[Wyatt]

Originally Posted by yongxiaofeng The connection between the ipod and the "macbook" has a problem! how does it connect together?

There's clearly a cable, but your post made me realize something: the ports are all on the back. I really hope Apple doesn't go with that. That's just not useful on a notebook any more. People need quick and dirty access to ports on the sides of notebooks.

[MCQ]

Originally Posted by rasmits Neither of those links work.

Odd. Maybe they don't allow hotlinking?

Crude Oil: http://futures.tradingcharts.com/chart/BC/W
Aluminum: http://futures.tradingcharts.com/chart/AL/W

[Baron Munchausen]

I have been saying Piano Black for some time, so I am totally with Roboman and PScates.

HP has now introduced laptops in (almost) that finish, so to me it would be FATAL to not produce a piano black iBook/MB. I just hope Apple go the full monty with a pure piano black finish, not a swirly etching as the HP.

As to ally finish - er, that is MBP territory IMHO (as are things like backlit k/b). Remember, if you want the all the features of an MBP...go buy an MBP!

[gedto]

OK. Here's what I've heard. Could mean nothing and be bad insider info, but could end up being true. And it is so amazing that I have to tell you!

You can clearly remember - as I can - Steve Jobs saying recently that "the next Apple products are the best we've ever done" or something like that. Well, I can spill the beans today. The new MacBook won't be hard drive based.

Instead of having an internal hard drive, it sports an 80GB removable iPod video as its main drive, and has a small flash-based unit capable of having a system installed, even though the main installation is supposed to be located at the iPod. The idea is that you can be working on your MacBook, then take your iPod out and carry your entire system with you with one-click. Supposedly, the new iPod video that will be announced along with the MacBook brings back the FireWire support.

That's what I've heard. I would take this with a grain of salt, as these sources have been right at times (especially predicting the Aluminum PowerBooks and the lamp-like iMac), but have been wrong recently.

[PB PM]

I'm sorry, but that is the craziest rumor I have ever heard. Not going to happen, not any time soon.

[LaEsperanza]

Originally Posted by gedto Instead of having an internal hard drive, it sports an 80GB removable iPod video as its main drive, and has a small flash-based unit capable of having a system installed, even though the main installation is supposed to be located at the iPod. The idea is that you can be working on your MacBook, then take your iPod out and carry your entire system with you with one-click. Supposedly, the new iPod video that will be announced along with the MacBook brings back the FireWire support.

I would love to take my first post to laugh at this

I will admit that it would be amazing, but you have to consider the costs. If it is speculated that the "true video" iPods are going to run at $500, and you can buy a 80gb 2.5HD for half that price, this would be a HUGE cost hike and profit loss for Apple. On top of this, that MacBook has to be a step down from the MacBook Pro. Now how would you feel as a MBP user when you found out that if you had held out for another 2 months that you could've bought (for HALF the price) a far superior machine. The difference of processer and so forth is noticable, but I would dare to say that every person on this forum would prefer to purchase your proposed MacBook over the current MacBook Pro. Talk about a drop in MBP sales...

[Brad]

Originally Posted by gedto Instead of having an internal hard drive, it sports an 80GB removable iPod video as its main drive, and has a small flash-based unit capable of having a system installed, even though the main installation is supposed to be located at the iPod.

Worst idea ever.

And the flash thing has already been brought up and torn down in at least one other thread here.

1. Flash is still prohibitively expensive for mass storage.
2. The iPod's hard drive is not designed for constant access.
3. QED.

[gedto]

I agree with most things you say, still wanted to tell you. I read the original message last night at the Macuarium boards and guessed you would like to know. Just two things:

1- 4GB is not mass storage, but is perfectly suitable for installing an OS.
2- The CURRENT iPod hard drive is not designed for constant access. I can clearly imagine a video iPod having a 2,5'' drive.

However, I agree that it would be very expensive to manufacture this. But wouldn't it be cool?

[neiltc13]

Is there any chance that it could be a convertible tablet?

[Brad]

Originally Posted by gedto 2- The CURRENT iPod hard drive is not designed for constant access. I can clearly imagine a video iPod having a 2,5'' drive.

You realize how big that would be, right?

Current iPod v. "2.5 inch hard drive" iPod:




Plus, the battery would likely need to be larger, adding more thickness.

[AWR]

Good point Brad.

And grant me one more stupid question, please: how DO YOU DO THAT to an image of an iPod?

[Brad]

Very carefully.

(That took about 30 minutes, but I'm really not a pro in Photoshop by any means, and that includes finding proper dimensions of the iPod and 2.5" hard drive.)

[AWR]

Well a Pro by my standards.

Back to this design concept, what if person A wants to use the computer (w/HD) and person B wants to plop their iPod into their iPod Hi-Fi?

This idea, while interesting in and of itself, is DOA.

[neiltc13]

I just got fed up waiting. Apple have now confirmed my order of the stock MacBook Pro base model.

[AWR]

Don't be toooo disappointed; it's not like you're going home with nothing.

A little or or or would let us know that you're keeping life and its challenges in perspective.

Enjoy.

[chucker]

Originally Posted by neiltc13 Is there any chance that it could be a convertible tablet?

Please, no. *shudders*

[psmith2.0]

From MOSR:

The forthcoming Intel-based iBook (NOT "MacBook,"

They seem really sure on this, right up to the very end (even when "MacBook" appears on Apple's site last week).

...although that separate midrange product line will also be introduced soon with the MacBook Thin and later, MacBook Gamer)

Uh huh. Yeah...

...didn't premiere earlier this week as much of the grapevine had prematurely speculated....

Do I detect a bit of snotty superiority here? If so, these guys are the LAST ones on the planet who deserve to throw it a round.

...but the update to an Intel-built hardware platform is indeed imminent. Pricing will not drop as much as had been hoped for, but performance will make a huge leap forward. More details will follow....

Translation of "more details will follow": As soon as the product is released next Tuesday, we'll follow up later that afternoon with a smug, self-congratulatory report about how we correctly predicted the a) price and b) actual specs, even though we never did anything of the sort. Anything we're caught being wrong about (pricing, iBook vs. MacBook naming, specs, colors, availability, packaging, etc.), we'll attribute to "last minute changes from Apple" with a straight face.

[chucker]

Originally Posted by pscates2.0 From MOSR:

Why do you bother

[psmith2.0]

I told you guys...I check them about every other Friday. The same reason I visit The Onion.com and listen to Phil Hendrie: pure giggles and solid entertainment.



They're shameless, and I sometimes can't help but think they're doing it on purpose and yanking our collective chains.

[psmith2.0]

This just in: according to AppleInsider, Apple is holding a press event next Thursday at their new NYC store.

No details on any hardware announcements, so it might just be a sneak-peak for the press and various VIPs?

That is all.

[Robo]

Ooh, did I call that or what?



Actually, I said it was on Friday, but that's because the store opens on Friday. Of course, now that I think about it, it would make more sense for the event to be the night before the store opens - so the event wouldn't get in the way of shopping.

And I'm not sure Apple would host a press event just to show off a new store - especially when the MacBook is already expected next week.

[neiltc13]

Originally Posted by pscates2.0 This just in: according to AppleInsider, Apple is holding a press event next Thursday at their new NYC store. No details on any hardware announcements, so it might just be a sneak-peak for the press and various VIPs? That is all.

There's more chance of it being unveiled there than being randomly placed on the website, the latter of which a lot of us believed in last week. So all we need now is for ThinkSecret to throw up some lame story and pull it when Jobs starts talking and the "We'll be back soon.." thing doesn't appear on the online store.

[Robo]

Originally Posted by neiltc13 There's more chance of it being unveiled there than being randomly placed on the website, the latter of which a lot of us believed in last week. So all we need now is for ThinkSecret to throw up some lame story and pull it when Jobs starts talking and the "We'll be back soon.." thing doesn't appear on the online store.

Agreed.

The one reason I wasn't positive we would see a MacBook this week is because I wasn't sure why Apple would introduce it without an event.

I mean, come on, people. It's the MacBook. It might be the most popular Mac ever. It won't just show up in stores without any fanfare.

But now, we have an event. The MacBook is go.

[BizMac]

According to the rumours Asustek is producting the new MacBook, they released a computer w7j that could be the MacBook like coming in Black and White... but starts at 2000$.

I must be wrong but these laptops could be very closed in shape of our MacBook, what do you think? (even if by the past Asustek laptops were very different from Macs)

[Partial]

So, do we think these guys are coming this week?

Are asus and asustek the same company? By manufactoring does that mean they're making the mobo's, or what does that exactly mean? I use exclusively Asus mobos in my computers that I build as they are really, really nice, but I didn't realize they were a manufacturing firm as well.

What do we know for sure about these bad boys?

I am hoping the black looks as good as everyone's mockups in the other thread.

[PB PM]

Since Apple still designs the product, it most likely wont look like those, Asustek is only assembling them.

[yongxiaofeng]

Originally Posted by fcgriz There's clearly a cable, but your post made me realize something: the ports are all on the back. I really hope Apple doesn't go with that. That's just not useful on a notebook any more. People need quick and dirty access to ports on the sides of notebooks.

I think it is made by some 3D software.

[Matsu]

Was att he local Best Buy today, where I saw Apple's competition.

An HP "Centrino Duo", which is a 1.66 COre Duo with Intel 945 Integrated graphics.

Not a bad machine at all.

14" Widescreen
Superdrive
1GB RAM installed, 2GB max
80GB HDD
3 USB2 ports
1 FW400
Ethernet
Modem
expresscard slot
7.5 hour battery life (adverstised)
5.33 lbs.

$1399 Canadian (after instant rebate) You do the conversion to USD, but probably around 1199...

[Brave Ulysses]

I'd say the MacBook is released Tuesday or Wednesday and available in stores for the first time Friday.

[kgarchar]

i decided to make a mock-up of the macbook, anyone like it?