Ideas for Future Macs

[roostajoe]

Anyone have any ideas for a new OS?

I, for one, would like Apple to come out with a new, completely redesigned operating system. (Just a thought... What if they called it "Lemon"?) Everything would be 3-D, and it would be more based on open-source technologies.

Nah... that's not such a good idea. Open-source is the food of the gods, but it breeds incompatibility — best to stick with Leopard (10.5.x) for now.

P.S. I don't know why I even wrote this if I was just going to contradict myself.

[roostajoe]

The MacBook Nano, you say? Cool idea. Unfortunately, my scruples force me to be skeptical.

If it's just a big touchscreen computer, it's really only a much bigger iPhone with a disk drive. It probably comes with the usual ports (you know, USB, FireWire, DVI, audio output and input), but that'll drive up the price. The iPhone is going to be way cheaper.

Besides, there's an alternative which isn't quite so iPhone-ish (although it is rather expensive): the Axiotron ModBook. As far as I can tell, it's the only tablet Mac in existence (and it comes with all the standard MacBook features — excepting those of the keyboard and trackpad, of course). Check it out...here.

[wizard69]

Originally Posted by Rogzilla

Great minds, eh? i think the good money is on it. I think this plays partly into why tablets don't do well. Windows (and OSX) were designed with a point and click mouse based interface, not touch. So anything that is going to be touch based has to be designed around that...like the iPhone OS.

Yep

I think somewhere a little in the middle actually. Not really full on Mac OSX but really, I would want something more powerful(not sure if that is the right term) here. I think it will need to be capable of much more than an iPod/iPhone.

Maybe you don't realize it but just about the full power of OS/X is possible on the Touch right now. It is a matter of what Apple has left out that would add "power" to the platform. Mobile OS is very much a stripped down version of OS/X, so they could easily add back stuff that is current.

One way to look at this is to evaluate the jail broken phones and the software that has been installed/ported to these devices. You can get much of the BSD command line world very easily. Apple can do the same plus add the Apple specific stuff as they see fit.

Mobile OS is very powerful in it own right and can be easily adapted for more intensive use!

I qualified my first statement above with the phrase "just about" because while the platform is powerful it is also limited in RAM and other capacities. A hand held computer is still at a disadvantage relative to the desk top world. Well todays desktop, I'm willing to bet that the Touch is a better computer than my old MacPlus of years gone by.

That is pretty much exactly what I am expecting with this tablet, the Air...er...ports.

By their nature and usage a tablet should be fine with a small complement of I/O. Frankly one of the big reasons for the USB port, in my mind, is to read what ever is the latest flash card or connect to a camera.

Agreed. I also want it bigger. I know the rumor here is that the "Newton" tablet will be 5.25 or so but I want at least 7".

To big! Think about how it would fit into one hand.

I don't care if it is pocketable because I carry around a messenger bag and most people carry around SOME sort of bag already, be it a briefcase, a laptop bag, a purse, ect.

That doesn't matter. That is how it is carried when not in use. What does matter is how comfortable it is to use when in the hands.

Something small enough to fit into one of those is all Apple needs. If you want something REALLY pocketable, we have the iPod touch already. But if we want something more powerful get this...err...iPod air? :-P

Well Touch has its problems for this Niche. Nothing a little technology can't take care of though. I also think you are wrong in that a slightly larger Touch isn't practical. The motivation for the slightly larger device is to better deliver video content and the internet, and still be a pocketable device. Apple would actually be playing catch up in this size range

My estimates put this at around 10.5", twice as big as the rumored "Newton"

I'm sure there is a small market for such a thing but it is tiny compared to the iPod market. In any event I do believe that Apple needs a family of devices, so this might be an acceptable size.

What Apple really needs to do is to add Digital TV to that size device.

EDIT 2-OK, so after a little more digging, this seems to be the originator, Stuff Magazine. Check out the very sparse online article.

Stuff!

Might have know.

dave

[pstone83]

Ok, I've been reading and a thought started to develop. So here it goes...

iPhone or iTablet, whichever, with the new Multitouch patent for keyboard and gestures. Apple TV and Mac Mini type combination that connects to either HDTVs or Monitor. Now add the ability to seamlessly transfer media, data, profiles, work etc. from iPhone to Mini/Apple TV. So that you can be working on your mac using the tablet or iPhone as the input device then get up and go to lunch taking your tablet/iPhone and continue working. The kicker would be to have the ability to walk up to a strange computer (kiosk or something) and have your profile and access to all your data by having your iTablet with you.

Maybe this is not a new idea but the concept is very interesting to me.

[iRabbit]

Originally Posted by roostajoe

Besides, there's an alternative which isn't quite so iPhone-ish (although it is rather expensive): the Axiotron ModBook. As far as I can tell, it's the only tablet Mac in existence (and it comes with all the standard MacBook features — excepting those of the keyboard and trackpad, of course). Check it out...here.

Actually, the ModBook is turning out to be harder to get than an iTablet or MacTouch (whatever we're calling it).... thought the company claims to be shipping only a HANDFUL of people have actually received one. It's certainly not much of an alternative if you have to wait a year to get it (and yes, there's people who ordered a year ago and STILL don't have their ModBooks).

[GregAlexander]

Originally Posted by Rogzilla

Or maybe MacBook Nano?

I kinda hope that "MacBook" continues to refer to a notebook form factor, rather than a tablet (I'd like a tablet - just use a different name).

Originally Posted by tonton

11" MacBook Air.

If I was Steve Jobs For A Day...

1)
I'd be making a 9" iBook Air

Based on the iPhone technologies but with a keyboard, running iPhone OS plus iWork, and borrowing from the look of a MacBook Air but much smaller.

2) It's time to sell terminal devices into the house. A 17" widescreen terminal that looks like it's running full OSX, but is actually just connected to a 'real' Mac in the house which is running OSX. Very cheap too - mostly the cost of a graphics card and screen.

[mjteix]

Originally Posted by GregAlexander

1)
I'd be making a 9" iBook Air

Based on the iPhone technologies but with a keyboard, running iPhone OS plus iWork, and borrowing from the look of a MacBook Air but much smaller.

+ Full QuickLook + iLife (including GarageBand)

Originally Posted by GregAlexander

2) It's time to sell terminal devices into the house. A 17" widescreen terminal that looks like it's running full OSX, but is actually just connected to a 'real' Mac in the house which is running OSX. Very cheap too - mostly the cost of a graphics card and screen.

iMac Air? I'm all for it.
* Dual-Quad HomeServer (including 8 port router and time capsule drives).
* XGrid for intelligent distributed processing
* up to 17" display (up to 1920*1200)

• with just enough processing power (diamondville cpu SC or DC),
• internal storage (80GB 1.8" HDD of the MB Air), intelligent storage (most/last used files local, others on the server...)
• 0.76" thin
• integrated graphics.
• Rotating display (landscape for movies, portrait for certain works),
• bluetooth keyboard with integrated MT trackpad (left or right).
• Very few ports like the MB Air.
• from $499 to $999.

[roostajoe]

Originally Posted by iRabbit

Actually, the ModBook is turning out to be harder to get than an iTablet or MacTouch (whatever we're calling it).... thought the company claims to be shipping only a HANDFUL of people have actually received one. It's certainly not much of an alternative if you have to wait a year to get it (and yes, there's people who ordered a year ago and STILL don't have their ModBooks).

Interesting. Perhaps they're a bit harder to make?

Well, all I know is, I'd be seriously annoyed if my innovative computer didn't arrive within a year of my order. If it's a year as you say, Axiotron's clientele is probably suffering. (Scratch that..."definitely" not "probably")

[roostajoe]

Originally Posted by mjteix

iMac Air? I'm all for it.
* Dual-Quad HomeServer (including 8 port router and time capsule drives).
* XGrid for intelligent distributed processing
* up to 17" display (up to 1920*1200)

• with just enough processing power (diamondville cpu SC or DC),
• internal storage (80GB 1.8" HDD of the MB Air), intelligent storage (most/last used files local, others on the server...)
• 0.76" thin
• integrated graphics.
• Rotating display (landscape for movies, portrait for certain works),
• bluetooth keyboard with integrated MT trackpad (left or right).
• Very few ports like the MB Air.
• from $499 to $999.

Um... Why, exactly, would you want "very few ports"? I usually like to keep both a hub and an extension cord in my MacBook's USB ports (my flash drive won't fit anywhere else — it's really bulky — so I use the cord), sometimes an Ethernet cable between it and my other computer, and even a FireWire device. Also, the audio in port is useful.

Apart from this minor issue, it sounds great. The iMac Air? Sure. Just keep the ports in it.

[roostajoe]

Another minor gripe of mine. The MacBook Air is a great idea for travelers (no extraneous hardware to contend with), but they might well be turned off by the price. It's supposed to be more eco-friendly (I read this somewhere). That's good. Everything about it is great (as long as you don't want to be doing any serious computing), but not for professionals. Go with the MacBook if you want good power and you're on a small budget.

[640x800]

so the updates weren't up to everyone's standards. that's to be expected- apple will definitely do a full redesign (possibly add like a 13.3 to the MBP line?) this summer with the release of "centrino 2" aka Montevina. This will be nice as I also see the new 9600 nvidia card to be notebook- ready. Keeping with the same price points, I would expect to see hi-res option for the 15", possibly a different color case (black ano. aluminium anyone?) and the macbook/air style keyboard. With all this talk, I got to day dreaming:

My Macbook Pro... ha

2.6 ghz 8mb cache, 1000mhz FSB (centrino 2 spec?)
2(+)gb DDR3 RAM (yeah maybe not this summer....)
512mb 9600m gt
1680 x 1050 LED (OLED by say Q3 2009)
200gb 7200rpm HDD
Backlit MB keyboard
USB 3.0 (again, not by this summer... see Q1 or Q2 2009)
802.11n/ bluetooth 2.1
more power to the webcam (5 megapixel? they have in it cell phones right now....)
slimmer case- 0.75-0.85".. not necessarily tapered


so that's just me, and I'm probably dreaming, but it'd be nice, right?

[iRabbit]

Originally Posted by roostajoe

Interesting. Perhaps they're a bit harder to make?

Well, all I know is, I'd be seriously annoyed if my innovative computer didn't arrive within a year of my order. If it's a year as you say, Axiotron's clientele is probably suffering. (Scratch that..."definitely" not "probably")

Take a look at www.ModBookForum.com and you'll see just how much they're suffering. A member there waited 398 days to get his ModBook and ended up with a defective one after all that. He's a guy I feel sorry for!

[roostajoe]

Originally Posted by iRabbit

Take a look at www.ModBookForum.com and you'll see just how much they're suffering. A member there waited 398 days to get his ModBook and ended up with a defective one after all that. He's a guy I feel sorry for!

I'm kind of at a loss for words. If Axiotron goes on like this, it's going to lose its customers.

P.S. Yeah... Where, exactly, is this person? It would have been slightly easier to find the post or thread or whatever if you'd supplied a link directly to it, instead of giving me a link to the site and expecting me to find what you're talking about.

[TravisReynolds]

Originally Posted by peterjeter26

i think they should make a small mac just like the one sony has extreme portability and good graphics slide up keyboard maybe or make the screen touch.

I garuntee you apple will have a touch screen comming to a mac near you

[roostajoe]

A touchscreen computer would be a good idea. Now, before any of you get on my case about this, I just want to say: it's not like anyone's forcing you to buy it (if, indeed, Apple makes one).

Here's some possible specs and features:

• 2.4 gHz Intel Core 2 Duo
• 2GB RAM
• 160GB HD
• 1280 x 800 glass display (touch)
• Switch to toggle between touch mode and mouse mode
• 16MB shared L2 cache
• 256MB VRAM
• Intel GMA X3100 or Nvidia graphics card
• Gigabit ethernet
• 4 USB
• 2 FireWire 400, 1 FireWire 800
• Audio in, out
• DVI port
• iSight above display
• 16x SuperDrive in the base

More on the display. It's entirely glass and transparent. Instead of brightness, the display intensity buttons on the keyboard change the opacity.

Oh, and the case is made of chrome. It basically looks like a thin iMac with all the big hardware in the base.

[synp]

Originally Posted by roostajoe

A touchscreen computer would be a good idea. Now, before any of you get on my case about this, I just want to say: it's not like anyone's forcing you to buy it (if, indeed, Apple makes one).

Here's some possible specs and features:

• 2.4 gHz Intel Core 2 Duo
• 2GB RAM
• 160GB HD
• 1280 x 800 glass display (touch)
• Switch to toggle between touch mode and mouse mode
• 16MB shared L2 cache
• 256MB VRAM
• Intel GMA X3100 or Nvidia graphics card
• Gigabit ethernet
• 4 USB
• 2 FireWire 400, 1 FireWire 800
• Audio in, out
• DVI port
• iSight above display
• 16x SuperDrive in the base

More on the display. It's entirely glass and transparent. Instead of brightness, the display intensity buttons on the keyboard change the opacity.

Oh, and the case is made of chrome. It basically looks like a thin iMac with all the big hardware in the base.

Well, I don't think it's coming at all, but if it does, why would it have more desktop features than a Mac-Book Air? If anything, it's more of a carry around computer than an MBA.

So, take away all but two USB, all Firewire, the Ethernet port, the audio ports and the superdrive.

And while you're at it, get rid of the switch between mouse and touch. My 2-year-old MBP can handle very well switching off the trackpad when you connect a mouse.

[roostajoe]

Originally Posted by synp

Well, I don't think it's coming at all, but if it does, why would it have more desktop features than a Mac-Book Air? If anything, it's more of a carry around computer than an MBA.

So, take away all but two USB, all Firewire, the Ethernet port, the audio ports and the superdrive.

And while you're at it, get rid of the switch between mouse and touch. My 2-year-old MBP can handle very well switching off the trackpad when you connect a mouse.

Okay. Let's actually think about this. Who ever said it was going to be a laptop? Did I? I don't think so.

I had more of an iMac-type computer in mind.

And another thing: what if someone wants to use the touchscreen while the mouse is connected? Well, they certainly aren't going to want to disconnect their mouse, use the touchscreen, and then plug the mouse back in, are they? It's much less time-consuming if there's a switch.

P.S. Before you start writing angry posts, why don't you think first?

P.P.S. If I had been talking about a laptop, you would have had a good point. Guess what? In the original post, I even went so far as to say it looked like a thin iMac. Why did you even go off on this "Why should it have more desktop features than a Mac-Book Air?" tangent? I was talking about a desktop, not a laptop!

P.P.P.S. It's "MacBook Air", not "Mac-Book Air". Look it up. "MBA" is a good abbreviation, though. So's "MBP".

[Joe_the_dragon]

Originally Posted by synp

Well, I don't think it's coming at all, but if it does, why would it have more desktop features than a Mac-Book Air? If anything, it's more of a carry around computer than an MBA.

So, take away all but two USB, all Firewire, the Ethernet port, the audio ports and the superdrive.

And while you're at it, get rid of the switch between mouse and touch. My 2-year-old MBP can handle very well switching off the trackpad when you connect a mouse.

You have to keep Ethernet dropping that is going to far also keep firewire.

[roostajoe]

Uh... What?

[ncee]

I have ton's of ideas too, but would love to see some drawings, concepts here.

Now remember, if it's here first, and Apple makes it - you'll be able to sue them for your idea, and share of the market

Skip

[synp]

Originally Posted by roostajoe

Okay. Let's actually think about this. Who ever said it was going to be a laptop? Did I? I don't think so.

I had more of an iMac-type computer in mind.

And another thing: what if someone wants to use the touchscreen while the mouse is connected? Well, they certainly aren't going to want to disconnect their mouse, use the touchscreen, and then plug the mouse back in, are they? It's much less time-consuming if there's a switch.

P.S. Before you start writing angry posts, why don't you think first?

P.P.S. If I had been talking about a laptop, you would have had a good point. Guess what? In the original post, I even went so far as to say it looked like a thin iMac. Why did you even go off on this "Why should it have more desktop features than a Mac-Book Air?" tangent? I was talking about a desktop, not a laptop!

P.P.P.S. It's "MacBook Air", not "Mac-Book Air". Look it up. "MBA" is a good abbreviation, though. So's "MBP".

And why would Apple have this in addition to an iMac? Why not add the touch screen to the iMac? Just to get it thinner?

As for the switch, you don't need it. They can work at the same time. The screen and the mouse can issue interrupts just like the mouse and trackpad (if you configure it that way) or two mice. No need for a switch.

I did miss your saying that it was a desktop. I'm sorry for that, but IMO touch technology just doesn't make sense in a desktop, at least not for the big screen. It's just too awkward if the screen is in front of you, rather than in your hand. It makes more sense in a tablet, so I (wrongly) assumed that was what you were talking about. Again, I apologize for this.

[roostajoe]

Sorry. I was way too harsh , and you did have quite a few good points. After reading your re-response, I realized the switch really is totally unnecessary. And, well, why not just change the iMac? That was another good point.

Of course, there are some people who like having separate computers for everything. Apple could call this the iMac Touch, as well as include a touchscreen option for the standard iMac.

Or maybe it wouldn't even be an iMac? It could be a wall computer, like the Sony Vaio PC/TV. Possibly even with a TV option. And a revamped OS. I'm thinking Star Trek here.

[roostajoe]

I have an idea. Instead of the MacBook Nano we discussed earlier (iPhone-like), it should be a miniature laptop. It'll have all the regular features (you know — trackpad, keyboard, speakers) but "micro" versions of the various ports. One micro-USB, one micro-FireWire, and one micro-Ethernet. Also a card reader. And built-in AirPort capabilities.

I'm thinking it could be used in schools. With the somewhat diminished features, it should be cheaper than standard MacBooks. Then you wouldn't have to worry about students spilling their drinks over them.

This MacBook Nano should also have a small hard drive. Made of flash memory, not spinning platters (too bulky). There's lot's of tiny, cheap, enormously high-capacity flash drives out there. Room for essential applications and student files (and the OS of course), but not much else.

Why the micro ports? Because it'll probably be too thin to have normal ones.

What do you think? Should there be one, or should schools just stick to antiquated PowerBooks and iBook G4's?

[roostajoe]

You know, it's kind of unusual for a site called "AppleInsider" to show ads for PCs and Windows. Then again, maybe it just happens automatically. Anyone know how the ads get here?

[Ireland]

Originally Posted by Rogzilla

My estimates put this at around 10.5", twice as big as the rumored "Newton"

Sounds like a great, perhaps perfect size to me. All we need is a slightly curved/tapered rear shape, and a pop out stand/rest and we have the Mac touch. A dock could run across the bottom of the screen with iPhone sizes app icons and mirror the dock on the desktop version of OS X - the users could flick right or left for more docks, up to 5 of them. With a desktop image preset, for a desktop look and a finger sized menubar up top.

[roostajoe]

Originally Posted by Ireland

Sounds like a great, perhaps perfect size to me. All we need is a slightly curved/tapered rear shape, and a pop out stand/rest and we have the Mac touch. A dock could run across the bottom of the screen with iPhone sizes app icons and mirror the dock on the desktop version of OS X - the users could flick right or left for more docks, up to 5 of them. With a desktop image preset, for a desktop look and a finger sized menubar up top.

Yes... One useful item in which Apple's portable products are sadly lacking is a stand. There are plenty of third-party iPhone stands out there...but it would be so much easier to have one built-in.

The MacBook Nano is a good idea, but probably not entirely viable at this time. It would only be a much larger version of the iPhone, albeit with a more OS X-ish feel.

But why a limit of five docks? And what about the ports? I can understand if this is meant to be a portable computer (not for tasks you might want to do at home), but most people want a keyboard, mouse, printer, and (sometimes) an external hard drive. That's a lot of ports to put in something that thin.

Also... The picture shows the MacBook Nano with an optical drive. If this is meant to be a portable computer, using any sort of disk is going to drain the batteries awfully fast. Perhaps a wireless, battery-powered drive is a better option?

Then there's the hard drive. Spinning platters aren't feasible for a computer you're going to carry around all day long (too many bumps to jar the heads). Solid-state or flash memory drives are probably the best for this, but they're seriously expensive. The MacBook Nano is not going to gain a large following by costing upwards of $2,000.

P.S. I believe I may already have outlined some of these points in my post at the top of this page.

[infinitespecter]

Add me to the list of people wanting a midrange tower. I finish grad school this June and won't have a need for a notebook anymore, but I don't want an iMac and I want to be able to swap PCI cards without having to spend $2500 on a Mac Pro that would be total overkill.

[appleeinstein]

Originally Posted by roostajoe

Yes... One useful item in which Apple's portable products are sadly lacking is a stand. There are plenty of third-party iPhone stands out there...but it would be so much easier to have one built-in.

The MacBook Nano is a good idea, but probably not entirely viable at this time. It would only be a much larger version of the iPhone, albeit with a more OS X-ish feel.

{{message snipped}}

Also... The picture shows the MacBook Nano with an optical drive. If this is meant to be a portable computer, using any sort of disk is going to drain the batteries awfully fast. Perhaps a wireless, battery-powered drive is a better option?

Then there's the hard drive. Spinning platters aren't feasible for a computer you're going to carry around all day long (too many bumps to jar the heads). Solid-state or flash memory drives are probably the best for this, but they're seriously expensive. The MacBook Nano is not going to gain a large following by costing upwards of $2,000.

P.S. I believe I may already have outlined some of these points in my post at the top of this page.

A MacBook Nano would ostensibly be a "book" - i.e. notebook form factor instead of slate form factor.

Here's my idea for the smallest of all Apple MacBooks - the MacBook Touch:



It would be 12" by 8" - slate form factor with a dual-sided multitouch screen cover that opened up into notebook form factor will a full-size (11") virtual keyboard and trackpad. 13" screen diagonal.

Here's a size comparison:



As you can see, it would be surprisingly portable - nowhere near pocketable, of course, but small enough for anything that you couldn't use your iPhone or iPod Touch for.

Click on the images to see more mockups.

[roostajoe]

The MacBook Touch — very, very interesting. I think this is what Apple should devote themselves to after they finish fixing Leopard. It should also serve to get more customers onto Apple's side and away from PCs.

Forum Jump: List anything about everything about why Macs are better than PCs...

That is precisely the sort of thing I could use. It seems like overkill to have to open the lid, turn the computer on if it's been turned off, turn my Bluetooth mouse on, etc. Just slide it out of the case and start tapping.

The transparent touch keyboard/trackpad is an excellent idea, too. I have only one suggestion: make an automatic backlight. You know, like the MacBook Pro and Air keyboards.

Also, is the inside screen multitouch as well?

[mjteix]

Originally Posted by appleeinstein

It would be 12" by 8" - slate form factor with a dual-sided multitouch screen cover that opened up into notebook form factor will a full-size (11") virtual keyboard and trackpad. 13" screen diagonal.

Here's a size comparison:

[

Nice mockups 'stein. But how can this slate be that smaller than the MacBooks Air (in the middle) and yet use the same screen size (13" diagonal)???

[GregAlexander]

Originally Posted by appleeinstein

... the MacBook Touch:

It would be 12" by 8" - slate form factor with a dual-sided multitouch screen cover that opened up into notebook form factor will a full-size (11") virtual keyboard and trackpad. 13" screen diagonal.

I'd like to see Apple further blur the lines between Mac and iPhone ranges.

eg: Mac Touch just like you describe (pad design, not book), running MacOS
i Touch is the small version - but really it's a bigger iPod Touch - running iPhone OS.

eg2: MacBook Air as we have today (book design)
i Book Air - smaller, a 9inch screen & keyboard - based on the iPhone design running iPhone OS with mobile Pages.

[Olternaut]

Originally Posted by Rogzilla

OK, so I may have had WAY too much coffee this morning but I just came up with what could be an awesome idea.

We know that Jobs wants to bring multitouch to regular computing. We have seen a first step with the MacBook air.

We know Apple has a patent to have multitouch on both sides of a device.

We know Apple can design and build REALLY thin screens.

So my idea for the MacBook touch is as follows.

Open, it looks just like a regular MacBook, including the hinge. It does everything the same way, looks the same, fantastic! There is some multitouch capability on the screen, but not much. About the amount the MacBook air has in its trackpad.

When you close it, the back of the screen...IS ALSO A SCREEN! It looks like a large iPhone. There is a sleep/wake button as well as a home button. The interface looks like the iPhone. You can hold it in one hand and still use the laptop, though with much limited.. Show presentations, movies, play music, photos. It could act partially as the Front Row (so you don't have to carry a remote with you). At least all the applications of the iPhone, with more that I am way too half asleep/half caffinated to think of at the moment but if someone wants to develop the idea a little more, please do so. I would say Photoshop but Apple NEEDS an active digitizer for that, otherwise they are wasting it.

I am not saying Apple will, just that Apple COULD.

I want to see sketches......please?

[roostajoe]

How about a regular tablet, but with a slide-out, multitouch, transparent keyboard? Backlit too, so you don't have to have the light on.

And a case of clip-on plastic screen protector panes. No optical drive, but AirPort Extreme and a solid-state hard drive. The same Remote Disc tech as the MBA. Also:

• Built-in iSight
• 1 USB 2.0
• 1 FireWire 400
• Micro-DVI
• Audio out
• MagSafe
• Security slot
• 2.6 gHz Intel Core 2 Duo

The TouchBook. Think it sounds good?

P.S. I've always wondered, is it "disc" or "disk"?

[bobertoq]

Apple needs to release the xMac like up.

xMac Mini (It's just a Mac Mini)

xMac, this is a mac with the statistics of the starting iMac, but it would have a tower, in other words it's not all-in-one. The price would be significantly lower then the iMac cost due to it's design

xMac Am, this is a mid range mac (with hardware similar to Dell XPS 420 http://www.dell.com/content/products...aspx/xpsdt_420 but with a good design...) Starting at just $999

xMac Pro (It's just a Mac Pro)

All xMac's have an easy set up. The "x" basically means it is headless. This means it has a tower, instead of having the computer built into the monitor. Just like a Dell or HP (just examples)

The iMac could start at $999, too. I think that would get a lot of people interested.

I'm not saying any of that will ever happen. I doubt it will. I'm just dreaming

------

I also would love a new laptop line-up, where all laptops had a similar design to the MacBook Air. Aluminum case, black back-lit separated keyed keyboard, LED display, 1 USB port (just kidding, haha), and... that's about it. The laptops would also be available in an anodized black aluminum! woo!

Dreaming isn't gonna get me anyone though... i should stop.

Edit:

I love the Macbook Touch idea!! However i do not like the design in the mock-up.

[ActionJaxon]

Originally Posted by peterjeter26

i think they should make a small mac just like the one sony has extreme portability and good graphics slide up keyboard maybe or make the screen touch.

An Apple UMPC? (Or UMM as it may be) I would pass on this idea, the upcoming Mac tablet system will be an albeit larger device than the likes of Sony's UX series UMPC but it will provide far greater functionality and be a much less hated device than if it were to take the UMPC form. Now that we have the iPhone SDK the reality of having a feature-rich Mac in our pocket is closer than ever. But don't expect PhotoShop CS3 Lite or Final Cut Nano on your iPhone anytime soon

[roostajoe]

How about external MagSafe batteries?

Better yet, each battery could have its own MagSafe port. That way, you could create long chains of batteries that would last for a very, very long time. If you connect your MagSafe adapter to the last battery, you could charge the entire chain.

Here's how it goes:

1. MagSafe adapter charges last battery.
2. Last battery charges next battery.
3. ...
4. First battery charges laptop battery, but because all the others are constantly charging it, it won't run out until they all do. And that could take forever...

Yes, I realize this isn't related to future Macs. But it's a darn good idea, don't you think?