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Ultra-thin and Ultra-light Mac Notebook in 2007

If true, who sees this being released with the new iMac? Both of these updates seem to significant to just pop up on Apple.com, so it seems like an event could be dual purpose.

Anyone agree??? Of course the "if true" is assuming a very large "if."
 
This would be very, very nice (if true).

Already people have generated unreasonable expectations for this, though.
$500?!? "Pro" class?!? SIM cards?!? Not gonna happen...
 
I am happy to see that apple is actually working on new redesigns their computers instead of focusing mainly on iPods, iPhones, and :apple:TV's.
 
buffalo said:
If true, who sees this being released with the new iMac? Both of these updates seem to significant to just pop up on Apple.com, so it seems like an event could be dual purpose.

Anyone agree??? Of course the "if true" is assuming a very large "if."
Click to expand...

I'm guessing we'll have to wait till a later event.

My .02
 
Aniej said:
If you want to see almost exactly what you are going to get with only some slight modifications, Intel has already given you a giant hint.

Compare the specifications listed by MacScoop and those set out in the intel prototype. Then look at the design and its distinctively Mac (sans the OS displayed). Watch and you will see this morph into your new ultra light, portable notebook. Below is just one of the images to whet the appetite.
Click to expand...

It really does look like a mac. The hinge construction, the integrated ports, material... hmmm maybe.

EDIT: I mean this one here:
attachment.php
 
nagromme said:
No it isn't. You have to sacrifice power. You do NOT have to sacrifice too much for pros unless you define "pro" to make that the case.

Intel has great mobile processors, much faster than many pros were using a year ago for Photoshop and the like. That leaves only connectivity and 3D. Connectivity can be done with a dock if needed, and Intel has much better integrated GPUs than the GMA950 now.
Click to expand...

Well, yes, technically you're correct. Mobile technology tends to be a year behind the latest tech... but you're basically saying that last year's pros will be satisfied using today's mobile technology. This, I feel, would not be the general consensus among pros. The workload of a pro increases with their work capabilities. They can photoshop more photos per hour. They can render more scenes quicker. Etc. They're not going to say, "Oh, all I ever wanted was to render scenes at 2GHz and now that I can, I'm perfectly content. I'll never need a new computer again."

The computing needs of pros and gamers increase with what is available. You won't be able to convince me otherwise.

-Clive
 
This ultra-portable obviously will be 16:10 (4:3 is a dead format) 12 or 13". I hope 12".
I think the MacBookPro name will not be used, because it won't be powerful as a MacBook 13"... They probably will use low voltage processors, like the L7300 or L7500 (1.4 or 1.6 GHz Core 2 Duo with 4MB and 15W TDP), the GMAx3100 graphics, a 1.8" or FLASH based harddisk, and no optical drive.
3G connectivity is not a must, there are many phones that can be used as a bluetooth modem without any usb or pc-card adapter.
I think it will be a great (but expensive) machine. Nothing under 1500$ for sure.
 
syklee26 said:
I don't understand all this fascination with ultraportable laptops...
Click to expand...
It hasn't quite clicked with me, either. From my perspective, it's just a watered down notebook that I'm still going to have to lug around in a laptop bag of some sort. With a PDA (or an iPhone) I can put in my pocket, there's a whole other degree of "portability" that I can appreciate and for which I'm willing to sacrifice some functionality.

Having said that, I know that there are a lot of people interested in these things, so they must have something going for them.
 
Poff said:
I'm guessing we'll have to wait till a later event.

My .02
Click to expand...

Another possibility is to announce it in conjunction with the iMac, but not ship until later in the year. Apple has been announcing before shipping lately (MacBook Pro, :apple:TV, iPhone).
 
iPhone was the ultraportable

Apple's smallest portable just came out - the iPhone. Why would they create a 10" ultraportable? I haven't seen a single one used out in public. Ultraportables are a great idea and so is the tablet pc, but neither are practical, thus, no large scale markets. No markets, no dinero. I truly believe the iPhone is Apple's entry in both the cell phone, pda, and ultraportable markets. Look at all the rumors that lead up to the iPhone release. Nearly every filing is a feature that you now see in the iPhone.

Plus, what peripherals would be available for such a device. Are all the plugs and cord inputs that small - not everything is usb, ya know. Also, you would have to plug everything in just to use it - external drives, keyboards, monitors - who needs the hassle.

I think they are going to take what they learned from the iPhone and AppleTV and build on compatibility and consistency with those items.
 
kutzcd said:
Apple's smallest portable just came out - the iPhone.
Click to expand...

The iPhone still lacks stuff, like word-editing, for instance. A UMPC would have standard OS X, which I would need. (for instance for running Coda or Pixelmator)
 
kutzcd said:
...Why would they create a 10" ultraportable? I haven't seen a single one used out in public. Ultraportables are a great idea and so is the tablet pc, but neither are practical, thus, no large scale markets. No markets, no dinero...
Click to expand...

That's a really good point that is often ignored:

As neat-o-keen as they are, no one actually wants to buy an ultra-portable.
 
Fairly said:
Hey why not make a slab as big as a laptop today (15" or whatever) but give it the iPhone interface?
Click to expand...

What would the point of that be? If you could only use web apps, how would you access word documents? How would you game? How would you do all those things that laptops can do that the iPhone can't?

If you're going to carry around a 15" slab, carry one that'll do most everything you want it to.

-Clive
 
Based on what has been speculated in terms of the size and weight i doubt that this ultraportable would be high powered enough for me. I have ordered a Dell 1330 but if Apple was to bring out an ultraportable with a dedicated GPU i would consider selling my laptop.
It seems like quite a lot of people want a fairly high powered ultraportable with a dedicated GPU but based on these specs i doubt that this ultraportable will be it.
 
kutzcd said:
Apple's smallest portable just came out - the iPhone. Why would they create a 10" ultraportable? I haven't seen a single one used out in public. Ultraportables are a great idea and so is the tablet pc, but neither are practical, thus, no large scale markets. No markets, no dinero. I truly believe the iPhone is Apple's entry in both the cell phone, pda, and ultraportable markets. Look at all the rumors that lead up to the iPhone release. Nearly every filing is a feature that you now see in the iPhone.

Plus, what peripherals would be available for such a device. Are all the plugs and cord inputs that small - not everything is usb, ya know. Also, you would have to plug everything in just to use it - external drives, keyboards, monitors - who needs the hassle.

I think they are going to take what they learned from the iPhone and AppleTV and build on compatibility and consistency with those items.
Click to expand...

I agree with you but the iPhone sucks as a smartphone, and smartphones are as close as you can get to an UMPC. So the iPhone will never be a Mac Ultra portable. No word editing, no apps, no real software in general not to mention no flash, java on the safari and you have to buy a contract to use it... NO WAY YUCK! That is not how a real computer workds

iSee said:
That's a really good point that is often ignored:

As neat-o-keen as they are, no one actually wants to buy an ultra-portable.
Click to expand...

Yeah... but there are plenty of people in the real world that don't use a lot of the stuff that Apple and other companies make. The iPhone may be in the hands of half a million people but in a country with 300 million people that is a very small number, and there are a lot of people who think the iPhone is useless and want an UMPC from Apple instead... like the millions of 12" PowerBook users that don't want a fat MacBook that is heavier and larger. They want a true ultra portable Mac. Niche markets can make Apple money if they do it right. Users of $600 phones are a niche market and look where it's going for Apple.

Roba said:
Based on what has been speculated in terms of the size and weight i doubt that this ultraportable would be high powered enough for me. I have ordered a Dell 1330 but if Apple was to bring out an ultraportable with a dedicated GPU i would consider selling my laptop.
It seems like quite a lot of people want a fairly high powered ultraportable with a dedicated GPU but based on these specs i doubt that this ultraportable will be it.
Click to expand...

The 1330 isn't it either... it's the first Dell with a real design to it but it is no where near an ultra-portable. I do like that you can outfit it with a SSD though.

As for the ultra-portable Mac.... let's look at some crappy mock-ups and pick and fight about which one makes the most sense 🙂
 

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The iPhone doesn't work. A 2 year contract and not being allowed to install third party apps make it unacceptable as an ultra-portable computer. As many other people have said, if only I could get the iPhone without the phone...

I hope to hear more about this by August. I'm planning on buying an Asus Eee (nobody buys ultraportables, eh?), but would love to go with an Apple ultraportable instead. If there's some reliable confirmation that an ultraportable is inevitable, I can wait.
 
No one uses Ultra Portables? Says who! I'd love an Ultra 10" instead of lugging around a full laptop. I would just like more power than the Sonys have, and Sony is really slow on keeping that line upgraded with better chips.
 
How does knocking off 3 lbs. and .4" make this thing really that revolutionary?
I thought the iPhone was suppose to be the revolution...no wait, the iPod ... no wait the mouse....
When Apple (or someone claiming that Apple) claims everything to be revolutionary and the future, it kind of looses its effect.
 
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