Forums | MacLife

Shadowless · 2006-03-14 5:02 pm

Posting on another topic made me realize that many haven't agreed on what exactly they'd want minimum requirements to be on an ultra(I don't know the popular term)light/thin.

I personally would still want a hard drive (and with how small the ones in the iPod are even at 60GB, it's not unreasonable). It would have to have Ethernet and USB ports and perhaps a mini-DVI too. Bluetooth is out, but AP is in. Toughest call is the optical drive. Apple has shown how thin they can get it, so maybe it could still be let in? If it did have an optical drive, it would not burn anything, but it would read both DVDs and CDs. USB flash would be the way to go to replace burning information to CD or DVD (which it is already replacing in some cases).

I dunno about the expansion slot. It's really small now, so that might not be as big a deal. Plus, if it was included you could eliminate the USB ports that are built-in.

Of course, it would have a Core Solo at the lowest clock speeds (unless higher ones don't dissipate too much more heat or use much more voltage).

This is just a beginning idea. I really don't know what should be kept or thrown. All I know is that the keyboard should be backlit.

F041 · 2006-03-14 5:12 pm

Good idea.

MattElmore · 2006-03-14 5:13 pm

I would have no need of one

car121_007 · 2006-03-14 5:35 pm

It would be a CoreSolo, it would have support for 2GB+ of RAM (memory=no draw on disk) and ideally a NAND flash based storage system for quick boots etc but would definitely have a HD physically larger then the iPod's 1.8" model. Those drives just aren't meant to sustain daily boots. A couple USB2 ports and a FW port so you can plug in those external storage and optical drives. It would need a mic and headphones jack along with a VGA out for projectors. AP and BT are on the same cheap in the iMac and it could be the same here.

I'd say no optical drives as long as there was a decently large HD (100GB 5400rpm for best performance/power balance). I believe that NAND technology is a flash based cache that works in tandem with the HD to save power and reduce boot times. If I'm mixed up just disregard that.

I'm thinking:

12.1" WXGA (1280x800) Display or 10" or something I dunno.
CoreSolo 1.5
512MB RAM (2x256), 2GB max
GMA950 Graphics (32-256MB adjustable)
60,80 or 100GB with 5400rpm optional.
Bluetooth 2.0, 802.11g, GigE
USB2.0 x 2, FW400 x 1, miniVGA x 1
Mic built-in, headphone output

o0o0o0o0oh OR A DUO DOCK!!!

I could use a sub-notebook eventually. Right now I'm getting by with the iBook but it would be nice to have a small notebook when I grab a Mac Pro later on.

pottymouth · 2006-03-14 5:46 pm

I like the *books just the way they are. They're pretty friggin thin but there's still enough to them so they don't feel like a delicate piece of cardboard.

Now if you're talking about a tiny (in all dimensions) laptop that still has decent rest...that would be bad ass. I've no need for a PDA but I'd probly drop cash for something in between that and an actual laptop!

MacBoy4139 · 2006-03-14 5:47 pm

I would like them to make use of the newest trackpad patent that they just filed/were granted.

For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, picture taking the entire palm-rest area and making it the trackpad and mouse buttons.

pottymouth · 2006-03-14 5:50 pm

I thought you said a picture taking trackpad. Heh.

MacBoy4139 · 2006-03-14 6:13 pm

I hadn't thought of it, but cool! I don't know about the width/height ratio and a tablet though...

macnuke · 2006-03-14 6:59 pm

and call it

Newton '007 big_smile

Fried Chicken · 2006-03-14 9:48 pm

Thin doesn't spark my interest at all. Cheaper works better for me than thin. My iBook is perfect IMO.

pottymouth · 2006-03-14 9:57 pm

Fried Chicken wrote:
Cheaper works better for me than thin.

Boy howdy, I hear that.

Steyr AUG · 2006-03-15 12:28 am

Travelling with several large bags and a carryon make thin work better cheap for many other people

roddgy · 2007-04-30 8:09 pm

Any word yet on a NAND flash-based Apple sub-notebook?

macnuke · 2007-04-30 8:15 pm

my 12" 1.5 G4 powerbook handles 100% of my traveling needs now.
should it last like I think it will and plan for, it should be 8 years of so before I even think about another laptop.

I do miss my now dead 520c w/100mhz PPC in it.
it did dam near all I wanted.

mrreet2001 · 2007-04-30 8:32 pm

macnuke wrote:
my 12" 1.5 G4 powerbook handles 100% of my traveling needs now.

wrote:
Fried My iBook is perfect IMO.

The problem is those don't exist new from apple any more. If you are going for extreme portable the MacBook is a beast compared to the 12" iBook and PowerBook. The smallest Macbook Pro is HUGE compared to the 12" Powerbook and the Macbook is just enough bigger to be annoying.

macnuke · 2007-04-30 8:40 pm

if I have to buy old and used, I will.
I want portability in my portable.
I have all the computer power, displays and display size I want at home and office.

email, light surfing, Word, PP is all I need on the road.
I can drop my movies I want on my HD.
my PB has 35 of it's 60G free.
I have an iPod for music should I wish, otherwise I can always toss a few Gigs of songs on the PB.

it still kicks the smurf outa all the dells in the conferences. lol

robco · 2007-04-30 9:45 pm

I would like to see something along the lines of the Latitude D420. Core Duo is possible. External optical drive. Leave out FireWire and maybe the webcam. Mini-DVI would be good.

And yeah, I too would like to see a docking station solution.

thelegendofjohn · 2007-04-30 11:01 pm

macnuke wrote:
I do miss my now dead 520c w/100mhz PPC in it.
it did dam near all I wanted.

i had a 540, i miss it too. the 500 series was awesome. two batteries!

reece_james · 2007-05-01 4:02 am

I suggested this years ago and there was also a thread about it somewhere. Unfortunately no one paid attention at the time.
shrug

Alien · 2007-05-01 5:39 am

Shadowless wrote:
Bluetooth is out, [...]

Are you kidding? How are you gonna get online with it, then?

Seriously bad idea.

,xtG
.tsooJ

lieven · 2007-05-01 7:22 am

why does anybody need a smaller laptop? I carry around my 15" mbp everywhere and people are surprised of how thin it is, but it's still a very complete computer and the 15" screen is really nice to use on my train ride between home and work

robco · 2007-05-01 8:17 am

Now imagine your 15" MBP, plus a suitcase, carryon bag, etc. Or you not only have a laptop, but a bunch of other gear you need to take along too. Or...

One can still get online with WiFi, no need for Bluetooth for that. Unless you're dialing in using a cell phone.

Alien · 2007-05-01 8:23 am

robco wrote:
One can still get online with WiFi, no need for Bluetooth for that. Unless you're dialing in using a cell phone.

Never heard of GPRS? UMTS?

How widespread is WiFi coverage, compared to cell networks? You do realise they'll have to actually sell these things to more people than just yourself, do you?

,xtG
.tsooJ

lieven · 2007-05-01 8:43 am

robco wrote:
Now imagine your 15" MBP, plus a suitcase, carryon bag, etc. Or you not only have a laptop, but a bunch of other gear you need to take along too. Or...

Is that extra pound really gonna make a difference? I know the extra screen real estate does for me...

If you're really that sensitive about weight and size and less about usability, I think the iPhone or a similar device will fit your mobile computing needs better than a laptop..

Alien wrote:
robco wrote:
One can still get online with WiFi, no need for Bluetooth for that. Unless you're dialing in using a cell phone.
Never heard of GPRS? UMTS?

How widespread is WiFi coverage, compared to cell networks? You do realise they'll have to actually sell these things to more people than just yourself, do you?

Plus, as they're able to put Bluetooth controllers in tiny cell phones, there shouldn't be much of a problem to put it in a laptop tongue

thelegendofjohn · 2007-05-01 9:38 am

i vote for real os x, not a toned down version like the iphone.

Forums | MacLife

#1 2006-03-14 5:02 pm

What we'd want from an ultrathin(/light)

#2 2006-03-14 5:12 pm

Re: What we'd want from an ultrathin(/light)

#3 2006-03-14 5:13 pm

Re: What we'd want from an ultrathin(/light)

#4 2006-03-14 5:35 pm

Re: What we'd want from an ultrathin(/light)

#5 2006-03-14 5:46 pm

Re: What we'd want from an ultrathin(/light)

#6 2006-03-14 5:47 pm

Re: What we'd want from an ultrathin(/light)

#7 2006-03-14 5:50 pm

Re: What we'd want from an ultrathin(/light)

#8 2006-03-14 6:13 pm

Re: What we'd want from an ultrathin(/light)

#9 2006-03-14 6:59 pm

Re: What we'd want from an ultrathin(/light)

#10 2006-03-14 9:48 pm

Re: What we'd want from an ultrathin(/light)

#11 2006-03-14 9:57 pm

Re: What we'd want from an ultrathin(/light)

Fried Chicken wrote:

#12 2006-03-15 12:28 am

Re: What we'd want from an ultrathin(/light)

#13 2007-04-30 8:09 pm

Re: What we'd want from an ultrathin(/light)

#14 2007-04-30 8:15 pm

Re: What we'd want from an ultrathin(/light)

#15 2007-04-30 8:32 pm

Re: What we'd want from an ultrathin(/light)

macnuke wrote:

wrote:

#16 2007-04-30 8:40 pm

Re: What we'd want from an ultrathin(/light)

#17 2007-04-30 9:45 pm

Re: What we'd want from an ultrathin(/light)

#18 2007-04-30 11:01 pm

Re: What we'd want from an ultrathin(/light)

macnuke wrote:

#19 2007-05-01 4:02 am

Re: What we'd want from an ultrathin(/light)

#20 2007-05-01 5:39 am

Re: What we'd want from an ultrathin(/light)

Shadowless wrote:

#21 2007-05-01 7:22 am

Re: What we'd want from an ultrathin(/light)

#22 2007-05-01 8:17 am

Re: What we'd want from an ultrathin(/light)

#23 2007-05-01 8:23 am

Re: What we'd want from an ultrathin(/light)

robco wrote:

#24 2007-05-01 8:43 am

Re: What we'd want from an ultrathin(/light)

robco wrote:

Alien wrote:

robco wrote:

#25 2007-05-01 9:38 am

Re: What we'd want from an ultrathin(/light)

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