the weight of Apple's current notebooks has me looking at the IBM ThinkPad X40, and Sony Vaio, both of which hover around 3 lbs.
tlee650: If saving 1.4 lbs of weight is really that important to you, don't wait for Apple and get the ThinkPad X40. The Sony Vaio series look nice, but IMO are not sturdy enough for bike-commuting and student (ab)use.
I see two major downsides to choosing a 3 lbs Wintel subnotebook like the X40. First, you'll obviously have to use Windows. Second, your battery life will be much shorter than the 12-inch PowerBook's 5 hours, so you will be forced to carry a power adapter with you. These are two of the reasons why I chose a 12" iBook and then a 12-inch PowerBook over a Wintel subnotebook, even though I would kill for a 3 lbs Sub-PowerBook.
Quote:
Originally posted by Amorph
If Apple releases a smaller notebook, it'll be a 12" PowerBook that's only one inch thick.
Amorph summarizes the situation perfectly. Steve Jobs has indicated that anything less than a "fully featured notebook" is out of the question. Therefore, an incremental reduction in thickness and weight on the 12-inch PowerBook is the best we can expect for the immediate future.
Quote:
Originally posted by wizard69
in combo with alot of other things every little ounce adds up. ... Some times less truely is more.
I couldn't have said it better than wizard69. When weight counts -- e.g. when mountaineering, gas ballooning, and even bike commuting -- small and light is best. Sometimes a small compromise on functionality is rewarded with significant weight savings.
Finally, just like excess ounces add up, reduced ounces add up too. Maybe it's time to cut weight on the bag or books instead of the PowerBook...
subnotebooks are no good unless you spend most of your time on a desktop, because, truly, they are too small to use for any serious.
And a lot of us do spend most of our time on desktop machines but would like something truly portable to transport data on. Currently I carry most of my data between home and work on a FireLite drive. I would love to be able to access that data while I am away from my desktop, but I don't plan on doing any serious work. A subnotebook would be perfect for this.
I have an x40, have 7hr bat life with the extra large battery. doesn't have a touch pad very durable, great keyboard and great screen--but it's windows. no optical drive. but what about using a flash drive?
can you load your browser on a flash drive and run everything from it, including email, favorites etc.
what about a subnotebook pb 12 no optical drive, have a touch pad and use a large flash drive??
I have an x40, have 7hr bat life with the extra large battery. doesn't have a touch pad very durable, great keyboard and great screen--but it's windows.
The ThinkPad X40 is a great platform to run Linux. The difficulty is finding a distribution which doesn't require a booting CD drive, other than that it is pretty much standard components (except maybe the winmodem).
While the current PowerBook G4 does weigh in at only 4.6 pounds, which to be honest is very light, I would like to see a sub-notebook in Apple's lineup. Something without any kind of optical drive, and sacrificing some ability (graphics card, RAM upgradability, whatever will make it smaller and lighter). The weight of the sub notebook should be 3lb.
I have the 15" powerbook and find it a bit of a burden. A friend just got the 12" and I must say it's a sweet size, but kind of heavy. If the overall depth could be reduced with a higher resolution widescreen LCD, shave a few millimeters off the height and drop a pound in weight you'd have a great ultra-portable whilst keeping the same size keyboard.
Just grabbed myself one of these for my ultra-portable needs. Even though I would kill for an Apple sub 3lb I don't see it happening either. I think a 4.6 lb notebook doesn't come accross as small and light.
# 10.4" XGA TFT LCD display with ClearDisplay finish
# 1.6GHz Transmeta Efficeon? TM8800 processor, 40GB hard drive* and 512MB DDR SDRAM (expandable to 1024MB) "I maxed it out"
# CD-R/RW & DVD-ROM optical drive
# Built-in INSTANT PLAY feature, offering the ability to quickly start and play DVD videos or music CDs at the touch of a button
# Included plug-in remote control with ear-bud headphones
# Sharp's exclusive DirectHDTM technology that makes file transfer between two PCs as simple as dragging and dropping
# Built-in 802.11b/g fast Wi-Fi wireless LAN technology
# Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies "I use BSD and Ecomstation"
# Approximately 4-1/2 hour battery power "Actually it's more like 3.5 but it beats the Powerbook 12ers 2.5"
# Includes Remote control, AC Cable, AC Adapter, Modem cable, DirectHD cable, Norton Antivirus?, WinDVD®, Corel® WordPerfect® Office, Drag'n Drop CD+DVD software
I travel the world with my 17" PB. I really don't mind the extra couple of pounds, especially when it gives me a huge, bright screen to work with.
I think we are getting really lazy as a species. 3 pounds vs. 6 pounds in a bag? So what when you really think about it.
And before you attack me with "but I take it everywhere with a ton of stuff," so do I. I am in India right now with 5 heavy bags, not one roller, and the 17" PB. Traveling 20 hours tomorrow back to my home in CA, USA.
I just think we have gotten silly as a species in many ways.
To paraphrase Steve in regard to the PDA industry "The ultraportable market is not a fun place to be."
that is: Limited demand, lots of competition. I'd rather see Apple deliver a toned-down version of OS X and throw it on a G3 based tablet. Despite Transmeta's claims, the Crusoe and Efficeon aren't as good as the 750 as far as benchmarks-to-wattage ratios, and a power-sensitive version of the 750 would spread the gap further.
Of course, the amount of work to create a tablet is not justifiable until more convenient display technologies enter less limited production (OLED, E-Ink).
Anyway, if you're looking for something that's fairly interesting, check this:
We have one of them under evaluation at the office, and it's a pretty slick little concept. In the end I don't think it's going to help us, and it highlights the fact that the Crusoe still gets pretty damn hot, but it's the only tablet machine I've seen that doesn't totally suck.
It is sort of like going hiking in the backcountry and having the carry everything on your back. When every once counts you have to look at just what utility you will get for that weight. So often the long barrel 44 stays behind and a large knife takes its place.
Laptops are likewise the same sort of issue, the weight may never be a problem when taken alone, but in combo with alot of other things every little once adds up. For some the lighter machines offer all the utility they need for the majority of their portable work. Some times less truely is more.
Thanks
Dave
Ok, I had to post to this one... I am a backpacker, and I completely agree that every ounce does add up. However, being a backpacker, I understand that the gear I have must be on par and working to its fullest potential. Would I cut my sleeping bag in half for the savings of that one pound?? No.
However, I would cut my toothbrush in half, take a minature version of toothpaste, and only have one pot to do all of my eating, cleaning, and cooking from. My net savings from all of that (especially the pots) are around 5 pounds. And you can tell the difference (especially when we compare 44 lbs to 49 lbs on an external frame backpack).
Back on topic though, we are talking two pounds. Best way to lessen the weight in your backpack (or whatever) is take out all of the unneccessary stuff. Do you really need to have that many pencils?? If so, maybe reducing the number of them, maybe get a mechanical one, which weighs less.
Because, as we have said, every ounce counts. You don't want to short-change yourself by getting poor or incomplete equipment.
what about on the 12 inch Power book, allowing the opitical drive to slide out, so if you don't need it then you can save some weight by leaving it at home.
Unfortunately it looks like it would snap in half if you opened it too fast! Not good in a backpack.
That said, I see no problem putting a G4 in a widescreen 9-10" unit and getting it to 2.5 pounds with hotswapping batteries and no optical (yeah, yer right I also can't build it). It doesn't have to be "wafer theen" either - the current iBook thickness is fine and necessary for strength.
I agree with Escher and Amorph about what Apple WILL do, but its worth pushing the envelope and sending in suggestions. I don't think the subnotebook is a real small niche anymore. I like the what JBL said. A subnotebook in all practicality could be a portable harddrive with a screen and keyboard built in....and of course it can play all your iTunes and QT trailers in a pinch.
Comments
Originally posted by tlee650
the weight of Apple's current notebooks has me looking at the IBM ThinkPad X40, and Sony Vaio, both of which hover around 3 lbs.
tlee650: If saving 1.4 lbs of weight is really that important to you, don't wait for Apple and get the ThinkPad X40. The Sony Vaio series look nice, but IMO are not sturdy enough for bike-commuting and student (ab)use.
I see two major downsides to choosing a 3 lbs Wintel subnotebook like the X40. First, you'll obviously have to use Windows. Second, your battery life will be much shorter than the 12-inch PowerBook's 5 hours, so you will be forced to carry a power adapter with you. These are two of the reasons why I chose a 12" iBook and then a 12-inch PowerBook over a Wintel subnotebook, even though I would kill for a 3 lbs Sub-PowerBook.
Originally posted by Amorph
If Apple releases a smaller notebook, it'll be a 12" PowerBook that's only one inch thick.
Amorph summarizes the situation perfectly. Steve Jobs has indicated that anything less than a "fully featured notebook" is out of the question. Therefore, an incremental reduction in thickness and weight on the 12-inch PowerBook is the best we can expect for the immediate future.
Originally posted by wizard69
in combo with alot of other things every little ounce adds up. ... Some times less truely is more.
I couldn't have said it better than wizard69. When weight counts -- e.g. when mountaineering, gas ballooning, and even bike commuting -- small and light is best. Sometimes a small compromise on functionality is rewarded with significant weight savings.
Finally, just like excess ounces add up, reduced ounces add up too. Maybe it's time to cut weight on the bag or books instead of the PowerBook...
Escher
Originally posted by Splinemodel
subnotebooks are no good unless you spend most of your time on a desktop, because, truly, they are too small to use for any serious.
And a lot of us do spend most of our time on desktop machines but would like something truly portable to transport data on. Currently I carry most of my data between home and work on a FireLite drive. I would love to be able to access that data while I am away from my desktop, but I don't plan on doing any serious work. A subnotebook would be perfect for this.
can you load your browser on a flash drive and run everything from it, including email, favorites etc.
what about a subnotebook pb 12 no optical drive, have a touch pad and use a large flash drive??
Originally posted by NOFEER
I have an x40, have 7hr bat life with the extra large battery. doesn't have a touch pad very durable, great keyboard and great screen--but it's windows.
The ThinkPad X40 is a great platform to run Linux. The difficulty is finding a distribution which doesn't require a booting CD drive, other than that it is pretty much standard components (except maybe the winmodem).
# 10.4" XGA TFT LCD display with ClearDisplay finish
# 1.6GHz Transmeta Efficeon? TM8800 processor, 40GB hard drive* and 512MB DDR SDRAM (expandable to 1024MB) "I maxed it out"
# CD-R/RW & DVD-ROM optical drive
# Built-in INSTANT PLAY feature, offering the ability to quickly start and play DVD videos or music CDs at the touch of a button
# Included plug-in remote control with ear-bud headphones
# Sharp's exclusive DirectHDTM technology that makes file transfer between two PCs as simple as dragging and dropping
# Built-in 802.11b/g fast Wi-Fi wireless LAN technology
# Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies "I use BSD and Ecomstation"
# Approximately 4-1/2 hour battery power "Actually it's more like 3.5 but it beats the Powerbook 12ers 2.5"
# Includes Remote control, AC Cable, AC Adapter, Modem cable, DirectHD cable, Norton Antivirus?, WinDVD®, Corel® WordPerfect® Office, Drag'n Drop CD+DVD software
# Dimensions: 10.1"W x 8.2"D x 1.22"(max)H
# Weight: 2.8 lbs
I think we are getting really lazy as a species. 3 pounds vs. 6 pounds in a bag? So what when you really think about it.
And before you attack me with "but I take it everywhere with a ton of stuff," so do I. I am in India right now with 5 heavy bags, not one roller, and the 17" PB. Traveling 20 hours tomorrow back to my home in CA, USA.
I just think we have gotten silly as a species in many ways.
Originally posted by BWhaler
I think we are getting really lazy as a species. 3 pounds vs. 6 pounds in a bag? So what when you really think about it.
This is the longest response I could force my lazy self to write.
that is: Limited demand, lots of competition. I'd rather see Apple deliver a toned-down version of OS X and throw it on a G3 based tablet. Despite Transmeta's claims, the Crusoe and Efficeon aren't as good as the 750 as far as benchmarks-to-wattage ratios, and a power-sensitive version of the 750 would spread the gap further.
Of course, the amount of work to create a tablet is not justifiable until more convenient display technologies enter less limited production (OLED, E-Ink).
Anyway, if you're looking for something that's fairly interesting, check this:
http://www.antelopetech.com/en/Index.aspx
We have one of them under evaluation at the office, and it's a pretty slick little concept. In the end I don't think it's going to help us, and it highlights the fact that the Crusoe still gets pretty damn hot, but it's the only tablet machine I've seen that doesn't totally suck.
Originally posted by wizard69
It is sort of like going hiking in the backcountry and having the carry everything on your back. When every once counts you have to look at just what utility you will get for that weight. So often the long barrel 44 stays behind and a large knife takes its place.
Laptops are likewise the same sort of issue, the weight may never be a problem when taken alone, but in combo with alot of other things every little once adds up. For some the lighter machines offer all the utility they need for the majority of their portable work. Some times less truely is more.
Thanks
Dave
Ok, I had to post to this one... I am a backpacker, and I completely agree that every ounce does add up. However, being a backpacker, I understand that the gear I have must be on par and working to its fullest potential. Would I cut my sleeping bag in half for the savings of that one pound?? No.
However, I would cut my toothbrush in half, take a minature version of toothpaste, and only have one pot to do all of my eating, cleaning, and cooking from. My net savings from all of that (especially the pots) are around 5 pounds. And you can tell the difference (especially when we compare 44 lbs to 49 lbs on an external frame backpack).
Back on topic though, we are talking two pounds. Best way to lessen the weight in your backpack (or whatever) is take out all of the unneccessary stuff. Do you really need to have that many pencils?? If so, maybe reducing the number of them, maybe get a mechanical one, which weighs less.
Because, as we have said, every ounce counts. You don't want to short-change yourself by getting poor or incomplete equipment.
Originally posted by thedustin
This?
Unfortunately it looks like it would snap in half if you opened it too fast! Not good in a backpack.
That said, I see no problem putting a G4 in a widescreen 9-10" unit and getting it to 2.5 pounds with hotswapping batteries and no optical (yeah, yer right I also can't build it). It doesn't have to be "wafer theen" either - the current iBook thickness is fine and necessary for strength.
I agree with Escher and Amorph about what Apple WILL do, but its worth pushing the envelope and sending in suggestions. I don't think the subnotebook is a real small niche anymore. I like the what JBL said. A subnotebook in all practicality could be a portable harddrive with a screen and keyboard built in....and of course it can play all your iTunes and QT trailers in a pinch.