http://gizmodo.com/5027706/rumor-macbook-touch-coming-in-october
http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/rumor_apples_secret_product_is_macbook_touch/

there's been speculation of a device like this before
Giz even had a contest for it http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/apple-tablet-contest/apple-touchscreen-tablet-contest-winner-and-gallery-326468.php

good read on the "ModBook" from axiotron that's been shipping for a bit
lot's of pretty pictures too kids (for a current real-world example of this type of device)
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/01/11/unofficial_mac_tablet_draws_record_crowd_at_macwor ld_high_res_photos.html

http://cache.gizmodo.com/assets/images/gallery/4/2007/11/medium_2066550058_2683db15a7_o.jpg
-concept-

more
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=1786

Amazing concept, but I think I would be too nervous toting that thing around. The iPhone makes me nervous enough as it is.

Any rumors on price range?

Say what you want about Apple. No one in the computer field out "wows" them.

My daughter has a tablet laptop. I've wondered by Mac hasn't jumped on this technology since most artists and designers use Macs.

Looking interesting. How would you type though? On screen?

There's probably a prompt for a keyboard screen to fill the screen, and you type it like a normal keyboard.

Tech-mology is crazy to me...

Amazing concept, but I think I would be too nervous toting that thing around. The iPhone makes me nervous enough as it is.

Any rumors on price range?

just recently, uppity-ups at HQ mentioned that in the very near future Apple will be releasing new technology at incredible price points

if you'd like my wish list for this thing

Intel Atom processor (new, faster, cooler, cheaper than core2duo)
Blu-Ray Superdrive (at least do not remove the optical drive like the Air)
N / WiFi / GPS
under $1500

we can all dream


rumor has it that Apple is willing to make less money on hardware in favor of multiplying sales ... makes sense ...... what the **** took ya so long

Looking interesting. How would you type though? On screen?

if you've ever seen an iPhone UI, it's speculated to be similar
there would be a text input prompt that would bring up a keyboard or even tablet stylus handwriting recognition

other thoughts include voice command input for text
can you imagine composing your posts here simply by speaking the words

still further, there's the concept of a docking stand for use with the "included / bundled" bluetooth keyboard / mouse


in other words, this thing can be setup to be used like an all-in-one desktop like the iMac or the HP TouchSmart
or be detached for tablet / laptop usage

If it's under 1,500 then I think everyone and their mom would buy one.

There's probably a prompt for a keyboard screen to fill the screen, and you type it like a normal keyboard.

Tech-mology is crazy to me...

yes, except I believe the keyboard would only take up like the bottom 1/4 of the tablet and your other windows would tile like Expose' or Spaces

there have also been concepts that show a pop-out keyboard

If it's under 1,500 then I think everyone and their mom would buy one.

:yes:

I believe that's the point
Apple is poised to take a huge chunk of the market share

feedback you see from Vista users is that they'd switch to OSX if it weren't for the premium price point of the hardware

And to me, that's always been what's held Apple from really dominating the market. Let's face it, I think most people would take OSX over Vista any day of the week. However, Macs have always been expensive and had a cloud of difficulty and a strong lack of accessibility (something I've never found as someone who switched over after being a disgruntled PC owner).

Anyway, I'll stay tuned on this.

then again, touchscreen technology is pretty expensive
might be why Apple reportedly bought out a company involved in such things

Say what you want about Apple. No one in the computer field out "wows" them.

That's what they live on. Being trendy.

this is the mac way.

as soon as they come out with the tiny little laptop that everyone runs out and buys, they make something better so everyone has to buy that one too.

need an example? look at every ipod ever made.

Apple has always avoided tablets. They're just too expensive and the market has always been very limited. But the costs may now make it reasonable, though I'm not convinced the screen would be MacBook sized (maybe 10 inches).

Apple has had tablets under development for many years, and in fact the iPhone's design came out of their tablet research. The work they have done polishing the iPhone would really make it much easier to put out a tablet, especially that they now have a full touch software development platform available for iPhone apps.

I'd hardly guarantee this being released soon, but if I were a betting man I'd say it's fairly likely. And I'd even consider buying one.

speculation is 12" screens or could be the 13" MBscreens
and announcements in October, shipping by Thanksgiving

there's a company that currently does Macbook mods for current sizes, but its DAMN expensive

if you've ever seen an iPhone UI, it's speculated to be similar
there would be a text input prompt that would bring up a keyboard or even tablet stylus handwriting recognition

other thoughts include voice command input for text
can you imagine composing your posts here simply by speaking the words

still further, there's the concept of a docking stand for use with the "included / bundled" bluetooth keyboard / mouse


in other words, this thing can be setup to be used like an all-in-one desktop like the iMac or the HP TouchSmart
or be detached for tablet / laptop usage


So the touchpad is highly sensitive I assume?

Voice commands would be a dream except you want to bring up that porn folder :wink2:

That's what they live on. Being trendy.

is it Apple being trendy or are they setting the trend ?

recent news is that a revised MacBook (fefresh) will simply add a glass trackpad " The trackpad on the new notebook is to be made of glass and support multi-touch and the use of gestures, but the notebook will not incorporate a multi-touch screen. "

also to be aluminum housings and thinner than current line. might also see an option to use alternative chipsets from AMD, Via or a new Apple designed chip

still doesn't rule out a tablet instrument of some description, probably more of a netbook / mini design

That's what they live on. Being trendy.

And being better built, and having better customer support, and having a much more stable operating system, and not having to deal with viruses, and......

this is the mac way.

as soon as they come out with the tiny little laptop that everyone runs out and buys, they make something better so everyone has to buy that one too.

need an example? look at every ipod ever made.

So Apple is the only tech company that comes out with new models of their equipment?

and not having to deal with viruses, and......

Apple no longer claim it is virus free now that it is becoming more popular.

Of course it isn't virus "free". Any computer can get a virus, but Macs are lightyears away from PC's in terms of having to deal with them. Both PCs and Macs have their advantages and that is clearly one of Macs.

Not for long as they become more popular.

WARNING !
Do NOT Buy Any Apple Laptop Right Now !

cool...why not?

There are rumors of upgrades in September. But hey, if you need a laptop and can't wait that long then just buy one...

They upgrade the laptops every September. I tell my students who want to get one in August to hold up because the laptop you have your eye on will be $300-$500 less in six weeks.

The problem will be finding one.

the reason is that speculation is wide and fairly uniform that this September will see the most significant refresh to Apple notebooks since the iBook became the Macbook

also, with the new refresh it is also widely supported that the new versions will also be cheaper by 10%-20%

so in contrast to what SK said, it would be a pity to pay $2,000 for a 2.4ghz Core2Duo Macbook Pro today, when you could get a 2.8ghzExtreme MBP for $1799 in September

also, nVidia has been reporting for months that several lines of their chipsets are faulty and on collision courses with death ...inccluding the 8600 series used in MBP's


anyone needing a laptop TODAY, should get a cheap netbook (like an Eee) or an older refurbished Macbook (for less than $999) ...... not a $2,000 MacBook Pro

Just got my dad a 17" Macbook Pro 2.4 for $1499 today.

MacAuthority ?
they've got the 17" 2.4 for $1499, but requre you to purchase an upgrade to 4gbRAM upping the ante to $1899 .... they're also a refresh (or two) old

not bad though

this is the mac way.

as soon as they come out with the tiny little laptop that everyone runs out and buys, they make something better so everyone has to buy that one too.

need an example? look at every ipod ever made.

It's called innovation. It's too bad Microsoft hasn't figured it out.

It's called innovation. It's too bad Microsoft hasn't figured it out.

like the Zune ?
:ha:

and it's also called= updating your product to keep current in the market

and some people make it sound like it's happening all the time - it's not

http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

the Macbook's and MBpro's have an average refresh rate of 193 days
the iMac and Mac Pros see updates avg 214 days
only the iPod Touch has had quick refreshes (153days), the other 3 iPod units update on avg of around 240 days

like the Zune ?
:ha:

and it's also called= updating your product to keep current in the market

and some people make it sound like it's happening all the time - it's not

http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

the Macbook's and MBpro's have an average refresh rate of 193 days
the iMac and Mac Pros see updates avg 214 days
only the iPod Touch has had quick refreshes (153days), the other 3 iPod units update on avg of around 240 days

Have they even refreshed the zune?

actually, I think Microsoft is planning on abandoning the Zune

actually, I think Microsoft is planning on abandoning the Zune

Yet another case of Apple being better than Microsoft

Apple really is their own worst enemy

OSX would probably sell a boatload of copies if the EULA didn't restrict it's installation to Apple branded products
Dell and Apple had a discussion in the works that would offer OSX as an option, it never materialized, but I'd bet it would have moved alot of Dell's

also, choosing one carrier for the iPhone hasn't necessarily hurt it's cause, but it too has choked some sales. I remember someone giving a kid a 350z for the first unlocked iPhone ... to run like on Tmobile of all carriers

and iTunes downloads iirc, are AAC, limiting you to using an iPod for playback


Sony has the same mentality using the proprietary Memory Stick .... it kept me from buying a camcorder last Christmas, had it accepted SDHC, I'd probably have bought one

Apple is a hardware company. They tried cloning about a decade ago and the company almost went out of business. OS X is what differentiates them from Windows machines. And it's why they dominate the $1000 and up market for computers.

They may not sell the most computers, but they get the best margins and the best profit. But if Dell or some other PC maker could sell cheap macs, Apple would lose tons of money.

if they could snag a few license sales to folks that would've passed on the hardware to begin with, they'd be ahead of the game

if the licenses were marketed at a premium (like everything Apple sells is) ... let's price OSX at $250 or so, plus a "royalty" fee from the manufacturer, they'd show margins and profit...without necessarily driving their current user base off

Most Macintosh owners would continue to buy Apple branded hardware even if OSX was available from AlienWare / Voodoo etc....
the key might be to control the application to high end manufacturers whose hardware are in similar price ranges or on platforms in which Apple isn't competing. for instance, netbooks and sub notes like in the under 10" range where Apple currently has no offering.

Apple doesn't want any hardware competition at all (who can blame them).

And I can't see any other hardware manufacturer (where margins are very tight) paying a big premium for OS X because they want to make money, too.

I just got a new 24 inch imac. If they came out with a touch after 3 grand was spent on this one I might be upset. That would have been worth waiting for.

I just got a new 24 inch imac. If they came out with a touch after 3 grand was spent on this one I might be upset. That would have been worth waiting for.


http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

must reading for prospective Mac purchases

you are mid-cycle of the iMac refresh schedule

however, it is all but confirmed that there will be significant upgrades to the MacBook / Macbook Pro and Mac Pro (which are rumored to get the new Nahelam chipsets)
this should happen in September or October

I'm waiting for Apple to release an iMac that offers upgrading of the GPU / HDD and eSATA

I love it and wish at the same time we could have waited. There is always something better coming down the pipeline. I got the best one you can get without going pro. This thing is powered to the max, but at the same time if I ever wanted to upgrade anything... you can't. Luckily it will be a while before I need anything else. The touch.... that would be nice.

you get the 3.06ghz - 24" ?

yea it is the 3.06ghz