“A tiny sub-notebook on its way from Apple Inc. is expected to re-establish the Mac maker as a leader in the field of compact computing while drawing parallels to the legendary PowerBook 2400 along the way,” Kasper Jade reports for AppleInsider.
Jade reports, “It’s been nearly ten years since the Cupertino-based company dabbled in the realm of sub-notebooks, but for a stint of several years in the early-to-mid ’90s, its PowerBook series help set the benchmark for ultraportable computing as we see it today.”
“It’s almost uncanny that Jobs, nearly ten years from the day the PowerBook 2400 first saw light, will revitalize Apple’s footprint in the sub-notebook sector with a petite MacBook that promises to be everything a modern day 2400 should be, and much, much more,” Jade reports.
Jade reports, “This new tiny MacBook, people familiar with the project say, remains in development ahead of its target launch date around the time WWDC rolls around mid-year. It will be both lighter and more compact than any other Mac portable Apple has put forth in recent years, bundling a display of similarly smaller proportions.”
“Also setting the new model aside from its existing counterparts, those same people say, may be the conspicuous absence of an optical disc drive. Although Apple’s original plans for the notebook called for its inclusion, reports are that the daunting ergonomics have recently driven company engineers to make a concession,” Jade reports. “At the same time, the new MacBook model is expected to introduce some features not yet available with Apple’s existing notebook offerings, such as onboard NAND flash.”
More in the full article here.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
RUMOR: Ultra-thin, ultra-portable, 12-inch Apple MacBook Pro heading to market? – December 20, 2006
RUMOR: Apple plans lightweight, ultra-thin MacBook Pro with 12-inch widescreen – December 04, 2006
Uhoh, now Microsoft is going to have to announce its own sub notebook, a brown one
MDN = Rumor-a-Day.
Yeap, a sub-notebook is the logical product between a iPhone/Tablet and the first MacBook. Target : frequent business travellers, for whom a iPhone/Tablet would be too small (keyboard & display sizes issues) and a MacBookPro too large (too much restrictions on hand-carry stuff in airplanes today). Features set : state-of-the-art connectivity (i.e. WiFi, BlueTooth, FireWire, USB), storage capacity (i.e. internal Flash memory, plus PCMCIA extension slots). On the software side, Apple has everything we need to get connected to the Internet and the Intranets for backup, networking, and file sharing.
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Plus, if we start using Web 2.0 collaborative apps (e.g. BaseCamp, Cogehead, Slides, etc.), why would we need to have our files on our machines ? Provide me with a connection to the Internet, and I will run my Keynote presentation for you
When I needed a new phone recently I tried to find one with no camera (I have one), no MP3 player (I have 3 iPods), no games, just a phone and agenda. It was impossible. What I like about this rumour is that it sounds like I could now get an iPhone without the phone (I have one) and without the camera (I still have one). Small, lightweight, portable internet and email package, with iTunes and movies, with a screen size that is a bit more comfortable than the iPhone. Sometimes less is more.
With Apple’s notbook success, there should be plenty of optimism surrounding both the 15.4″ MB, and a sub-compact.
People love notebooks, what can ya say!
…scratch that, I meant “sub-notebook”, not the Hyundai Accent.
Me also want! Seeing as how I began my Mac using with the Mac Plus, circa, 1986, with a 9″ black/white screen, I would LOVE a small MacBook (or Pro – YES, I would love the dedicated graphics also). Don’t need nary CD/DVD ROM drive. I almost never use the one on my present PowerBook, and if absolutely necessary, could use an external and plug it in to one of those ports, what was it? BSU, or something like that…
MDN Magic Word: “lot”, as in if Apple comes out with one of these, they will sell a LOT of them… at least one to me.
a “Tablet Mac” ??
There already is one …
“Huh ??” .. you say ??
Yup… sure is …. You can see it .. Here
If this baby ever sees the light of day, I’m sure it will serve equally well as a computer and as a piece of stunningly impressive art!
I WANT ONE!
Bring back the DUO and let us stick our MacBook Duo’s into the DuoDock and use them with full desktop capability.
Hmmm…expanded .Mac capabilities coupled with a streamlined sub-notebook could be an interesting package. Having just had to fly w/ laptop plus a carry-on, it would have been nice to have had a smaller lappy.
YAY ! Bring it on. I want one now!
I love being an Apple evangelist. Even now people stop and gawk at my 17″ powerbook and its funky aluminium case and gorgeous detail. But a tiny aluminium notebook with a huge luminous Apple logo will make me want to go and spend my weekends sitting in the airport lounge just to enjoy the Apple-envy of Dell users from around the world…
(well maybe not every weekend…)
Let’s hope this is true.
It doesn’t need an optical drive as long as it has firewire; you can attach a real drive or download from another Mac in order to move large files. I’ve never really needed an optical drive while on the road. Movies are better ripped to the hard drive (or flash drive as the case may be) and file exchange can be done with data sticks. I would consider installing software over a net connection to be a viable option except for games; my current Mac has a number of things installed this way including OmniGraffle, TurboTax and Starry Night. The only gotcha will be the small number of games (Civ 4 among them) that refuse to run unless the original disk is installed and can’t be spoofed by a disk image.
Any guess what this thing will cost with 64 Gigs of Flash in place of a hard drive?
No optical drive and a flash hard drive would mean the sub-notebook might have sub-lava temperatures.
I’m still not sure about the lack of optical drive — I’d hate to have to tote along an external drive if I need to install software when I make a purchase, and I can’t seem to get Handbrake to work right to rip any of my DVDs so I’d rather tote those along.
Other than that, I like the idea — I was hoping for a 12inch MBP before August when I’m scheduled to make a trip to Chicago, mainly so I can get some writing done while on that 4hour flight. Might be worth looking into…
Hate Optical Drives, yeah.
gee SMD or Mmm cards sticks are $25 for 1GB
Man Gee DVD suck I use Vhs
Software companys just need to be a bit smarter.
Adobe CS Photoshop etc on a SD card. Easy.
1 GB card should do it.
Me: ) PS: No money,need a job.
I love my powerbook 12inch-since they just stopped making it last year, I figure I still have a 5 year window. I have one of the original 867mhz, all I have done is put the max amount of RAM in and bought a new battery! Every upgrade has been perfect, I love using for teaching with an LCD and keynote, so i think I will buy another 12inch–1.25 mhz and wait to see how things shake out the next year or so
No Hard drive or Optical would also mean huge battery life. Might be just the thing for those long flights. If they can get one of these things to last 7 or 8 hours I would get one for certain. Just link to a Mac Mini for heavy duty disk access or go wireless.