Duffasaurus

4deb

macserv

Tybijah

can't you use an external drive? or use a local network? and assuming you're not installing software all the time, it shouldn't bother you that much if you have to download the software from the internet.

object.session

michael-tech-ATX

This will be a great ROAD computer. My current bag is getting heavier (or I am getting weaker).

Even though I wouldn't miss the OPTICAL DRIVE, didn't they patent some sort of "space saver" optical drive about a year ago? I think it loaded from the bottom (not really convenient either), but let's be realistic, how are we going to install software when we are currently using installation DVDs?

Internet isn't that fast yet, but maybe by the time we get this "ultra (fantasy)portable" comcast will have upgraded.

donlphi

It will be expensive! There is no cheap ultraportable.

My wishes:

*** INTERNAL hi-efficiency power regulator/battery charger ( ie. power brick ) So you just need a small cable with no power bricks. THAT is portable.

*** make it widescreen ( i dont care about LED backlight, just make it power efficient)

*** bigger SSD (or maybe hybrid small SSD big HDD)

*** tablet capabilities will be awesome! (touchscreen. OMFG tight pants, lol)

*** all metal alloy lightweight case

*** dont forget keyboard backlight, iSight, all the stardard connectivity wired and wireless

*** powerfull integrated speakers.

dream feature:

*** waterproof. XD

EL_RIEL

I agree that Apple would have to charge a bit less for a base model miniature notebook than the base-line macbook to make it relevant. If it has Sony Viao prices, it will do poorly. I know that many people would gladly give up an optical drive to have room for maybe a couple more USB and/or Firewire ports that can be used to supplement the hardware. If anything, this particular machine, if priced right, would be the perfect mobile companion to larger desktops, which would have all of the necessary home-based hardware you'd need.

If anything, this would be the killer texting, homework drafting, music listening, movie watching, web browsing lapPod. If Apple comes up with one, I will be getting one. I like to have more powerful desktops handy, so having equally equipped equally powerful laptops are not a big necessity for me on the go, since I don't do intense tasks while mobile...ever.

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!

geel

i need a new desktop, but the imac/mac mini are weak and the MacPro is overkill. Apple needs to put out something mid level desktop.

again i say - poop on your macbook mini

thesupermikey

My biggest concern, as others have noted, is price. Regardless of what you may think is 'reasonable' due to miniaturization, etc., there are excellent UMPCs to be found out there at less than $1000 (http://macbigot.blogspot.com/search?q=umpc ) -- and that's with a price-bloating copy of Windows Vista included.

If Apple is to give me a smaller screen, and take away the optical drive, I'm thinking that the price had better be less than a grand to survive the market -- or they might find that going with a hard drive (the same one that's in the fattest of current iPods?) is 'OK' with consumers. Slapping in a flash-based storage solution is a great selling point; but if it's too expensive, it's only going to make a few elite (read: wealthy) users happier about their battery life, rather than push sales.

macbigot

All that said, I've considered using iPhone as my primary computer. I just don't know if it supports things like AIM.

dle5

But there are more pros for nixing a drive:
- increased battery life
- the machine will be smaller
- increases the value of iTunes movies/shows (this benefits Apple)

What do we really lose without an optical drive? Not much. Data transfers/syncs will be handled over network/wirelessly. Movies and TV shows (see above). And in a pinch, an external drive will suffice, I suppose.

thriftytechie

discounteggroll

BUT IT'S NOT THE iPHONE I WANT!

I neeeeed the ultraportable mac -- so, fine, gimme the iPhone, but without the phone part! mmmmm.. OR, that promised mini faked above -- but without that ungodly price tag.

OR, would someone help me put OSX on my eMate?

Anyone else notice how closely the OLPC resembles the emate, btw?

gyffes

"Another delay to the Mac product line to assure the iPhone will be released on time. If I were a Mac fan, I might need some anger management courses whenever I saw the word iPhone."

Good point. If I were an M$ fan, my heart would've imploded years ago waiting for Vista.

Escamotage

Im curious to see this mini sized version. is it supposed to be like those UMPCs that have been popping up? Ive been out of the loop on these minis.

TheTofuFactory

I used to burn data to cheap CD's or DVD's when I needed it to be portable...but now a USB flash drive does the trick. By the time BluRay or HD-DVD get more popular, USB drives will probably be larger in capacity than they are too...

EQC

Monty

bitfactory

rod / upcomingdiscs.com

Wait, $2500? That's more disappointing than any missing drive or production delay.

weatherman