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Sep 30, 08 - 09:51 am Comment from: Jamie

I hope that the Apple Keyboard becomes a smooth Multi-Touch panel that adapts to each Application.

Imagine the end of 'Shortcut Keys', just a Multi-Touch screen that changes dynamically to suit whatever App you are running...

If Apple does create a product like this; It certainly won't have a hinge in the middle of the screen. I think you'd see a tablet(think larger iPhone) before you'd see a "book" shaped product.

While I am a huge Apple Fan I think this one is a little far fetched. They still haven't got the keyboard on my iphone sorted using contacts. I doubt this device would be part of the mix in the next few weeks. It is possible in time but there are many steps necessary before something like this is feasible. Even for Apple!

I think it looks amazing. I think it would be a revolution. I think kids growing up on those will wonder how we managed with only mousing menus (and keyboard shortcuts) for a whole generation before them. It will change computing forever.

If anyone can do this, Apple can. And Apple should. The question is when not if but when, and what will their version be like?

While I too am hoping for something like this to emerge, it has to be said that this article is just re-iterating the current rumours and speculating based on the OLPC future-concept mock-up images (which the author seems to really, really, like).

To those that think this is a good concept (the OLPC thing), I would ask one thing:

Why have the thing fold in the middle like a laptop that separates screen from keyboard, if the screen can be the keyboard and the keyboard can be the screen? One of the two halves of this machine is redundant by definition.

The only advantage is larger screen size which could also be achieved by, well ... making the screen larger. On the other hand there are numerous disadvantages to this arrangement, most notably the fact that cost of the second screen doubles the cost of the device.

The designers of this dual screen concept are thinking of the past, not the future. They are making the thing look like a laptop, only because they cannot conceive of a portable being useful if it doesn't.

No way. A product this revolutionary would never be just dropped into the market. Apple would devote a whole Macworld to it.

The "Brick" is probably an updated Mac mini; the computer Apple never talks about.

As the poster above said, aren't those the OLPC concept images?

Sep 30, 08 - 10:06 am Comment from: Dasgeek

While I would love to see an Apple Table or bigger iPhone, I think this should not be classified as a "rumor." It is more of a wish from the author. Rumors come from actual inside information or details.

Why is this listed as a rumor?

Jeremy,

The answer is you get half the space in your pocket when it's folded up. If it were one fixed flat screen, look at it -- that would not fit in your pocket.

Sep 30, 08 - 10:08 am Comment from: ElderNorm

Yea, I agree. In the future, you may see something like this. But we still have 5-10 years more of keyboards and screens.

Actually, I would like to see an iPhone / Touch connect with a 9 in diag screen and apple bluetooth keyboard so that you have a traveling computer in a box but its an iPhone too. Just a thought.

en

Wait, MDN, this isn't a "RUMOR", it's a "here's hoping".

Big difference!

Why not! When can I get 1 or 2?

Apple has all the key pieces and software developed. Just sort out what you need and it is another "Just one more thing"!

How's this for a rumor... with Apple having current AppleTV advertising and store displays destroyed, maybe the "Brick" is an AppleTV replacement.

An AppleTV Plus.

Sep 30, 08 - 10:20 am Comment from: Mr. Reeee

Cool concept.

I wonder how much something like this with TWO monitors would cost. Surely, it would need TWO Batteries as well, since displays are the biggest juice suckers on a laptop.

The thing would HAVE TO have Haptic feedback. There's no way one could touch type on a smooth glass keyboard like this thing has. Not that I can touch type... ;^)

Growl... I gotta agree the "Brick" is the next generation Mac mini. Since the TV is being taken OFF the shelves today, my crystal ball sees a hybrid Mac mini/TV.

Nope, the most plausable guess for "Brick" is a mini server

An Apple Table? I assumed that was a joke but I rather believe it wasn't. Apple curtains will do me as long as they blank out the windows.

Sep 30, 08 - 10:27 am Comment from: TheConfuzed1

I'm a fast typer. I can see my typing speed dramatically reduced, however, without a physical keyboard.

The touchscreen keyboard is great on my iPhone, because I'm not typing with all of my fingers.

Full screen keyboards are another case entirely.

Sep 30, 08 - 10:34 am Comment from: iJah420

I do not think it is such a stretch to ask for a 13" iPhone...

ie. 13" iTablet. I mean seriously AAPL has ALL of the pcs. to the puzzle to make this happen.

I say come on!!! how cool would it be to surf the web with a 13" touch screen. Third parties can design & develop all the add-ons. U know keyboards & what not..... I don't care if the thing is a bit thicker than the iPhone...

MSFT was working on that type of device like 2-3 years ago... REMEMBER..? Origami or some such windoze half baked hardware design. I feel MSFT could not pull it off because they are STUCK with that OS of theirs....

Boys & Girls Apple will wow us once again in the near future, lets all just be patient and let the others bumble thru their offerings & then..... when the time is right POW!!!!! another major blow to the PC industry will come from Jobs & Co.

Pray for Steve for we want his health to remain in good standing.

Thats all I have to say for now.

iJah420 believes greater things are yet to come from the great minds @ Apple Inc.

Would this run afoul of Nintendo al ah DS?

...of enjoying porn.

mmmmmm

Well number 1...put down that tablet, take the conn and go ahead one quarter impulse power....

No Captain, I know you want to play Dungeons and Dragons with it.....

Apple is soooo ahead of the curve

The "brick" is the trackpad.

Sep 30, 08 - 11:24 am Comment from: artfart

"The thing would HAVE TO have Haptic feedback. There's no way one could touch type on a smooth glass keyboard like this thing has. Not that I can touch type... ;^)"

Not saying this rumor is true but Apple has a patent on a Virtual "keyboard" that raises to the touch with tactile feedback.

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/10/26/apple_patent_hints_at_tactile_multi_touch_keyboard.html

Sep 30, 08 - 11:34 am Comment from: Anonymous©

Yep, the OLPC2 mockup is what I've been dreaming about. It's NOT the Brick, though.

Sep 30, 08 - 11:42 am Comment from: The Dude

that would be beyond "the shit". I really hope Apple has something like that coming out.... I think I could give up my Touch for that... or maybe just add it to the "i" family.

The Dude abides.

Sep 30, 08 - 11:54 am Comment from: NCIceman

I think one of the reasons the new apple keyboard has flat, chicklet-type keys is that Steve knows these things will eventually becomes small lcd displays themselves.

I have great hopes for a little device like this - I hope Apple does it.

I WANT THAT!!

Well, actually, I'm hoping that Apple can remove that very CLUMSY border in the middle of the two screens. I want them to use flexible display technology to either unite the two displays or just make one display that is fully or partially flexible.
And at the same time integtrate a highly advanced form of Multi-Touch.

GET IT DONE APPLE!!

Sep 30, 08 - 12:25 pm Comment from: British Mac Head

You know what,
This thing could be waterproof. I mean, there are ways to charge a device using proximity now so no need for a hole to plug in the power cable.

So with wifi and cooler processors, maybe heatsinks could suffice and you could then use it in the bath.

You heard it here first Apple

Putting EeePC to shame isn't hard. Hell the first clam shell iBook puts todays so-called ultra compact notebooks to shame.

It'd be nice to be the first to have the all screen portable, but I doubt it. Apple's resources are stretched a bit thin now, but most importantly, Jobs wouldn't let it fly unless it's 'insanely great'. Apple isn't about being the '1st', just the best. You can be sure that when something like it does come out, it'll put the other 'firsts' to shame.

Sep 30, 08 - 12:45 pm Comment from: Macromancer

This is the way I just read this headline:

RUMOR: Macromancer's next Apple purchase to be Apple’s ‘Brick’, the first all-screen Multi-Touch™ notebook?

That is one sweet, hot, mother-loving piece of technology. Should Apple release a tablet as tartar-inducing-candy such as this, the techworld would tremble.

As thus the iPod halo effect, even the iPhone aftermath. That lovely piece of microchips and circuitry would pave the way for innovative human creations.

On a side note, Wonder if it comes with a stylus? Like a
Wacom. If it does, I could skip the Intuos altogether.

Anyone hiring for a writer by the way?

There has not been any announcement yet about this "event," let alone this "brick." THERE WILL BE NO BRICK this year. The event may or may not happen, but this is NOT a good time to release a ground braking product that the competition will not be able to match.

If they do stock prices will fall even further and the stock pile of cash will dry up. Now is NOT the time to spend. It is time to sit back, weather the storm and hit innovation hard in 2009.

Sep 30, 08 - 01:41 pm Comment from: iJah420

Re. Not going to happen.

Bingo!

@Not going to happen

Yeah, all kidding aside I don't expect the Apple wonderbook to hit until MacWorld 09.
The "brick" of the October event is probably an uber Mac Mini pro version.

Not sure if Apple have the balls these days to do something totally radical like this.

This is not going to happen anytime soon for one simple reason. It's the software, stupid.

Mac OS X Leopard and Snow Leopard are both designed to use a keyboard and mouse. iPhone OS is designed for a 640x480 screen. Apple would have design an entire new UI for this device, and third party developers would have to make software as well. Do not expect a change like this until Mac OS X 10.7.

If Apple threw Leopard on a device like that, it would be fugly and hard to use like the Windows tablets now. No, this is not how apple does things. If they release a touch laptop, they are going to do it right, and that would require a new OS and SDK.

@Checkmate

Who says Apple hasn't considered all the factors and have indeed worked on whats necessary to achieve this? And if you haven't noticed, Steve doesn't seem to bend at the whims of the developers. If Steve comes out with a product and developers are forced to start from scratch or add to their workload then tough!
The developers will say "Thank you sir can I have another" and tolerate the treatment because they know sticking with Apple is going to be profitable for them.

well, jeremy, and hoping that not many of the comments following yours have addressed this point, i rather prefer to have my typing surface horizontal and my viewing surface vertical. unless you have a way for your single screen to be simultaneously vertical & horizontal, don't allow your "redundant by definition" argument to hit itself in the rear on the way out the door. thanks for playing!

Hmm this looks like brass board concept . Notice that the placement of the models hands are in the same identical places on the two bottom images. The images you see above are not of a working model. They might exist, but the ones above are not.

Be suspicious about this.

Typing ... typing, why bother?

I say deep six the whole typing issue, that's so yesterday, I just want a fast and flawless voice input.