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A Few Baaaaaad Apples
SONET writes: "Why aren't all laptops made like this? I'm always putting my lappie in my otherwise empty briefcase. Even if it's just Photoshop/GIMP vapor, I really like the idea of a more rugged shell ... and the design is exceptionally clean. I know there are ruggedized laptops for the military and the like, but they really aren't for the average consumer as I envision something like this could be. The page is in Japanese, but the images really speak for themselves." I'm assuming it's just a mockup, the nicer to be proved wrong about ;) For the Exacto knife-and-firesale crowd though, an anonymous reader whispers that "Some guy modded his G4 Cube to have a Propaganda tile mapped inside the case. Looks excellent. That it does.
They don't make 'em like that because very few people want one that ruggedized - therefore you can't sell enough to make the assembly line worth running. It costs a pretty penny to make a machine that tough - and laptops already cost more than desktops to begin with. Panasonic pretty much owns the rugged nighe right now with the ToughBooks, and Dolch (are they still around?) used to make some awesomely tough luggables that could be folded away easily but weren't really laptops (they mainly ran off AC, though I think they did a laptop or two).
Most consumers want a small, light portable computer which pretty much eliminates ruggedness from the design (the current iBook and a few others being partial exceptions to the rule). You make up the difference with padding - ie, a really nice tote that provides the extra protection. It's a good enough compromise for most.
-- Josh Turiel
"2. Do not eat iPod Shuffle."
What, are we going back to the old 1980s Compaq portables? That is ugly and nerdy. My laptop is half an inch thick, so I can carry it around by itself.
Besides, I use my laptop at home a lot (almost exclusively, since I got my wireless setup). Why would I want that ugly thing on my coffee table??
1. No PC card slots.
2. Can't drive an external monitor at high resolution (1024x768). Apple has intentionally crippled this computer and it's a shame.
As to the TiBook, sorry, it is overpriced. I'll even agree that the G4 is twice as fast as an equivalent x86. That makes it equal to the 800-1ghz range. A Dell with 1600x1200 screen, FireWire, ethernet, and wireless networking can be had in that range for $600 less than the Ti.
Don't worry, you aren't missing much. The new iBook can only drive an external display at 1024x768, and no higher, even though the ATI video chip supports much higher resolutions.
Why? Because Apple intentionally crippled it to make you buy the TiBook. Unlike Dell, Apple can't justify the cost of the higher end with faster chips (they don't exist), so they have to cripple the low end to make the top end look good. Shameful. Makes me sad to be a shareholder.