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Hawkeye_a · Mar 11, 2009, 09:50 AM

There's been a lot of rumors flying around about an Apple product with a 10" touch screen LCD lately. So if this is for a new product or Apple's netbook, what do you guys think it will be ?

Here's my opinion....
-10" touchscreen LED LCD w/ multitouch. widescreen display
-16-32GB flash memory
-Full desktop version of OSX, with wireless disk access similar to the MBA or via the external super drive via USB
-Wireless complete (WiFi, BlueTooth, 3G SIM)
-iSight w/ microphone
-1 USB port, headphone, magsafe
-Keyboard/Mouse (touch screen, BT or USB)
-Motion sensor, with support for portrait and landscape operation.
-between .5" and .67" thick

Name... MacBook Mini ?

What do you guys reckon ?

Cheers

Hg2491 · Mar 11, 2009, 10:12 AM

There's an article on Engadget.

I go for MacBook Nano.

SSharon · Mar 11, 2009, 10:56 AM

I don't think it will have 3G and I give it a 50/50 shot at best that it is touchscreen.

If it happens, it will be like any other netbook, but with OS X. I'm not expecting any breakthroughs or killer features.

What if it is treated as a glorified iphone and you need or have the option of syncing it with itunes? I could imagine something like this not only letting you manage media on its smaller drive, but also used for backup.

Dakar V · Mar 11, 2009, 10:59 AM

I can't wait til this thing comes out, costs more than a base mini and everyone cries about it as they hand Apple their credit card.

Eug · Mar 11, 2009, 11:06 AM

If they can do it with a half-decent keyboard, a VGA output, and a reasonable price, I'm in.

P.S. Isn't this in the wrong forum?

SSharon · Mar 11, 2009, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by Dakar V

I can't wait til this thing comes out, costs more than a base mini and everyone cries about it as they hand Apple their credit card.

If this comes out and costs as much as a base macbook - and I wouldn't be surprised if this happens - I think people will have a decent reason to cry. Why they then vote the other way with their wallet and buy the product I just don't know.

Dakar V · Mar 11, 2009, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by SSharon

If this comes out and costs as much as a base macbook - and I wouldn't be surprised if this happens - I think people will have a decent reason to cry. Why they then vote the other way with their wallet and buy the product I just don't know.

I'm sure many of us thought the same thing when the MacBook Air came out, and we can see how much effect that had.

Hg2491 · Mar 11, 2009, 11:15 AM

Shouldn't a netbook have a prince tag between 400-800 USD?

Hawkeye_a · Mar 11, 2009, 11:16 AM

As strange as this may sound..... given the current crop of netbooks from current vendors, i dont feel the want/need to buy any of them at any price point. IMO, there's just absolutely nothing compelling about them. They just seem to be stripped down, low end, drive-less cheap notebooks. I'd rather pay 2X-3X the price and get a full featured laptop.

if all they do is mirror what other vendors have done with better industrial design and OSX, i can't see myself wanting that either.

If such a deice is released, i think $799 would be a reasonable asking price given the feature set i've described above. more than an iphone, but cheaper than the macbook, with better portability. they do run the risk of cannibalizing macbook sales if the price is too low.

Also i think it would be cool to market the device at a discounted price if purchased with an iMac/MacPro, as a companion portable device.

SSharon · Mar 11, 2009, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by Hg2491

Shouldn't a netbook have a prince tag between 400-800 USD?

only if you believe other products like the Apple 30" display should cost as much as the dell 30".

Eug · Mar 11, 2009, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by Hg2491

Shouldn't a netbook have a prince tag between 400-800 USD?

More like $299 - $699.

turtle777 · Mar 11, 2009, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by Hg2491

Shouldn't a netbook have a prince tag between 400-800 USD?

With 3G, touchscreen and running OS X, no way.

-t

Mrjinglesusa · Mar 11, 2009, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by Hawkeye_a

Name... MacBook Mini ?

What do you guys reckon ?

Cheers

Originally Posted by Hg2491

I go for MacBook Nano.

I'm thinking more along the lines of Mac Air Mini. Same form factor, same features, just smaller.

Eug · Mar 11, 2009, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by Hawkeye_a

Name... MacBook Mini ?

Originally Posted by Hg2491

I go for MacBook Nano.

Originally Posted by Mrjinglesusa

I'm thinking more along the lines of Mac Air Mini.

MacBook Wheel

Hg2491 · Mar 11, 2009, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by Hawkeye_a

If such a deice is released, i think $799 would be a reasonable asking price given the feature set i've described above. more than an iphone, but cheaper than the macbook, with better portability. they do run the risk of cannibalizing macbook sales if the price is too low.

Making the price close to the MacBook's will not make sense either. Why give 700 USD when I can get a full-feature portable for 300 more? Only a person in the need of a small computer will actually acquire one.

Originally Posted by Hawkeye_a

Also i think it would be cool to market the device at a discounted price if purchased with an iMac/MacPro, as a companion portable device.

Really good idea. That way you'd be getting a full-feature desktop and a stripped down portable for hitting the road.

Originally Posted by Hawkeye_a

If they can do it with a half-decent keyboard, a VGA output, and a reasonable price, I'm in.

Do other netbooks sport a video output?

goMac · Mar 11, 2009, 11:43 AM

I think a netbook would be a great idea, as long as it's $500 or less.

I see a lot of them here on campus, and I know a few places that would buy huge orders of them...

turtle777 · Mar 11, 2009, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by Hg2491

Do other netbooks sport a video output?

I dunno, my guess would be no.

See, this is so typical for Apple fanbois.

They want a Netbook with all this nice things added to it, plus Apple's high quality of design and materials, but for the the price of an el-cheapo Netbook. WTF ?

-t

osiris · Mar 11, 2009, 11:48 AM

I think Apple will call it something else - not a netbook, not a tablet, but something different to justify the obscene price it will be. And it'll have one fundamentally fatal flaw - no USB.

Eug · Mar 11, 2009, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by Hg2491

Making the price close to the MacBook's will not make sense either. Why give 700 USD when I can get a full-feature portable for 300 more? Only a person in the need of a small computer will actually acquire one.

Well, IMO it would make more sense than spending way more to get an Air.

Do other netbooks sport a video output?

Originally Posted by turtle777

I dunno, my guess would be no.

See, this is so typical for Apple fanbois.

They want a Netbook with all this niece things added to it, plus Apple's high quality of design and materials, but for the the price of an el-cheapo Netbook. WTF ?

Uh, a video output is pretty much standard on netbooks, even ones that are $299. In fact, every single one I have seen in person has had a video output, and I have seen more than a dozen.

Dakar V · Mar 11, 2009, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by osiris

I think Apple will call it something else - not a netbook, not a tablet, but something different to justify the obscene price it will be. And it'll have one fundamentally fatal flaw - no USB.

Honestly, I could see it being like a buttonless kindle (save for a power button). A thin oversize iPhone, really.

turtle777 · Mar 11, 2009, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by Eug

Well, IMO it would make more sense than spending way more to get an Air.

What video ?

VGA ?
S-Video ?
Composite ?

-t

Eug · Mar 11, 2009, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

What video ?

VGA ?
S-Video ?
Composite ?

VGA of course.

shifuimam · Mar 11, 2009, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by Hg2491

Do other netbooks sport a video output?

Yes. They all offer VGA or mini DisplayPort (I think the newest Dell Mini 10 has DisplayPort).

I doubt Apple is going to release a netbook. They're simply not in the market of making low-cost hardware, and the main appeal of a netbook is its price. The size and price together are what make it such a good deal. I would expect Apple to come out with something more along the lines of Sony's not-quite-a-netbook, which starting at $899 is far above the top of the price range for netbooks. I will be very surprised if Apple comes out with a netbook-type laptop for under $699.

ort888 · Mar 11, 2009, 12:12 PM

My prediction?

Everyone's else's Netbook = $299
Apples Netbook = $999

Hg2491 · Mar 11, 2009, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by Eug

Well, IMO it would make more sense than spending way more to get an Air.

But the MacBook Air is nothing like a netbook. It's a luxury portable. Nothing less, hence the price.

osiris · Mar 11, 2009, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar V

Honestly, I could see it being like a buttonless kindle (save for a power button). A thin oversize iPhone, really.

Exactly. It has to be something very unique.

Hg2491 · Mar 11, 2009, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by ort888

My prediction?

Everyone's else's Netbook = $299
Apples Netbook = $999

$990 -- The white MacBook gets the $999 price tag

goMac · Mar 11, 2009, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by shifuimam

I doubt Apple is going to release a netbook. They're simply not in the market of making low-cost hardware, and the main appeal of a netbook is its price. The size and price together are what make it such a good deal. I would expect Apple to come out with something more along the lines of Sony's not-quite-a-netbook, which starting at $899 is far above the top of the price range for netbooks. I will be very surprised if Apple comes out with a netbook-type laptop for under $699.

Well, if they did, the form factor would force them to use cheaper hardware. No way you're cramming a Core 2 Duo in a netbook. If you do it's not going to be a very high clock speed at least...

Hg2491 · Mar 11, 2009, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar V

Honestly, I could see it being like a buttonless kindle (save for a power button). A thin oversize iPhone, really.

How exactly would you grab the hold of such a device?

Hg2491 · Mar 11, 2009, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by shifuimam

Yes. They all offer VGA or mini DisplayPort (I think the newest Dell Mini 10 has DisplayPort).

I thought mini DisplayPort was only used by Apple. The Dell Mini 10 has a DHMI out port.

shifuimam · Mar 11, 2009, 12:58 PM

Oh, that's right. It's got HDMI.

My bad.

ort888 · Mar 11, 2009, 01:06 PM

Really I think the Apple netbook is the MacBook Air. I would be surprised to see Apple bother with that segment of the market.

I mean, if the best pricing they can muster up for the Mac Mini is $599, I wouldn't expect much from them.

If anything, we might see a 10" version of the Air, but it will almost certainly come with a premium price.

Hawkeye_a · Mar 11, 2009, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by Hg2491

Do other netbooks sport a video output?

I didnt recommend video out.

And i dont think video out would be a good idea for such a device(in fact that would require a capable video card which would drive up the price unnecessarily). that feature would be best suited on a MacBook/Pro and would be a good differentiator between the two lines.

Also, i agree with DakarV... an oversized iPhone capable or running the desktop OSX would be great.
(a USB port and no contract(just pop in a SIM card or whatever for 3G access)).

Dakar V · Mar 11, 2009, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by Hg2491

How exactly would you grab the hold of such a device?

How do you hold a kindle or an iPhone? Save the emoticon for yourself.

Hg2491 · Mar 11, 2009, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar V

How do you hold a kindle or an iPhone? Save the emoticon for yourself.

On the iPhone/ iPod Touch one can only the with the tumbs. Do you think it's going to be comfortable to drive a computer with thumbs only? Maybe if it got keys on either side of the screen, instead of the bottom.

nonhuman · Mar 11, 2009, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by Hg2491

On the iPhone/ iPod Touch one can only the with the tumbs. Do you think it's going to be comfortable to drive a computer with thumbs only? Maybe if it got keys on either side of the screen, instead of the bottom.

People use their thumbs to work an iPhone? I usually hold mine in my left hand and use my entire right hand to work with it. I've gotten pretty fast at two fingered typing (index and middle) that way.

Laminar · Mar 11, 2009, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar V

How do you hold a kindle or an iPhone? Save the emoticon for yourself.

Hg2491 · Mar 11, 2009, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by nonhuman

People use their thumbs to work an iPhone? I usually hold mine in my left hand and use my entire right hand to work with it. I've gotten pretty fast at two fingered typing (index and middle) that way.

Really? I hold the iPod with all fingers of both hands, minus the thumbs which I use to type.

xD

nonhuman · Mar 11, 2009, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by Hg2491

Really? I hold the iPod with all fingers of both hands, minus the thumbs which I use to type.

xD

Huh. I find my thumbs to be horrible inaccurate for pointing. I get much better speed and accuracy using fingers, plus I find it much more comfortable. The only time I use my thumbs is if I need to use it one handed, or if I'm reading a book in the Kindle for iPhone app (use my thumb to swipe the pages).

Although I also use BlackBerries in a non-standard way: hold them in my left and and use my index finger for the scroll wheel. Just works a lot better for me.

Laminar · Mar 11, 2009, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by nonhuman

Huh. I find my thumbs to be horrible inaccurate for pointing. I get much better speed and accuracy using fingers, plus I find it much more comfortable. The only time I use my thumbs is if I need to use it one handed, or if I'm reading a book in the Kindle for iPhone app (use my thumb to swipe the pages).

Although I also use BlackBerries in a non-standard way: hold them in my left and and use my index finger for the scroll wheel. Just works a lot better for me.

Do you type with it horizontally or vertically?

nonhuman · Mar 11, 2009, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by Laminar

Do you type with it horizontally or vertically?

Usually vertically. I dislike having the keyboard take up so much of the screen when holding it horizontally.

Andrew Stephens · Mar 11, 2009, 03:53 PM

I don't see Apple producing a conventional netbook at all. everything they do is based around innovating in new segments. If they do produce a device with a 10 in screen it will be touch only, like a big iPhone rather than having a keyboard.

Then we can all whine on about how stupid Apple can be, how you can't type on it and how big Apples cash mountain seems to be growing.

Hawkeye_a · Mar 11, 2009, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by Andrew Stephens

I don't see Apple producing a conventional netbook at all. everything they do is based around innovating in new segments. If they do produce a device with a 10 in screen it will be touch only, like a big iPhone rather than having a keyboard.

I agree with this completely actually. a conventional netbook would not be good for profit margins nor volume sales for Apple imo. Apple should sell a solution.

Hg2491 · Mar 11, 2009, 04:49 PM

Dakar, I tried holding an 10-inch HP netbook like I hold my iPod and it's not that uncomfortable. I even pretended to touch-type and my thumbs made it to the center of the device. To sum it up: You were right, I was wrong

.

And what's the matter with emoticons?

rogermugs · Mar 12, 2009, 06:39 AM

no hard drive, no ram, no drive, just touchscreen. go apple.

Railroader · Mar 12, 2009, 07:00 AM

Originally Posted by Hg2491

Dakar, I tried holding an 10-inch HP netbook like I hold my iPod and it's not that uncomfortable. I even pretended to touch-type and my thumbs made it to the center of the device. To sum it up: You were right, I was wrong

.

And what's the matter with emoticons?

The "screwy" one is pretty insulting.

shifuimam · Mar 12, 2009, 07:41 AM

An Apple device with a 10" touchscreen is getting into UMPC territory, like the OQO or the Samsung Q1.

Boyfriend has a Q1, and I've been playing around with it. It's fun, and I found an app that provides a very usable on-screen keyboard, but I much, much, much prefer my netbook to the Q1.

The whole point behind a netbook is using it as a small Internet device. Easy text input is necessary for something primarily used for chatting and email and other similar stuff, and you just can't type as quickly on a touch screen as you can on a real keyboard (if you know how to touch type, that is). I can hammer out emails pretty quickly on my iPhone, but it's still crap compared to a standard keyboard.

Not to mention that UMPCs are still astronomically expensive for the hardware specs. A 10" touch device from Apple would likely be above a thousand dollars, which completely puts it out of the netbook market and, with the Air already for sale, isn't so likely to happen (IMO). Apple centers around premium pricing. The netbook market is the opposite of that.

shifuimam · 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by Hawkeye_a

As strange as this may sound..... given the current crop of netbooks from current vendors, i dont feel the want/need to buy any of them at any price point. IMO, there's just absolutely nothing compelling about them. They just seem to be stripped down, low end, drive-less cheap notebooks. I'd rather pay 2X-3X the price and get a full featured laptop.

It really just depends on what you do. I gave my HP Mini Note to my boyfriend, and he loves it. I don't think he would have previously considered a netbook, but after realizing that he doesn't really need an optical drive all the time, he much prefers the Mini Note for pretty much everything now.

It's fast enough for everything but gaming, and the screen is adequate for most applications...even some light Photoshop work. I hardly ever use my $2k XPS M1330 anymore unless I want to play a graphics-intensive game.

I think you'd be surprised...I don't know anyone who's bought a netbook and regretted it.

nonhuman · Mar 12, 2009, 07:51 AM

I don't really know what Apple's up to, but I will say that their recent ordering of all those 10" LCDs has convinced me to put my purchase of a Kindle 2 on hold just in case. Not that I really expect Apple to release a tablet/10" iPod touch/eBook reader, but I got to at least see what happens!

OreoCookie · Mar 12, 2009, 08:14 AM

I'd be interested to know what usage Apple has in mind and how much cpu horsepower this thing has. If Apple uses ARM's new 4-core chip, it could be suitable for light desktop usage even. The presence of a touchscreen indicates to me that it may run the iPhone's flavor of OS X instead of the desktop version.

I wouldn't mind exchanging my ProBook for an iMac and a mobile ultra light platform to take notes and transport (some of my) data.