Apple sub-notebook
I would really like to see Apple produce a sub-notebook. I travel with my PowerBook all the time and I think it would be great if Apple could shrink the PowerBooks down a bit. The 12 inch screen is pretty good, but I think it would be really neat if they could make a 12" widescreen or something that would be thinner and weigh less. I'm thinking for this they would have to use a carbon fiber material or something similar.
Comments
When will Apple be releasing a sub-notebook with these kinds of features? 12" is too big! 10.6" is fine as long as the resolution is excellent.
11 inch sub notebook with no opitcal drive
13 inch widescreen powerbook
15 inch widescreen powerbook
17 inch widescreen powerbook
but who knows the demand for these products or if they would eat into each others sales
Count me in! I would gladly give up the built-in optical drive for lighter weight and a Duo-style Dock with an optical drive at my desk.
On the other hand, my new 12-inch PowerBook works incredibly well, both on the road and as a desktop replacement at home (with external 17" LCD and Bluetooth keyboard and mouse).
Escher
Apple should and can produce such a little beast. The 12" is still too heavy.
I also now have the 17" powerbook which is becoming my mobile desktop.
I go by computer stores and look enviously at those other sub-notebooks, but could never bring myself to buy one because of the OS. The fact is so many people want something more portable - and if Apple made it, they'd damn well buy it.
Originally posted by jasonfj
Bring it on! For all the people like you monkeyastronaut, there's the 12". For everyone else on this thread, give us what we really want. A smaller, lighter machine. I'm tired of all the people who say 'but you don't need anything smaller". So you guys are in a blissful land of 12", good for you.
I actually own a 15 inch PB.
I agree -- 12" is as 'subnotebook' as Apple's probably going to go. A separate optical drive just makes me nervous, too.
Apple needn't phase out the 12", just offer a smaller alternative. I have no intention of getting a 17" powerbook, but I'm glad it exists as a choice.
Originally posted by jasonfj
I've argued this on previous threads - the only time I use my optical drive is when I install software. I rarely watch DVDs or listen to CDs on my powerbook. I've had my 15" AlBook for a year and have used the drive about 5 times. The rest of the time I use Airport, an external firewire drive or LAN to transfer files. I use my iDisk all the time, something that Apple should be looking to embrace.
Apple needn't phase out the 12", just offer a smaller alternative. I have no intention of getting a 17" powerbook, but I'm glad it exists as a choice.
Totally agree. Apple - give us a 10" subnotebook with firewire, usb, modem, ethernet, wifi, and bluetooth connectivity. Take all the other weight out - no CD/DVD, dvi etc. Provide a BTO EmPower/ cigarette lighter power connector. Provide an iTunes-style home folder sync facility through FW800 so that we can sync with the Apple desktop at home/office.
The check for $1,299-$1,399 is waiting to be collected.
The US market for such a machine is negligible at best. I know Apple could make a great one but I think the 12" PowerBook is the best you'll get until there is a fundamental change in what people want from a portable machine. Check out what other companies offer. You'll see some big, chunky machines with huge screens for the most part. Sort of like SUVs since most people want a portable and give little thought to the effort required to haul it about and how long it will survive on battery power. Some companies make smaller machines in the league of the 12" PowerBook but few can match all the features and they often cost just as much as the PowerBook.
Originally posted by s_sarinana
In fact, to save space in a sub-notebook, Apple should just remove the modem and Ethernet ports from the system and just stick with wireless since the Airport Extreme station includes the modem/Ethernet port and with Airport Express this would be a killer portable combo.
So now you further wish to restrict connectivity exclusively to places with wireless access?