Apple plans ultra-portable PC

[63dot]

Thanks.

I think Apple could do it really well, make a nice package that was pocketable, plus bluetooh headphones. I know everyone does not want this, but I would love to be able to schlep photos to relatives, look up restaurants on the fly, maybe use it for attending classes (with a decent mic to record the lectures as AAC 128kbs) and the key board for notes.

I think it could be very handy for lots of people.
Plus imagine the medical industry. With HIPAA, OS X would make palm tops for Doctors and Nurses much simpler, more secure and would match their white coats!


I was trying to think of a good size, and I found my pocket calendar.

A lot of ultra small laptop fans like sites like dynamism.com and I got to actually see some of the newest Japanese ultraportables at a small store in San Jose, CA and I realized that there are companies making products, for some other markets, that far exceed Mac laptops in terms of weight, design, and portability.

It's bound to happen soon though and there will be a time when we look back at 5.5 pound laptops and cringe at the thought of any portable larger than that size that doesn't need to be a multimedia desktop replacement.

 

[sushi]

Actually, the OQO does have a full thumbboard if you need it. It is a slide out. If you need a full sized keyboard and monitor, those can hook up via a dock. It think the OQO is the perfect size. 5" screen, thumbboard, stylus, HardDrive, USB, Firewire, Dockable, Full OS, etc. It would be nice if it had a clam shell rotating screen so the screen would be protected, but that might make it too thick. If it only came with OSX then it would be perfect.

Devices like the OQO sound really good until you use one.

The screen is too small to be of practical use with current apps.

The thumbboard is of limited value when entering text. It is slow and clunky.

A clamshell laptop with a 10.4 or 12 inch with at least 1024x768 resolution and a keyboard that you can actually use would be much more useful.

Plus the OQO is very expensive for what you get.

 

[0092762]

I'd want something like this, they already copied the ibook a little bit:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16834149034
So in my opinion the only differences from the macbook should be:
10.6 or 11.1 screen
ULV and slower clock version of core duo/solo
1.8 hard drive
Add the pro aluminum casing and i'd be willing to pay up to 1499

 

[Macnoviz]

Some random stabs at possible names for a possible product.
MacPod > MacPod Pro
MacTab > MacTab Pro
MacBack > MacBack Pro
MacMac > MacMac Pro
iPod Pro

I'm looking for a device that acts as my "Mac away from my Mac," Mac. A mobile Mac. Smaller than a laptop but larger than an iPod. No keys, no optical. WiFi, BT, iSight, OS X Lite, iApps, Mail & Safari - something that docks/syncs to my home Mac, but once removed & on the go, gives me access to my Home folder, music, movies, etc. Yeah, this is the one glaring void in my Mac experience. There are several times where a full blown laptop is still too much to lug around/whip out. But a handheld Mac?

Sorry, I know a lot of people here oppose the idea, but I honestly think there is a substantial market for such a device.

Certainly a larger market for this device than another U2 iPod...

Do you really need an iSight?

 

[FirePak]

I would get one hehe =)

 

[Macinposh]

Do you really need an iSight?

Well, let´s put it this way : Why on earth wouldnt you?

Since that kind of UL Laptop would be designed/catered for heavy travellers and businessmen,so keeping in contact with people would be one of the mainpoints,eh?

iSight or Skype (next version?) would allow free communications on the road wherever there is wifi.

Let alone if you could incorporate your SIM card or if the machine would have a express card slot for GRPS/GSM cards,the thing would be a truly mobile workhorse.You can get a 1mb/s GRPS subscription with unlimited usage for less than 50€ around this part of the world. How do you think it would change the useage of this kind of computer?

Apple dont neccessary think that they will have to design a phone/pda/computer solely for the states,where a whopping 5% of the worlds population lives.
Think global.



And no,dont tell me how important US business is for apple.It is important,obviously.

 

[sparks9]

i dont want a tablet, i want a ultra-portable 10 inch macbook, with long battery life. would be great for school.

 

[Macnoviz]

Well, let´s put it this way : Why on earth wouldnt you?

Since that kind of UL Laptop would be designed/catered for heavy travellers and businessmen,so keeping in contact with people would be one of the mainpoints,eh?

iSight or Skype (next version?) would allow free communications on the road wherever there is wifi.

Let alone if you could incorporate your SIM card or if the machine would have a express card slot for GRPS/GSM cards,the thing would be a truly mobile workhorse.You can get a 1mb/s GRPS subscription with unlimited usage for less than 50€ around this part of the world. How do you think it would change the useage of this kind of computer?

Apple dont neccessary think that they will have to design a phone/pda/computer solely for the states,where a whopping 5% of the worlds population lives.
Think global.



And no,dont tell me how important US business is for apple.It is important,obviously.

First of all, I'm not American, so don't think I'm too happy about US-focus at Apple. I want to buy videos too.

Second, I believe that the increased cost and weight/size outweighs the advantages. Although that depends on the specific nature what the device is mainly for, in some cases it needs an iSight, but in others it's just not right.

 

[gloss]

First of all, I'm not American, so don't think I'm too happy about US-focus at Apple. I want to buy videos too.

I'm sure they would love you to buy videos, but working out systems in every country in the EU is probably slow going. Especially when half of them are already suing you for your music services.

 

[Bonte]

There are rumors now that all PC laptops will need flash hybrid-drives to run Vista because its to hard on the battery. My thought is Apple also wants to have a good Vista laptop so is now stocking Flash ram just for this propose.

We'll have a second Flash war if this is true.

edit:link
http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/06/12/hybrid_hard_disks_again_vista_premium/

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Does anyone have a feel for read and write speeds of NAND flash memory. From a quick google it seems the read speed is more or less similar to a hd on an ATA bus.

The write speed seems to be an order of magnitude less. This has some serious implications for using this in a machine that isn't a read only device (ok for ipod but not necessarily for a laptop).

It seems to me that you could just be clever and have parallel memory access (sort of a low-level RAID), resulting in speeds as fast as the bus can handle. Unlike the spinning cylinder of a hard disk, you can arrange and access your bits of Flash RAM however you want.

 

[marchcapital]

Ill by one if it doesnt have a glossy screen...

 

[Macnoviz]

There are rumors now that all PC laptops will need flash hybrid-drives to run Vista because its to hard on the battery. My thought is Apple also wants to have a good Vista laptop so is now stocking Flash ram just for this propose.

We'll have a second Flash war if this is true.

edit:link
http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/06/12/hybrid_hard_disks_again_vista_premium/

Vista is SO going down because of system requirements and bad copying from OS X
Oh, and then there the dialog boxes
ROFL, let the switching begin

EDIT: Oh, almost forgotten the SEVEN versions that will be available

 

[xUKHCx]

Vista is SO going down because of system requirements and bad copying from OS X
Oh, and then there the dialog boxes
ROFL, let the switching begin

EDIT: Oh, almost forgotten the SEVEN versions that will be available

Fristly the vast majority wont know it copied, apple needs to advertise on a wide scale (read TV) Mac OS and the features that Vista will copy.

Strictly speaking there will be 9 versions

Windows Starter 2007
Windows Vista Home N
Windows Vista Home Basic
Windows Vista Home Premium
Windows Vista Business N
Windows Vista Business
Windows Vista Small Business
Windows Vista Enterprise
Windows Vista Ultimate

Although Windows Starter 2007, will not be branded as windows vista, will only allow 3 applications or 3 windows to be open simulatenously

 

[gloss]

Although Windows Starter 2007, will not be branded as windows vista, will only allow 3 applications or 3 windows to be open simulatenously

Brilliant!

 

[Bonte]

Vista is SO going down because of system requirements and bad copying from OS X
Oh, and then there the dialog boxes
ROFL, let the switching begin

EDIT: Oh, almost forgotten the SEVEN versions that will be available

Agreed but the Macbook is also supposed to be running Vista so Apple may need to use the flash HD for Vista, i just hope Apple then also takes advantage of these disks if only for the extra half hour battery life and faster startup.

 

[zap2]

Agreed but the Macbook is also supposed to be running Vista so Apple may need to use the flash HD for Vista,

I doubt Apple will design something in a MacBook for Vista, Apple is about OS X, anything else it just gravy

 

[Bonte]

I doubt Apple will design something in a MacBook for Vista, Apple is about OS X, anything else it just gravy

Maybe but the Macs will always be compared to PC's with both running XP or Vista, its in there own interest to fully support Windows.

 

[50548]

I just hope that by "ultra-portable" Apple means a 12" MBP or similar machine...I am sick of those "jack of all trades, master of none" 10" portables with tiny keyboards/screens by Sony or, worse, Treos, Palms and Blackberries that fill up your hands with underpowered gadgets...

Bring us a 12" powerful MBP, Apple...that's all I ask for now.

 

[Macnoviz]

There are rumors now that all PC laptops will need flash hybrid-drives to run Vista because its to hard on the battery. My thought is Apple also wants to have a good Vista laptop so is now stocking Flash ram just for this propose.

We'll have a second Flash war if this is true.

edit:link
http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/06/12/hybrid_hard_disks_again_vista_premium/

Just one important question, will ALL versions of Vista need hybrid drives, or just the higher end version (with aqua, ... ehr, I mean aero)

 

[Macnoviz]

I just hope that by "ultra-portable" Apple means a 12" MBP or similar machine...I am sick of those "jack of all trades, master of none" 10" portables with tiny keyboards/screens by Sony or, worse, Treos, Palms and Blackberries that fill up your hands with underpowered gadgets...

Bring us a 12" powerful MBP, Apple...that's all I ask for now.

I'm afraid that's not gonna happen any time soon, for now the line-up is set (family is complete) and the 12 inch high-end laptop is now the black Macbook, although it's not nearly as portable, and it has 950 intel graphics (which are not that bad as they sound)
This may sound as a repeat or a cliché, but the Big Steve has spoken:

 

[xPismo]

Although Windows Starter 2007, will not be branded as windows vista, will only allow 3 applications or 3 windows to be open simulatenously

I just spilled my beer. I can't believe this isn't a joke - but nobody said anything to counter this. OMG. What a great piece of crippleware.

 

[sushi]

EDIT: Oh, almost forgotten the SEVEN versions that will be available

There are 5 versions of XP:
- Home Edition
- Professional
- Media Center Edition
- Tablet PC Edition
- Professional x64 Edition

You can see more here on XP:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/default.mspx

There will be 5 versions of Vista:
- Windows Vista Business
- Windows Vista Enterprise
- Windows Vista Home Premium
- Windows Vista Home Basic
- Windows Vista Ultimate

You can see more info here on Vista:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/editions/default.mspx

Note, there will actually be more Vista versions for European market.

Microsoft tents to make things complicated compared to Apple who basically has one version.

 

[&RU]

The time is now...

This is good news as far as I am concerned. I have been shopping around for handheld computers lately, the only thing that has stopped me is none of them are macs. Hopefully this will change. Sony has been putting out tiny Vaio U-Series computers for years. Vulcan has been promising the Flipstart for years. And some old Apple fellows have made a go of OQO. It is time for Apple to step into the fray and show them all how it is done. Then they can put all that old Newton technology to use that is cluttering up the Cupertino garage. Just license the OQO already, I would pay good money to put a mac in my pocket.

 

[mr.suff]

11.1" Glossy Widescreen display, native resolutuion of 1280x720
Three colour options:
MacBook mini white
1.5 Core Solo