Did Some Insider Just Spill The Beans On New Apple Laptop?

Did Some Insider Just Spill The Beans On New Apple Laptop?(whydoeseverythingsuck.com)

11 points by pius 17 years ago | 21 comments

hugh 17 years ago |

Accurate or not, that's a pretty good idea. Being able to detach the screen and plug the computer into a bigger monitor would suit perfectly the way I use my laptop at the moment.

Plus, with the screen removed the "brick" is presumably a computer in a keyboard form factor, just like in the good old days.

jws 17 years ago | |

A detaching laptop screen seems unlikely. The mechanical stresses on the attachment device sound too extreme.

This also sounds like a new series of monitors which Apple probably won't do until they can have LED backlights in the big screens.

mariorz 17 years ago | |

I don't get it. I plug a bigger monitor to my laptop when I'm at my desk. Why the need to detach the laptop screen?

mechanical_fish 17 years ago | | |

I'm not expecting this to actually happen... but I would instantly buy a Mac laptop that let me physically separate the screen and the keyboard while continuing to use them both. Then I could set the screen up on a portable stand at approximately the right height and distance while the keyboard lived closer to me and lower down, perhaps even in my lap.

Right now the best I can do is to carry an external keyboard. But it's a pain to have to tote around redundant hardware. Of course, it's also a pain to be in pain after spending too much time using an un-ergonomic laptop.

wheels 17 years ago | | |

The main limiting thing there for me that's annoying is that Mac OS seems to require me to use my laptop's screen as the main one putting the menubar there instead of on my larger external monitor.

antidaily 17 years ago | | |

same here. and I know some use there laptop screen as a second monitor. so this is a bad idea on many fronts.

scott_s 17 years ago | |

Why bother detaching the screen? Close the lid and put it on a dock.

hugh 17 years ago | | |

That's what I do now (except for the dock, I just plug everything in) but if I had one of these I could save: (a) on buying a separate keyboard and (b) on desk space.

OK, it's not a huge advantage, but it's neat.

Only downside: unless they're very clever with the design, a brick-keyboard isn't as good to type on as a regular keyboard. But hey, maybe they'll be clever with the design, so it tilts downwards properly.

Hmm, and I just thought of another nice way to use it: on my lap, on the couch, plugged into my big-ass TV.

mikedouglas 17 years ago |

  * Sounds clunky, and overspecialized.
  * Awkwardly splits the product (display/no display).
  * Competes with the low-end Macbook, while being a lower-margin product.
  * Can't imagine a design for this that isn't ugly.

Very Un-Apple. Jobs isn't going to follow up the iPhone 3G with this, aptly described, 'brick'.

netcan 17 years ago | |

The $800 might be wishful thinking. Unless they're planning an all out assault.

Create 17 years ago | | |

"Some analysts are expecting the laptops to start at less than $800, compared with $1,099 now" -- WSJ

Create 17 years ago |

http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Se...

alaskamiller 17 years ago |

LOL. Nothing said at BJ's is ever real. Would be more credible if he's having breakfast at Caffe Macs. No one shows off gadgets during lunch.

dfarm 17 years ago | |

I think he's saying that he IS an Apple employee (that eats at BJ's) not that he overheard it. The the patent link below seems to indicate that he's dead on.

* Sounds clunky, and overspecialized. * Awkwardly splits the product (display/no display). * Competes with the low-end Macbook, while being a lower-margin product. * Can't imagine a design for this that isn't ugly.