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macjay

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 3, 2003
366
0
ModNote: merged thread to discuss similarities between these keyboard designs, the calculator you had when you were a kid, the TRS-80 Color Computer, etc. :) --mkrishnan

Do you think that Apple got the idea for its MacBook keyboard from this 2004 Sony X505?

xx505px00.jpg


I never knew that Sony could build such a heinous-looking computer.
 

mpw

Guest
Jun 18, 2004
6,363
1
...I never knew that Sony could build such a heinous-looking computer.
I quite like it. Sure the keyboard could move back to add a trackpad the screen ratio needs to go widescreen, but other than that (and the OS) I'd buy it.
 

macjay

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 3, 2003
366
0

Well, the reason that I thought so, even though the "chiclet" keyboard is from the 80's, is that Apple pays alot of attention to Sony's designs, and seeing as how this was (from what I understand) the first time it was used on an Apple laptop, I don't think it's coincidence that it was on a Sony model a few years ago.
 

Spanky Deluxe

macrumors demi-god
Mar 17, 2005
5,285
1,789
London, UK

taylorwilsdon

macrumors 68000
Nov 16, 2006
1,868
12
New York City
As the owner of an X505, I can say without a doubt that its better looking then any laptop Apple will ever make. There still has never been a production laptop that is thinner then it. Even though its on its last leg I still stick it in my bag once in a while because its just so teensy.
 

TraceyS/FL

macrumors 601
Jan 11, 2007
4,174
316
North Central Florida
Just checked it out (http://oldcomputers.net/ibm-pcjr.html).

That keyboard makes me shiver.

Hmmm..... we had one. Never had any problems with it.... but we had a corded keyboard and I don't remember what it looked like.

Had a TON of games for it - there is a blast from the past! It was my 2nd Computer, the first being the DEC Rainbow running CP/M. Only game i had for that was Adventure. But i had fun playing in Multi-Plan LOL!!!

ETA: After than I moved to a MacSE :D
 

a456

macrumors 6502a
Oct 5, 2005
882
0
New Sony Laptop Keyboard - WOW!!

fw_top_right_keys.jpg


I don't know where they got the idea for this new kind of funky keyboard (***looks down at iMac Alu Keyboard***shrugs***scratches head****) but it looks great.
 

GSMiller

macrumors 68000
Dec 2, 2006
1,666
0
Kentucky
Sony's new tagline should be "Steal from the best and make it your own" :rolleyes:

I noticed the similarity the first time I saw a picture of Sony's new notebooks.
 

Insulin Junkie

macrumors 65816
May 5, 2008
1,184
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Mainland Europe
Sheesh I'm already majorly drooling over the vaio z series, this picture isn't helping curb the crave! :eek:
If the new macbooks look like that I'm selling mine tomorrow for a new one. God how I wish it ran Leopard, I'd get that machine in an instant. :eek:
 

marvel2

macrumors 6502
Jun 27, 2007
413
12
I don't know where they got the idea for this new kind of funky keyboard (***looks down at iMac Alu Keyboard***shrugs***scratches head****) but it looks great.[/QUOTE]

They got the idea from their VAIO X505 way back in 2004. Remember [URL=http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/30/apple-recruiting-sony-vaio-engineers-to-build-the-first-intel/]this article[/URL] about Apple recruiting Sony VAIO engineers to make their next notebook? That notebook happened to be the MacBook with the x505 style keyboard.
 

Sesshi

macrumors G3
Jun 3, 2006
8,113
1
One Nation Under Gordon
Sheesh I'm already majorly drooling over the vaio z series, this picture isn't helping curb the crave! :eek:
If the new macbooks look like that I'm selling mine tomorrow for a new one. God how I wish it ran Leopard, I'd get that machine in an instant. :eek:

Why would you want it to be less reliable :confused:

I have one on preorder.

As others have said, Sony have been doing this style of chiclet keyboard longer than Apple. Everything Apple knows about making laptops, they learned from them - and they're still the student to the master.
 

aussie.damo

macrumors regular
Nov 20, 2006
187
0
Melbourne
I love these threads - the fanboys who do no research and blindly believe that Apple invents everything never come back to eat the humble pie.

Damo
 

chrono1081

macrumors G3
Jan 26, 2008
8,731
5,216
Isla Nublar
Why would you want it to be less reliable :confused:

I have one on preorder.

As others have said, Sony have been doing this style of chiclet keyboard longer than Apple. Everything Apple knows about making laptops, they learned from them - and they're still the student to the master.

Student to the master? Work in electronics retail for any amount of time and see how many sonys get returned or come in with problems. I've owned two sonys and never again will I buy another. Sure they look very very nice, but they're over priced and come with numerous problems. I thought my first one was just a lemon and gave them a second shot 2 years later. Nope, same numerous problems (speakers dying, cd rom dying, and battery going after about a month of use).

The only time sony made a good pc was back in the pre-2002 era. They were great back then. If they made them today like they did back then I would have one as a windows machine.
 
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