Where's my Apple sub-notebook?

[Some_Big_Spoon]

Ugh, just starting another thread about the need I have, and others have, for a Mac sub-notebook. I gained a pound with the MacBook when I wanted to lose a pound, or more.

Seems like it's do-able, even if Apple insists on puting in an optical drive (when road peeps use it when?)

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/06/21/sony_unveils_vaio_tx3_sub-notebook/

I know Apple wants to sell .Mac and iLife upgrades, and it makes it a bit easier when you have a big screen and an optical drive on board, but if sony can do it, then by gum, Apple can do it too.

Hope someone is listening out there.

 

[dejo]

My thinking is: just because something can be done, doesn't mean it should be done. Or that there is a business case to do it.

 

[regre7]

Wait, wait, wait. Did I read your post wrong or did you say you want a laptop without an optical drive?

 

[Some_Big_Spoon]

Yes-sir-e-bob, no optical drive built in for me. It's unnecessary weight and power draw that I don't need. All my movies, music, pics are digitized, and I can install programs by FW or USB drive. An external USB optical drive would be fine with me, though admittedly "unApple", though they have done it before.

Wait, wait, wait. Did I read your post wrong or did you say you want a laptop without an optical drive?

 

[Killyp]

I use mine all the time. Couldn't live without the CD drive. I'm a musician, and a laptop without a disc drive is to me what a handbrake is to a canoe.

 

[Some_Big_Spoon]

I'm sure lots of people are like you, and that's cool. They might not be the target audience for an Intel Core Solo, ULV 10" screen laptop. Those of us that travel 50% of the time would LOVE one. Maybe it's a niche, but you'd get more road warriors and students buying one.

I use mine all the time. Couldn't live without the CD drive. I'm a musician, and a laptop without a disc drive is to me what a handbrake is to a canoe.

 

[xfiftyfour]

Maybe it's a niche, but you'd get more road warriors and students buying one.

i'm not discrediting your request.. certainly i'm sure there are SOME people out there who would be in the market for exactly what you're looking for.. but the niche would be hard to find, i'd think.. students? no, because they are typically going to have ONLY their laptop, and thus, will need an optical drive as well as some of the other perks.. businessmen? no, all that travel and no possibility of being able to insert a CD? (perhaps some, but certainly not all).. home users? some, who have desktops for the rest of the stuff their laptop won't be able to handle....

i'm curious to see if apple pursues an "ultra-portable" and what it would be like in a finished product.. but i'm equally curious to see how many sell.. apple targets a different market than most.. the "right brain", creative, blogging, tech-geeks crowd.. i don't know how many would want to be without their kicks and giggles..

 

[JackSYi]

Yes-sir-e-bob, no optical drive built in for me. It's unnecessary weight and power draw that I don't need. All my movies, music, pics are digitized, and I can install programs by FW or USB drive. An external USB optical drive would be fine with me, though admittedly "unApple", though they have done it before.

I know what you mean. I can probably do without one, but have it as an add-on.

 

[orthodoc]

I'm with you. I would love to see a 11 or 12 inch widescreen MacBook Pro. I have a 12 inch powerbook and a new MacBook and I really like the compactness of my powerbook. The new MacBook has too much bevel around the screen and keyboard. Seems like a waste of space to me. How about a removable disc drive? My old Sony had that. That way you can take it out when not needed and save some weight or add another battery. Just a thought.

 

[PlaceofDis]

i won't buy another laptop until it is an ultra-portable. honestly. i had a 12" powerbook, and it was sweet don't get me wrong, but i'd rather have something even more easily taken with me than that to be honest.

12" widescreen or 11" widescreen, fullsized PB/MBP keyboard and i'd be happy. small trackpad i can live with too, or a wider instead of deep one.

no Optical drive, 2 USB ports, 1 FW 400 and i'd be good.

if it could turn into a tablet, i'd be in heaven.

 

[Some_Big_Spoon]

"businessmen" get their apps and info over a VPN from a server in their company's network. They don't touch CD's, nor do they want to.

businessmen? no, all that travel and no possibility of being able to insert a CD? (perhaps some, but certainly not all).. home users? some, who have desktops for the rest of the stuff their laptop won't be able to handle....

 

[portent]

I don't know about a no-optical-drive notebook, but there are a lot of people on these board either asking for an Apple subnotebook, or mourning the 12" form factor. Me included.

I think Apple will eventually add a notebook that's smaller than the MacBook for these customers. I don't know when, but it's too vocal a market to ignore. Besides, Toshiba and Sony and Lenovo will be only too happy to sell alternatives.

 

[kevin.rivers]

what will they call it?

 

[PlaceofDis]

MacBook Micro