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It looks crap, like something Dell would design.

Jan 03, 08 - 09:07 am Comment from: Ampar

If you look closely, you can see a water ring and the lounge logo on that cocktail napkin.

Jan 03, 08 - 09:07 am Comment from: HotinPlaya

Fantastic idea,

So, now: this looks very INNOVATIVE and REVOLUTIONNARY! This is a genius idea and has never been done this way before! More than enough reasons to have Apple bringing out this thing quite soon!!!

Jan 03, 08 - 09:10 am Comment from: TowerTone

"That's funny stuff..."

Can you say 20" ultra portable? or will they revive the 17"??? Looks interesting to say the least!

Jan 03, 08 - 09:13 am Comment from: Ampar

Maybe it's a pizza warmer.

Jan 03, 08 - 09:15 am Comment from: Ampar

If you dock it several hundred times within a few minutes, it'll spit out an iPod nano in a few months.

Jan 03, 08 - 09:15 am Comment from: deepdish

would of been great in the 90's

Jan 03, 08 - 09:21 am Comment from: ChrissyOne

Did Charlie Brown draw this?

I have no personal knowledge of such things, but -- are U.S. Patent applications normally hand-drawn, complete with cute little Apple logos in place? Aren't real patent applications more conceptual and purposefully not made to look exacdtly like current products, right down to the shape of the base? Suspicious at best..

It's called Toast Titanium.

Jan 03, 08 - 09:24 am Comment from: dd

This is docking done right. I have used a few docking stations for work and they are in the way. Turning an ultra-portable into an "iMac" is a great way to be able to simply use it as a computer without a million wires coming out of the dock.

iMac sold separately™

What the crap? this looks like some kid was asked to invent something in school and they patented it.

Jan 03, 08 - 09:28 am Comment from: lurker

Looks unlikely as an Apple product. An ultraportable would have a max of about 13" diagonal measurement. Anything larger defeats the purpose. Apple wouldn't waste the desk space for something less than half the viewing area of their smallest current desktop offering.

They had another patent awhile back using a base with a magnetic coupling to charge a portable device in sort of a cradle. If this device were also a hub and the location of a large hard drive and a superdrive, I think it is the more likely configuration of an Apple docking station.

This patent is clearly meant to give design direction to Dell and HP.

Jan 03, 08 - 09:33 am Comment from: Ampar

Maybe it was drawn by one of Jonathan Ive's twin children?

You kill me!!!

They KIND OF did this in the 90s with the PowerBook Duo line. So if this comes to fruition then it is kind of back to the future I guess.

Jan 03, 08 - 09:42 am Comment from: Ampar

I want my iMac to gasp and scream "OH MY GOD!" if I have to shove something inside it.

Jan 03, 08 - 09:44 am Comment from: Ampar

Number 112 on the patent illustration is the new lubrication port.

Gizmodo has it wrong. This is not for a Macbook. The Apple logo on the slide-in part confused them.

Read the description! The dock is just a "shell" that a slate computer slides into: it's like an iMac with no innards: you slide it in and use the screen of the tablet, but have all the ports you need.

This implies a (maybe) 17" widescreen tablet Mac, but with no keyboard and presumably a multi-touch screen.

Genius.

Jan 03, 08 - 09:45 am Comment from: AlanAudio

There are two drawbacks that I see with this idea. One is that the screen of the docked computer is no longer visible, the other is that most of the things you might dock a computer for can already be done wirelessly.

Even though the screen on the docked Mac is small, it's still useful to have that additional display area available for menus and other windows.

As far as wireless is concerned, one of the things I love about AirDisk is that in many ways it feels like my PowerBook is docked, even though it's in a different room. BlueTooth keyboards already talk to Macs wirelessly, the network access and storage can be wireless, all that's needed is to drive an external display wirelessly and then you don't need to physically dock the unit. It would only need a cable to supply power.

Three or more years ago, this would have been a nice idea, but unless I'm missing something important, we shouldn't really need to physically dock computers any more..

Jan 03, 08 - 09:46 am Comment from: hagar57

If the new subnotebook is sans optical drive (as rumoured), then the drawing shows a MacBook since one can clearly see the slot-in drive.
I think it's a neat idea. I always hook up a 20" cinema display to my MacBookPro when I am at my workplace. To simply slide the MacBook into the dock/screen combo would make for a clutter-free work space. The only problem I see is compatibility with former and future notebooks. If they can come up with adapters for different models, they may have something neat. Even a 15" MBP would fit easily into the housing of a 24" display/dock.

Perhaps that Dougless was right.
Maybe the sub-notebook is not a folding notebook.
A slate... just a monitor.

OMG... imagine this is why the 17" iMac was discontinued.

The NEW "MacSlate" DOCKS right into the 17" housing.
But wait - I thought the shipment of LCD displays for the sub-notebook were only 13.3". That would be a SUCKY desktop environment... SO WHY the hell do I want to dock the device.

Hmmmmmm

Because the sub-notebook is 17"?
Hmmmm, maybe the sub-notebook is 15"?

Ok - maybe I want to dock the sub-notebook so I can use it as a regular computer, or transfer the data, backups, etc.

Ahhhhhh - maybe BY DOCKING a sub-notebook the UE is no longer MUTI-TOUCH once inside the iMac enclosure. That could be cool.

OMG - then the MacSlate is really ALL MUTI-TOUCH...

hurray - I hope this is true!!!!

I got to hope this MacSlate is a slate-like machine using multi-touch.

No KeyBoard. No Mouse.
But with WIFI expandable HD.
Maybe WIFI enabled DVD or CD...

The OPTICAL drive could possible be for installing the OS.

But... as a ultra-slim cool Apple device... bridging Laptops to iPhones... I think one would have no need for any internal device spinning.

And this maybe why the Dock would have purpose.

HOWEVER, imagine having a lovely this device with a lovely multi-touch user interface; using it all day; then coming home to dock it into this small iMac Desktop station. And NO LONGER BEING ABLE to Multi-Touch with it while in the DOCKed machine.

NO - I am not liking this DOCKability. Ewwwwwww. No no no.

Got to have better reason then to turn my sub-notebook into a regular computer. But what would that be?


w8nc

Jan 03, 08 - 09:50 am Comment from: qka

At least this way we might get some ports on the side where they can be reached, unlike the current iMac with the ports on the rear, where they cannot be easily reached!

Does anyone at Apple use USB Flash drives????

Please, somebody take Ampar's batteries out!

@Leibie: you are incorrect. Apple's patents are usually hand-drawn like this. All the iPhone multi-touch ones were.

This looks awesome.

I need desk-space, and might I add that if that were to come out, apple can earn my $3k or what ever it might cost.

I think it's a great idea, provided, that it still provides the option to have the portable computer on the outside with extended display mode.

Just my 2 cents but I say NO. If you want to dock something, use a cable and set it on the side, back or what ever. Hey there is an idea, make a clip so the ultra portable sits on the back of the iMac stand. A fire wire connector allows the two computers to become one. Auto sync, NO cooling problems and you have a functional desk top for the folks at home and a portable for those on the go.

Now that idea I like. HEY, wait until I patent it. Stop, its mine, you heard it here first, I have witnesses. ..... right?

en

en

This HAS been done before... the Powerbook Duo line, back in the early 90's. I've got one in "storage" someplace. LOL

http://lowendmac.com/misc/mr07/0904.html

As a sales guy/road warrior, I used a PowerBook Duo 230 for 3-4 years and had a Duodock with a 13" Hi Res Apple display and extra hard drive, and floppy back at the office. It was a brilliant tool and offered the best of both worlds - desktop and performance laptop. I even named my hard drive BoBW.

Today, I use a PowerBook G4 on the road, a 20" iMac in the office and for trade shows and occasionally, a POS HP laptop when a client MUST have the demo done on a Windows machine.

The current plan is to replace all three with a new Mac Book Pro, with Fusion and Win XPPro and a 23" Cinema Display.

If this is real and imminent, an ultraportable and a 24" iMac-like dock would be brilliant.

In fact, I think our entire sales force would be in line for this type of combo!

http://gizmodo.com/339918/apple-docking-patent-works-perfectly-with-ultra+slim-macbook

Gizmo displays a 24" iMac with 10" Slate - slidiing into the side of it. That would mean that all iMacs would then be updated to have a new SLOT loading SLATE adaptor... increasing the THICKNESS of the iMACs.

Plus, I have this lovely SLATE device and I am going to insert it into a iMAC? Like I need to buy that too - ouch man! Furthermore, according to Gizmo I turn the SLATE device about fave and it's MONTIOR screen is useless.

In the hand drawn Apple sketch I envisioned a iMAC frame.
A housing unit. When the Slate device is inserted the SAME screen is used. Connecting these two devices made it like the iMAC.

Seems like an interesting idea, but it's a very expensive solution for a simple dock. I'm sure very few people would buy one.

"If you look closely, you can see a water ring and the lounge logo on that cocktail napkin."

Ampar that coctail ring isn't on the napkin. You forgot to clean your Microsoft Surface touch screen table again.

Allow the hookup of a second display and the the thing rocks. The current 17 only allows one additional display, making for an odd setup if you're doing graphics. This alludes to a tablet in the near future, similar to an iPhone, useless at the office, but efficient when traveling. Wow! Hope it's announced on the 15th, and in stock.

Jan 03, 08 - 10:22 am Comment from: Mr. Reeee

For people who can't read drawings like this:

The iMac Shell would house a large monitor, optical drive, possibly a hard drive, speakers, ports (as shown #115).
The portable would carry the main processor (CPU), video circuitry to drive the Shell's Monitor and the usual array of ports.

So, when the portable slides into the shell, it activates the main monitor, ports, etc., but disables it's own internal monitor.

I think the trickiest part of this is developing some way to align and seat the ports when then portable is docked. The old MacDuo was like a giant VCR, sucking the Mac inside and making all the connections, but it used a special multi-port on the rear of the Duo.

I used to have a plastic docking station from Newer Technology (I think) that locked my PowerBook G4 in place. It was kind of cheap looking and clunky, but worked pretty well.

Certainly, if this iMac Shell concept is true, Jonathan Ive has cooked up some graceful and effective way to easily make all the connections. It looks like a great idea.

If it connects the same way the Mag-safe adapter does, then TRASH it! It's a shame that I cannot use my awesome Macbook because the stupid power adaper connections won't line up. I can't even charge my iPod. Ugh! What a great design on paper that bombed in the real world...it was a was of design time. Any old power adapter should work.
I call for a recall.

Jan 03, 08 - 10:26 am Comment from: ChrissyOne

Can you imagine a beowulf cluster of these?

{sry, couldn't resist}

I see no point in this design. Just plug a display into your macbook and you are done. I call fake.

Jan 03, 08 - 10:30 am Comment from: Malthus

I am drooling over this because it could really fill my needs. Small and light portable for doing all the rough work on the road, then slip it into a nice 24" or 30" monitor to do the fine detail back at the office. Build in a 500G or 1T hard drive and I'm all over it like a cheap suit...

If you read the Patent more closely there are a few more hints at what this could possibly be... That is if this is real of course...!

Power to the Dock/Display can come from the laptop.
The base to the Dock/Display is removable.
Heavy use of Wireless (including an Apple specific flavour) is made use of throughout.

What have we got?

We have a large slate computer for use in the home that uses an ultra slim removable laptop that can travel with you when you are on the move.

IF this is not a hoax and it comes to market then I predict this will be "the next big thing" for 2008.

I can really see how this fit in with all the rumours of a tablet and an ultra portable. I love the idea of lounging on the couch with this thing playing movies or surfing the net.

Dont make me laugh SlimJim... Dell would not have imagination or the engineering expertise to bring this to market.

It is also the perfect size to slip in toast or a frozen pizza to warm up.

I don't want to be the engineer working on this. It seems that heat would be trapped by enclosing the whole portable unless they use materials that conduct heat well and place several fans inside the dock. Liquid cooling system might be needed judging from the thickness of the display.

ChrissyOne: in Soviet Russia, the ultra-portable Mac slides into YOU! (Sorry, couldn't resist either.)

This would actually make a lot of sense: people nowadays buy more laptops than desktops. Still, they like to use desktops at home, as indicated by the popularity of external mice and keyboards with laptops used at home. At the same time, they want to take their computer with them, which is indicated by the popularity of laptops.

This thingy would turn laptops into full-blown desktops when used at home. Genius!

I wonder if it'll fit my old PB Duo...

LONG LIVE THE POWERBOOK DUO!

What's a Powerbook Duo?

Hey, if this thing comes in at under $2k, it would be great for businesses. The laptop charges while docked. The dock unit/monitor has a built-in hard drive that acts as your Time Machine backup. The dock has a built-in Blu-Ray optical drive/burner that is not built-in to the Ultra-Portable.

Interesting concept as the ultra-portable could slide into the existing iMac housing - meaning, you wouldn't be stuck with a 10" thick monitor but retain the sleek looking iMac form for the desktop.

As notebooks are set to replace desktops in sales this year, it is a great way to give people both.

Somehow though, the Ultra Portable won't have a separate graphics processor meaning 3D games are out of the question. It's the only reason I use Windows now on my MBP - for games.

Having said that, I still miss my 12" PB. What a great little machine.

Besides, people would need a docking station at work and another at home. Couples could share the docking station at home as well. Apple could make a tidy profit on something practical and easy to use. Much like the rest of their products.

Good grief. Can nobody read anymore.

READ THE ABSTRACT. LOOK AT THE DRAWINGS.

Disregard what Gizmodo is saying- they can't read either.

"The docking station includes a display and a housing *configured to hold the display in a manner that exposes a viewing surface* of the display to view."

This is not 2 computers- that would be ridiculous. It is a slate computer - the "display" that comes with an aluminum shell - a "housing" that is really only designed to hold the slate's display at the right angle. The ports are on the *bottom of the slate*- the drawing shows an aluminum holder with cutouts for the slate's display and ports.

Think of the aluminum cases you can get for the iPod nano- this is just a large "case" for a slate Mac- with the same cutouts to use the connections.

It ain't that hard, folks.