Rumor: Apple MacBook Touch Mock-up

Following the new iMac, Apple's portable platform is probably next for a redesign, with 9to5mac pointing at the long-fabled ultra-slim MacBooks and now AppleInsider mumbling about the Son-of-Newton. According to them, it will be a 720x480-screen PDA 1.5 times the size of the iPhone, running an embedded version of Mac OS X. With the PDA industry dying and Apple focusing on current product lines, does it make sense to release such a product? We think it doesn't. If anything, our guess is that Apple may choose to marry touch technology with down-to-Earth thinner notebooks for a better, far-reaching product: the MacBook touc

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#474408

I really don't think the PDA will come back into fashion. With products like the iPhone, we will simply see a convergence of the cell phone market and the former PDA market. Not to mention that ultra-portable laptops are becoming more practical, as well.

#474409

lame. fake. etc.

it just doesnt make sense for apple to create such an impractical device.

touch will work a treat on small devices, but trying to navigate a full fledged OS on a device of that size (MAC OSX Leopard) with your fingers just would be stupid, as with typing etc... I believe the iPhone is the next Newton.

Palm PC's never really met thier potential and instead many of thier functions are now found on the mobile phone. Things such as word processiing, calendars, and a personal organiser are bound to become features of the iPhone.

#474416

With the design of the traditional notebook/laptop (closed book - lid opens), a touch screen doesn't sound like a good thing. Too shakey, too flimsy.

But if it was more like a tablet...........

Sign me up!

The iPhone and iPod Touch are sweet but just a little too small to use

#474460

The iphone or maybe slightly larger are as big as I would go with the touch interface. That touch mac looks flimsy especially with nothing to cover the screen. And I would hate typing on a large touch keyboard, on the iphone I have learned to love it, but on a large scale I want tactile feedback and the ability to not have to look at the keyboard when typing. Plus the smudges on that thing would be unreal.

#474493

lame. fake. etc.

agreed.

#474518

The iphone or maybe slightly larger are as big as I would go with the touch interface. That touch mac looks flimsy especially with nothing to cover the screen. And I would hate typing on a large touch keyboard, on the iphone I have learned to love it, but on a large scale I want tactile feedback and the ability to not have to look at the keyboard when typing. Plus the smudges on that thing would be unreal.

agreed. lol.

#474537

there is no way that they will make another imac. maybe a macbook or mbp but not another imac they just made one.

#474545

there is no way that they will make another imac. maybe a macbook or mbp but not another imac they just made one.

It is a MacBook mockup, not an iMac one.

#474572

It wont happen anytime soon....maybe next christmas. and it would have a keyboard. that pic didnt seem to show one.

#476123

This is just a guess. It's highly likely that this (if its even real) won't come out any time soon.

#476145

Palm PC's never really met thier potential and instead many of thier functions are now found on the mobile phone. Things such as word processiing, calendars, and a personal organiser are bound to become features of the iPhone.

Palm has more than met the potential.

Guess you've never seen a Palm Treo 750.

Does everything you mention and then some... and did I mention it's a 3G phone too.

As for a touch screen MB or MBP, Apple should learn from the Tablet PC market... there is none.

Great in concept, but in reality, it's not really practical. Everyone one I know who has had one, ditched it pretty quick.

#476148

from the looks of the image there seems to be no keyboard. Reason enough not to get it..

I'm with rjohnstone, its just too impractical, and flat out a stupid move on apple if they we're to go on with it.

#476149

Why isn't Apple thinking products through fully before bringing to market?

the iTouch iPod is silly with only 16GB of memory; AppleTV is useless, as your Mac does most of what it does already (just attach it to HDTV).

the iPod classic is the only one I can seriously consider buying. That said, this Apple MacBook "touch" might have a niche market, however, more than likely for business use.

#476157

Palm has more than met the potential.
Guess you've never seen a Palm Treo 750.

Does everything you mention and then some... and did I mention it's a 3G phone too.

You have a point, and I guess its kinda cool. But how many people do you see walking around with them? And I cant help but think that that palm pc looks somewhat bloated... like a Microsoft product- filled with features but neglecting ease of use and substance.

Palm PC, just hasnt been the hit that mobile phones have been with mainstream audiences- thats all I'm saying. It rather fits a niche market- geeks and business freaks.

Give it five years or so, and I daresay even if the iPhone isnt the most popular, it still will have revolutionised portable/handheld computing to a point where no one wants just a phone, they want a handheld multifunction device.

#476188

The Palm Treo is a very popular phone in the business world.

Next to the Black Berry, it's the second most popular phone at my company.

Some prefer the 600 series with the Palm interface, but most prefer the 700 series with Windows Mobile. It just flat out works. Windows Mobile 6 is an awesome OS for a cell phone.

The Treo is targeted more towards the business world unlike the iPhone which is more a phone for geeks and gadget freaks.

The iPhone is still too expensive to break into the mainstream mobile phone market here in the US.

And the business world will not touch it either as it is still more expensive than a Black Berry and unproven in reliability.

#476204

But if it was more like a tablet...........

Stay tuned

#476234

The Palm Treo is a very popular phone in the business world.
Next to the Black Berry, it's the second most popular phone at my company.
Some prefer the 600 series with the Palm interface, but most prefer the 700 series with Windows Mobile. It just flat out works. Windows Mobile 6 is an awesome OS for a cell phone.
The Treo is targeted more towards the business world unlike the iPhone which is more a phone for geeks and gadget freaks.
The iPhone is still too expensive to break into the mainstream mobile phone market here in the US.
And the business world will not touch it either as it is still more expensive than a Black Berry and unproven in reliability.

I can see the iPhone catching on with everyone except those who need it for specifically business purposes... its versatile, stylish and easy to use.

I dont see it as being too expensive at all; teens, parents, geeks and freaks will buy an iPhone if they dont feel like buying a seperate ipod, camera and palm pc.

give it time, and it will go mainstream, just like the iPod did.

when the iPod was released, it was criticised for two reasons- 1- it wasnt a newton. 2- it was too expensive compared to flash based mp3 players.

it succeeded for a number or reasons

1- it was innovative and easy to use. for once you could see all the songs on the screen and scroll thru a list. not many players at this time did that.

2- it had large capacity.

3- the scroll wheel interface was cool.

^notice some similarities to the iPhone vs the rest of the phone/palm pc market... innovative, easy to use, larger capacity, cool touch interface. People will get over the cost once they realise how much it will save them time, effort, space and money (instead of buying 3 different devices).

#476388

Never going to happen, Apple are not that stupid as to try and enter a non-existing market, the most we MAY see is a PDA but I doubt it as the iPhone has all the PDA functions we'll ever need.

#476471

Never going to happen, Apple are not that stupid as to try and enter a non-existing market, the most we MAY see is a PDA but I doubt it as the iPhone has all the PDA functions we'll ever need.

?

my point exactly.

the iphone will bring an end to pda and multimedia phones as we know it... (ok that was somewhat exxaggerated ) combining all these functions and more...

Apple isnt about to make another Newton (PDA)

#476653

?

my point exactly.

the iphone will bring an end to pda and multimedia phones as we know it... (ok that was somewhat exxaggerated ) combining all these functions and more...

Apple isnt about to make another Newton (PDA)

How so?

It lacks a few key things in the PDA world.

Can't view or create Word or Excel docs, can't hook into corporate email systems like the crack berry (POP3 is not used in the corp world for email fetching as it's to unsecure and IMAP is great if you are connected directly to your corp network or use a VPN connection, which the iPhone doesn't support), no scheduler (needs calender that can synch with Outlook or Lotus Notes).

It's an iPod and a Phone, not a PDA.

#476667

yeah i don't see a PDA coming. but a macbook touch i would love

#477676

How so?
It lacks a few key things in the PDA world.
Can't view or create Word or Excel docs, can't hook into corporate email systems like the crack berry (POP3 is not used in the corp world for email fetching as it's to unsecure and IMAP is great if you are connected directly to your corp network or use a VPN connection, which the iPhone doesn't support), no scheduler (needs calender that can synch with Outlook or Lotus Notes).
It's an iPod and a Phone, not a PDA.

give it time. I know at the moment, the phone has been pitched at the geek, teen and tech markets by creating a "cool" non business device.... but I think the iPhone will shoulder a bigger role.

iPhone sdk will I think be used by Apple to guage what users want. in turn they will respond to third party developed software with thier own.

do you really think the iPhone will always be uncapable of word processing?

Imagine the possibilities with the current hardware and customisable software.

It may require an iPhone 2 to truly reach the business market (as you say its hardware may lack in some areas), but for now, I wouldnt underestimate the iPhone (1).

#477714

Word processing on an iPhone would be interesting.

I highly doubt that Microsoft will create an mobile version of Word or Excel for the iPhone.

It would cut into their Windows Mobile market.

I have a feeling some third party may make a Word/Excel viewer or editor for the iPhone.

I would love to see the iPhone email client be able to do secure connections that meet corporate security standards like a Blackberry. That alone would attract the corporate types.

Right now, the iPhone is forbidden by my company to be used for any work related matters.

#477716

Word processing on an iPhone would be interesting.
I highly doubt that Microsoft will create an mobile version of Word or Excel for the iPhone.
It would cut into their Windows Mobile market.
I have a feeling some third party may make a Word/Excel viewer or editor for the iPhone.

or perhaps... iWork portable?

#477773