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Apple Docking Patent Works Great with Ultra-Slim MacBook PIC

gizmodo.com — "This Apple docking station patent shows a screen base in which you can slide in a MacBook through its side. While this would be difficult to do with current MacBooks, it fits perfectly with the idea of the ultra-light, ultra-slim MacBook that allegedly will be presented at MacWorld." The images and description looks quite cool.

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yokozuka 334 days ago, made popular 334 days ago

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190 Comments
Who Dugg It?

bdthurston26, on 01/03/2008, -6/+35Looks like an awesome idea! But my biggest concern would be price. Guess I'm a fan-boy, but I would have a hard time spending the money on what might be the equivalent of 2 computers. The dock would have to be considerably cheaper to get me to consider the extra expense.
- darkphan, on 01/03/2008, -3/+43The dock is just a fancy cinema display with a build in docking station for the ultra-slim macbook or whatever ... not a full fledged computer. So this would not be the equivalent of two machines.
  - esmaeelp, on 01/03/2008, -2/+5the price might
  - robbh66, on 01/03/2008, -2/+7"Not the same as two machines"
    
    Have you seen the prices on Apple's Cinema displays?
- bbardlbradd, on 01/03/2008, -9/+2Some people buy cinema displays for their notebooks, I would imagine it would be slightly cheaper than a cinema display...
- monospaced, on 01/03/2008, -1/+7Since the new ultra-slim MacBook (allegedly, of course) has a limited hard drive space, this docking station may include a hard drive in the extra space. In the end though, it almost seems pointless to dock a MacBook and not utilize its screen. It would be much nicer to simply plug it in to this "docking station" and use two monitors. Just my two cents.
- fishbert, on 01/03/2008, -9/+2No, it's a stupid idea.
  All you end up with is a thicker iMac that may tend to tip over if nudged the right way.
  
  This patent does not improve upon the simple docking cable (or even a wireless docking solution), so it will go nowhere.
- Rileyper, on 01/03/2008, -2/+8heres a concern...No Airflow
  - mrdoogee, on 01/03/2008, -1/+1Exactly what I was thinking. My MacBook gets going like a leafblower sometimes when I'm running graphically intensive apps. Where does that air come from inside that dock?
    - danielwsmithee, on 01/03/2008, -0/+6A direct metallic connection can sink heat much faster then airflow through a heat sink. They could easily incorporate a "heat pipe" in the connector or use the aluminum chassis as a heat pipe to the docking station.
  - griz, on 01/04/2008, -0/+1Here's a thought...Apple has Engineers.
- sa7ouri, on 01/03/2008, -1/+1My guess is that the laptop is not a laptop at all. It is probably just a thin client.
  If so, that would be AWESOME!!!
  
  I don't own any apple products (that's correct, no ipods) but if that's a dockable thin client, then I'll be all over it!
Ireland, on 01/03/2008, -18/+5Now here's a patent that definitely wont see the light of day. Here's to the most overly-engineered idea ever conceived!!
- FoxOrian, on 01/03/2008, -0/+6It's an idea nonetheless. Would you rather people stop trying all together?
- griz, on 01/04/2008, -0/+1Right, and so was a portable MP3 player.
Trax91, on 01/03/2008, -0/+121As we all know, Apple patents any damn thing that comes into mind and never realize it.
- PaulPinfield, on 01/03/2008, -9/+1Too many bright guys, with too much time to kill? Must be under employed.
  - combatchuck, on 01/03/2008, -0/+11Unless, of course, it's their JOB to think up crazy *****.
    - PaulPinfield, on 01/03/2008, -4/+2Doh!
- Chirp08, on 01/03/2008, -2/+13yeah man, what was that crazy ***** about a touch screen interface for a media playing device, wtf were they thinking, total waste of time.
  As I recall Microsoft is the leader in patents per year, in the industry you need to patent to succeed.
- uptown, on 01/04/2008, -1/+2It's probably just a bunch of Apple designers sitting around trying to get their drawings up on Engadget & Gizmodo.....
bradspry, on 01/03/2008, -2/+55The drawings look odd; Apple has at least used a ruler in past applications to draw a straight line. But other than that, I think it's the most elegant docking station ever devised.
- jakem1, on 01/03/2008, -2/+3I'm not sure if elegant is the right word. It could be quite awkward to use, especially if it was up on a desk and you had to slide the laptop in around the back.
  
  I quite like the idea but I think it needs a bit more thought.
  - angusware, on 01/03/2008, -1/+2you have your screen at a 90 degree angle to the wall?
- monospaced, on 01/03/2008, -0/+3I agree. I can pretty much guarantee Apple has line art of their iMacs that they could use in lieu of pencil drawings. Also, the docking station doesn't seem elegant enough and looks prone to scratching both units when inserting the MacBook.
- boyasunder, on 01/03/2008, -0/+3The patent office allows you to submit formal drawings later, as long as they don't add new matter that wasn't in the original filing. Sometimes, when a patent attorney is pressed for time, he/she just slops down enough to make it clear w/o being beautiful, and plans to correct it later, rather than pay a draftsman crazy extra fees for a rush job. These amendments don't always make it into the published application as well. So you end up with an application that looks like it was drawn by an elementary school kid.
- jaypeg, on 01/03/2008, -0/+6The drawings are done by a pro and are intentionally made to look crude and casual. They attempt to convey the notion that this is a hot, fresh, new idea--like it has just been freshly sketched on a napkin at a brainstorming session. They're also supposed to make the idea look unfinished, nascent, like this is the first time it's ever been thought of.
  
  The boys and girls at Apple know what they're doing.
- joegibes, on 01/03/2008, -0/+1"Elegant" would mean that the dock doesn't even require physical interaction-- just plop your Macbook down nearby and possibly press a button (it should be automatic though) and you could use the docking station seamlessly.
Sarki, on 01/03/2008, -12/+4I love how this fake news of a non-existent product is "breaking news" at Gizmodo. Can I break more news if I dream up new ways to overanalyze Apple patents?
- FunkyWitDaSysTm, on 01/03/2008, -3/+1duh
- arbulus, on 01/03/2008, -4/+1I ***** hate gizmodo. These fake news, non-products, lies, and concocted rumors are there just to get page his.
  All the Apple rumor sites are just like John Dvorak: say exactly whatever it is that you think the Apple community does or does not want to hear and you'll drive masses of page hits, thus driving up ad revenue, all based on lies.
- adminmatt, on 01/03/2008, -1/+4how is this fake news? it IS news. and its not over analyzing, they're describing the patent as they see it.
  
  do you try to be a troll? or does it just come naturally?
jun2san, on 01/03/2008, -1/+19Question. If the ultra-portable mac doesn't come with an attached optical drive, does that mean this docking station will have one?

If it doesn't, it should.
- dan8302, on 01/03/2008, -2/+5if you look at the drawings the ultra-portable does have an optical drive
  - jun2san, on 01/03/2008, -3/+3I noticed that also but there are other reports saying that the ultra-portable will ship with an external optical drive to cut down on the footprint size. If that's the case then I think this dock should have an internal optical drive. I guess we'll have to wait and see since everything is just rumor and speculation.
    - niczar, on 01/03/2008, -1/+4I don't know if they will, but they certainly should strip the damn CD drive off; I use mine once every other month. I could live without, my desktop has one or I could use an external unit.
  - combatchuck, on 01/03/2008, -1/+3I'd rather it didn't have an optical drive, more room for goodies. Keep the optical on the base, like other ultraportables.
Narcism, on 01/03/2008, -0/+37Looks like something scribbled on a napkin.
- chronichyjinx, on 01/03/2008, -0/+28Those are always the best ideas...
pzwhite125, on 01/03/2008, -9/+1131. Get tiny nonexistent Mac.
2. Hollow out iMac.
3. ???
4. iProfit.
- themoose, on 01/03/2008, -2/+263. Stick Apple badge on it.
  - widgetmaker, on 01/04/2008, -2/+3Sell for twice what it is worth.
- highPhone, on 01/03/2008, -8/+131. Take generic list format
  2. Add comments related to the article
  3. ???
  4. Get dugg up.
  - ChromaVita, on 01/03/2008, -7/+5didn't work out so well for you did it?
    - overkilpro, on 01/03/2008, -3/+0of course it didn't work for him. he forgot the magic word, Profit!
  - jdpalite, on 01/03/2008, -1/+5I don't think he gets it
  - lifeofthunder, on 01/03/2008, -0/+5This is actually what is known as an internet cliché. It has been around since at least 2001, and who knows where it originally started. I can't find an etymology of it anywhere, but it probably came out of Fark. Don't believe that this is a widespread phenomenon? Search Google for "2. ??? 3. Profit" or variants therein.
    - pzwhite125, on 01/03/2008, -0/+7I know most people relate it to South Park, though Fark or something similar is a plausible theory if it didn't originate there.
    - stvspl, on 01/03/2008, -3/+1google can't recognize question marks.
SteveTheSultan, on 01/03/2008, -16/+3Great. HP has a docking station too. Lets go look at that
- noahhoward, on 01/03/2008, -0/+10Tell me something, if you didn't want to read about a speculated Apple docking station, why did you click the article?
  
  People think Apple is coming out with a new ultra portable, these people seem to think this is evidence of that. That is not the same as pulling up a patent for an existing product.
- PaulPinfield, on 01/03/2008, -0/+3MMM... Not quite the same...
  
  http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF06c/A10- ...
ajchavar, on 01/03/2008, -12/+2No.
TwistedSilver, on 01/03/2008, -11/+1...yay?...

I have a very odd feeling that this is just some gag.
SirBotchness, on 01/03/2008, -15/+7That looks stupid.
Takuro, on 01/03/2008, -5/+15It'll never be made. Reason: Aesthetic purposes. The iMac that Jobs tried so very hard to keep continuous and smooth will never have a giant, gaping port in its side. Too goofy. Too un-Apple.
- Genady, on 01/03/2008, -1/+5Check the DuoDock. It'd have a 'garage door', probably along the lines of the MacPro's optical drives.
- node3, on 01/03/2008, -1/+6One things I've learned when considering Apple is to never assume they won't do something.
  
  Keeping that in mind, your assessment is flawed in one respect: you're assuming this can't be made to be aesthetically pleasing. I don't see why a metal flap (similar to the drive bay doors on the Mac Pro) couldn't be devised to take care of this. I think something perfectly flush with the exterior would look quite nice.
  
  But, seriously, Apple wold *never* port iTunes to Windows, switch to Intel chips, support running Windows on a Mac...
  - Qumahlin, on 01/04/2008, -1/+1now now, the last references are a bit harsh. The only people who didn't think they would switch to intel chips was AMD...Everyone else in the industry knew it the moment motorola told them they were a 2nd rate customer compared to Sony and wouldn't get development priority.
jamend, on 01/03/2008, -2/+11MacBook Duo?
- Genady, on 01/03/2008, -1/+4I'd SO buy one. Duo was the most portable lappy I've ever used. I loved mine back in the day.
ZomZom, on 01/03/2008, -3/+1There's no need to patent this as it's just the Duo (mentioned in the article) in a different form factor. Apple uses the patent system to generate free publicity IMHO.
- shernshiou, on 01/03/2008, -0/+3patent aint free dude
- peranadigital, on 01/04/2008, -0/+1In Australia a patent is $70,000. I think there are cheaper advertising methods.
Packgrog, on 01/03/2008, -4/+7Apple made a docking station that fully-encapsulated an ultra-portable Powerbook back in '92 or '93. Didn't sell for sh*t. It wasn't a great idea then, and it's probably an even worse idea now. I'm all for reduced clutter, but this idea seems like it has too many potential problems to ever see the light of day.
- Genady, on 01/03/2008, -1/+11Odd, I worked on a bajillion of them at a fortune 100 company. Having a graphics card in the dock with more nuts than the laptop would be enough to sell me. Run around town with a little machine and dock it when I get home to play WoW.
  - Packgrog, on 01/03/2008, -3/+3We're both talking about this, right? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PowerBook_Duo
    
    Funny, didn't seem to me like it was much of a seller, but I was in high school & college at the time these were on the market, so I never saw one in the flesh. I just assumed that they didn't sell, otherwise we might still see docking stations that encased the laptop. Of course, modern laptops produce so much heat that this would probably be a terrible idea anyway.
    
    Now, the idea of being able to hook up to an external video processor... THAT'S an idea that hasn't seen enough development. Imagine being able to connect an SLI box to a Mac Mini! *drools*
logicalnoise, on 01/03/2008, -2/+18the biggest problem with this is heat. You've got a very small Laptop which would need very efficient cooling system in a big LCD display(which gives off more heat than the mac).
- jhuebel, on 01/03/2008, -0/+7Or the air could be ducted through the back of the "docking station" to the intake and exhaust on the laptop. It would be simple enough to do. It's more of a design issue than a technical problem.
- antitab, on 01/03/2008, -1/+1Yeah, this is a bad idea. I used to use my MacBook with an external monitor and the lid closed. Wound up with a heat-damaged (and dusty) screen pretty quickly. Unless they revise the vents on MacBooks, which currently push air towards the screen, this isn't going to fly.
- jdpalite, on 01/03/2008, -1/+1Heat is certainly an issue but who knows what's inside the rest of that case. A liquid-cooled system could be designed to efficiently wick the heat away. There may be vents and fans on the rear of the "dock". Also, I don't think they would consider this dock to be an afterthought - docking capabilities should have been one of the key requirements for the new MB design. In other words, I'm sure there is a solution.
- fuzzmeister, on 01/04/2008, -0/+1If they can do it with the iMac, I bet they could do it with an iMac-shaped docking station.
JacksonDane, on 01/03/2008, -2/+13It 'Works Great'? Ummm.... how do we know that?
The obvious issue to me is cooling
- Qumahlin, on 01/04/2008, -1/+1Did you read the patent text? There is mention of part of the docking station needing to consist of "heat conducive" material
VicTheKnife, on 01/03/2008, -2/+3This seems like a cool idea. I'm sure they've thought of it, but I wonder how they are going to keep that thing from overheating in such a small compact area like that.
DirkBelig, on 01/03/2008, -10/+1F to the AKE!!!

I could draw cleaning technical drawings with my left foot than are in the "patent application".
- yokozuka, on 01/03/2008, -0/+3RTA and click on the USPTO link. It's real.
- dynamojoe, on 01/03/2008, -0/+3If it's fake, they went a looong way to fake it. This item shows up on the uspto.gov website in their searchable publications. The patent application was originally filed 3 July 2006.
  
  It may be a fake, as you say, but I don't know why the patent office would go along with this clever ruse ;)
generalzod1, on 01/03/2008, -6/+1I see how you did that
joncarr, on 01/03/2008, -0/+6It's no fake. Look up the application at http://www.uspto.gov/ (search for application # 11/481,153)
dogearedboy, on 01/03/2008, -3/+8Yeah, let's just tuck that beautiful little LCD display away inside another one. No way. Even if one is only 12" I'd still like to use it a a secondary display.
- jhuebel, on 01/03/2008, -0/+2Well, the Cinema Display would have a considerably higher resolution, so you wouldn't really be giving up much by not having access to the ultra-portable's display. On the other hand, I do like multiple displays myself so I understand where you're coming from.
- bigsteve, on 01/03/2008, -2/+2Yea really. The Cinema Displays have USB and Firewire ports, and can act as hubs. So that leaves me with three things to plug in, mini-DVI, USB, and power, and for it, I end up with two screens instead of just one.
badwithcomputer, on 01/03/2008, -5/+4this is such a great idea- you have a dedicated desktop and then a very portable mobile unit that's effortless to synch whenever you come home. even if you don't like steve job's pricing/design/whatever...you've got to give it up for his overall simplistic philosophy that seems to mimic what the user wants from his/her computing experience.
- jhuebel, on 01/03/2008, -2/+4I don't think there's any "syncing" involved. This is a glorified docking station, albeit a beautiful one.
  - Qumahlin, on 01/04/2008, -0/+3Did you read all of the patent text? Or just look at the picture? I think I already know the answer to this one
    - badwithcomputer, on 01/04/2008, -0/+1i...can't read.
mlvassallo, on 01/03/2008, -0/+40My little sister drew those diagrams for Apple.
Genady, on 01/03/2008, -0/+7Duo08. I'm lovin' it. Granted... my first laptop ever was a Duo 230, loved that thing, even though I didn't have a Dock it was a great little machine, talk about portable. If Apple is finally bowing to demand for dockable laptops I'm happier.
- ninjasays, on 01/03/2008, -0/+4I had a duo in high school, thought that the 78 meg hd it had was huge! My father had the dock in his office and I had the mini dock that I carried everywhere with me. Boy didn't I think I was 1337 with my laptop and 14.4 modem!
  
  In retrospect, I was a poser who had no hacking abilities.
  - combatchuck, on 01/03/2008, -0/+2You should've upgraded to the twenty eight point eight BPS modem and tripled the RAM.
thuang513, on 01/03/2008, -9/+1um its probably not an imac there...

maybe its like a screen + docking station for the mackbook
- bigsteve, on 01/03/2008, -0/+3...wow.
jun2san, on 01/03/2008, -0/+32This reminds me of a double decker taco from Taco Bell.

It's like a taco inside a taco!
- pzwhite125, on 01/03/2008, -1/+15DUGG 4 TACOZ!
  - rbfbeerguy, on 01/04/2008, -1/+1Those tacos were amazing... the only problem was they were from Taco Bell.
- leprix, on 01/03/2008, -2/+14great. now i want a taco.
- m00nmaster, on 01/03/2008, -0/+15Have you tried the Hot Pocket Hot Pocket? It's a Hot Pocket filled with a Hot Pocket. Tastes just like a Hot Pocket.
  - jon30041, on 01/03/2008, -1/+9Ever eat a Hot Pocket and think 'man, that was good!' Every time I've eaten one I've thought "I'm gonna die!"
    - tidu, on 01/03/2008, -0/+6my back hurts!
    - bigsteve, on 01/03/2008, -0/+3Calienteeeeee pocket
ninjasays, on 01/03/2008, -6/+0nevermind, dig down. should have read comments before I posted.
Zorkon, on 01/03/2008, -0/+6In case some Digg youngsters wanna see the original implementation of this idea (PowerBook Duo and Dock), take a peek at some of the old Apple commercials here: http://www.danpalka.net/powerbookduo/commercials.h ...
DeFex, on 01/03/2008, -9/+2they patent plugging one thing into another? sorry its been done.
funkytaco, on 01/03/2008, -7/+4Why...........................oh........................my laptop's cherry filling is cold.
- pzwhite125, on 01/03/2008, -0/+2I don't know why people dugg you down. You have taco in your name, and the Pop Tart reference was pretty funny. What's not to like?
  - bwdd, on 01/03/2008, -2/+1He got dugg down because nobody gets the reference.
    Even after reading your post, I don't get the reference.
    - pzwhite125, on 01/03/2008, -1/+1Slim MacBook = Pop Tart
      iMac = Toaster
      Cherry filling = What's inside a Cherry Pop Tart?
      
      How dense must one be not to get that?
thebza451, on 01/03/2008, -6/+1Wow Apple released a new AC Adapter for their MacBooks! Digg it to the front page!
cadmiumpaint, on 01/03/2008, -7/+0so its the iMac Duo? i guess its a great idea to sell you two computers at once....."you can get a desktop and a portable in one!"
,,|,_, on 01/03/2008, -1/+1This is an awesome idea but what if the form factor changes? The thing I like about the Dell port replicators is that they work with just about every Latitude (and a few Inspiron models) released in the last 6 - 7 years.
Bromskloss, on 01/03/2008, -4/+2Patents are evil! :-(
dotuplink, on 01/03/2008, -8/+1This is definitely a fake. Real patent draws don't look this bad. Check this out: http://www.google.com/patents?id=_YyAAAAAEBAJ&pg=P ...

That is a good example of how a REAL patent drawing looks like.
- adminmatt, on 01/03/2008, -0/+2as long as its concise and descriptive it doesn't matter how it looks....to anyone... but you.
- bigsteve, on 01/03/2008, -0/+3You did the work of finding another patent, but didn't bother to check if this was actually on USPTO's website, which it is?
  
  Awesome.
jaderobbins, on 01/03/2008, -5/+1I love computers with tumors protruding out the side.
missingnoh4x, on 01/03/2008, -4/+2Buried as inaccurate, 'patent' and 'great' can't possibly be used in the same headline.
Vasant56, on 01/03/2008, -3/+2too bad you're wasting a screen that can be used as a dual monitor
- bigsteve, on 01/03/2008, -1/+1While I agree, this is the norm for many docks today that sell.
JadedEye, on 01/03/2008, -2/+0Hopefully discontent. A great idea, hope it shows up, too bad it's taken so long
gatepc, on 01/03/2008, -2/+2that looks the nicist and most functinal dock i have ever seen hope its real like they use it
pirloui, on 01/03/2008, -1/+1I'd like a vertical stand / slot dock for MacBook with a VESA arm... (ie MB closed, vertical behind chosen LCD)
bradleyland, on 01/03/2008, -3/+3Why would this be "difficult to do with current MacBooks"? Looking at the left side of my MacBook, I see:

* Ethernet
* 2x USB
* Firewire
* Mini-DVI
* Power connector
* Audio in/out jacks
* Kensington lock slot

My 7 year old nephew could arrange the appropriate connectors to jerry rig a "dock" connector that would fit the arrangement of these ports. I see no reason Apple couldn't do so inside a display.
- adminmatt, on 01/03/2008, -1/+6no he couldn't
  - ComplexBlue, on 01/03/2008, -0/+1I agree
- lifeofthunder, on 01/03/2008, -4/+1Your current MacBook would never make it due to heat issues. Thus, why Macbooks sleep when you close their lids.
  - Genady, on 01/03/2008, -0/+7Um.... MacBooks support 'Closed mode' running with an external display with the lid closed (You need to be plugged into power for it to work). So um... no. Sorry. Try again.
ozziek, on 01/03/2008, -6/+1What a stupid idea. You lose the ability to do dual screen which is the most useful part of hooking a laptop up to a monitor. Also how long until the Macbook starts getting scuffs and scrapes from the insertion/removal?
- danielwsmithee, on 01/03/2008, -1/+1The docking station has the same port configuration as an iMac, which includes a mini-DVI connector. So you get the docking station 20-23 display and seconds monitor. Much better then a 12" display and a second monitor.
  - ozziek, on 01/06/2008, -0/+0Better than a 12" Monitor you get as part of the notebook at no extra cost? Even a 12" screen can hold your e-mail whilst you work on the other screen.
    
    Ridiculous to think that you buy a notebook which has dual screen capability then lose this and have to spend thousands on a 2nd big screen! If I'm going to do that then I want the Docking screen, the second big screen AND the 12inch all working together.
    
    Why waste a perfectly good screen?
close, on 01/03/2008, -4/+3Yeah, this whole concept is so nineties... it's A GIANT FLOPPY!
Tid01217, on 01/03/2008, -1/+8Since Apple likes to make everything look slick, this seems like a straight forward move for them. I mean internally the iMac itself is just a laptop with a desktop hard drive. So why not make that removable?
With the current line that Apple has, I would expect more of a MacBook Pro based ultra-portable, like the old 12" Powerbooks.

With the addition of Time Machine in Leopard, I think it would make complete sense if they also included an internal hard drive within this theoretical docking station so that the portable part of the computer would keep itself backed up when docked. Yes, it would be nice to have different parts to upgrade (probably at a significantly cheaper price) and interchange at will, but isn't a reduction in clutter also desirable?

At home I like connecting my MacBook to my 20" LCD screen, but I find myself doing most of my work on the main screen and not so much on the smaller MacBook screen when I leave the MacBook open. If I had a 24" or 30" screen with higher resolution I doubt I would ever use the tiny 1200x800 MacBook screen.

The more I think about this, the more realistic I think it is since the current Cinema displays already include a USB and Firewire hub. Adding a junction for a few more components doesn't seem that far out there. Dell has already introduced a new display that has a USB hub and an integrated web cam.
- adminmatt, on 01/03/2008, -4/+1tl;dr
yokozuka, on 01/03/2008, -0/+3Post has been updated with new renderings. Check out the side slot. Oh iMacBase or whatever you are called. You look so makey-outy today.
rowlodge, on 01/03/2008, -4/+2what ?
matriculated, on 01/03/2008, -1/+1Knowing Apple (I own several) this is going to cost as much as an iMac.
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Apple Docking Patent Works Great with Ultra-Slim MacBook PIC

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