TV Shows and a 3G battery life that slightly bests the iPhone's battery life for calls because CDMA2000 can use CDMA for calls while maintaining a CDMA connection for data and UMTS can't. But being on a Sprint network is the biggest draw and I've already recommended it to people that are on Sprint and being offered deals on plans and new handsets (they require a carrier lock in, of course). So far, it's the best "iPhone killer" )read: competitor) currently on the market I've seen, but that won't last long.
I did forget about the Verizon LG Dare, but I honestly don't know anyone in the flesh who uses Verizon so I wasn't considering it. That is also another good competitor though the $100M Instinct ad campaign is making would probably push it over the edge for being the best "iPhone killer." Remember, it's all about sales in the end.
As for direct competition I'd say the Dare is the better choice for having better 3G speeds (that that is because of Verizon) and for having a web browser. On the other hand the Instinct does do some some things better than the Dare and only cost $129 compared to the Dare's $199 price. And both offer things like video recording that the iPhone can't do.
Bottom line: if you were a long time Verizon or Sprint customer who had never used a smartphone before but were considering getting an iPhone but were weary about the iPhone's missing features or AT&T I'd first recommend getting the Dare or Instinct, respectively.
"I'd like to have one too, but it's only viable in the 4:3 ratio, which Apple won't go back to. Have you seen the widescreen notebooks that are 11" or 12"? They don't have enough screen height to be useful for reading documents. The 13" MB already as a shorter screen height than the 12" PB."
Yeah, but that isn't such a bad thing. The little Vaio's have had even more dramatically shortened wide-screens and they sold just fine.
I'd like to have one too, but it's only viable in the 4:3 ratio, which Apple won't go back to. Have you seen the widescreen notebooks that are 11" or 12"? They don't have enough screen height to be useful for reading documents. The 13" MB already as a shorter screen height than the 12" PB.
[CENTER]Diagonal...Ratio...Width...Height
PB 12"......4:3.....9.6"....7.2"
MB 13".....16:10...11.0"....6.9"[/CENTER]
I don't think that's an issue. What I miss about my old 12" is that it was only as wide as the keyboard. It doesn't have to be ultra thin and the screen would only have to be a little less wide to fit into that width assuming they trim some of the screen border.
Moreover they need to get rid of the CD drive, it's completely useless. They need to solder in 4G of memory and they can skimp on the battery a bit since the difference between 4h and 3h is not much, you still need to plug in to get any sort of work done during the day. I think keeping standard hard drives and processors are a good idea.
But something like this would not have the profile of an Air. I don't know if Apple care about small laptops or if the 12" sold that well, but right now they only make laptops that are rather large to very large. It's the SUV mentality! I want a laptop that is genuinely small, not just an optical illusion.
I want a laptop that is genuinely small, not just an optical illusion.
Remember that the screen is done on a diagonal so if you want a machine with the same width of the 12" PB you'll have to go for a 11.2" screen at 16:10, not a 12" at 16:10. Check out the 11.1" Sony Vaio if you want one that has the same width of the 12" PB. That makes the screen height now just under 6 inches high. That is 1.3" less screen height just to have the aesthetic of the notebook ending at the edge of the keyboard.
Also, the display size and aspect ratio almost always determines the footprint of the machine which means that a 4:3 ratio notebook will have more square area for components than a 16:10 ratio notebook. Now Apple has less room to put the same components.
It's just not possible no matter who you measure it when using a widescreen display.
PS: I am all for the optical drive being removed completely. It's the single largest base component out the side battery and it's not often used. Removing it would allow for a great deal of design freedom. Will Apple do it this time around? Probably not, but the next design change in about 3 years should see the removal of the drive.
Ah solipsism. As usual, you are well informed but miss the point entirely. Atheistics is important but those who have a good memory (and who bother to read my posts) will note that I have railed against design over function. And it is functionality that I want here.
Smaller is better with laptops. Much better. If I could I would carry around my laptop as if it were my mobile phone. I still want to do serious work (mostly programming) on it, so I need a full keyboard, a decent screen and performance, but I really want portability because I want my laptop by me at all times. It's my only friend.
Now portability has its trade offs, which I'm willing to accept. Screen size is not so critical and 1.3" is not an issue. When I'm at my desk I plug my MacBook into three screens for a total of 5100x1200 pixels. If I'm not at my desk I can live without so many pixels. Also you could put more pixels into a smaller screen in a compact design.
As for the width it actually happens to be a critical factor for me because of an unusual way I use my laptop (but will become more popular in the future I think). I often use my laptop lying down (usually in bed) with front bottom edge resting on my chest (in the little nook above that bone where the bottom of your rib cage meets) and the machine fully open. I support the laptop with my left pinkie and both my palms resting below the keyboard. I type with two hands. Doing this is more and more difficult as the machine gets wider. That's why a MacBook Pro is not an option for me. The 12" was perfect for this. A lighter machine is good for this too.
I know it might seem strange and unique to me, but once you get into working lying down it is a revelation. It's supremely comfortable, you can do it where ever there is a bed or a floor (no desk required) and studies have shown that people are more creative in this position. I kid you not. Whenever I am designing something I do it lying down. When I'm doing more tedious work I sit at my desk. It really makes a huge difference.
PS: You might be right but if Apple took it upon themselves to build an "Air" range they could easily trash the CD just in that range.
As I said in my initial post on this topic I would like to have a smaller form factor too, but went to describe the reasons why Apple won't do it. When you travel as much as I do a MB is quite big on weight and dimensions. THen throw in the 2 extra batteries I carry and it gets to be a pain at times. I specifically have a Eec PC for when I'm "backpacking" it because I need to be connected no matter I am.
Apple won't go back to 4:3 which is fine, but height is far from important. As long as you get 1000+ pixels across viewing documents is fine, you have to scroll anyway unless you have a huge screen. And anyway you can have the same number of pixels with a smaller size. People tend to be closer to the screen when they use their laptops.
I think the important thing is that people want smaller laptops. Just like you and me. I don't think there are valid technical or usability reasons for not building them. The Air has shown that people will accept trade-offs for size. Now Apple has to take that further and make a truly small laptop.
The main reason is the bad battery life. I didn't necessary need a user-replaceable battery but having one that is at least 5 hours would be required on one charge. I though about one of the external battery packs but the price was too high for a machine that I would be banging around quite a bit so I opted for the Eee.
merdhead, hmmm, that was almost too much information, but I appreciate your detailed description to further the topic.
For me Apple just needs to make an 10 inch MacBook Air with tablet multi-touch capability. No optical drives and lots of battery and gpu's for dual monitors when available. Incrementally making MacBooks smaller and lighter is okay, but time for a little more revolution and less evolution.
Comments
TV Shows and a 3G battery life that slightly bests the iPhone's battery life for calls because CDMA2000 can use CDMA for calls while maintaining a CDMA connection for data and UMTS can't. But being on a Sprint network is the biggest draw and I've already recommended it to people that are on Sprint and being offered deals on plans and new handsets (they require a carrier lock in, of course). So far, it's the best "iPhone killer" )read: competitor) currently on the market I've seen, but that won't last long.
Have you seen the LG DARE?
Have you seen the LG DARE?
I did forget about the Verizon LG Dare, but I honestly don't know anyone in the flesh who uses Verizon so I wasn't considering it. That is also another good competitor though the $100M Instinct ad campaign is making would probably push it over the edge for being the best "iPhone killer." Remember, it's all about sales in the end.
As for direct competition I'd say the Dare is the better choice for having better 3G speeds (that that is because of Verizon) and for having a web browser. On the other hand the Instinct does do some some things better than the Dare and only cost $129 compared to the Dare's $199 price. And both offer things like video recording that the iPhone can't do.
Bottom line: if you were a long time Verizon or Sprint customer who had never used a smartphone before but were considering getting an iPhone but were weary about the iPhone's missing features or AT&T I'd first recommend getting the Dare or Instinct, respectively.
"I'd like to have one too, but it's only viable in the 4:3 ratio, which Apple won't go back to. Have you seen the widescreen notebooks that are 11" or 12"? They don't have enough screen height to be useful for reading documents. The 13" MB already as a shorter screen height than the 12" PB."
Yeah, but that isn't such a bad thing. The little Vaio's have had even more dramatically shortened wide-screens and they sold just fine.
I'd like to have one too, but it's only viable in the 4:3 ratio, which Apple won't go back to. Have you seen the widescreen notebooks that are 11" or 12"? They don't have enough screen height to be useful for reading documents. The 13" MB already as a shorter screen height than the 12" PB.
[CENTER]Diagonal...Ratio...Width...Height
PB 12"......4:3.....9.6"....7.2"
MB 13".....16:10...11.0"....6.9"[/CENTER]
I don't think that's an issue. What I miss about my old 12" is that it was only as wide as the keyboard. It doesn't have to be ultra thin and the screen would only have to be a little less wide to fit into that width assuming they trim some of the screen border.
Moreover they need to get rid of the CD drive, it's completely useless. They need to solder in 4G of memory and they can skimp on the battery a bit since the difference between 4h and 3h is not much, you still need to plug in to get any sort of work done during the day. I think keeping standard hard drives and processors are a good idea.
But something like this would not have the profile of an Air. I don't know if Apple care about small laptops or if the 12" sold that well, but right now they only make laptops that are rather large to very large. It's the SUV mentality! I want a laptop that is genuinely small, not just an optical illusion.
I want a laptop that is genuinely small, not just an optical illusion.
Remember that the screen is done on a diagonal so if you want a machine with the same width of the 12" PB you'll have to go for a 11.2" screen at 16:10, not a 12" at 16:10. Check out the 11.1" Sony Vaio if you want one that has the same width of the 12" PB. That makes the screen height now just under 6 inches high. That is 1.3" less screen height just to have the aesthetic of the notebook ending at the edge of the keyboard.
Also, the display size and aspect ratio almost always determines the footprint of the machine which means that a 4:3 ratio notebook will have more square area for components than a 16:10 ratio notebook. Now Apple has less room to put the same components.
It's just not possible no matter who you measure it when using a widescreen display.
PS: I am all for the optical drive being removed completely. It's the single largest base component out the side battery and it's not often used. Removing it would allow for a great deal of design freedom. Will Apple do it this time around? Probably not, but the next design change in about 3 years should see the removal of the drive.
Smaller is better with laptops. Much better. If I could I would carry around my laptop as if it were my mobile phone. I still want to do serious work (mostly programming) on it, so I need a full keyboard, a decent screen and performance, but I really want portability because I want my laptop by me at all times. It's my only friend.
Now portability has its trade offs, which I'm willing to accept. Screen size is not so critical and 1.3" is not an issue. When I'm at my desk I plug my MacBook into three screens for a total of 5100x1200 pixels. If I'm not at my desk I can live without so many pixels. Also you could put more pixels into a smaller screen in a compact design.
As for the width it actually happens to be a critical factor for me because of an unusual way I use my laptop (but will become more popular in the future I think). I often use my laptop lying down (usually in bed) with front bottom edge resting on my chest (in the little nook above that bone where the bottom of your rib cage meets) and the machine fully open. I support the laptop with my left pinkie and both my palms resting below the keyboard. I type with two hands. Doing this is more and more difficult as the machine gets wider. That's why a MacBook Pro is not an option for me. The 12" was perfect for this. A lighter machine is good for this too.
I know it might seem strange and unique to me, but once you get into working lying down it is a revelation. It's supremely comfortable, you can do it where ever there is a bed or a floor (no desk required) and studies have shown that people are more creative in this position. I kid you not. Whenever I am designing something I do it lying down. When I'm doing more tedious work I sit at my desk. It really makes a huge difference.
PS: You might be right but if Apple took it upon themselves to build an "Air" range they could easily trash the CD just in that range.
As I said in my initial post on this topic I would like to have a smaller form factor too, but went to describe the reasons why Apple won't do it. When you travel as much as I do a MB is quite big on weight and dimensions. THen throw in the 2 extra batteries I carry and it gets to be a pain at times. I specifically have a Eec PC for when I'm "backpacking" it because I need to be connected no matter I am.
I think the important thing is that people want smaller laptops. Just like you and me. I don't think there are valid technical or usability reasons for not building them. The Air has shown that people will accept trade-offs for size. Now Apple has to take that further and make a truly small laptop.
So why didn't you buy and Air?
So why didn't you buy and Air?
The main reason is the bad battery life. I didn't necessary need a user-replaceable battery but having one that is at least 5 hours would be required on one charge. I though about one of the external battery packs but the price was too high for a machine that I would be banging around quite a bit so I opted for the Eee.
For me Apple just needs to make an 10 inch MacBook Air with tablet multi-touch capability. No optical drives and lots of battery and gpu's for dual monitors when available. Incrementally making MacBooks smaller and lighter is okay, but time for a little more revolution and less evolution.