[macfantn]

is there really going to be a sub notebook tomorrow? do we really want a computer with no ports? hmmmm I wish tomorrow would hurry up and get here.

[ghporter]

We'll know some time during the keynote. Anything else is speculation (even if it's accurate).

[Andy8]

Originally Posted by macfantn 

do we really want a computer with no ports?

You may not, but I would love one

[rickey939]

I'd rather have a computer with no HD, no ports, keyboard, or memory personally.

[macfantn]

how would you sync an ipod (not the touch or iphone) without a usb port? right now i have no computer (ibook died) and I have a shuffle which I use and an iphone. I still need to be able to sync the shuffle, as this will be my only machine.

[nonhuman]

Maybe they'll also introduce a WiFi/Bluetooth dock.

[SirCastor]

In many ways, I can see this being a cool device. In other ways though, I have to say that I think this kind of product would be a disaster.

I imagine that it would come with a cube/strip/brick type object which would be 802.11 enabled. So you'd plug your stuff into that, and that would talk to your computer.

A sub notebook is a product for a very specialized group of people, and the people outside of that group don't quite follow that a subnotebook is not the same as a regular laptop. Just as Macfantn said "This would be my only machine", that's how a lot would look at it. Even knowing the lack or ports or the like, they would buy it, and find themselves disillusioned or frustrated because unless you pack up everything, Your computer is a fancy expensive typewriter.

I don't want to see a product like this come out of Apple. It just seems like a bit of a dead end. When I look at the concept of a subnotebook vs a smaller smart device, I see the playout between the Newton and the eMate. Maybe it'll be the iPhone and the AirBook.

[mathew_m]

Any sub-notebook that Apple releases will have at least usb ports. Firewire is more uncertain however since most video cameras still use it for downloading footage it would be stupid for Apple to lose it all together. Now if Apple were to release a tablet Mac that didn't have a keyboard then I could see the possibility of losing all ports except for a dock connector and headphone jack.

While I think any sub-notebook that Apple announces will tie into the "air" theme, it won't be the key device. The more I think about it, I believe this "Air" device will be a network server of some sort. Think airport extreme except with an array of hard drives. It will be primarily aimed at users who only own a laptop as their main computer or those with multiple systems. It's one thing to share data but to have complete access and control over media without having to store it on a small laptop drive would make transitioning to solid state more painless.

So to sum it up: I think we'll see a sub-notebook that will weigh less than a pound and about a half inch thick. To achieve that size they will lose the optical drive and the mechanical hard drive. A 32gig SSD will come standard, big enough to hold the OS. I'm also thinking that there will be slots for users to stick multiple SSD drives into for increased storage. Now here's how it all ties together: Obviously SSD is still expensive and it would be impractical to try to store a typical users whole media library onto. In comes the "Air", Apple's new media server. You'll store all of your media that you're currently not using onto the terabyte of internal storage. The Air will act as a hub that you can either access with usb2 or wirelessly using whatever new tech that Apple has implemented. The Air will simply show up as another drive on your desktop that you can access whenever you are plugged in or within wireless range of. Speed will be an issue but since it will be primarily aimed at storing media, you'll be mostly streaming content. Editing content might be an issue but this is more or less a consumer device so if you're editing say photos only the images you're currently editing will be stored on your ultra-thin laptop. Video editing would be a bit more complicated and is really the only problem area I see with the device.

[ort888]

Good thing there isn't a thread where this is already being discussed at length...

[Dakar the Fourth]

Originally Posted by ort888 

Good thing there isn't a thread where this is already being discussed at length...

I hear that.

[goMac]

I hope it's not true. The Macbook Air is a horrible name.

Actually the horrible name probably means it is true.

[olePigeon]

Some people are saying WiMax support. Some are saying it's just another iPhone thing (like their release in Europe.)

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by olePigeon 

Some people are saying WiMax support. Some are saying it's just another iPhone thing (like their release in Europe.)

I seriously doubt that since the iPhone doesn't even support 3G do to shitty coverage Apple would stick WiMax into a product next to nobody will have access to.