Senior analyst Gene Munster of research firm Piper Jaffray “believes the company is preparing to introduce a new smaller laptop that uses the iPhone’s multi-touch technology, a move he says would serve as a strategic extension for Apple’s current technology base,” MacNN reports.
“‘We believe the likelihood of Apple launching an ultraportable Mac in the next 4-6 months is high. The move could take place in the form of [a] smaller laptop and/or a tablet device using the iPhone’s multi-touch technology,’ Munster said. ‘Although we do not have firm evidence, either product would be a strategic extension of Apple’s current technology base.’ The analyst says the new notebook could come in the form of an extension of Apple’s MacBook family of laptops, incorporating a full keyboard with a small screen of 10 to 11-inches,” MacNN reports.
“Munster also suspects Apple is busy focusing its development efforts on a multi-touch tablet device only slightly larger than the iPhone. Such a device would likely include most of the features and capabilities of the iPhone, as well as broad functionality above and beyond [the capabilities of the current version of iPhone]. New features of a potential tablet would likely include data storage and the ability to save files, as well as document editing features,” MacNN reports.
Full article here.
How long will the rumors continue?
“How long will the rumors continue?”
until it happens?
Apple could do this.
Apple could do that.
Just because they could doesn’t mean they’ll want to cut into their laptop business. They’ve realized that they don’t have to market all of their ideas at once; just enough to stay ahead of the market.
As frustrating as this is it’s the new business model.
I think the Apple will replace the propagonda interface on Gene Munster with a touch screen.
Dvorak will be jealous because his M$ propoganda interface is still hyperterm.
Just my $0.02
This device would be pointless unless Apple patented a new handwriting recognition software along with the multi-touch interface.
Ultra-portable MacBook Pro: very likely
Ultra-portable multi-touch tablet: very unlikely
Ultra-portable multi-touch MacBook Pro?
Since they’re made outside of the U.S, wouldn’t that make them ultradeportable instead?
We might have to put them on ICE for awhile.
It’s called the Freakin’ MacSlate
not the Newton 2, Not the whatever else…
It’s an old rumour…
yet ONLY Apple can make it true.
I’d love to see an Apple tablet, but I think we’ll see cold fusion and the Jetson car before we see the tablet
“Freakin’ MacSlate”
Not to be confused with Freaky Mr. Slate who would make Fred work late and model women’s shoes for him in his office. Really big shoes.
OK, My copywited idea here. No patent, too expensive.
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Ultra portable Mac.
Super thin using the new blue tooth keyboard. No cd,no hard drive. Just flash memory. Has plugins for memory sticks. Internet, wireless, etc say a 12 inch screen or perhaps slightly smaller. Touch screen like the iPhone so you can work without a mouse for creative stuff. touch screen optional .
The key difference is that it is also sold with a “dock” device that sits just below the unit. You slide them together and the dock has the cd/dvd, the hard drive, extra battery power. So you get two computers. One that is a regular type laptop and the top pops out to be a ultra light. Just my idea.
en
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MDN = thinking I am thinking WAY too much.
They may call it a tablet, but it sounds like an updated Newton.
Couldn’t the keyboard be the same as the iPhone … 12 inches would give you pretty good real estate … People are quite accurate with the iPhone … imagine expanding that to a tablet
What I would like to see is a portable, like a laptop, but with only a screen (8-10 inches, widescreen) and a physical keyboard. The mouse is replaced with a multi-touch screen.
I must say that the more I use my iPod touch keyboard, the more I like it.
Apple are right, the more you use it the better it gets.
OK, all of you STOP with this rumor.
I have it on good authority that this on is true.
In fact the new Apple table is called an Applet.
If you don’t believe me, check it out. Applet’s exist. google them….
@ArchAngelNix
I agree with you all accept I would be fine with a virtual keyboard like on the iPhone. Only big enough so you could use all your fingers.
I’d love a little multi-touch “baby iMac” (with full desktop apps) that I could take on the road. No cd/dvd drive needed and maybe a small hard drive (ipod classic size) for memory.
In fact the new Apple table is called an Applet.”
It will be built by Palm for Apple and called the iFoleo.
Apple has made all these things in the labs already, you can bet. But as Wun Dum Gai (who is actually pretty smart) pointed out, Apple is not going to take this to market until the market is truly ready. Although this may seem an obvious strategy for any company, I don’t think companies follow it all the time. Think M$ for example, with their UMPC.
Personally, I hope that makes it about January 08, for MacWorld! Come on baby, make it so!
MDN: race!
@en
So, just like an old Mac Duo then?
A MacSlate or Slab or Wedge or MacSkinnyasHell would be a good thing. FireWire 400/800 and USB2 ports, headphone jack and microphone, Bluetooth and Airport… and that’s it.
It would be great if you could use a stylus, even the end of a pen, to work the screen, too.
Dedicated card reader slots are dumb. There are so many formats, it’s hard to predict what users will/won’t use/want/need. Does anyone use a card reader EVERY day? I don’t think so. Unless you do, they take up internal space that could better be used for other devices or subtracted from the whole to make the device SMALLER. Iogear makes these great $15 ($10 street) thumb-drive-like card readers.
Scroll down:
http://www.iogear.com/main.php?loc=product_category&category=usb&category_id=100