After reading Charles Moore's recent article, The Case for a Quiet, Cooler Running, Low
Powered MacBook, suggesting a cooler-running, lower-powered MacBook
and sending him a lengthy reply, I thought that I should weigh in on
this topic. Speed, (lack of) heat, noise, battery life, and a number of
other factors go into the design of a portable computer, and like any
other manufacturer, Apple must balance these factors, as well as cost,
before arriving at a retail product.
You've all seen those signs at retail stores to the effect of
"Cheap, Fast, Good: Pick Any Two", and so it goes when designing a
computer. For a laptop, the equation has more variables, but it's
basically the same. Speed, price, weight, noise, battery life, size,
durability, and other, more specialized specifications (such as
docking, optical drives, connectivity and screen type) all are
considered.
Apple made a number of choices in its MacBook and MacBook Pro that
make them ideal for some users - and poorly suited to others.
Moore expressed his preference for the large 17" screen on his PowerBook, and Apple has a MacBook Pro just for him. He also
mentioned his sensitivity to noise and his desire for a quiet-running
computer, and the 17" MacBook Pro may or may not be ideal, depending on
the choices Apple made in its specification. That MacBook Pro uses the
fastest current versions of Intel's Core 2 Duo chips, which are very
powerful but run rather hot.
Intel does make cooler-running versions of the Core 2 Duo, low and
ultra-low voltage versions designed for the small (poorly vented)
enclosures and tiny batteries of ultraportable laptops. One of those
ULV chips could very easily be fitted to a large, desktop-replacement
type portable such as the MacBook Pro, but Apple doesn't make that
option available. (In all fairness, neither do any other manufacturers
to my knowledge.)
That ULV MacBook Pro would be Moore's perfect computer. Slower than
the high-powered MacBook Pro, but still adequate for most tasks. We
could extend it more and fit our quiet 17" MacBook Pro with the
integrated graphics of the lower-level MacBook. Integrated video
doesn't have the performance of a high-end dedicated graphics chip, but
it runs cooler and uses less battery power. Apple's response is to sell
you a plain MacBook, but of course they don't offer one with a screen
larger than 13" or with a low-voltage processor.
Even the computers that do have those ultra-low-voltage processors
may not be as quiet as Moore would like. I own a pair of Lenovo
ThinkPad laptops, a
14" T60p with a fast Core Duo that competes with the 15" MacBook Pro, and an
ultraportable
X41 that uses a ULV processor. While the big laptop has a
considerably hotter (both temperature and performance) processor, it's
also a much quieter computer. The X41 has a very cool-running chip and
integrated graphics, but the case itself is so tiny that it needs
hardworking fans to pull cool air in and push hot air out. The big
T60p, despite its hot processor and even hotter graphics card, has a
nice spacious case that allows a larger fan to move more air with far
less effort and correspondingly lower noise levels. Of course, putting
that ULV processor and integrated graphics into the spacious case would
likely yield Moore's dream of a computer that doesn't need or use a fan
at all, with the added bonus of longer battery life and a cooler
chassis for comfortable laptop use.
Of course, what it really comes down to is profit. Apple, Lenovo,
HP, and every other computer company exists not to make the computer
that Moore, you, or I want; they exist to make money, which is best
done by making the computer that appeals to the broadest sector of the
market. Apple doesn't make an ultraportable not because it wouldn't
sell, as I would buy one in a heartbeat, but because they (Apple)
don't think it would sell in enough quantity in their market at a
high-enough profit to justify the added expense of design, production,
marketing, and support.
Lenovo does make an ultraportable, because it does sell in its
market in large enough quantity and at high-enough profit to justify
the costs. Toshiba makes five completely different models of tablet
computer, Lenovo makes one, and Apple makes none, for the very same
reasons.
Profit is also involved in noise and temperature beyond the size and
cost of ultraportables or the lack of demand for low-powered large
laptops. Any laptop can be made quieter through better, more insulated
materials in the case, better airflow design, exotic materials for
cooling, and perhaps a larger number of smaller, quieter, and more
expensive fans. Perhaps Apple could build a 17" MacBook Pro with the
hottest processor, most powerful graphics, and a more advanced cooling
system that will be both silent and cool, but adding $50, $100, or even
$400 to the cost of each MacBook Pro sold. Moore might happily pay for
it, whereas the majority of buyers would prefer the lower price.
Where does that leave Moore? Of you? Or me?
Like everyone, we can only look at what is on the market and find
the closest match for what we need or want. I want two laptops: one
that connects to a docking station, has a high-resolution (at least
SXGA - 1280 x 1024) screen, accepts multiple batteries, and runs Mac
OS X; the other a 3 or 4 lb. ultraportable tablet with the option
of 8 hour battery life. Moore wants a quiet, cool-running computer with
a large screen. Most of us want these computers at a reasonable
price.
None of those computers exist today, but we can get fairly close.
The 17" MacBook Pro will give Moore his big screen, and an entry-level
MacBook will give him lower temperatures and noise - he just can't have
both in the same machine today. I have my docking and SXGA+ screen on
my ThinkPad T60p, but it won't run OS X (without hacks, cheats,
and compatibility issues). Toshiba's new Portegé
R500 or Lenovo's X61t tablets satisfy my tablet dreams, just at too
high of a price, so I compromise with a heavier, cheaper tablet.
Think of it like buying a family car. You want a sports car that's
fun to drive and stylish. You also want a large van to carry your
spouse, two children, and all of your stuff. There are some very sporty
cars with four seats that you can squeeze into, at a sacrifice in space
for people and stuff. You can buy a minivan, but it won't be any fun to
drive. You can buy something in between. You can even buy a turbo
Porsche Cayenne that will satisfy all of your wants and needs, but
at a very high price.
Only you can choose which sacrifices you are willing to make, and
which you are not. 
Andrew J Fishkin, Esq, is a laptop using attorney in Los Angeles, CA.
