Apple May Be Re-Entering the Sub-Notebook Market

An anonymous reader writes "AppleInsider is reporting that Apple has plans to reenter the sub-notebook market this year. The project, the article states, should be unveiled around the time of WWDC (summer). Drawing parallels to the legendary PowerBook 2400, the sub-notebook will offer some of the best elements of old and new. With a small footprint, light weight, and manageable screen it will fill a niche not currently occupied by any Apple hardware. At the same time, it will offer some new technologies that the current crop of computers do not: 'The new MacBook model is expected to introduce some features not yet available with Apple's existing notebook offerings, such as onboard NAND flash. Plans reportedly call for the notebook to be the first of the company's MacBook offerings to utilize the solid-state memory in order to improve power efficiency and facilitate near instantaneous boot times. This feature, however, had not been frozen upon last check.' Apple hopes this micro-notebook will capture interest both here in the states and in Japan, where the appeal of small consumer electronics may offset the current weak computer market."

Comments

Mac Tablets

[man_ls]

I'd be sold at nearly any price if they'd just include tablet functionality.

I'm not terribly fond of Windows (most of my apps would run under Wine or Parallels, the only Win-Only suite I really use is OneNote) but if there were a Mac replacement, I'd probably buy.

They're quick, pretty computers with easy software that doesn't get in the way.

An ultraportable tablet running an OS that stays out of my way is like a dream...its too bad that Apple is so shy of making a tablet.

Re:Mac Tablets

[great throwdini]

I'd be sold at nearly any price if they'd just include tablet functionality.

It's not ultraportable, but this should meet the "for nearly any price" requirement: Axiotron ModBook.

Let it be a Newton replacement as well....

[WillAdams]

I'd really like to see Apple do something interesting and compelling in the pen slate computer form-factor --- at the very least they should add a digitizer to the screen and make it a convertable (having the screen fold over the keyboard while still being visible --- something better than a ThinkPad 360PE or Vadem Clio &c.).

It's silly that InkWell (nee Rosetta, the print recognizer from Newton OS 2.0) is bundled w/ every copy of Mac OS X, yet is only enabled when one plugs in a graphics tablet (and only fully usable if one shells out for a Wacom Cintiq).

William

I'd be interested if...

[Hawthorne01]

... it included something like the iPhone interface and/or Inkwell and was a convertible.

Sub-notebook keyboards are a little cramped for me. Yes, I know Bluetooth keyboard blahblahblah (I'm using one with my Powerbook as I type this), but you can't carry that on the road.

Re:I'd be interested if...

[Spyky]

I take it you haven't actually tried using the two finger mouse click for very long. It took me less than a week after purchasing my Macbook Pro to get used to this trick. I now find it easier and faster than a traditional right button on a trackpad. The reason? I don't have to "find" the right mouse button that is always in a different position relative to my finger depending where my finger is currently resting on the track pad. The problem of locating the left and right buttons is unique to trackpads, since your fingers are not always resting in the same position as on a mouse. You may not think the button finding is really much of problem since it's something you are already used too on your ibm or dell or hp. But try using a macbook for a week, then the two button solution on your old notebook will feel positively clunky.

Regarding the other comment in this thread about not being able to right-click drag with the two finger solution: I don't think this is true, although I'm having a hard time finding anything I have installed that can make use of a right-click drag. But it is certainly possible to move the cursor after performing a two finger right click (just keep two fingers on the pad while holding the button). Any application that allows a right-click drag should respond in exactly the same was as a right-click drag with a mouse. If anyone knows of an application that uses a right-click drag, I'll try it and respond with the results.

-Spyky

Re:The Pacific Theatre

[nacturation]

You may recall the post-war embarrassment revealing that Microsoft had parked U-Notebooks right off the coast in the closest harbor to Cupertino, California. With Microsoft's blitzkrieg campaign imploaded, Apple can safely enter the waters once again. Why else do you think Apple release Das Boot Camp?

I repeat

[Jethro]

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

Just make a 13.3" MacBookPro already! I don't want a MacBook and I don't want a 15.whatever laptop.

I love my 12" Powerbook but it's getting to the point where it's just too underpowered, and I don't have an upgrade path that I'm happy with.

Re:Cool

[EtherAlchemist]

With a sub version of the MBP, you'd at least burn a smaller protion of your lap ;)

Funny

[wiredlogic]

It's funny that compared to todays ridicululously oversized and overweight notebooks a computer the size of the PowerBook 2400 is now considered a "sub-notebook". I would consider a sub-notebook to be something like a classic Libretto or a Fujitsu P1610. Back when the 2400 was current a 10.4" screen was considered large.

Intel Santa Rosa platform

[frankie]

A new mobile Mac with NAND flash is 99.4% likely to be using Santa Rosa aka Centrino Pro. The chipset isn't exclusive to subnotebooks, so if this rumor turns out true then the larger MacBooks will get bumped up as well (90% likely, but Lord Steve is of course a capricious diety).

Nowhere to go.

[Ralph Spoilsport]

They HAD a very small and wonderful little laptop - I'm using one right now - a 12" G4 iBook.

The differences between the MacBook and MacBook Pro are very few and certainly not worth the $. The MacBook has drifted upward in abilities, and they stopped making the 12" machine - hence, there is nowhere for them to go. They have to re-invent what they've abandoned. As TFA says, three once was a small and venerable machine many years ago, and the 12" G4 iBook was the last of that "inertia".

Now their strategy has abandoned low end small machines. Ooops. So now we'll see one. This comes as no surprise. They have nowhere to go. Frankly, I am looking forward to this, because my G4 iBook is getting a bit long in the tooth...

RS

Re:Nowhere to go.

[rwyoder]

They HAD a very small and wonderful little laptop - I'm using one right now - a 12" G4 iBook.

So did I, and I recently sold it for 40% of what I paid for it (3.5 yrs ago), and bought a 13.3" MacBook. Remember that the MacBook has a 16:10 screen vs the 4:3 screen of the iBook. That is why the MacBook is *thinner* and *shorter* front-to-back. The only dimension that is a little larger is the width. And I now have: faster 64-bit CPU, 3x RAM, GigE, Toslink audio in/out, 802.11a/b/g/n, built-in iSight, Bluetooth, higher-resolution internal LCD, external video resolution greater than internal (including 1920x1200 & 1920x1080), external video that does not need to mirror internal screen, DVD-burner. There is *nothing* I miss from the old iBook

Re:Scaling OS X down

[necro81]

The next release of OS X will have resolution independence. It's been just beneath the surface for a few releases now. Resolution independence allows text, icons, and everything else to be scaled to look "right" on high-resolution, small scale screens, or on normal resolution, ultra-large screens.

Some links about this.

Re:The Pacific Theatre

[Anonymous Coward]

I think it's called Dasbootkampfurwindowsundmacosxloaden

Strechable Laptointrops

[Doc Ruby]

I'd love to see Apple sell a notebook that's only 12"x8"x1" that flips open to reveal a fullsize keyboard and a wide screen at 1200x800 for immediate use. Then rotates the screen on its bottom right corner, then stretching out a "rollable" display across to a 16" or 24" wide by 12" high screen at 16-2400x1200.

Please, Steve. Give me a touchscreen.

[peacefinder]

If Apple makes a 10" ultraportable with a touchscreen, I'll buy one. If it's good, I'll buy 4 within a year. If it's really good, I'll buy 12 within two years. (For my company, of course.)

Seriously. I love the Fujitsu Lifebook p-series, but I'd be happier if I could use OSX on something similar.

(Unless Wyse or Neoware get their gorram act together and produce a linux-based touchscreen notebook thin client first, anyway. Get on it, people!)

Re:Scaling OS X down

[fermion]

Mac OS was originally designed for a very small screen. The OS itself still works best, in my opinion, on a small screen. I find that I prefer X Windows on my larger screen.

What does appear to be true is the Apple application make more liberal use of space,assuming a big screen. For instance iMovie wastes an enormous amount of space. Itunes is not so bad, but the borders are in some contexts quite large. Safari is the exception, but most web pages now are exersises in the frivolous use of screen real estate.

I would think the OS itself could be put back on an 640X480 screen with few changes. However, the current culture of application GUI development has to change. A large matter, really, is hte culture of application development, and the assumption that the user has relatively unlimited resources.