I want an eMate-like notebook
I often need to access email, or do some light work, on the road. At the same time, I hate lugging around my iBook to do it. It would connect to the internet with built-in bluetooth through a cell phone (like my Palm Tungsten does).
It would be fantastic if Apple made a kind of eMate-like sub-notebook, without an optical drive, perhaps a 7" screen running Mac OS X at 800x600 resolution, a keyboard (like the eMate), and easy to carry. Price should not be higher than $699. I'd pick one up in an instant as a secondary, "on the road" laptop.
It would be fantastic if Apple made a kind of eMate-like sub-notebook, without an optical drive, perhaps a 7" screen running Mac OS X at 800x600 resolution, a keyboard (like the eMate), and easy to carry. Price should not be higher than $699. I'd pick one up in an instant as a secondary, "on the road" laptop.
Comments
Originally posted by Robin Hood
I often need to access email, or do some light work, on the road. At the same time, I hate lugging around my iBook to do it. It would connect to the internet with built-in bluetooth through a cell phone (like my Palm Tungsten does).
It would be fantastic if Apple made a kind of eMate-like sub-notebook, without an optical drive, perhaps a 7" screen running Mac OS X at 800x600 resolution, a keyboard (like the eMate), and easy to carry. Price should not be higher than $699. I'd pick one up in an instant as a secondary, "on the road" laptop.
This is something you might be interested in as Apple will never release anything remotely what you were asking, no market anymore except for vertical;
http://www.pepper.com
The Pepper wireless pad is the ideal way to experience everything your broadband connection has to offer. With an innovative design that combines mobility with an optimal viewing experience, the pad offers a host of benefits for consumers:
Web Browser-Directly access the Web with our Mozilla? based browser. Keep and organize your bookmarks and Web page clippings (for offline viewing)
E-mail-Send and receive e-mail using the virus and spyware resistant Mail application. Mail keeps all your messages until you delete them, remembers every address you have sent mail to, and automatically completes known addresses. Includes POP3, IMAP4 and AOL® Inbox support
IM client-A completely integrated AOL® Instant Messenger ? compatible IM client with tabbed session management.
Music, video and photo libraries-Collect, organize and watch (or listen to) your favorite MP3s, MPEGs and digital photos.
Remote control-Control your TV and stereo equipment
Journal-Store your thoughts, plans and ideas. Web clippings and a rich text editor let you format the pages of your journal to make them uniquely yours.
Internet Radio-Listen to your favorite streaming radio stations.
Games-Improve your hand-eye coordination (oh, who are we kidding? Just have fun) with our entertaining, ad-free games-quick, simple and always a hoot.
8.4 inch color display with touchscreen (800 X 600 ), making your online experience more enjoyable
QWERTY keypad, for fast and easy typing
Rugged and water-resistant design for those occasional mishaps
20-bit stereo CODEC for excellent sound
SD/MMC card for future expansion
802.11b Wi-Fi, so you can carry the pad to any room in the house or on the road for instant-on Internet
Bluetooth device support, which lets the Pepper pad "talk" to your other high tech products, such as a full-size keyboard and/or mouse
Only 2.3 lbs, and small enough 12.1" x 6.6" x 0.8" (309x175x20mm) to fit into a briefcase, backpack or purse
Instant-on capabilities-no more waiting to boot up and the Web is always ready when you are
Intuitive Pepper software and applications that make sharing and organizing your digital files a snap
Intel XScale PXA270 (624 Mhz) processor
20 GB disk drive-that's hundreds of photos and videos you can store
Two rechargeable lithium batteries offering hours of use, plus smart power management
I called the company and the price should be 799.00, 950.00 with extra battery.
My guess is you want something smaller but with a crappy shrunken keyboard and an eye-straining LCD.
No, I think for all-around function, the iBook (or 12" PowerBook) is about as small as Apple will venture. If it's just email/web you're after use the cell phone for that. All-around function is limited to keyboard usability and thus, is restricted in size, unless you have child-hands.
Originally posted by Rhumgod
You're comparing the eMate to the iBook, yet the eMate was actually larger ( 12" x 11.4" x 2" ) and weighed 4.9lbs. The iBook is ( 11.2" x 9.06" x 1.35" ) and weighs in at the same 4.9lbs. So you want something larger?
Good point. But the one thing the eMate had going for it was an exceptionally rugged design. I would like to see something I could let my kids get at without hovering nervously nearby like I do with my ibook--lest anything get broken.
Then again, I loved my Psion 5 until it broke--and always wished I could find something in it's form factor these days. I have small fingers, and it's keyboard was perfect.
Originally posted by Robin Hood
I often need to access email, or do some light work, on the road. At the same time, I hate lugging around my iBook to do it. It would connect to the internet with built-in bluetooth through a cell phone (like my Palm Tungsten does).
It would be fantastic if Apple made a kind of eMate-like sub-notebook, without an optical drive, perhaps a 7" screen running Mac OS X at 800x600 resolution, a keyboard (like the eMate), and easy to carry. Price should not be higher than $699. I'd pick one up in an instant as a secondary, "on the road" laptop.
I wonder what the threshold of "lugging" is.
For instance, that iBook that's breaking your back is about 5 lbs. It's hard to imagine a subnotebook with any functionality at all coming in at less than 2 lbs., so 3 pounds is the difference between "I hate having to lug this around" and "I hardly know it's there".
Is that most people's experience? Is there really a generally agreed upon "I am happy to take it anywhere" form factor/weight?
I know some people feel like the full sized iPod is "cumbersome" having gotten used to the mini, and I guess the shuffle makes the mini seem like a brick, so even if Apple made a 2 lb. sub, wouldn't that just commence the next level of "God, if only they would give us the .5 lb beauty of my dreams so I didn't have to haul that big-ass minibook around......"
But if I were using this for true mobile computing and moving around during the day (rather than just at the beginning and end of the day) I would definitely look for something as light as possible.
<rant> That being said, I find it a bit discouraging if I am on the "customer"-end of a transaction or business dealing with a person who is asking me stuff and trying to "pen-it-into" a PDA or the like. Christ, I can write longhand faster than that - why not just write it on a pad to paper, and enter it into a real computer later, and spare me the agony of you fumbling with the horrid interface and asking me to spell my name 4 times because the first 3 you f---ed up. </rant>
Originally posted by ChevalierMalFet
To be honest I'm amazed people find the 7 pound 17"PowerBook a burden.
Dude, I can't pull it out in a moments notice and check my flight schedule, I can't walk and use it without looking like a tool, seven pounds belongs on a desk not my arms.
I've also never had a problem using it on a plane, in the car, etc.
PDA's are dead. They were always just a gadget really. That is why I dont' think Apple should make a PDA, but what they should make is a form of cut down laptop, that is (sort of) a cross between a PDA and a fully featured laptop.
As far as PDA's being dead, they were never that useful in the first place, and these days if you need PDA-like features, you just get a cell phone that has what you need instead!
How about a "sub-notebook" from Apple? It would be a Powerbook, but smaller than the 12 incher - basically as small as Apple could build it while retaining a full-sized keyboard. I dunno, without looking I'm not sure, but it already seems like the 12 incher is at the lower size limit for a real-sized keyboard. Maybe a little narrower, and less deep, and you've got your sub-notebook.
Another thing I hate about these devices between a PDA and a laptop, besides the Mickey Mouse keyboards, is that they cost a hell of a lot, yet have dubious functionality. Usually they're just PDAs with a little more power and a little more functionality. If I'm going to lug around something 2/3 the size of a Powerbook, at 2/3 the cost, then why not just lug the Powerbook and have full functionality?
Oh, the phone idea sounds cool. Apple should definitely add cell phone capability to some of the Powerbooks. That would just rule to be able to dial in from ANYWHERE, and it shouldn't cost much to add this functionality. The antenna might be a problem because of Apple's style fetish, but I'm sure Ives could come up with a lickable solution.
Originally posted by ChevalierMalFet
Trying to walk around using any laptop of any size, in my opinion, makes you look like a tool. 10, 12, 15, 17" inclusive. As far as flight schedules, I've never once run into that issue since I generally have etickets.
I've also never had a problem using it on a plane, in the car, etc.
If you're worried about looking like a tool, you better not let anyone know you contribute to a future Apple hardware internet discussion forum!
Maybe it's the area you're in. In a university town, I see people lugging laptops all over, especially to cafes, and they don't look like tools. In fact the ones carrying Macs look pretty damn cool. If I see a woman with a laptop, I often end up imagining her on MY laptop.
The only gadgets I find annoying are those headset phones that I see people wearing, who exhibit verbal diarrhea everywhere they go. I think "tool" when I see these cyborgs, but that's probably just me, since lots of people evidently want to talk to them (more-so than to me).
but what happened to inkwell and the whole tablet writing thing? touchscreen maybe?
I agree with some of the posts above though... A modern emate-esque laptop would likely be surprisingly expensive. To keep the size and cost down, the optical drive would have to be external and maybe a separate purchase. Expect stylus based input? Not likely.
I don't expect a PowerBook subnotebook anytime soon.