, premium aluminium. Give me usability not look.

 

[Chef Medeski]

Even thogh 0.5 lb. doesn't make as much of a difference on the larger MBPs, any user can appreciate extra battery life.

More of a difference than the difference in weight between a Macbook and its next largest brother. About the difference of a 12" PB and a 13" Macbook. So... yeah... its a difference.

 

[Chef Medeski]

er... may I disagree?

Why would Apple want to encourage the purchase of physical DVDs when you will soon (knock on wood) be able to d/l a plethora of movie content on the iTS? A movie player, maybe... but it'd probably be a video iPod.

-Clive

Lets see. Backup of data. Backup of whole hard drives. Because they aren't delivering HD content the only real reason to use Blu-Ray. Because thats what most people want, well except for you.

 

[Chef Medeski]

You can't use iPod HardDrives to boot and run an OS on. I mean, you *can* but they die VERY easily after extended use as a boot-device. Until something more reliable comes around (or flash capacity become cost-effective in large amounts), the 2.5" Laptop HDs will have to do.



What's wrong with a USB Flash device? Even a 4GB one (approx. single-layer DVD capacity) is around $50, PLUS they're small, PLUS they're easy to carry around, PLUS they're instant Read/Write (limited only by the speed of your USB port). Compare that to a DVD. The only thing you wouldn't be able to do sans optical bay is watch physical media. You could, just as easily, rip a few DVDs and encode them as h.248 and watch near-DVD quality movies from a device the size of your thumb. To save yourself the hassle, you could set up an Automator Script to automatically rip and encode your DVDs when you insert them.

Think outside the consumer box.

-Clive

Weekly backup. 5 CDs used. 52 pack is about $40 for DVDs. So... $200 for backup.

4GB: $50 x 5 x 52 = $65,000.

Yes think outside of the consumer box. Business people need backup solutions.

 

[Fredou51]

I think considering the posts that I see here that Apple really needs two model.

1. A 12" MBP that is basically the same thing than the 15" concerning performance but in the 12" form factor.

2. An ultra-portable, ultra-light, ultra-thin(0.7" or maybe even 0.6") with a 10.6" widescreen with 16 GB of flash plus an 80 GB hard drive (if it's not the boot drive, could they use an iPod hard drive?) and no optical drive.

Frederic

Edit:

Weekly backup. 5 CDs used. 52 pack is about $40 for DVDs. So... $200 for backup.

4GB: $50 x 5 x 52 = $65,000.

Yes think outside of the consumer box. Business people need backup solutions.

Are you comparing that with DVD-R because it's really not the same thing as a Flash drive is rewritable (even more easily rewritable than DVD-RW)?

 

[Chef Medeski]

So I have a question for alls-yalls to chew on.

Why would Apple go through all the hassle of making a 12" widscreen MBP when they already have a blueprint for a 13" widescreen MB? From a logistics standpoint, I think it would be much, much easier to tap the same supply of 13" widescreen MB LCDs than to add another supply to the production inventory. It would STILL reduce the footprint considerably, plus would have the bells and whistles of a MBP. HD, RAM, video card, back-lit keyboard, the like.

Now THERE's a machine that would help some people off the fence about a MB or MBP... myself included.

-Clive

HD, RAM.... bells and whistles of a MBP.... or just like every computer.

 

[Grakkle]

ANYWAYS.

First of all, iTunes barely has a fraction of all the individuals out there. Secondly, their quality is so ***** anyone with any thoughts of getting the most of their money by not buying songs that sound like a cat attackin someone, will not buy. Thirdly, the number of people without iPods to play all this music is more than you think.

Righty-o. CDs may be archaic, but iTunes certainly hasn't made them obsolete. I sometimes buy songs from iTunes, but I prefer CDs. iTunes song quality is massively inferior to an AIFF file ripped from a CD.

I wouldn't buy a notebook without an optical drive myself. Optical drives, for all the nuisance, are still essential because there isn't yet a viable technology to replace them (or anyway, there isn't a viable technology that computer makers use).

 

[Chef Medeski]

I was under the impression that these two devices might be combined into one. You know, what Airport Express did for music iTV will do for video. With a snazzy software interface via iTunes. I guess there would/should be another base station once the 802.11n is a little closer to being ratified.

I mean, for years people on this site have been asking for an Airport Express that streamed video. That's the iTV. I wonder how many of those people asking for it complained about the iTV when we got a preview? Anyone care to step up and admit it?

WTF did Airport Express do for Music. No one uses it. Theres like 5 people who bought that thing. For $150 NO ONE IS GOING TO BUY A DEVICE that replaces a long cord.

 

[Kendall015]

I think considering the posts that I see here that Apple really needs two model.

1. A 12" MBP that is basically the same thing than the 15" concerning performance but in the 12" form factor.

2. An ultra-portable, ultra-light, ultra-thin(0.7" or maybe even 0.6") with a 10.6" widescreen with 16 GB of flash plus an 80 GB hard drive (if it's not the boot drive, could they use an iPod hard drive?) and no optical drive.

Frederic

What use would the second model be? What would the ultra small ultra light form factor allow you to do that a 12" form factor would be too big for? I am all for tiny cool looking computers as much as the next person, but after using Sony's Vaio UX UMPC, I have to say that it serves no purpose. The MacBook is pretty small, and the 12" Powerbook was even smaller than that...but I don't see what advantages would come from making a smaller laptop than those two.

 

[Chef Medeski]

Umm..it's the height in *pixels* that matters not the height in inches!!!

If the 12" PB was 1024x768, and the 12" MBP is 1280x800, then the MBP would hactually have just as much vertical real estate!!!

800 > 768

P.S. I've also seen Sony's 11.1" widescreen and it's also quite readable at 1280x800.

Virtual Real Estate. What about room for eye-ball movement.

 

[Chef Medeski]

A student-discounted MB is $1049... but one should consider not only the price, but the investment in yourself for the next four years. Life expectancy of PC laptops are rarely quoted as 4 years - I have been using my Mac (iMac G4 swivel neck) for 6 years and it still works great - so you have two choices: Buy a $700 "affordable" PC which will die or become unusable within 2-3 years, or buy a $1200 Mac which will last you long after college is through.

Apple doesn't sell crap. That's why it's more expensive. If someone is too cheap to put out a little more money for a long-term self-investment, then they deserve to be trapped using their imminently dying PCs.

I haven't even made an argument about OS & bundled software... but really... need I?

And also, as long as you're paying 12+ grand/yr for college, what's another $1200 of student loans? I know a guy who took out a $3000 loan to buy a Dell XPS so he could play World of WarCraft between classes. It's college, and college loans exist for a reason. So you can pay for the things you need while you're in college. If a mid-class WoW fix is what you need, buy a freaking XPS, or MBP or whatever it takes. You'll only have that opportunity once.

-Clive

Agree with you in prinicpal. You are buying extra quality. He isn't stupid though for not buying extra quality. That his decision. What if he only wants it for a year or two and doesn't want to spend extra money for something he doesn't want to keep.

On top of that 6 years for a desktop is very different than 6 years for a laptop that moves at all.

And your final point is just whack. BUY WHATEVER THE HELL U WANT. Dont worry about paying it off. Youre in colelge!!!! there is nothing after college. Responsibilities don't change due to low-interest. I'm not buying a Benz because I'm a student.