PowerBook to gain iSight, iBook to go widescreen in 2006

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  • Reply 61 of 238
    a_greera_greer Posts: 4,594member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by admactanium

    why doesn't it make sense? they can fit optics in a cellphone, there's no reason they couldn't put an isight into a powerbook. the optics wouldn't be as good as a full-sized one, but it could work.



    The iSight has a good ccd, and good optics. The CCD thing is likely workable, but the optics would likely sacrifice a ton...the 2-inch thick iMac leaves a lot of space that a ~1/4 inch lid does not, and as for it being mounted in the base, I sayt no for 2 reasons

    1: bad angle/lighting

    2: same as before, te space is already occupied (unless you could sacrifice a FW port or maybe the PCIMCA slot on the 15/17 inch models)





    Also, the power books are a PRO unit, most pros alreay have a camera that has far better optics that could be used as a web cam...so I ask again, WHY DO THIS?



    It is like the proverbial answer without a question
  • Reply 62 of 238
    a_greera_greer Posts: 4,594member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by noirdesir

    But build-in microphones are no problem?



    A lot of places (so I hear) demand that the phones be turned off, and maybe not even brought into important strategic meetings, particularly for companies in IT that may at some point somewhere along the line, compete with the phone companies.
  • Reply 63 of 238
    a_greera_greer Posts: 4,594member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by 666

    geez, never thought so many tears would pour because of a little rumoured camera in a pbook!



    I've got a pretty easy 5 step solution for this huuuge invasion of corporate privacy;



    1. get paper

    2. get sticky tape

    3. put paper over camera

    4. apply sticky tape

    5. relax...




    I hope laptops dont go this direction...I CANNOT get a good, hi-end (color screen, bluetooth, SMS, wireless web) phone without a camera from Verizon, Cingular or Sprint...the last thing I need is to not be able to get a laptop without a camera in it! If I want/need a camera, I WILL BUY ONE!



    The iMac cam makes perfect sence, but on a professional laptop? hell no!
  • Reply 64 of 238
    nofeernofeer Posts: 2,427member
    and >25% better battery life--under 5 pounds and true 5 hours of use yo baby
  • Reply 65 of 238
    itsmeitsme Posts: 15member
    what the heck? build-in? not-build-in? (security concerns in business use (which are actually lower than u might think - a laptop is not as tiny as a cell))... but there's a simple solution for that kind of problem: make it BUILD-TO-ORDER!
  • Reply 66 of 238
    dhagan4755dhagan4755 Posts: 2,152member
    I think some of you have forgotten about this September 16, 2005 article that AppleInsider published:

    http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1273



    They nailed the iMac with the iSight long before it came out (and let's not forget about that two-button mouse rumor either.) AI's track record WRT future Apple products is at parity or eclipsing Think Secret. If I were using AI's reporting as a guide I would be a betting man that we'll be seeing not only Intel PowerBooks soon, but PowerBooks with built-in iSights.
  • Reply 67 of 238
    pbpb Posts: 4,255member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by a_greer

    Also, the power books are a PRO unit, most pros alreay have a camera that has far better optics that could be used as a web cam...so I ask again, WHY DO THIS?





    Right, this rumor about a built-in camera in the Powerbook lid seems to me bogus.
  • Reply 68 of 238
    pbpb Posts: 4,255member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by DeaPeaJay

    Come on! Who's gonna be able to hack into a mac and spy on corporate secrets? It's very unlikely this would be possible.



    How about someone from inside? Built-in cameras are a BIG NO in such an environment.
  • Reply 69 of 238
    How is Merom compared to Yonah speedwise?
  • Reply 70 of 238
  • Reply 71 of 238
    Quote:

    Originally posted by amac4me

    The current revision to the Powerbook line was less than spectacular. As a result I haven't convinced myself to purchase one.



    With this rumor hitting the wires, I don't mind waiting for the Intel based systems




  • Reply 72 of 238
    What if the camera wasn't built-in, but removeable. In such a way that when it is a part of the PowerBook, it looks as though it's built-in....sort of like the way we used to have removable optical drives and batteries in the Pismo.
  • Reply 73 of 238
    elixirelixir Posts: 782member
    i'm sure this camera will be an option.



    how much skinnier is 20-25% ?

    thinking of it makes me giddy.





    this is the ultimate decision. do i wait for the intel machine or go and get this last gen PPC 15inch PB?
  • Reply 74 of 238
    jeffdmjeffdm Posts: 12,953member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by DHagan4755

    What if the camera wasn't built-in, but removeable. In such a way that when it is a part of the PowerBook, it looks as though it's built-in....sort of like the way we used to have removable optical drives and batteries in the Pismo.



    The microphone isn't easily removable either, I don't remember that being a big issue even though one could record conversations around the laptop without others knowing it. I have personally tried this once.



    Using the laptop to capture images at VGA resolution is going to look much more suspicious.
  • Reply 75 of 238
    RE: iSight in the lid of a PowerBook.



    Won't work nicely. You need a lens large enough to capture enough light to give you the proper focal length to get you a decent depth of field.



    I don't have any handy calculators handy, but there are some DoF apps and a Widget floating around; however they won't give you enough information about what literal size mm lens and what physical mm depth (even with reflective internals) you'll require.



    Someone?
  • Reply 76 of 238
    hmurchisonhmurchison Posts: 12,438member
    Quote:

    Won't work nicely. You need a lens large enough to capture enough light to give you the proper focal length to get you a decent depth of field.





    Wrong. The Sony Vaio BX series has a webcam option that fits righ into the top of the LCD frame. Apple won't be the first here to integrate webcams into a laptop.



    http://b2b.sony.com/Solutions/subcat...ooks/bx-series



    I hope Apple is smart enough to put a dock/port replicator into these new books. And how about a Dock that can run dual monitors as well. That'll get the attention of plenty of PC users.
  • Reply 77 of 238
    What's all this fuzz about dropping the 12" PB. Of course it will be replaced by something much better!!

    The 13" Widescreen Powerbook or iBook will weigh less than the current 12"PB (less than 2 KG) will be maybe just slightly wider (1-2 cm less thatn 1") will be as thin and as deep as the current 12" PB. It will just rock.

    Look at comparable Windows machines from Sony or ASUSTEK (Who will eventually build the 13" Apple Notebook)

    No imagine those machines in sleek Apple Industrial Design and of course they will be available in white or BLACK. Just like the iPods and Nanos...

    This will rock..
  • Reply 78 of 238
    jms698jms698 Posts: 102member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by iomatic

    RE: iSight in the lid of a PowerBook.



    Won't work nicely. You need a lens large enough to capture enough light to give you the proper focal length to get you a decent depth of field. [...]





    How about if they integrated the lense into the lid clip/latch. A rotating latch that both hold the lid in place and protects the lens when the laptop is closed and can also be rotated around to take pictures at any angle (with clever software to flip the upside-down image when rotated past a certain point).
  • Reply 79 of 238
    No, no, I'm totally aware that there are built-in cameras out there, but I wonder about the quality. I mean, digital photographic optics require a certain amount of light to reach a decent-sized CCD for resolution and depth-of-field. The more light, the better, you know what I mean? I'm just wondering:



    a) what sacrifices need to be made to integrate a camera. For one, on the Sony BX, tilting the display to focus on your face seems like a Bad Idea?.

    b) What's the overall quality you get from compromising?



    It just seems like the negatives outweigh the benefits. Hey, I could be wrong; they'll probably slap one in there. But I'm still skeptical.





    Quote:

    Originally posted by hmurchison

    Wrong. The Sony Vaio BX series has a webcam option that fits righ into the top of the LCD frame. Apple won't be the first here to integrate webcams into a laptop.

    ?




  • Reply 80 of 238
    And for those who want to know how a really cool camera integration in to the laptop lid will look like. CHeck out ASUS W5A 12.1" Widescreen Laptop:

    Weighing just 1,6 kg (that is 1 Pound less than Apples 12" 2.1KG Powerbook) same depth and height and just 1" wider, but still is no Subnotebook because it includes a optical drive inside. And i am sure Apple will shave off that 1" on the side to make it just as wide as the current 12" PB.



    ASUS W5A



    And this is the same company that builds already some currenc Apple Products and will build a 13" Model for Apple.
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