“MacScoop has obtained reports from sources believed to be very reliable, claiming that Apple is developing a smaller and ultra-thin form-factor MacBook Pro,” Alexandros Roussos reports for MacScoop.
“The new laptop should be even thinner and weigh less than the current models in the MacBook Pro line-up. In spite of this very tiny and lightweight form-factor, the miniaturized MacBook Pro should keep its built-in optical drive and sport a dual-core processor, providing unequalled size/performance ratio in the PC industry, sources told MacScoop,” Roussos reports.
“As it was claimed in former reports we obtained, Apple should use the 12 inch form factor while the use of ‘widescreen’ a aspect ratio sounds obvious,” Roussos reports. “Sources added that the exact price tag for this product is not defined yet, but discussions with people who are very well informed on Apple’s pricing strategy for current and forthcoming products brought us in the conclusion that Apple’s new laptop could be priced in the $1700~$1800 range… current information makes us believe that the ultra-thin MacBook Pro shouldn’t be expected before February 2007.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Does “Ultra-thin” mean “flash-based?”
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Jonathan Ive talks Apple design, including flash memory-based Macs – November 27, 2006
Solid-state NAND Flash hard drives inch closer to portable computers – July 26, 2006
Samsung launches 32GB Flash disk in 1.8-inch form factor for portable computers – March 21, 2006
Intel demos NAND flash memory laptops – March 08, 2006
Flash memory poised to replace hard disk drives? – September 14, 2005
Ultra-thin + flash based = memory in multiples of 2? 32, 64, 96, 128GB? Then use that fancy SI unit to non-SI unit conversion and that comes out to a perfect 30, 60, 90, and 120 gigs.
Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease be true! I need this, I travel so much that the lighter and smaller the better!
Does “Ultra-thin” mean “flash-based?”
It would seem plausible… eliminating the harddisk removes not just its own bulk but also allows for a thinner battery – which can also spread into the space formerly occupied by the harddisk.
The primary issue would be the price of flash storage, and it’s not a trivial one at this point…
Small? Flash-based HD?? Dual core??? I’m more than willing to pay the premium.
I’m sure Apple is ALWAYS working on a “thinner-lighter” MacBook(Pro).
Does “Ultra-thin” mean “flash-based?”
Not to be confused with flash mobbed.
Perfect. Now make a diagonal widescreen iPod phone with a slide out thumb keyboard a la mylo and all will be right with the world.
Dell, HP, Sony…fire up your copy departments.
At this price range ($1700-$1800), I’m afraid the “ultra-thin” MBP will sport an iPod-like HDD (1.8″, 80GB). But I hope that the next Mac line will get a very fast flash-based boot-up.
If Kevin Rose hasn’t blessed this rumor with a liberal dose of beer, I just won’t beleive it.
Who will this laptop be targetted to?
Outside from the obhious price difference.. I think this might take away customers from the MacBook ( those interested in good battery life, light, highly portable ) and that would not be a wise business move.
Now if this was to be the first look at the next version of MacBook Pro, then this would make at least some sense.
if it would be flashed based, it will be very expensive. for reference, 64GB flash memory notebook is over $1000 which Samsung was made before. today, 64GB is not enough. if it is 128GB, you should pay $2000 or little less. but no thank to me. I’d better replace my HD with 200GB capacity. it’s around $300. much cheaper, huge space. it will be experiment rather than Apple really wants to sell many of them. I bet Apple will introduce 12.1 inch macbook pro with HDD. then the price will be around $1500 ~ $1800. if so, I will consider to buy it.
Yes, I’d consider selling my brand new C2D MBP 15″ for a 12. I would have purchased the MB Black if only it didn’t have shared graphics.
To: Does not make sense who asks: “Who will this laptop be targetted to? “
Me!!
I was ticked I had to buy the bigger 15″ And the thought of it adding poundage to my travel bags was just ticking me off. Didn’t need the wide screen.
And it better have backlit keys like the rest of the pro line this time.
If it’s true: 15″ MacBook Pro For Sale!
didn’t apple also call the nacbook ultra thin
if they use the flash based Solid Driver, I prefer they will release a UMPC with 4.5 inch screen, just like SONY UX series.
if they release a pro machine, I prefer they really focus on PERFORMANCE!
as i type this on my precious 12″PBG4, i can only say that i would be all over this thing like borat on his sister.
When I looked at the specs, as between the ibook and the G4 PowerBooks, I picked the 12″ PowerBook, because it can be paired with an extra monitor AND does not have integrated graphics. I bought another one when my daughter gave up on the PC laptop one day, and made off with my computer. There was no contest; I wouldn’t even consider the 15″. After all, the 12″ plugs into a large monitor too. And you can carry the 12″ with one hand.
Now I’ve got a MacBook, which I have sold to a friend who wants me to set up a wireless system for him and show him how to use the Mac. I won’t replace it with another MacBook.
If Apple comes out with a viable replacement for the G4 12″, put me down for two. I can do without a modem and ethernet…wireless and an Extreme Airport does it for me. A removeable hard drive would be really nice, not to mention 811n and a built in Elgato tv hybrid. Put in a cable connector to replace the ethernet port. Be inventive. And, they can always come out with a 12″ MacBook. Why not? Their increasing laptop sales volume requires a broadened product line to give consumers more choice, and would result in substantially increased sales.
Did anyone read the CIO magazine with Halamka’s comments. I’m sure Apple wouldn’t mind having CareGroups business.
I might have been a bit hasty about the Ethernet thing, but I’ve been using wireless since Apple’s first Airport and Farallon’s jump from 2 to 11 mbps. No one of my computers uses the Ethernet port. But, now that the modem port has been dropped, what about an external ethernet gismo too, maybe plugged into a firewire port? As for lighted keyboard, nice, but not necesary for touch typists. Maybe a built-in battery to provide power while the removable battery is being switched. Maybe even a combined removable battery and hard drive?
Ugh… I hope not. The current ones are the perfect size. Too thin is just sickening.
As far as I have managed to assess, flash memory wears out after around 1 million read write cycles so if these MBPs have flash drives how long do you think it would take before you are looking for a new drive replacement?
Personally I would only consider buying one of these if someone comes up with a new more hard wearing alernative to Flash memory that for example used “Quantum Well” technology or when replacement flash drives become a lot cheaper to buy.
Maybe as someone suggested above the iPod hard drives would be a great alternative to Flash memory.
What would be great is for the flash drive to have an identical shape, connector cabling and size to an iPod hard drive so you had the choice which you wanted in your MBP
Either way. A smaller lighter MBP would be sweet. Especially for outdoor photographers or Musicians on tour.
This thing isn’t coming out until Santa Rosa proves itself in the market first.
There’s no cheap way Apple will be able to integrate a Vista-level performer into the subnotebook market at the 1700-1800$ price point until Santa Rosa proves its multimedia performance. And I say Vista-level performer, because the powerbooks have always been powerhouses; Apple must maintain the performance reputation for these notebooks now that they’re the MacBook Pros.
Really. Think about it. MacBookPros get really hot, as in hotter than Macbooks for two reasons (other than apple’s typical difficulty with TDP):
1. tight, thin, metal case
2. GPU, GPU, GPU, GPU. Very nice, very HOT, GPUs.
The closest to a flash-based notebook from Apple we’ll see in the near future is Santa Rosa with the flash-on-board buffer.
MDN, stop being retarded.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I love my 12″ G4 aluminum powerbook. It is, without a doubt, the best and coolest Mac portable I have ever owned. Make it even smaller and pop an Intel Core 2 Duo in that baby and I’m in heaven!
An ultra-thin MacBook Pro is just not worth it. There isn’t a market for it other than it’s lighter, smaller, and cool looking. However, there would be no room for growth in a laptop of this form factor (just look at all the other laptops with this tiny form factor).
No, I think an Apple PDA is imminent.
Uses the 80GB iPod drive..
“Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease be true! I need this, I travel so much that the lighter and smaller the better!”
Relax, hipster, we’ll tell you when it’s ready.
At $1700+, it would be a bit pricey for a 12″ laptop. Let’s hope Apple prices it lower.
I agree with alansky, who said
… I love my 12″ G4 aluminum powerbook. It is, without a doubt, the best and coolest Mac portable I have ever owned!…
I have topped out model PB G4 1.5GHz 1.25 GB RAM.
I do like the vertical height, which is more useful than horizontal. In this respect, the 12″ is bigger than the 13″ MacBook. Nobody notices that?
The keyboard is great, performance is good and trackpad is superior to the MacBook. Aluminum skin does not do as well with Airport reception, but is ok, compared to plastic MacBook.
If people have problems with it, go to powerbookmedic.com and just get it fixed, upgrade the RAM for sure, maybe get bigger HD. Mine is 80.
In the meantime, if you want an excellent Mac, rather than a MacBook, I recommend the best choice is to simply buy a G4 PowerBook 12″ , particularly if size is a concern. The Intel chip doesn’t do that much for much of what one actually uses a computer for, e.g. browsing the net, writing letters, etc.
I simply refuse to believe that Apple isn’t going to satisfy the users who are extremely happy campers with the 12″ PowerBook, but might upgrade if they had a better choice. And it you want a big screen, then get a big monitor, and save yourself a bundle. Something not mentioned is the speakers in the PowerBook are way better than the MacBook, in which they are almost totally inadequate.
By now Apple will have heard lots on this subject, and must also realize that the small computer is not impossible; they’ve done it before. Next time, they could incorporate novel some features that people want, such as the tv input I suggested above. But the 4:3 ratio is what I really like about the small computer, given that most users are using Word, a horizontally challended application. Face it, vertical space is a preference; if I want to watch a movie, I plug into a larger monitor. And I want good speakers that produce sufficient sound to be heard.
Macbook Nano?
Ironic keyword “Perhaps?”
This is exactly what i have been waiting for. I sold my 12″ ibook with the hopes of grabbing a 12″ Macbook Pro Intel, but alas… still waiting. I use it to run a digital projector, check email, ical sync, browse, and unload photos from my digi. An 80 gig ipod drive would be fine for me, with 1 gig RAM, bluetooth/wireless. I dont even care if it has an internal CD drive, an accessory would be great if it could be as thin and light as possible. Bring it on and I’ll order 2 if it’s reasonably priced.
Amazing! I always tell to my frinds, my dream mac its a 12ich with titanium… wow amazing, i hate the macbook… so cheap… but i love small things in tech… i defenily buy it if appear.
12 inches? Why would anyone want a Mac that doesn’t work with Aperture?
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