How's Apple gonna fit in Ethernet ports in future notebooks?

[Josias]

Wondering, since it is very probable that the 17" MBP, and perhaps also 15", will become even slimmer than 1" (2.59 cm), how's Apple going to fit Ethernet ports inthere? I'm looking at my 1.08" (2.75 cm) slim MB, and there's barely no space around the top or bottom of the Ethernet port. I haven't measured the height of the Ethernet port, or my MB case (minus screen part). If the MBP's soon are to be i.e. 0.9", i believe not more than two revisions, how's it gonna fit in? I'm also a bit concerned about the DVI port (not Mini-DVI, but the DVI prot on the MBP's). I'm not sure how tall they are, but if someone with an MBP could measure/tell us?

 

[MacBoobsPro]

Wondering, since it is very probable that the 17" MBP, and perhaps also 15", will become even slimmer than 1" (2.59 cm), how's Apple going to fit Ethernet ports inthere? I'm looking at my 1.08" (2.75 cm) slim MB, and there's barely no space around the top or bottom of the Ethernet port. I haven't measured the height of the Ethernet port, or my MB case (minus screen part). If the MBP's soon are to be i.e. 0.9", i believe not more than two revisions, how's it gonna fit in? I'm also a bit concerned about the DVI port (not Mini-DVI, but the DVI prot on the MBP's). I'm not sure how tall they are, but if someone with an MBP could measure/tell us?

They will probably create their own adapters to fit in the new smaller sockets they create Not unlike the iPod going from firewire to its own unique connector. And more recently magsafe!

 

[Blue Velvet]

I wouldn't worry about it. Let Jonathan Ive do the worrying...

The day that Apple release a laptop without ethernet ports will be the day when wireless-only high-speed (T1000 equivalent) networks are the norm. And that's a long way off yet...

 

[Willis]

I dont believe they will make their own adapters for everything. froma consumer point of view, it means you have to carry other bits and pieces along with you.

They'll get as small as they can, and thats it...

 

[Josias]

You don't need special adapters for anything on their laptops except videoplugs, and the adapters are so small and cheap, that it's no problem. Okay, the iPod cables, but that's nothing. I actually wouldn't mind every company dropping wired Ethernet, I know many people still use it, but as soon as N is standard, I think there might be a chance of them droppig it... I never use it...

 

[robbieduncan]

DVI may well be replaced with HDMI or DisplayPort both of which are much slimmer. The Ethernet jack is more of a difficulty. Perhaps a custom breakout cable for those times you need it...

 

[Blue Velvet]

...but as soon as N is standard, I think there might be a chance of them droppig it...

Is that as fast as Gigabit ethernet? Wouldn't dream of using anything slower in the studio. Move a couple of gigs over to another machine? No probs.

 

[rdowns]

X-jack?

 

[generik]

Good thing they can't make it any thinner.. I'd rather have the ethernet port stonewall their slimming efforts than to lose my modern optical burner, and a whole host of other features

 

[displaced]

X-jack?

Yuck... I don't imagine slidy-outy-clippy-things are really Apple's style

I think the rule of diminishing returns applies. I don't reckon there's much of a need to make the laptop's lower half any thinner than the height of an ethernet port. Also, much of the percieved thinness of Apple laptops is due to the svelte LCD housing. I reckon it'll be the displays where progress is made - further refinement of LCD panels and backlights might shave off a few more millimetres.

Apple are probably almost at the limit of what the traditional laptop form-factor can do. Until the next evolution (flexible/foldable displays? truly ubiquitous high-speed wireless? neural lattices weaved into our brains, extending our memory to include all of Google's search results?), I don't think we have to worry about squeezing ports into thinner machines.

 

[JFreak]

They'll drop the port altogether if they need to; after all, there is this ethernet-over-firewire thingy well, probably not very soon, as optical drives are not going to become slimmer than the ethernet connector. Laptops are not going to become any slimmer unless many features are dropped.

Maybe Apple _should_ release a sub-notebook that only has wireless connections and firewire/usb? No storage with moving parts, only flash drive and RAM. That'd be cool. "24h battery life"

 

[bigandy]

Maybe Apple _should_ release a sub-notebook that only has wireless connections and firewire/usb? No storage with moving parts, only flash drive and RAM. That'd be cool. "24h battery life"

1cm thick.

when closed.

 

[JFreak]

1cm thick. when closed.

I'd buy that

 

[Josias]

Let's see about the connector's height:
Mini-jack: 4 mm or 0.15".
USB: 5 mm or 0.19".
FireWire400: 7 mm or 0.27".
Mini-DVI: 8 mm or 0.31".
Ethernet: 10 mm or 0.39".
MagSafe: 6 mm or 0.23".

If someone could provide the vertical height of DVI and FW800, it'd be cool.

I know that Apple soon are to make DL SuperDrive's that are 9 mm (0.35"), which will make it possible to fit into 15" MBP's. DL SD's are already possible in MB's, but it's just odd having a DL SD in a $1099 notebook, and not in a $2499 notebook. This would also make it possible to have DL SD's in 17" MBP's that are 0.9" thin.

The MB's body (minus screen part) is 1.6 cm (0.62") thin. Which makes it possible far into the future to make Ethernet ports there, and also many sorts of SuperDrives.

If someone also could measure the body of the MBP (minus screen part), it'd be great!

 

[Pressure]

They don't. The new 802.11n wireless standard can exceed 400MBits/s.

 

[bbrosemer]

Even if the ethernet jack is the biggest on the computer does that really matter it is like 1-3mm bigger then the FW800 and is not much bigger then the DVI output either. Also dont forget the Express Card slot which is pretty big too, and the HD ... shall I go on there are alot of things that need to be scaled down, and just like with cell phones you are going to reach a point where if they get too small they lose functionality.

 

[nsutt22]

Hopefully the only plug a laptop will need is a power... wifi/bluetooth no need for cords

 

[61132]

on a sidenote, does anyone think apple will add lightscribe drives to any of their computers (more interested in the macbook pro since that is what I have) Or does anyone know of a slot load lightscribe drive that would fit the macbook pro 15? I wouldnt mind installing it myself.

 

[HardLine]

lightscribe was one of the biggest hardware failures i've seen ever happen.

it's useless, and never caught on, the novelty wears out REALLY quick.

staples, sharpie, profit

 

[michaelrjohnson]

I wouldn't worry about it. Let Jonathan Ive do the worrying...

The day that Apple release a laptop without ethernet ports will be the day when wireless-only high-speed (T1000 equivalent) networks are the norm. And that's a long way off yet...

I beg to differ.

Apple has usually been on the bleeding edge of technology development in their machines. (They get to be, because their market is so small.)

Apple was the first to drop all other connectivity options for USB, was the first to include an optical mouse, the first to include a slot-loading optical drive, etc. It wouldnt' suprise me that Apple jumps on the next networking-bandwagon right after the technology is proven, but well before it's "the norm."

 

[HardLine]

I'm sorry but if you think removing ethernet is wise then I got to say, pass the drugs you're smoking man!

 

[joebells]

I'm not for litescribe I have never used it but I think it might be doing ok hp has hinted that it might be bringing out a color version.

 

[michaelrjohnson]

I'm not for litescribe I have never used it but I think it might be doing ok hp has hinted that it might be bringing out a color version.

I dont' see how that's possible, physically.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightscribe

It seems to be able to etch a monochromatic image on a monochromatic background. (HP = grey on gold, Fuji = blue on silver.) Given the technology, I dont' know how they can make a "color" lightscribe-type device without making the cost of the disc prohibitive.

 

[bbrosemer]

First off its Lightscribe, secondly it is nice it makes the CD's look pretty, however if HP could get the time down to under 5 min then I think other compaines would like it much better right now ur looking at about 20 semi min for a cover on the cd, lightscribe is pretty useful and it does look way better then sharpie and if I could I would use it, on my desktop I do use it however I feel no need for it in a laptop.

 

[bbrosemer]

I dont' see how that's possible, physically.

(((searching for info)))

They are talking about a color one, it would probably involve making multiple layers or something to that extent on the disc so you could burn down to whatever color you wanted, PS color lightscribe is already in the software the HP includes with their LS drives.