Mini ibook?
what if the i book, which has always been a bit too similar to the powerbooks IMHO, decided to morph completely into a mini book. since the emate and the duo we have not had a form factor between a pam size device and a 12 inch powerbook.
i know i for one would readily purchase a small 10 inch wide screen that i could throw in a bag just to do basic stuff i needed to on the road (word files, basic internet)
any takers?
i know i for one would readily purchase a small 10 inch wide screen that i could throw in a bag just to do basic stuff i needed to on the road (word files, basic internet)
any takers?
Comments
But X needs that 1024x7xx resolution and people already complains about the 12 inch squintovision.
Since I use my business notebook both in the office and on business trips I moved from the very small X series to a 15" PB when making the switch. That glorious screen with a DVD player helped make the decision easy!
Originally posted by macfly
what if the i book, which has always been a bit too similar to the powerbooks IMHO, decided to morph completely into a mini book. since the emate and the duo we have not had a form factor between a pam size device and a 12 inch powerbook.
It's been said before, but one should note that the eMate and Powerbook Duos are in fact about the same size as the iBook 12" and the Powerbook 12", and the Powerbook 12" is the smallest Mac Apple has shipped (I think).
Powerbook Duo 2300: 10.9 x 8.5 x 1.5 = 139 cu. in.
Powerbook Duo 280: 10.8 x 8.5 x 1.45 = 133
Powerbook Duo 230: 10.9 X 8.5 x 1.4 = 130
eMate 300: 12.0 x 11.4 x 2.1 = 287
iBook 12": 11.2 x 9.1 x 1.35 = 138
Powerbook 12": 10.9 x 8.6 x 1.18 = 111
The eMate 300 was simply gigantic. The Powerbook 17" is almost half as small in volume at 157 cu in. Lots of square footage though.
The weight is a different story though. The Duos and eMate are about 0.5 lbs lighter. But I think the most important dimension for carrying them around is the thickness dimension.
i know i for one would readily purchase a small 10 inch wide screen that i could throw in a bag just to do basic stuff i needed to on the road (word files, basic internet) any takers?
Yup. Many people wish it were so. Display would be about an 11 inch 2:1 widescreen TFT with 1024x512 (or 1280x640) resolution. Dimensions in the 10.5 x 6 x 0.8 inches (50 cu in). Weight at less than 3 lb if not 2 lb. No internal optical drive. Uses a nipple or similar for pointing device. Uses iPod hard drive. Wireless everything.
If Apple were to make a smaller notebook then I think the X Series is a good one to look at, but hopefully with a wide screen - which also makes the keyboard easier to use.
It's called Fujitsu P 7000 series. Oh yeah, you don't have to leave the optical drive at home. Take it with you.
Originally posted by Anders
Yes me.
But X needs that 1024x7xx resolution and people already complains about the 12 inch squintovision.
I would buy a 10" Powerbook sans internal optical drive, but with ethernet, airport, and usb2/firewire800 in a flash. The ultimate travel machine, plus ability to sync with the desktop through fw800.
If Apple did produce this, I guess the 12" PB would have to morph into a 13.2" widescreen.
Originally posted by THT
Yup. Many people wish it were so. Display would be about an 11 inch 2:1 widescreen TFT with 1024x512 (or 1280x640) resolution. Dimensions in the 10.5 x 6 x 0.8 inches (50 cu in). Weight at less than 3 lb if not 2 lb. No internal optical drive. Uses a nipple or similar for pointing device. Uses iPod hard drive. Wireless everything.
Most sublaptops use a 1280x768 10.6" display at the moment. Small pixels, yes, but there is nothing stopping you from increasing the font size of text on screen. Also conveniently that resolution will show a 720P HD video in full.
Everything else is just what I'd want in a truly portable computer.
However given the price of these tiny notebooks I think it's more likely that Apple will extend the PowerBook line with a 13.3" and a 10 or 11" widescreen replacing the current 12", and possibly moving the 15.2" up to the 15.4" just to keep some of the difference in sizes that currently exist between the 12" and the 15.2".
Probably with a 13.3" and 15.4" iBook to match, just so they can match the screen and save money. Possibly with two screen options (at least until resolution independence) on the 15.4" to satisfy those with older eyes.
Also a 10 or 11" widescreen PowerBook would help out A LOT in the Japanese (and SE Asian in general) market where they haven't been doing too well. One of the reasons being the limited space and smaller people meaning sub-notebooks do quite well.
Originally posted by Hattig
Most sublaptops use a 1280x768 10.6" display at the moment.
True, but this Apple we're talking about. Since when have they done anything like other companies have?
Everything else is just what I'd want in a truly portable computer.
And forgot to mention, it should use the standard iBook or Powerbook 12" keyboard. I really don't want it to be like the 10.6" x86 ultraportables out there. Rather, something that is useful or has few compromises: full size laptop keyboard, as large a screen as possible, as thin and light as possible. Mockup from theapplecollection.com below:
Book mini sounds stupid, so it'd either be a PowerBook mini or an iBook mini.
Or perhaps it'll just be the new low-end PowerBook and that will be that. Then again, ditching FW 800 and other Pro features will help keep the size and price down, so perhaps iBook mini will be the way to go after all.
Could this be the new iBook?
Originally posted by Anders
But X needs that 1024x7xx resolution and people already complains about the 12 inch squintovision.
If you think that's too eye-straining, you should see the Flipstart. 1024 pixels wide at only 5.6 inches diagonal. It will probably be unusable by anyone over the age of 40. Assuming they ever actually sell the thing, as they've been promising for 18 months now.
Originally posted by Kolchak
If you think that's too eye-straining, you should see the Flipstart. 1024 pixels wide at only 5.6 inches diagonal. It will probably be unusable by anyone over the age of 40. Assuming they ever actually sell the thing, as they've been promising for 18 months now.
and those buttons, holy crap, i'm have big hands and big fingers, i don't think i could ever use that, thats the reason i sold my t-mobile sidedkick 2, and only use speed dial on my cell. i agree with the full size powerbook keyborad, i think they tried to get those keys as small as they could, they only use 1/2 the space there!! what, did they design it for a 3 year old? i really don't know any1 who would deal with that, or could use it