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December 15, 2007

speculation

Rumor talk: Apple to release a sub-notebook at Macworld Expo 2008?

Posted Dec. 15, ’07, 10:58 AM PT by Aayush Arya
Category | Apple » Speculation

Rumored Apple Subnotebook.pngWe don’t generally discuss rumors on MacUser but this one is so hyped up right now that it has earned a seat for itself in the MacUser “worth a mention” hall of fame. I was actually working on a post that would include information and links for most of the somewhat credible rumors we have heard till date about the much hyped Apple sub-notebook. It turns out, however, that Mac Rumors is a step ahead. Their post efficiently rounds up most of the rumors flying around right now for your reading pleasure. What they did not include was CNET’s Don Reisinger’s take on why “Apple should not release a subnotebook” (which isn’t much of a surprise since it was published two days later). Mr Reisinger argues that there is very little demand for such a notebook, if Apple decides to make one and concludes that it is pretty much “dead in the water”. John Gruber, however, disagrees and states that it is the “dumbest thing he’s read all week”.

I have to say that while I wouldn’t use such strong words, I agree with Mr. Gruber in this regard. There is quite a bit of hype surrounding this product and if the blog posts and cries of outrage on the Internet are any indication, there is a good chunk of the market waiting to buy this product if Apple gets it right. Mr. Reisinger’s argument that there is no place for such a product in the current Mac line-up seems to be invalid because no matter how you try to spin it, it is a simple fact that the lightest Mac notebook right now (the MacBook) is just not portable enough. I, for one, am waiting for this product to hit the market so that I can get my grubby hands onto it. What about you, dear readers? Would you buy the Apple sub-notebook if it materializes a month from now?


15 Comments

mrfearless47 Author Profile Page said:

I'd buy one in a nanosecond. I have a MacBook Pro and 2 MacBooks and both are too heavy for long distance travelling. If would be especially nice if they would include Expresscard capability but it wouldn't preclude me from buying one. I'd just like a subnotebook for carrying around. My Blackberry is too small and the MacBooks are too heavy.

December 15, 2007 12:03 PM
drdreric said:

I have been waiting for a year in hopes a sub-notebook appears. I would buy one instantly. My Duo 230 was my favorite Mac of all time. Play it again, Apple!

December 15, 2007 2:21 PM
Scissor Author Profile Page said:

Difficult area. There are examples of sub-notebooks (Fujitsu, Sony, Asus). Tried them Usefulness is the issue. Weight diff. is minor compared to accessories nec. to make sub. note.

I'm hoping for an aluminum shelled 12-13" with matte LED screen. (To update from my 12" G4). Allows space for std 2.5" HD & flash drives, std RAM & for all the connectors (HDMI?) without a docking station.

December 15, 2007 4:31 PM
Mark 2000 said:

As a pro user I want a 21" notebook, but I know 3 people in my immediate family who would love a 12" subnotebook. And judging from how much 12 powerbooks still get on ebay there would be a lot of demand from the world at large.

December 15, 2007 5:56 PM
Goobimama said:

I'd get one, but not with a tiny 7-10 inch screen. I like the macbook screen size. If they were to just remove the optical drive, add in an SSD, and make it's screen borders really thin (maybe a 12 inch screen), that would be a winning device. And maybe they could add in some multi-touch :)

December 16, 2007 12:15 AM
Scissor Author Profile Page said:

Prefer a 'usable' size, as an update for my 12" G4. Sub-notebooks (like Fujitsu, Sony) are OK for WP and email but difficult for heavier/detailed work without carrying around a dock.

Perfect would be a 12-13" LED matte-screened aluminum, with flash-drive and ext. DVD.

December 16, 2007 7:26 AM
Giorgos said:

I would buy one instantly, as long as it features a SuperDrive. Otherwise... it's a tough call.

December 16, 2007 7:52 AM
dogbert said:

For the last time: 13 inches is NOT a sub-notebook screen size.

December 16, 2007 8:00 AM
Anonymous said:

I'm a handicapped professional who does a fair bit of travelling. I current use a 12" G4 Powerbook (which I love) -- but it's just TOO
HEAVY!! I'd pay quite a bit for a Mac subnotebook in the 2 lb range even with a 10" screen and no
optical drive.

Dr. Vildechai

December 16, 2007 8:33 AM
cubytes said:

hmmm....let me guess

Its going to have two screens, by ditching the keyboard, both of which will be multi touch, its going to be about the size of a DVD case and have an emphasis on E-Books :)

just an educated guess....

December 16, 2007 9:22 AM
Roeland said:

Yes I would buy one. Now I have a Sony Vaio 13 inch which is perfect for travel. But last year I switched all my home computers to Mac and also want to do so with my business notebook. Come on Apple: 13 inch LED screen,

December 16, 2007 11:59 AM
Call Me Yo Daddy Author Profile Page said:

Macbooks not portable enough? LOL. What are you looking for, something the size of a calculator?

I take my new Macbook to work and back on the bus several times a week and it's light and very portable.

I suggest you start lifting some weights if you find the Macbook heavy.

December 16, 2007 12:33 PM
Stephen Chakwin said:

Sounds really exciting. I have a 17" MBP that I love, but the weight is an issue. A good subnotebook would be really tempting and a no-brainer for at least one of my children

December 16, 2007 2:56 PM
krye said:

Totally! I was all set to buy a 12" PB back in the day. I didn't because I was waiting for the Intel switch. Needless to say, I ended up with a 17" MacBook Pro. The 15" then came out and I thought that was still too big, and I didn't want to spend $2000 either. I sold the 17" on eBay soon after because it was just "too much" laptop, and too expensive. I opted for the Macbook. However, I need better graphics. If there was something the size of a MacBook, with the graphics of a MacBook Pro, I'd be all over it.

December 16, 2007 5:24 PM
TekSavvy said:

You couldn't have put it any better: "...there is a good chunk of the market waiting to buy this product if Apple gets it right."

I am a part of that chunk and I have held onto my pBook 12" vice switching to the Intel Platform in the hopes of scoring such a notebook from Apple...

I think that Mr. Reisinger is just bored, out of touch or argumentative. There is always option "D", ALL OF THE ABOVE!

December 17, 2007 7:48 AM

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