An Apple patent application (20080002350) for “Integrated monitor and docking station” published today shows an Apple portable (looks like an ultra-thin, ultra-light one – hint, hint) sliding into an Apple monitor (or iMac-type computer).
MacDailyNews Note: This patent was filed quite some time ago: on July 3, 2006 and just published today.
Apple’s Abstract:
A docking station is disclosed. The docking station includes a display and a housing configured to hold the display in a manner that exposes a viewing surface of the display to view. The housing defines a docking area configured to receive a portable computer; The docking area is at least partly obscured by the display when viewed from the viewing surface side of the display at an angle substantially orthogonal to the viewing surface.
Apple’s description:
Traditionally a portable computer docking station requires a separate external monitor to be connected (e.g., by cable) to the docking station when a display other than the integrated display of the portable computer is desired to be used with the docking station. Often a significant amount of desk space is required for placement of this docking station and separate display. Attempts have been made to conserve the required amount of desk space by allowing the external display to be stacked on top of the docking station. However, the stacked combination still occupies a large amount of space and is cumbersome to move and transport. Therefore there exists a need for a docking station and display combination that is configured in a more efficient form.
The full patent app is here.
Gizmodo has a nice image of how this might really look here.
[Attribution: Gizmodo. Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Davey” and “Linux Guy And Mac Prodigal Son” for the heads up.]
MacDailyNews Take: Aren’t we (long over)due for a new monitor lineup right about now? And an ultra-portable, too? Do you think this is something Apple might actually be pursuing or is it just a ruse intended to throw competition off-track?
Please, somebody take Ampar’s batteries out!
@Leibie: you are incorrect. Apple’s patents are usually hand-drawn like this. All the iPhone multi-touch ones were.
This looks awesome.
I need desk-space, and might I add that if that were to come out, apple can earn my $3k or what ever it might cost.
I think it’s a great idea, provided, that it still provides the option to have the portable computer on the outside with extended display mode.
Just my 2 cents but I say NO. If you want to dock something, use a cable and set it on the side, back or what ever. Hey there is an idea, make a clip so the ultra portable sits on the back of the iMac stand. A fire wire connector allows the two computers to become one. Auto sync, NO cooling problems and you have a functional desk top for the folks at home and a portable for those on the go.
Now that idea I like.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” /> HEY, wait until I patent it. Stop, its mine, you heard it here first, I have witnesses. ….. right?
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This HAS been done before… the Powerbook Duo line, back in the early 90’s. I’ve got one in “storage” someplace. LOL
http://lowendmac.com/misc/mr07/0904.html
As a sales guy/road warrior, I used a PowerBook Duo 230 for 3-4 years and had a Duodock with a 13″ Hi Res Apple display and extra hard drive, and floppy back at the office. It was a brilliant tool and offered the best of both worlds – desktop and performance laptop. I even named my hard drive BoBW.
Today, I use a PowerBook G4 on the road, a 20″ iMac in the office and for trade shows and occasionally, a POS HP laptop when a client MUST have the demo done on a Windows machine.
The current plan is to replace all three with a new Mac Book Pro, with Fusion and Win XPPro and a 23″ Cinema Display.
If this is real and imminent, an ultraportable and a 24″ iMac-like dock would be brilliant.
In fact, I think our entire sales force would be in line for this type of combo!
http://gizmodo.com/339918/apple-docking-patent-works-perfectly-with-ultra+slim-macbook
Gizmo displays a 24″ iMac with 10″ Slate – slidiing into the side of it. That would mean that all iMacs would then be updated to have a new SLOT loading SLATE adaptor… increasing the THICKNESS of the iMACs.
Plus, I have this lovely SLATE device and I am going to insert it into a iMAC? Like I need to buy that too – ouch man! Furthermore, according to Gizmo I turn the SLATE device about fave and it’s MONTIOR screen is useless.
In the hand drawn Apple sketch I envisioned a iMAC frame.
A housing unit. When the Slate device is inserted the SAME screen is used. Connecting these two devices made it like the iMAC.
Seems like an interesting idea, but it’s a very expensive solution for a simple dock. I’m sure very few people would buy one.
“If you look closely, you can see a water ring and the lounge logo on that cocktail napkin.”
Ampar that coctail ring isn’t on the napkin. You forgot to clean your Microsoft Surface touch screen table again.
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Allow the hookup of a second display and the the thing rocks. The current 17 only allows one additional display, making for an odd setup if you’re doing graphics. This alludes to a tablet in the near future, similar to an iPhone, useless at the office, but efficient when traveling. Wow! Hope it’s announced on the 15th, and in stock.
For people who can’t read drawings like this:
The iMac Shell would house a large monitor, optical drive, possibly a hard drive, speakers, ports (as shown #115).
The portable would carry the main processor (CPU), video circuitry to drive the Shell’s Monitor and the usual array of ports.
So, when the portable slides into the shell, it activates the main monitor, ports, etc., but disables it’s own internal monitor.
I think the trickiest part of this is developing some way to align and seat the ports when then portable is docked. The old MacDuo was like a giant VCR, sucking the Mac inside and making all the connections, but it used a special multi-port on the rear of the Duo.
I used to have a plastic docking station from Newer Technology (I think) that locked my PowerBook G4 in place. It was kind of cheap looking and clunky, but worked pretty well.
Certainly, if this iMac Shell concept is true, Jonathan Ive has cooked up some graceful and effective way to easily make all the connections. It looks like a great idea.
If it connects the same way the Mag-safe adapter does, then TRASH it! It’s a shame that I cannot use my awesome Macbook because the stupid power adaper connections won’t line up. I can’t even charge my iPod. Ugh! What a great design on paper that bombed in the real world…it was a was of design time. Any old power adapter should work.
I call for a recall.
Can you imagine a beowulf cluster of these?
{sry, couldn’t resist}
I see no point in this design. Just plug a display into your macbook and you are done. I call fake.
I am drooling over this because it could really fill my needs. Small and light portable for doing all the rough work on the road, then slip it into a nice 24″ or 30″ monitor to do the fine detail back at the office. Build in a 500G or 1T hard drive and I’m all over it like a cheap suit…
If you read the Patent more closely there are a few more hints at what this could possibly be… That is if this is real of course…!
Power to the Dock/Display can come from the laptop.
The base to the Dock/Display is removable.
Heavy use of Wireless (including an Apple specific flavour) is made use of throughout.
What have we got?
We have a large slate computer for use in the home that uses an ultra slim removable laptop that can travel with you when you are on the move.
IF this is not a hoax and it comes to market then I predict this will be “the next big thing” for 2008.
I can really see how this fit in with all the rumours of a tablet and an ultra portable. I love the idea of lounging on the couch with this thing playing movies or surfing the net.
Dont make me laugh SlimJim… Dell would not have imagination or the engineering expertise to bring this to market.
It is also the perfect size to slip in toast or a frozen pizza to warm up.
I don’t want to be the engineer working on this. It seems that heat would be trapped by enclosing the whole portable unless they use materials that conduct heat well and place several fans inside the dock. Liquid cooling system might be needed judging from the thickness of the display.
ChrissyOne: in Soviet Russia, the ultra-portable Mac slides into YOU! (Sorry, couldn’t resist either.)
This would actually make a lot of sense: people nowadays buy more laptops than desktops. Still, they like to use desktops at home, as indicated by the popularity of external mice and keyboards with laptops used at home. At the same time, they want to take their computer with them, which is indicated by the popularity of laptops.
This thingy would turn laptops into full-blown desktops when used at home. Genius!
I wonder if it’ll fit my old PB Duo…
LONG LIVE THE POWERBOOK DUO!
What’s a Powerbook Duo?
Hey, if this thing comes in at under $2k, it would be great for businesses. The laptop charges while docked. The dock unit/monitor has a built-in hard drive that acts as your Time Machine backup. The dock has a built-in Blu-Ray optical drive/burner that is not built-in to the Ultra-Portable.
Interesting concept as the ultra-portable could slide into the existing iMac housing – meaning, you wouldn’t be stuck with a 10″ thick monitor but retain the sleek looking iMac form for the desktop.
As notebooks are set to replace desktops in sales this year, it is a great way to give people both.
Somehow though, the Ultra Portable won’t have a separate graphics processor meaning 3D games are out of the question. It’s the only reason I use Windows now on my MBP – for games.
Having said that, I still miss my 12″ PB. What a great little machine.
Besides, people would need a docking station at work and another at home. Couples could share the docking station at home as well. Apple could make a tidy profit on something practical and easy to use. Much like the rest of their products.
Good grief. Can nobody read anymore.
READ THE ABSTRACT. LOOK AT THE DRAWINGS.
Disregard what Gizmodo is saying- they can’t read either.
“The docking station includes a display and a housing *configured to hold the display in a manner that exposes a viewing surface* of the display to view.”
This is not 2 computers- that would be ridiculous. It is a slate computer – the “display” that comes with an aluminum shell – a “housing” that is really only designed to hold the slate’s display at the right angle. The ports are on the *bottom of the slate*- the drawing shows an aluminum holder with cutouts for the slate’s display and ports.
Think of the aluminum cases you can get for the iPod nano- this is just a large “case” for a slate Mac- with the same cutouts to use the connections.
It ain’t that hard, folks.