“Apple continues to pound away on an ultra-thin portable designed to capture a slice of the growing sub-notebook market and boost sales in Japan,” Kasper Jade reports for AppleInsider.
“In what’s sure to be a warmly received move, people familiar with initiative tell AppleInsider that the Mac maker plans to go easy on our eyesight and is building the model around stunning, ultra-thin, 13-inch LED backlit display,” Jade reports.
Jade reports, “Here’s a summary of what we know and don’t know about the next-gen Apple sub-notebook.”
What we know:
• 13-inch ultra-thin, LED-back lit display
• No optical disc drive
• On-board NAND flash for faster application launching and boot times
• Built-in iSight webcam
• Thinner and lighter than existing MacBook offerings
• AirPort Extreme 802.11n enabled
• MagSafe power adapter
• Target launch late ’07, early ’08
What we don’t know:
• Precise Intel architecture (but appears to be Santa Rosa-based)
• Target price point
• RAM and HDD storage capacity and expandability
• I/O port breakdown
• Operating system software (appears to be Leopard)
• Expected battery life
• Enclosure makeup
Full article, including info on MacBook Pro, MacBook, and iMac updates, here.
Should be 12″ and include an optical drive in my opinion with a matt screen.
More fabrication from AppleOutsider.
I agree with Crackedbutt
er
“Should be 12″ and include an optical drive in my opinion with a matt screen.”
I love screens by Matt. He makes good ones.
We all know this is not accurate. here is the real report:
4x4x4 cubed device.
Side 1: holographic projector
Side 2: holographic multi touch interface
Side 3: USB & Power ports
Side 4: User replaceable Fuel Cell
Side 5: RFID sensor
Side 6: Ruber Feet (bottom)
“Should be 12″ and include an optical drive in my opinion with a matt screen.”
Those features are sooooo 90’s. Or something. Old anyway. Antique.
Widescreen is here to stay, hence 13″. Optical drive? Can’t make it ultra-slim with one. Matte screen? Oooooold. Why not use a CRT screen, LOL. Glossy screens look so much better.
I want it small enough to hold between my cheeks and operate with my ‘roids. Now that would be convenient.
Its form factor will be more like the iPhone than the MacBook. Touchscreen with virtual keyboard and wireless physical keyboard as an option. It will use all the touchscreen interface physics that the iPhone uses. Can’t wait!
as long as it is super tiny, syncs with my mini for optical drive stuff, and isn’t ultra pricey, i am interested.
if they want to use the iphone setup and remove the keyboard and keep it under $1000, hey that is ok with me.
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magicword “future”, as in “someday in the future scotty will say ‘a keyboard! how quaint!'”
No optical drive? That’s a pretty big deal-breaker feature. I don’t want to carry an external drive around too.
Memo:
From: Apple Insider COO
To: Apple Insider writers.
Please continue to publish more of the obvious with gross speculation. The mac zealots eat it up. They love reading trite predictions. We need your mindless articles to increase our ad revenue.
actually, an Apple patent already showed a bottom-mouting optical drive, so whatever they come out with witll have a superdrive.
it’s stupid that someone would think it wouldn’t. the only Mac portable without an optical drive, at this point, is the iPhone.
Much too difficult to load software w/out optical.
is it really a deal breaker to burn dvds and play dvds?
not for an ultra portable device it isnt.
this would be a computer with ultra portability in mind, i actually dont use my superdrive that much, yea I need one, but i usually use it mostly for backups, I could see someone using an external hardrive for backups and then not needing a superdrive.
Just think about how light and thin it could be.
It would be like carrying around a slightly heavy A4 pad with an ultra bright screen, rather than a laptop. Im sure for alot of people the weight savings would be a very acceptable payoff.
13″ ??? What the fsck?
11″ or 12″ would be more like. Especially if they wanna make it in Japan.
C’mon people! Obviously it has to have dual 3GHz Xeons, a collapsable 24″ display, dual blu-ray burners, GPS navigation, 10 hour battery, weigh 2.5 pounds, and be 5″ x 7″ x 1/2″.
12″ widescreen i meant.
I can’t understand why an extra inch is a deal breaker. The screen will be widescreen and probably have very little space from the screen and the edge.
Leaving out the optical drive makes sense. Who uses CDs for data sharing nowadays, with flash drives being so much easier to grad large files or email and networking to send files remotely. You can easily have an external drive that plugs in via USB2 when needing to install the OS and Apps.
Can you really tell me that you would rather have a thicker, heavier machine for want of an internal optical drive?
I switched out my PB G4 15″ ‘s optical drive with a HDD from MCE. I’ve got 240 Megs in that sucker and I don’t miss the optical drive at all. Battery life is fine. The external enclosure works great with the drive. VLC player makes DVDs work, and firewire lets me boot from the external if I need to. Besides the fact that they sent me the wrong d$%^ directions and I had to figure out installation myself it was worth it.
No optical drive….no sale.
It’s an 11″ screen that grows to a turgid 13″ after a series of slow to fast multi-touch strokes. This also ejects any media. The entire process generates heat and initial tests had the CPU smoking afterwards. Screens will be coated with a special lubrication to prevent this.
“I can’t understand why an extra inch is a deal breaker.”
Says, I’m not a woman.
Numlock has it right: Its form factor will be more like the iPhone than the MacBook. Touchscreen with virtual keyboard and wireless physical keyboard as an option. It will use all the touchscreen interface physics that the iPhone uses. Can’t wait!
That ridiculous design for an optical drive opening on the bottom of the case should be taken as a joke, guys and gals. I mean, could you seriously imagine? Weak. And Apple has patented making the notebook double as the optical drive’s case to try and save space, but I think that’s going no where also. So no optical drive. Want to watch a movie? One word: iTunes Store. Oh, OK two words. Need software updates? Wireless 802.11. Perhaps a basic system (like Apple Hardware Test + basic OS boot) could be on firmware-updateable ROM, so the device could be reset to factory spec quickly.
I predict no ethernet port either (and of course no modem). First, the plug is big, so the body of the device would have to be thick to accomodate. Same for FireWire: no go. And second, why use ethernet when we have 802.11 and bluetooth?
As numlock said, wireless keyboard is optional (and mouse or pen), because the main interface could be virtual.
@DogGone – right on!
@PlasticMD and other “no sales” – then go buy a MacBook. No big deal; that’s why there are several portable products in the lineup.
And then they’ll start proucing the Duodock again …
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Like here :
http://www.maccentre.com.au/appleads/PowerBook/apple-powerbook-duo-2-ad.mov
I meant “producing”
In order to differentiate this from the 13″ Macbook, it needs to be 10 or 11″, slimmer, but with a mini disc blueray and dual flash ram…one for the OS and apps and the other being removable for basic storage. Mini disc was an incredible technology, and I bet the whole music, laptop, and car industry wish they had adopted it 10 years ago. The hassles of CDs and DVDs are going down the spiral soon.
Funny, sometimes I cannot tell who is joking around here and who is not. LOL
Hey, this is Apple we are talking about here.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” /> If they decide to make an ultra portable, you can bet that they will have looked into what people use an ultra portable for.
“NO CD, no deal” Yea right, cause you want a Mac Pro function in an iPhone size case!!
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” /> For me, I am guessing that it will be designed with travel on the mind. You can take a cd/dvd usb unit if you want to, but the ultraportable will be designed to be very light on power. Hey, I think you ought to be able to buy a fold out solar panal to charge it, for use anywhere. Also, much flash ram inside to reduce power and speed operation from startup.
JMHO.
en
OK everyone. So what should Apple call it?
iBook?
ApplePad?
MacPad?
iPad?
MacBooklet?
MDN: “should” – I’m not even kidding!
To typhoon: Bottom mounting?!
apart from Buttcracker I don’t visualise anyone needing a bottom mounting notebook!!!:-)
Ultra-light portable?
For light days, you’ll want the Apple MiniPad.
OK, so Appleinsider doesn’t actually know anything about it.
I could have guessed that stuff myself…and may be wrong…
@ drmacnut
“OK everyone. So what should Apple call it?”
They should call it the MacBook Nano
I’m fine without optical drive; in fact prefer it without one if it makes it smaller, lighter, longer battery life, etc. You can always use an external one for installing software, but rest of time its just not required.
MDN Word: sense, like I am talking sense (in writing obviously)
I know I wouldn’t mind having a built-in CD/DVD drive, but I would expect an external to be included. Some nifty bonjour service to “borrow” a drive from another computer would be cool, too.
[edit] “I know I wouldn’t mind not having …”
(Note to self: proof-read better, you fool).
Somebody is kidding somebody. No way does a “sub-notebook” have a 13″ screen. No way.
unless its a 6 1/2 that folds out
eMax needs to change crack brands.
I’d be happy if they made the existing MacBooks lighter and thinner.
I have had several Compaq and Sony sub-3 lb subcompacts over the last 5 years. My old Compaq then Sony lacked any optical drive – which was more of a hassle than you would think. Loading software, using any software that requires a disk, such as a game or movie and backing up files was a pain. An external portable optical drive was a huge pain to purchase and carry. My latest Sony T-series is less than 3 lbs, has a DVD-RW internal drive, and EVERYTHING else you could want. I was hoping to replace my Sony with a Apple sub-notebook, but no optical drive is a huge disappointment. Any comments from people who do not think it is a problem are meaningless chatter since it is unlikely they ever really owned a similar laptop.
MacBook Nano is the winner, sold complete with an external SuperDrive for those times when you absolutely need one.
Maybe MacBook mini goes more in line with desktop Mac nomenclature?
Although I do think MacBook Nano sounds pretty cool.
RUMOUR: Somewhere deep in Cupertino’s HQ, ther lies hidden in a drawer from a cupboard locked in a secret room Apple’s mission statement.
In it, there is a line that says “Apple will produce electronic consumer goods based on rumours that gather a life of their own?”
“Apple will also count all the number of items requested and include in the item a spec that has the highest average request”.
“Apple will price the product according to Apple’s pricing policy”.
The RUMOUR concludes that Apple expects its customers to DREAM ON!
Ps. not to jay and all googlers out there, check this out. Watch the video if you can.
http://bbc.news.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6645895.stm
Don’t you just LOVE Google?
@ eMax, TT, TMF, C1 & anyone else interested, check this article out. It is well worth the read!
Sun tries to jump on iphone bandwagon with jphone.
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/RD/RDM.Tech.Q2.07/0ADA49EA-93A2-4960-BAAC-2257C9DBD32F.html
Enjoy!!:-)
“I have had several Compaq and Sony sub-3 lb subcompacts over the last 5 years. My old Compaq then Sony lacked any optical drive – which was more of a hassle than you would think. Loading software, using any software that requires a disk, such as a game or movie and backing up files was a pain. An external portable optical drive was a huge pain to purchase and carry. My latest Sony T-series is less than 3 lbs, has a DVD-RW internal drive, and EVERYTHING else you could want. I was hoping to replace my Sony with a Apple sub-notebook, but no optical drive is a huge disappointment. Any comments from people who do not think it is a problem are meaningless chatter since it is unlikely they ever really owned a similar laptop.”
Here’s some more “meaningless chatter” for ya… Your post is nonsense. I have a company issued Dell Notebook without a CD drive as does hundreds of others in my company. I’ve had it 2 years (due to be replaced this year) and have NEVER missed the drive at all…. The computer was imaged by IT with the OS and required software for my job before I got it… Any updates or new software that I need are simply download over the network.
This is real world business….. Maybe I’m wrong but somehow I doubt the ability to “play games” or “watch a movie” on a company computer is real important to my company. However, since I could be at any of 14 different sites at a days notice, a good small, lightweight, powerful notebook is important…
Sounds to me that the proposed “Macbook Light” (or whatever you want to call it) as described would be perfect for anyone in my situation.
Interesting article, Crabapple. Thanks.
@ eMax: Here is a link you will find interesting, it continues the last thread we were talking about. Have you read my last reply to you?
Is RIM immune to Apple’s iphone?
http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=199501260
My pleasure TMF, I thought you would be having some Z’s about now.
I am currently catching up with articles on that site, while this one is slow.
The real scoop
The new MacBooks are going to have cell phone integration.
Apple figures that after the iPhone debuts that the small screen and limited storage space won’t be enough for most. Then they plan to introduce the new cell phone integrated MacBooks.
But you can have an optical drive in a subnotebook under 3 lbs. If Sony can do it over two years ago, Apple should. The only difference between my Sony T-series hardware and a Mac is who made it. Regarding pure business users, most company-supplied notebooks are Windows-based and have defined functions related to work only. They supply the software, etc. Non-business users need flexibility. And business will unlikely be ordering expensive Apple subnotebooks in any meaningful numbers. I already have a Mac Pro Tower and a MacBook Pro 17″ laptop, but would like to replace my Sony subnotebook with a small Apple – hopefully most of the “rumors” are inaccurate.
@ Crabapple
Thanks for that link. They even included that stock chart that I love to look at so much. =)
Fair enough MK, … We’ll agree to disagree
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Actually I use a Intel Mac Mini and a G4 Digital Audio (Sonnet Upgraded) at home and have a G4 iBook as my personal machines.
You are correct, my company notebook is a Dell running Windows XP and all of our software is preloaded by IT with a standardized image file (basic image is the OS, MS Office, Lotus Notes, etc) and whatever special software the user needs (AutoCad, etc)…. Any updates that I need or additional software can be downloaded and installed directly off of the network…
Backing up is accomplished by saving my files to my own mapped drive on the network. At least in my case, I have no need for the optical drive, and because I travel a lot, have no desire to carry CDs around with me..
All of this said, My company does have a few Macs (not many) but the thought of replacing the Dell with a small Mac notebook is indeed exciting and an idea I’m going to push when my machine is due for replacement in July…
If this new “Macbook Mini” is out at that time, it sounds like the right machine for me…
Insideman… you rule. I can totally see it.
Thanks again, Crabapple, I’m suffering from Persistent Roughly Drafted Syndrome today. Once I start reading articles, and linked articles, and more history… I get hooked all day long. Good thing I remembered to go see my mom!
What to call it ?
Look at existing or past Apple products and there’s your answer.
MacBook mini or if they make a really tiny one, then the MacBook nano ( think iPhone features on a screen the size of a paperback book )
Personally, the number of times I use my optical drive is only when I have to install software or rip CDs which is becoming fewer and fewer. But having to connect a device every now and and then in exchange for lesser weight and longer battery life? Sign me up.
Maybe apple has some sort of high speed bluetooth or wireless, that transmits data from the bag, where the Super Drive is, to the computer.
And from the bag is where the external hard drive is…
I just had a thought…
Imagine an accessory optical device that sends info to the computer using WiFi! That could happen, eh? That would make sense of the whole “no optical drive” bit.
It could be a stand-alone reader/writer, which is barely bigger than a CD itself.
Damn… Blimp beat me to it! 😮
I hope apple will be doing a MATT SCREEN on ALL NEW MODELS!
Are apple only doing a matt option on the macbook pro just to make people pay the extra?? This is very annoying because I want a portable macbook with a matt screen and will just not be prepared to pay extra for something which is bigger than I need with a much larger price tag too.
I will either hold off buying until a macbook 13″ has a matt screen or I will save my money and look elsewhere!!!!
** Apple people……. are you listening? **