Low End Mac Reader Specials
TypeStyler For Mac OS X is Now Shipping! Download The Free Fully Functional 60 Day Tryout at www.typestyler.com
OWC: Get the Right Memory / Ram for your Mac. Top Quality, Competitive Prices, Lifetime Warranty. Expert Support and Video Installation Guidies too! 4.0GB Matched Sets from $87.99, Options up to 32GB. Click here
Don't install Parallels to play poker online! Poker Mac will show you how
to download and install a native Mac poker application such as Full
Tilt Poker Mac.
Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.
Compare products like desktop computers, apple laptops, apple macs, and LCD Monitors side by side! All the information and reviews to make the best purchasing decision for new mobile phones, sat nav systems, or MP3 players. The Ciao online shopping community makes searching products easy for you.
PowerBook Lite Dreams
- 2000.11.07
Author's Note: This article is purely speculative - no John Does or rumor sites were involved its writing. This is solely based on what the author hopes Apple could have in the works.
Apple's PowerBook 2400c was its
last "subnotebook" model, generally a notebook computer that weighs
under five pounds and is smaller and thinner than its brandmates.
Apple actually invented the
subnotebook concept with its PowerBook
Duo series. In order to save space and weight, these computers
used external floppy drives and port expanders.
The subnotebook industry's presence has skyrocketed since Apple discontinued the 2400c two years ago, which was dropped, incidentally, for its slow sales. I believe the time is right for Apple to introduce a new small sub-PowerBook. It could perhaps be called the "PowerBook Lite," or, in homage to the PowerBook line's 10th birthday next October, the "10th Anniversary PowerBook." Or, more true to Apple's other product lines, maybe the "PowerBook Rectangular Prism."
Basic Features
- 500 MHz PowerPC 750CX/750CXe (G3e) processor
- 20+ GB Ultra ATA/66 hard drive
- Integrated ATI Rage Mobility M4 4x AGP-based graphics subsystem
- Miniaturized Harman/Kardon Odyssey-based sound system
- Fixed internal 6x DVD-ROM drive (unlike the 2400c and many other sub-notebooks on the market today, which use external drives)
- 4 to 6 hour battery life, from a battery similar but smaller than the one used in the iBook
- 128 MB of Double Data Rate RAM
- A/V port
- USB 1.1, 400 megabit FireWire, 10/100 megabit ethernet, 56K modem, and AirPort slot
Industrial Design and Display
The PowerBook Lite would have an noticeably less square-shaped appearance than the 2400c, due to the use of a full-sized keyboard and a wide-aspect screen. Yes, the PowerBook Lite's LCD screen would use the Cinema Display's HDTV format, and this is crucial to the design of the computer. The shape of a widescreen monitor is significantly closer to the shape of a full-sized keyboard, so the screen design is the main determining factor in the size and shape of a modern notebook computer's case. With the PowerBook Lite, you can have a very compact unit without sacrificing the ability to type comfortably. And thus, since the HDTV shape is not as skinny as the wider 09.16 widescreen movie format, you'll still have ample palm rests. Also, the shape of the screen makes it great for watching widescreen and anamorphic DVDs, without being too thin for standard-sized ones.
Apple's current PowerBooks are 1.7 inches thick. Sacrificing features like swappable drive bays and PC card slots will help a bit, as will the use of stronger polycarbonate plastic, of which less is needed for the same strength as current PowerBook plastics. Apple could surely get depth down to 1.5 inches and have enough room for everything. That's on par with the color versions of the Duos, Apple's original subnotebook line.
- Weight, lowered over previous Apple subnotebooks due to the use of lighter plastics and components, is offset by the use of an internal DVD-ROM and a high-capacity battery.
- Screen size: 13.1 inch TFT
- Screen resolutions: Native: 1024 x 640 Scaled: 800 x 500, 768 x 480.
- Closed dimensions (width x height x depth) 12.5 x 8.9 x 1.5.
- Weight: Between 4 and 5 pounds
These dimensions account for the width of a full-sized keyboard plus space for the polycarbonate enclosure. I then created height from that of an HDTV-format screen the width of the keyboard, again accounting for extra space from the enclosure as well as that for the clamshell hinge mechanism. 13.1 inches is the resulting screen size, surprisingly fitting perfectly between the current iBook and PowerBook screens, which are 12.1 and 14.1 inches respectively. Total size and weight is much smaller than both the PowerBook (12.7 x 10.4 x 1.7, 5.7-6.1 pounds) and iBook (13.5 x 11.6 x 1.8, 6.6-6.8 pounds.) Though it has a different shape, it's similar in overall size to the 2400c (10.5 x 10.5 x 1.9, 4.4 pounds.)
Software and Release Date
The PowerBook Lite would likely come with a software bundle similar to the G4 Cube, with basic internet apps, FAXstf, iTools plug-ins, and iMovie 2.0.1, but no AppleWorks, Quicken, or Pangea games.
If Apple has such a project in the works, the PowerBook Lite could be released as soon as Macworld Expo San Francisco 2001. If it's released later, it could see forthcoming technololgies like 800 megabit FireWire and could come bundled with the final release of Mac OS X.
The new sub-PowerBook could be Apple's hottest product yet. It has the great core features of the iBook with the processing closer to that of the PowerBook. And, unlike Apple's last new product line, the Power Mac G4 Cube, the PowerBook Lite has a clearly defined focus: mobility. The PowerBook Lite would be for people who are on the move all day and demand less weight, who are frequent flyers, or who have very limited desk space. Also, as the Cube is to the G4 tower, it would appeal to people who simply want the oomph of a PowerBook but don't need its expansion capabilities.
I think the best part about the product is that its specifications and design could allow it to be priced well under the PowerBook. I believe Apple would be able to safely price it at about $2,199.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: iMac Core Duo, Jan. 2006 - The first Intel-based iMacs ran at 1.83-2.0 GHz, came with 17" and 20" displays.
- Group of the Day: Mac Pro List is for those using a Mac Pro.
- Support Low End Mac
Recent Content
- Apple's Tablet an End Run Beyond Netbooks, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 11.20. Whatever Apple has planned will leverage existing technologies while going beyond what its competitors can offer.
- i5 iMac Benchmarked, Mac mini 'Shouldn't Be Overlooked', Twitter Client for Classic Mac OS, and More, Mac News Review, 11.20. Also why Apple leaves the low end to others, 10.6.2 fixes video playback problem in 27" iMac, 3D Leopard and Snow Leopard performance, and more.
- Apple #4 in Reliability, Apple Tablet a Gadget for All?, HP's i7 Notebook Outdoes Mac Rivals, and More, The 'Book Review, 11.20. Also Flash 10.1 improves video on Hackintosh netbooks, thin-and-light notebooks impress, Windows XP finally on the way out, and more.
- NASA Chemical Sensor for iPhone, Smartphone Death Match, iPhone Earrings, and More, Ian R Campbell, 11.20. Also mobile phone dangers, new apps, GPS solution for iPod touch, new iPod and iPhone cases, and more.
- Replacing the Hard Drive in a Clamshell iBook, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 11.19. Yes, it is one of the most difficult Apple notebooks to disassemble and reassemble, but a 10 GB hard drive just will not do.
- IBM Model F: A Great Old Keyboard with an Outdated Layout, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 11.19. Although it used a different technology than the revered IBM Model M keyboard, the Model F was a great keyboard in its own right.
- Soft Touch Keyboards, Wireless Mouse Options, Loving SeaMonkey 2, and More, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 11.18. Also the future of browsing with PowerPC Macs and the multiple mouse input bug introduced with OS X 10.5.8.
- More links in our archive.
Recent Deals
- Best eMac Deals, 11.18. Used 1 GHz Combo, $100; SuperDrive, $269; 1.25 GHz Combo, $119; SD, $319; 1.42 GHz Combo, $289; SD, $498.
- Best Mac OS X 10.6 and Mac Box Set Deals, 11.18. "Snow Leopard", single user, $25; 5 users, $45; Mac Box Set, single user, $139; 5 users, $180; Server, $414. Shipping included.
- Best Xserve Deals, 11.18. Used 1 GHz dual G4, $649; 2.3 dual G5, $795; 3.0 4-core Xeon, $1,899; refurb 2.26 4-core, $2,499; new, $2,888; refurb 8-core, $2,999; new, $3,449; more.
- Best 15" MacBook Pro Deals, 11.17. Used 1.83 GHz, $750; 2.16, $800; 2.33, $900; refurb 2.4, $1,299; 2.53, $1,449; 2.66, $1,699; 2.8, $1,899; new 2.53, $1,579; 2.66, $1,799; more.
- Best Power Mac G4 and AGP Video Card Deals, 11.17. Used 400 MHz, $50; 933 MHz, $80; 500 dual, $60; 867 dual, $90; 1 GHz dual, $150; 1.25 GHz dual, $225; 1.42 GHz, $499.
- Best Mac OS X 10.5 Deals, 11.17. "Leopard" upgrade, $80; single user license, $135; 5 users, $173; Mac Box Set, 5 users, $230; Server, 10 users, $340; unlimited, $850. Shipping included.
- Best Mac mini Deals, 11.16. Used 1.42 GHz G4 mini, $379; 1.66 GHz Core Solo, $419; 2.0 Core 2, $450; new 2.26 GHz nVidia, $580; 2.53 GHz, $769; Server, $990.
- Best iBook G4 Deals, 11.16. Used 12" 1.07 GHz Combo, $210; 1.33 GHz, $298; 14" 1.33 GHz, $398; 1.42 GHz, $479; SuperDrive, $498.
- Best iPod shuffle Deals, 11.16. Used 1 GB, $35; 4 GB, $65; refurb 1 GB, $39; 2 GB, $59; new 2 GB, $55, 4 GB, $75. New and refurb prices include shipping.
- More deals in our archive.
About LEM | Support | Usage | Privacy | Contacts
Navigation
Used Mac Dealers
Apple History
Video Cards
Email Lists
Favorite Sites
MacSurfer
MacMinute
MacInTouch
MyAppleMenu
InfoMac
Macs Only!
The Mac Observer
Accelerate Your Mac
RetroMacCast
PB Central
MacWindows
The Vintage Mac
Museum
DealMac
DealsOnTheWeb
Mac2Sell
ramseeker
Mac Driver Museum
JAG's House
System
6 Heaven
System 7 Today
the pickle's Low-End
Mac FAQ
Abandonware
Petition
Mac vs. PC Info
Affiliates
The Apple
Store
Mac
Connection
B&H
MacMall
TechRestore
ExperCom
Crucial
Memory
batteries.com
Advertise
MacMinute
MacInTouch
MyAppleMenu
InfoMac
Macs Only!
The Mac Observer
Accelerate Your Mac
RetroMacCast
PB Central
MacWindows
The Vintage Mac
Museum
DealMac
DealsOnTheWeb
Mac2Sell
ramseeker
Mac Driver Museum
JAG's House
System 6 Heaven
System 7 Today
the pickle's Low-End
Mac FAQ
Abandonware
Petition
Mac vs. PC Info
Mac Connection
B&H
MacMall
TechRestore
ExperCom
Crucial Memory
batteries.com
