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Jul 31, 08 - 10:08 am Comment from: Macromancer

More speculation. Surprised they didn't work a "Steve is dying" rant in there.

Should I get in line at the Apple store now?

Jul 31, 08 - 10:11 am Comment from: ChrissyOne

"Surprised they didn't work a "Steve is dying" rant in there."

Since it's the Merc, I find it odd that they didn't mention backdating, either.

Jul 31, 08 - 10:12 am Comment from: Jamie

Charlie, get behind me, I'm already queueing up!

I think I am going to go ahead and sell my 15" core duo, time for an upgrade!

Jul 31, 08 - 10:15 am Comment from: auren

Sounds exciting!!!!

Jul 31, 08 - 10:16 am Comment from: aaplsaur

Is there no limit to what can be extrapolated from that comment?

I'm thinkin' an iPod maxi touch. Oh, I guess that doesn't sound so good in marketing, but you know what I mean.

All I can say is that if Dopey Dell can offer BlueRay drives as a $250 option in their fugly, cheapo Studio computer then Apple needs to get with the program pronto.

Hi ChrissyOne! You were in good form a few articles ago, that was good fun! Thanks.

I wonder why journalist are so obsessed with mimi's? Could it be because "BIG ASS TABLE" doesn't sound so cool anymore? Just imagine a headline that goes:- "Apple inc to launch big ass mini!" 7-10 inches long & loving it!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wonder?

I think that some if not all the iPod line might be replaced whilst being improved and/or reduced in price. Macs and MacBooks might also be replaced whilst being improved and/or reduced in price. In addition, they might also introduce a new product which is different from their existing products, that uses some existing technology in a better/new way, or introduces some new technology to do something in a new/better way - at a price that is lower than something more expensive. Any of these devices might also be bigger/smaller/the same size as another product made by either Apple or someone else.

Jul 31, 08 - 10:24 am Comment from: Cascadians

Yeah, that sounds too close to a Maxi iPad ...

Hopfully not one of these squeezed and dummy 9", the concurrence is aliready "pooring" out these days... ! ;(

The form factor suggests a Newton...but also do consider:

Amazon bought audible.com

Now consider the convergence of "books on tape" (MP3) and distributed also in written form for the screen (Kindle) and all wrapped up into a 7" form factor iPod Super-Touch - mini laptop Newton.

The only question is if Amazon is interested in making a deal with Apple ... and allowing the Kindle to die (or be superceded) as a way of competing with Sony's Reader.

Will have to go sniff around to see if there's much actual business news on the Kindle's success/failure to gage Amazon's potential level of interest. One article from Feb 08 suggests that sales have been slow.

Time will tell...


-hh

@M.X.N.T.4.1

I was thinkin' the exact same thing, only different.

"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings-- "

I just hope this is finally the G5 laptop! Maybe, maybe??

Hmmmmmm...

Jul 31, 08 - 10:42 am Comment from: loki

It could get very interesting in the OS wars again. This mini laptop (or whatchamacallit) probably won't run Windows, but a lot of business people will want one forcing corporations to support the Mac OS. What better way to win the desktop wars than concede the desktop war and redefine computing!! That way, you own the new definition of computing and let the legacy keepers deal with their burdens!

what about this is new??

Jul 31, 08 - 10:58 am Comment from: Demon

Apple to launch the iPod Machismo. 13" multi-touch, multi use device with a 128GB SSD (or 320 HHD option), 2 GB of DDR3 RAM, iSight camera, (HSDPA/EVDO option), 802.11N, Bluetooth, USB, Firewire 800, HDMI, iPod Dock connector all in the form-factor of an iPod touch just 13" long and ready to pump-up the competition.

Jul 31, 08 - 11:05 am Comment from: Cascadians

Still waiting for the iNewton ...

I don't want a 13" inch. I want something in the 8-12" realm to replace my 12" G4 Powerbook. It's still a work horse but I also need to get something that is a bit lighter. For me, the current MacBook Air does not fit the bill. Here's hoping...

I think it's clear from other news that the comment made during the financial report refers to a refresh of the iPod and MacBook lines.

Frankly, I'm not quite sure what purpose a tablet would serve. I've been following this issue for a long time and I've heard some people speak enthusiastically about the idea. But I don't quite see how it would work. if you need to type then you need a keyboard and a portable notebook is ideal. If you need portability then an iPhone is ideal. How exactly would one use a tablet Mac?

Seems quite wrong-headed to me.

All of her arguments would equally apply to a small tablet form factor which seems more likely than a tiny laptop at this point.

If Apple wanted to make a small laptop it would have responded to all the die-hard users of the 12" powerbook who were crying out for a replacement for years.

Also a tiny laptop just cannibalises Apple's key market without adding much at all. Finally, why do this at all if you are not going to put the same multi-touch tech into the larger laptops? This makes no sense unless the entire laptop line transitions to the same tech and that would (yet again) be a danger to Apple's biggest and most significant market.

Jul 31, 08 - 11:34 am Comment from: Sir Gill Bates

It's gonna be a long, rectangular touch screen that straps to your forearm. It'll kinda be like that thing the alien in the movie 'Predator' used to nuke his own arse. Explosives not included.

Jul 31, 08 - 11:52 am Comment from: DLMeyer

Yes ... a "cinema" version of the 12" iBook. Oh, wait, they sorta did that. No, I mean same width as the 12", but not as deep. Would that work out to a 10" screen?
OK, I went and grabbed a couple of suit coats out of my "you still HAVE these" closet and measured. Pockets are five to six inches wide. That's how deep the mini should be - just barely pocketable. It can be nine inches wide, but only that deep. Nine inches wide would just support a "full-sized" keyboard, as would five inches deep.
Go for it, Apple. How much can you stuff in that form-factor? OK, forget the built-in optical drive. We got that part.
What I' d really prefer, in case anyone forgot, is a Mac midi - a short tower ... half as tall as the Mac Pro? As we are making a wish-list, here.

Jul 31, 08 - 12:00 pm Comment from: jarrettdailynews

well, it's actually the backdating that's killing jobs. I believe that's what you meant C1.

Apple is NOT going to release a mini laptop. Apple is about a premium computing experience. A 7-10' laptop is a niche of a niche. The MacBook Air fills the ultraportable space.

I speculate that Apple WILL use nVidia chipsets and update the iPod nano to a very basic touch screen. BUT the nano is not allowed to download apps like the iPod Touch. Those 2 will be the product transition.

Could the people who mentioned they are going to investigate further please report back to this thread?

Jul 31, 08 - 12:41 pm Comment from: bobchr

@Synthmeister
Why would anyone outside of SONY offer blur-ay in a from factor that small. In anything smaller than a 30" diagonal screen does the average viewer really gain anything???

I want the BlueRay option in a Mac MIni (with HDMI 1.3) in my living room with my 42 inch 1080p LCD. (Not to mention the option of a BlueRay burner drive in the Mac Pro for end to end 1080p production!)

Now that the HD war is over, Apple should start making BR drives an option on most of their products. HD downloads are going to take a few more years to gain any traction. If Dell already has the price down to $250, think how cheap they will be for the Christmas season.

No I don't want a BR my 9 inch tablet. Sorry, I switched streams in the middle of the horse.

I think Blu-ray is dead. The "war" ended and nobody rushed to buy blu-ray. Doesn't that tell you something?

Apple is already anticipating a driveless, wireless only world. The MacBook air was the first step. Apple's only waiting until it's practical to take us all to the cloud (and to MobileMe).

Jul 31, 08 - 03:00 pm Comment from: Cubert

7-10 inches is mini?!?!?

Jul 31, 08 - 03:27 pm Comment from: shen

"Analysts say the mystery could be a refresh of Macintosh laptops, a new architecture for its PC line, a new mini-laptop or a completely new product"

no! are you serious?

the only thing they left out was the iPod! what a prediction!

"some time next week, something will happen. somewhere. seriously."

With 7" Mac, Apple will be moving into your car.

That thing would be hell to service…like the 12" PowerBook!
If Apple's engineers had to work as repair technicians for a month, all Apple's computers would be much easier to service.

newton name not on the cards but newton new name and product soon

"to introduce new products that initially cost more because they deliver an entirely new level of value to the customer".

I think this refers to the screen. It is the main "high price" component and comes down in price as the volumes go. For example, if Apple put a 1650x1080 LED lit screen in a 7-12 in notebook, it would be very expensive until volumes brought the price down.

Add to that a touch panel and you have the "new user experience" and the higher initial price.

All the rest of the computer components are pretty ho-hum. That can't be what is referred to.

I find it interesting, really.....
Fairings