MBA weighs more, has a high gloss screen, and has too large a foot print, no ports, no HDMI , no firewire, sealed battery, etc, etc- Boom???
Actually it has 1 USB 2.0 port, headphone jack, and the new display port that is going to become the industry standard. The MBA is a PORTABLE laptop. for PORTABLE uses. its not made to be a persons Primary machine. and why the hell is it soooo important to have a removable battery??
Actually it has 1 USB 2.0 port, headphone jack, and the new display port that is going to become the industry standard. The MBA is a PORTABLE laptop. for PORTABLE uses. its not made to be a persons Primary machine. and why the hell is it soooo important to have a removable battery??
so yeah, BOOM
If you have to push the headphone jack then I rest my case.
The screen on the Sony is a gorgeous matte hybrid.
The only good thing the MBA has going for it is OSX and the originals could barely run it.
If I have to explain to you why one might want to swap out a battery, then your hopeless.
Apple has two choices here. Either strip features and focus on a select few good ones, like they did with the iPod, or add a bunch of desirable features together to make a new device, like they did with the iPhone's phone/web/iPod combo. This device seems to lend itself to the latter. I can't imagine this mythical device not trying to be a high-end netbook, a high-end Kindle (though without E-Ink), tablet PC with GPS.
I predict that such a device will cost well above $600. I predict that Apple won't refer to any netbook-like device as a netbook.
The screen on the Sony is a gorgeous matte hybrid.
The only good thing the MBA has going for it is OSX and the originals could barely run it.
I find it strange that you champion the Sony simply because of a cheap plastic matte that few people want, but then disparage the MBA for it's speed despite the Sony being considerably slower.
Maybe it will be a [-cut-] or a replacement for the entire keyboard on a standard notebook -- just kidding.
While you are kidding, I wouldn't put this past Apple.
There has been past speculation on this, and other than the loss of tactile feedback and the inevitable bitching that some people will always do, there are some benefits to this.
As has been noted about the virtual keybaord on the iPhone, it makes localization of the keyboards virtually free since all that is required to switch from an English keyboard to a Spanish keyboard to a Japanese keyboard is a change of software, not hardware. It would also allow for much more intuitive controls on programs that really don't need a keyboard, or for that matter it turns into a dual display when no keyboard is necessary.
As odd as this sounds, and as unlikely as I think it might be. The Nintendo DS has done pretty good with this design, and I could see Apple using it.
Also, wasn't there a patent that Apple filed for tactile feedback of a touchscreen a while back?
All of this speculation aside. I could see them making more of a tablet then what is traditionally termed a netbook. Something more akin to the size of a Kindle.
[QUOTE=jenkman91;1387763]Okay... Do seriously think the Mac mini is overpriced?? I want you to either go to new egg.com or tigerdirect.com and build a mini PC that has the same specs as the Mac mini.
I will help you out:
Mac mini base model:
-2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 duo Processor
-120 GB HDD
-1 GB of DDR3 RAM (no not DDR2)
--8x double-layer SuperDrive That can be swapped out for a SATA drive
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics-128MB or 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory
-bluetooth 2.1
- WiFi802.11 b,g,n
-One FireWire 800 port (up to 800 Mbps)
-Five USB 2.0 ports (up to 480 Mbps
-Mini-DVI port
-DVI output using Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter (included)
-VGA output using Mini-DVI to VGA Adapter
-Mini DisplayPort output
-and uses less than 13 watts ? that?s 45 percent less energy than any other desktop
-and have an OS pre-installed (Linux does not count)
Final price $599
So please, go build a mini desktop computer that cost at or less than the mac mini with specifications that match or almost match the base price version of the mac mini. Please!!! and if you do comment back. But, I doubt that will happen.
QUOTE]
Studio Slim-Tower Intel® Core? 2 Duo E7400 (3MB L2, 2.8GHz, 1066FSB) edit
Operating System Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1 edit
Hardware Support Services 1Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis edit
Monitors No Monitor edit
Large Displays None edit
Memory 3GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz- 4DIMMs edit
Hard Drive 500GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache? edit
Optical Drive 16X DVD+/-RW Drive edit
Video Cards ATI Radeon HD 3450 256MB supporting HDMI edit
Sound Card Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio edit
Tuners and Remotes None edit
Keyboard Dell Consumer Multimedia Keyboard and Laser Mouse
Same price. $599.
Note how almost all components are actually better than the Mac Mini, and that's without the typical discount codes that they offer that take up to 25% off. Your point was...?
I find it strange that you champion the Sony simply because of a cheap plastic matte that few people want, but then disparage the MBA for it's speed despite the Sony being considerably slower.
Why do you refer to its screen as "cheap plastic matte"? Have you actually seen it? And they are quite popular being that new models keep coming out- why do you say only a few do?
I've never seen at test comparing running OSX on both- has Apple started to license it out for test comparisons?
The only good thing the MBA has going for it is OSX and the originals could barely run it.
If I have to explain to you why one might want to swap out a battery, then your hopeless.
I have an original MBA and it runs OS/X just fine. In fact it runs it better than I expected, and I'm very happy with the machine. RAM is more important than CPU. The MBA has 2GB, which is plenty unless you need to run a VM, in which case it's still usable, but not ideal.
As for the battery, I have never had two batteries for any notebook that I've ever owned, and I'm pretty typical. For those few users who do need swappable batteries, they can get a MacBook or MBP.
Guess what? You will fail to convince me that I need something I haven't needed for over a decade in using notebooks.
Studio Slim-Tower Intel® Core? 2 Duo E7400 (3MB L2, 2.8GHz, 1066FSB) edit
Operating System Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1 edit
Hardware Support Services 1Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis edit
Monitors No Monitor edit
Large Displays None edit
Memory 3GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz- 4DIMMs edit
Hard Drive 500GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache? edit
Optical Drive 16X DVD+/-RW Drive edit
Video Cards ATI Radeon HD 3450 256MB supporting HDMI edit
Sound Card Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio edit
Tuners and Remotes None edit
Keyboard Dell Consumer Multimedia Keyboard and Laser Mouse
Same price. $599.
Note how almost all components are actually better than the Mac Mini, and that's without the typical discount codes that they offer that take up to 25% off. Your point was...?
Of course that gets you more performance per dollar. That uses desktop-grade parts and the Home version of Vista, while the Mac Mini uses mostly notebook-grade parts. The CPU in Dell cost $111 (per 1000) and the Mini costs $209 (per 1000). While you may not need or want the small size of the Mini you are compared very dissimilar machines. It's like comparing a $600 tower you built yourself and a notebook. the tower is going to considerably faster per dollar, but they surely don't serve the purpose. If the Studio Slim-Tower is a better fit for you then by all means go for it.
I find it interesting that this information was "leaked" to Dow Jones, of all places, which really isn't an all-star in the rumours game. I also noticed that APPL stocks jumped about $4 this morining...
Wow, this news made the entire market jump...... \
i can see apple offering a smaller version of the macbook air with touch screen, losing the trackpad will allow the drop in size and adding a touch screen will help make it stand out from other netbooks. Plus it will probably be used to justify the higher price point.
An intel atom, 1gb ram 80 gb disk would be enough of a difference in spec to not steal macbook air buyers? I would think leopard would run ok on that?
I could see alot of current mac owners picking one up to take on holiday etc. Beats dragging your $2000 dollar macbook pro with you and risking losing/damaging it?
... A 9" screen is slightly larger than a 5x7 pad. You'd still be zooming and scrolling. You'd still be thumb-typing. That's not going to work. 11" diagonal is about as small as it could be and be more useful at the work people are going back to the laptop for.
This makes no sense to me.
An 11" diagonal is absolutely huge for a portable. You can't carry something like that around or hold it in one hand. If they are going to go to 11" diagonal, they might as well make the 12" laptop again and forget about tablets altogether.
There is nothing wrong with thumb typing, it works for the iPhone just fine and the purported tablet would likely be running the iPhone version of OS-X. I am thinking size will be determined by minimum readability of an entire page as opposed to the keyhole pan and zoom approach needed for smaller sized devices, so that's more like a 7" minimum diagonal.
Maybe. But I have a first generation iPhone. It cost $599. For everybody waiting for a bigger tablet, thinking that it'll cost $600, please keep that in mind. My iPhone cost $600. The new ones reportedly still do, only their price has been buried beneath the AT&T subsidy.
If you're wanting a tablet with a bigger screen at the same price point, it'll have to be at the expense of some other features, and I can't imagine what that would be. If anything, we'll want the bigger screen PLUS a lot of features. How is it gonna come in at $600. (And of course, if it ever did, there would be an outcry because the week before a rumor would spread that it was going to be $400, but that's another issue).
Oh great. Apple's stock price is going to go up 5% on this news today. Then in a few days when it proves to be false, the stock will drop 10% in disappointment.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roc Ingersol
The iPhone and iPod touch are already replacing simple computing tasks. People only pull out the laptop for more 'serious work' or when they really need a bigger display.
So if Apple is going to release a Tablet, it has to be better than the iPhone/iPod touch at precisely those types of work, or it won't make any sense.
A 9" screen is slightly larger than a 5x7 pad. You'd still be zooming and scrolling. You'd still be thumb-typing. That's not going to work. 11" diagonal is about as small as it could be and be more useful at the work people are going back to the laptop for.
I understand what you are saying, but I think anything much larger than 9" would be too difficult to hold and use with only two hands. It should be small enough to be able to: A) hold on the sides with both hands and type on the onscreen keyboard with your thumbs, and hold in one hand with enough leverage (hold it steady) to be able to do gestures with the other hand. If you make it so big that I need to set it down to use it, I might as well just use a laptop.
I guess it is time to short the stock. I find it it amazing that good rumor suddenly surface when the price of Apple stock goes down and bad ones when the price is stable.
Quote:
Originally Posted by teckstud
MBA weighs more, has a high gloss screen, and has too large a foot print, no ports, no HDMI , no firewire, sealed battery, etc, etc- Boom???
I doubts that you will buy an Apple netbook when it comes out since it will have glossy display and we know how much you hate glossy displays
Maybe. But I have a first generation iPhone. It cost $599. For everybody waiting for a bigger tablet, thinking that it'll cost $600, please keep that in mind. My iPhone cost $600. The new ones reportedly still do, only their price has been buried beneath the AT&T subsidy.
If you're wanting a tablet with a bigger screen at the same price point, it'll have to be at the expense of some other features, and I can't imagine what that would be. If anything, we'll want the bigger screen PLUS a lot of features. How is it gonna come in at $600. (And of course, if it ever did, there would be an outcry because the week before a rumor would spread that it was going to be $400, but that's another issue).
Don't forget that the $600 iPhone, while not traditionally subsidized, had profit sharing backend subsidy.
Apple might sell such a device for $900 and then sell it through AT&T with a $60/month data plan with a 24-month contract. This is how they et al. currently sell their $300 3G cards to consumers.
Comments
MBA weighs more, has a high gloss screen, and has too large a foot print, no ports, no HDMI , no firewire, sealed battery, etc, etc- Boom???
Actually it has 1 USB 2.0 port, headphone jack, and the new display port that is going to become the industry standard. The MBA is a PORTABLE laptop. for PORTABLE uses. its not made to be a persons Primary machine. and why the hell is it soooo important to have a removable battery??
so yeah, BOOM
Actually it has 1 USB 2.0 port, headphone jack, and the new display port that is going to become the industry standard. The MBA is a PORTABLE laptop. for PORTABLE uses. its not made to be a persons Primary machine. and why the hell is it soooo important to have a removable battery??
so yeah, BOOM
If you have to push the headphone jack then I rest my case.
The screen on the Sony is a gorgeous matte hybrid.
The only good thing the MBA has going for it is OSX and the originals could barely run it.
If I have to explain to you why one might want to swap out a battery, then your hopeless.
KA-BOOM! and SHiZAM!
I predict that such a device will cost well above $600. I predict that Apple won't refer to any netbook-like device as a netbook.
The screen on the Sony is a gorgeous matte hybrid.
The only good thing the MBA has going for it is OSX and the originals could barely run it.
I find it strange that you champion the Sony simply because of a cheap plastic matte that few people want, but then disparage the MBA for it's speed despite the Sony being considerably slower.
Maybe it will be a [-cut-] or a replacement for the entire keyboard on a standard notebook -- just kidding.
While you are kidding, I wouldn't put this past Apple.
There has been past speculation on this, and other than the loss of tactile feedback and the inevitable bitching that some people will always do, there are some benefits to this.
As has been noted about the virtual keybaord on the iPhone, it makes localization of the keyboards virtually free since all that is required to switch from an English keyboard to a Spanish keyboard to a Japanese keyboard is a change of software, not hardware. It would also allow for much more intuitive controls on programs that really don't need a keyboard, or for that matter it turns into a dual display when no keyboard is necessary.
As odd as this sounds, and as unlikely as I think it might be. The Nintendo DS has done pretty good with this design, and I could see Apple using it.
Also, wasn't there a patent that Apple filed for tactile feedback of a touchscreen a while back?
All of this speculation aside. I could see them making more of a tablet then what is traditionally termed a netbook. Something more akin to the size of a Kindle.
An Apple branded Netbook will probably sell for $700 to $900 dollars.
I will help you out:
Mac mini base model:
-2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 duo Processor
-120 GB HDD
-1 GB of DDR3 RAM (no not DDR2)
--8x double-layer SuperDrive That can be swapped out for a SATA drive
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics-128MB or 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory
-bluetooth 2.1
- WiFi802.11 b,g,n
-One FireWire 800 port (up to 800 Mbps)
-Five USB 2.0 ports (up to 480 Mbps
-Mini-DVI port
-DVI output using Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter (included)
-VGA output using Mini-DVI to VGA Adapter
-Mini DisplayPort output
-and uses less than 13 watts ? that?s 45 percent less energy than any other desktop
-and have an OS pre-installed (Linux does not count)
Final price $599
So please, go build a mini desktop computer that cost at or less than the mac mini with specifications that match or almost match the base price version of the mac mini. Please!!! and if you do comment back. But, I doubt that will happen.
QUOTE]
Studio Slim-Tower Intel® Core? 2 Duo E7400 (3MB L2, 2.8GHz, 1066FSB) edit
Operating System Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1 edit
Hardware Support Services 1Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis edit
Monitors No Monitor edit
Large Displays None edit
Memory 3GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz- 4DIMMs edit
Hard Drive 500GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache? edit
Optical Drive 16X DVD+/-RW Drive edit
Video Cards ATI Radeon HD 3450 256MB supporting HDMI edit
Sound Card Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio edit
Tuners and Remotes None edit
Keyboard Dell Consumer Multimedia Keyboard and Laser Mouse
Same price. $599.
Note how almost all components are actually better than the Mac Mini, and that's without the typical discount codes that they offer that take up to 25% off. Your point was...?
I find it strange that you champion the Sony simply because of a cheap plastic matte that few people want, but then disparage the MBA for it's speed despite the Sony being considerably slower.
Why do you refer to its screen as "cheap plastic matte"? Have you actually seen it? And they are quite popular being that new models keep coming out- why do you say only a few do?
I've never seen at test comparing running OSX on both- has Apple started to license it out for test comparisons?
I predict that such a device will cost well above $600. I predict that Apple won't refer to any netbook-like device as a netbook.
I predict starting at $1,099.
The only good thing the MBA has going for it is OSX and the originals could barely run it.
If I have to explain to you why one might want to swap out a battery, then your hopeless.
I have an original MBA and it runs OS/X just fine. In fact it runs it better than I expected, and I'm very happy with the machine. RAM is more important than CPU. The MBA has 2GB, which is plenty unless you need to run a VM, in which case it's still usable, but not ideal.
As for the battery, I have never had two batteries for any notebook that I've ever owned, and I'm pretty typical. For those few users who do need swappable batteries, they can get a MacBook or MBP.
Guess what? You will fail to convince me that I need something I haven't needed for over a decade in using notebooks.
Guess what? You will fail to convince me that I need something I haven't needed for over a decade in using notebooks.
Guess what? I'm not trying to.
It's still too big and weighs too much.
The only good thing the MBA has going for it is OSX and the originals could barely run it.
Studio Slim-Tower Intel® Core? 2 Duo E7400 (3MB L2, 2.8GHz, 1066FSB) edit
Operating System Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1 edit
Hardware Support Services 1Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis edit
Monitors No Monitor edit
Large Displays None edit
Memory 3GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz- 4DIMMs edit
Hard Drive 500GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache? edit
Optical Drive 16X DVD+/-RW Drive edit
Video Cards ATI Radeon HD 3450 256MB supporting HDMI edit
Sound Card Integrated 7.1 Channel Audio edit
Tuners and Remotes None edit
Keyboard Dell Consumer Multimedia Keyboard and Laser Mouse
Same price. $599.
Note how almost all components are actually better than the Mac Mini, and that's without the typical discount codes that they offer that take up to 25% off. Your point was...?
Of course that gets you more performance per dollar. That uses desktop-grade parts and the Home version of Vista, while the Mac Mini uses mostly notebook-grade parts. The CPU in Dell cost $111 (per 1000) and the Mini costs $209 (per 1000). While you may not need or want the small size of the Mini you are compared very dissimilar machines. It's like comparing a $600 tower you built yourself and a notebook. the tower is going to considerably faster per dollar, but they surely don't serve the purpose. If the Studio Slim-Tower is a better fit for you then by all means go for it.
I find it interesting that this information was "leaked" to Dow Jones, of all places, which really isn't an all-star in the rumours game. I also noticed that APPL stocks jumped about $4 this morining...
Wow, this news made the entire market jump......
An intel atom, 1gb ram 80 gb disk would be enough of a difference in spec to not steal macbook air buyers? I would think leopard would run ok on that?
I could see alot of current mac owners picking one up to take on holiday etc. Beats dragging your $2000 dollar macbook pro with you and risking losing/damaging it?
... A 9" screen is slightly larger than a 5x7 pad. You'd still be zooming and scrolling. You'd still be thumb-typing. That's not going to work. 11" diagonal is about as small as it could be and be more useful at the work people are going back to the laptop for.
This makes no sense to me.
An 11" diagonal is absolutely huge for a portable. You can't carry something like that around or hold it in one hand. If they are going to go to 11" diagonal, they might as well make the 12" laptop again and forget about tablets altogether.
There is nothing wrong with thumb typing, it works for the iPhone just fine and the purported tablet would likely be running the iPhone version of OS-X. I am thinking size will be determined by minimum readability of an entire page as opposed to the keyhole pan and zoom approach needed for smaller sized devices, so that's more like a 7" minimum diagonal.
If you're wanting a tablet with a bigger screen at the same price point, it'll have to be at the expense of some other features, and I can't imagine what that would be. If anything, we'll want the bigger screen PLUS a lot of features. How is it gonna come in at $600. (And of course, if it ever did, there would be an outcry because the week before a rumor would spread that it was going to be $400, but that's another issue).
The iPhone and iPod touch are already replacing simple computing tasks. People only pull out the laptop for more 'serious work' or when they really need a bigger display.
So if Apple is going to release a Tablet, it has to be better than the iPhone/iPod touch at precisely those types of work, or it won't make any sense.
A 9" screen is slightly larger than a 5x7 pad. You'd still be zooming and scrolling. You'd still be thumb-typing. That's not going to work. 11" diagonal is about as small as it could be and be more useful at the work people are going back to the laptop for.
I understand what you are saying, but I think anything much larger than 9" would be too difficult to hold and use with only two hands. It should be small enough to be able to: A) hold on the sides with both hands and type on the onscreen keyboard with your thumbs, and
MBA weighs more, has a high gloss screen, and has too large a foot print, no ports, no HDMI , no firewire, sealed battery, etc, etc- Boom???
I doubts that you will buy an Apple netbook when it comes out since it will have glossy display and we know how much you hate glossy displays
Maybe. But I have a first generation iPhone. It cost $599. For everybody waiting for a bigger tablet, thinking that it'll cost $600, please keep that in mind. My iPhone cost $600. The new ones reportedly still do, only their price has been buried beneath the AT&T subsidy.
If you're wanting a tablet with a bigger screen at the same price point, it'll have to be at the expense of some other features, and I can't imagine what that would be. If anything, we'll want the bigger screen PLUS a lot of features. How is it gonna come in at $600. (And of course, if it ever did, there would be an outcry because the week before a rumor would spread that it was going to be $400, but that's another issue).
Don't forget that the $600 iPhone, while not traditionally subsidized, had profit sharing backend subsidy.
Apple might sell such a device for $900 and then sell it through AT&T with a $60/month data plan with a 24-month contract. This is how they et al. currently sell their $300 3G cards to consumers.