apple news/media reports

11/12/2007, 2:55pm, EST

Monday, November 12th

Ultra-portable MacBook due at Macworld

Apple is preparing to unveil a new ultra-portable notebook at the forthcoming Macworld Expo in January, according to sources cited by AppleInsider. Rumors suggest that the Cupertino-based company is developing a secret new notebook that is exceptionally thin and lightweight, which was first said to contain an optical disk drive but now will forgo the ability to read disks in favor of even less thickness. The subnotebook reportedly utilizes NAND flash memory for storage, which uses less electricity and is lighter than traditional hard drives. Apple's new laptop will also include an LED backlit widescreen display, according to the report.

Apple is prepping a memorable introduction for the device at Macworld Expo next year, according to the report, and the laptop is already affecting industry analyst estimates for the company's earnings. A lighter, thinner notebook with a 13-inch widescreen will offer longer battery life, easier portability, and nearly instant bootup times thanks to the NAND flash storage.


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nearly instant boot times
0
11/12, 3:52pm, EST
I am skeptical of that statement. I can believe faster, considering that the boot process involves a lot of disk thrashing, something these NAND drives will excell at...but half the speed, even a 1/3 of the speed, isn't anywhere close to this goal of 'nearly instant'

well I hope it is....we'll see in January!
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ultra portable
0
11/12, 4:06pm, EST
what is meant by 'ultra-portable'?

I have a macbook pro and it is portable enough for me - i can take it wherever I need to go.

the only thing that I could think of would be something that has enough guaranteed battery life and is light and thin enough to carry around, lets say, between meetings in a sleeve and not an entire bag.

And no optical drive? Does that mean that I am going to have to fork out $200 for an external drive? I guess, though, with the advent of flash-drives becoming more and more popular these days it could work.
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It'll work
0
11/12, 4:23pm, EST
One, who boots their Mac, as opposed to waking it? Two, does anyone use an optical drive anymore? I ripped all my CDs years ago, and undoubtedly Apple can make their next cat downloadable and installable without resorting to the use of an optical drive.
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Thumb Drives
0
11/12, 4:48pm, EST
Future retail OS X available on thumb drives?
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docking station?
0
11/12, 4:49pm, EST
A docking station with stuff like optical, USB/FW, maybe even an integrated HDD for Time Machine would make a hell of a lot of sense for a device like this.

Unfortunately Apple will probably never do it.

Duo ftw!
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optical drive...
0
11/12, 4:53pm, EST
being a graphic designer and DTP operator, i am usually always having to burn things to a CD for clients... as well as the fact that I am one of the old fashioned people that still buy CD's and import them into iTunes.

If there is decent syncing software - as a 2nd cheaper macbook that is used for business meetings and things like that, I could see the above working, but definitely not replacing the macbook or iMac.
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sounds cool.
0
11/12, 5:00pm, EST
It has been a few months since I stuck in a disc into the side of my MacBook. I think a flash memory is the thing of the future. No HD, no disc = no moving parts.

Not bad. Now all they need is a touch sensitive keyboard that integrates with the screen, a large iPhone like gizmo, and we are set.
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13 inch screen
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11/12, 5:50pm, EST
I don't see how it can be that much smaller than the existing MacBooks with a 13" screen. Thinner and lighter perhaps but without a smaller footprint, it's hardly an ultra-portable. Now an 11" 1280x800 or thereabouts would be impressive and useful but I'm guessing that all the high tech SSD and LED will push the price higher than a MacBook! Yes, Apple will sell less as more and no optical drive to boot, literally!
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How about this...
0
11/12, 5:59pm, EST
...Suppose they had a laptop with a touch sensitive front that looked like a large iPhone, and the sides had all magnetic connectors similar to the power one we now have. Or, at least the ability to completely seal them when not in use. No moving parts on the whole thing, and completely water proof. It's in the future, but imagine a laptop that could potentially be operated under water. (or in the rain...)
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Only a passing product...
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11/12, 7:16pm, EST
If the display technology is stuck at LED-backlit panel, then it is only a passing product and the thinness is not really there. OLED will eventually be the key to light weight and thinness.

Now, what does this mean? How about "forgo the optical drive to become even thinner"?

< now will forgo the ability to read disks in favor of even less thickness.>
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