macosrumors.com — We've been talking about a "MacBook Thin" since before Apple transitioned its laptops to the Intel platform -- and it looks like the long-awaited Macintel ultra-thin, ultra-portable speed king is heading to market at last!
Dec 12, 2006 View in Crawl 4
elevenDec 12, 2006
Yeah - I don't believe this one bit. I'm sure apple will come out with a smaller macbook pro, but if they really want to hit the "ultra-compact" size they should dump the optical drive and finally release an 802.11n (activated) system. All it needs is a decent resolution small screen, good batter and plenty of storage storage space and lots of networking options. People buying these will probably have a desktop system anyways.
kentborgDec 12, 2006
It would be cool if Apple would finally reenter the small notebook market. But don't say the specs are impossible. Apple has clever people working there--and it has kinda been done before. I am typing this on a Panasonic CF-W4, it is very similar to the specs criticized here as impossible: - Mine has a full PCMCIA card, this notebook is supposed to have a smaller slot. - Mine has a VGA connector, this notebook is supposed to have a smaller connector. - Mine gets 6+ hours of battery life (under Linux, if I am just reading or typing) and there is a newer model that does even longer, this notebook is supposed to be similar. - Mine has a writable DVD drive, this notebook is supposed to be similar. - Mine has a 1.3 GHz CPU, this notebook is supposed to be much faster--but these CPUs are slowed down when all that speed isn't needed, so in light use it might be usable on batteries. - Mine weighs less than 3 pounds, I bet Apple's (if it exists) is heavier. Thin is weaker than thicker and this rumored machine has a bigger screen than mine. I bet it gains weight to be strong enough.The specs are *very* believable technically, but is Apple interested in this market that they have ignored for years? Maybe not, Steve hasn't seemed too motivated up until now.-kb, the Kent who might very well buy one--if it ever exists.
mrsteveman1Dec 13, 2006
Lithium polymer batteries can make things ultra slim and last a long time, most laptops use lion batteries right now, the cell kind, with most laptops using between 6-12 3volt lion cells, which in some cases makes them bigger than the laptop.I wouldn't doubt that something can have long battery life even with lots of power drain, i have an old pocket PC that has a battery about as thick as 3 credit cards, it doesn't draw the power of a laptop processor but if you were to use the same style, perhaps make a good portion of the underside of a laptop for the battery, it would be very thin and have lots of power.Next the screen could probably use an ultra efficient inverter for its power (they lose lots of heat using high voltage etc).As well if they REALLY REALLY wanted to they could lose the hard drive itself and use maybe 15-20gigs of flash or such, the power you would lose cooling them would be more than made up by the lack of a hard drive motor spinning all the time.And the proc could easily be ULV, though it wont be exponential gains in battery life, along with the other stuff it might help.A lot of companies are making very tiny laptops, Sony and a few others have some really really tiny ones, and the people buying them didn't want 120gig hard drives or ultra high end procs, probably not even super long battery life really.I'm def no apple fan boy (far far far from it), but if you want to say somethings wrong, say its wrong because its unfounded, not because its impossible.
kdmasterDec 13, 2006
2 things-1 apple wouldn't call it that2 the macbook already has a 13 inch screen,a 12 inch makes no sensei think they are going to have a tablet which is slim and actually just a Wireless copy of your main computer using pre n tech
kdmasterDec 13, 2006
i have THE best name for the iPhone-The Hawking
longofestDec 13, 2006
I wish they did
thebeatlesDec 20, 2006
I too wish the rumours were true. But that is what this is, wishful thinking. I would for my own selfish reasons like to see apple return to the old 'Dock' days. An ultra portable should not be overburdened with dvd writers, 4 usb and firewire ports etc etc. It should have a reasonable sized HD, the best possible battery life, be wafer thin, have a 12" screen and a good keyboard. Everything else should be left on the base station. Am I the only person who wants something like this?
awidgetihavenotJan 11, 2007
Yawn. Has MacOSRumours ever been right. Wishful thinking only here.