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viktor_haagSo Apple's new announcement is not exactly the solid state tablet/laplet that had been wildly rumoured since pretty much this time last year. Rather it's "the world's smallest" (conventional) laptop. I must say I have very mixed opinion about this thing.
On the one hand, just about anything that makes portable computing more portable is probably a useful thing.
On the other hand, it's still essentially a full-size laptop, just not quite as full-size as any other laptop on the market. It still uses a clam-shell design. It still has a 13", landscape-aspect-by-default screen. It still comes with a mechanical HDD (although you can upgrade to a smaller solid-state drive). It has dropped FireWire (in favour of USB2) and has only micro-DVI as a video out (although it does seem to support 1920x1200 on an external monitor, so perhaps it can support full HD video output?)
Is it revolutionary? Well, I'm really not sure. I was really hoping for a product that was sort of halfway between an iPod Touch and a conventional laptop: a true tablet with no on-board optical or keyboard (but with the Touch keyboard built into the iPhone and iPod Touch and with Bluetooth so it could support Apple's BT Keyboard and Mouse). I want a trade-paper back sized tablet I can use as a portable document reader, web browser, email reader, and so on. And when I need to use it as a computer/monitor, I stick it in the "book stand" recharger on my desk, pull up my BT keyboard and mouse, and away I go. But it appears we're not there yet.
I would have re-arranged this year's budget to buy one of those. I'm not at all sure that I will do any re-arranging to buy a MacBook Air. All things considered, this is probably a good thing as it means not spending money. But I'm still a bit surprised that Apple wouldn't have leaped on their current position and launched something really revolutionary instead of "the same but smaller". Maybe next year?
And, frankly, given the size of this product, it's aluminum case, and the processor they've crammed into it (60% smaller!), the one question I would like to ask at this point is, "Gee, Steve, where do you intend to put all the heat?"
postscript: The cynical part of me cannot help but wonder why Apple is charging iPod Touch users for a software upgrade, when the iPhone users get it for free? And why are they charging 20 dollars for it? If they really wanted to make it a more palatable upgrade, and have a neat marketing message for it (because they're using the ITMS to distribute it), why didn't they make it "the same price as an album"?
On the other hand, don't you think it's interesting that ITMS has become the download/purchase point of presence for Apple? How long do you think it will be before they start offering application software (for download pay) through ITMS?
On the one hand, just about anything that makes portable computing more portable is probably a useful thing.
On the other hand, it's still essentially a full-size laptop, just not quite as full-size as any other laptop on the market. It still uses a clam-shell design. It still has a 13", landscape-aspect-by-default screen. It still comes with a mechanical HDD (although you can upgrade to a smaller solid-state drive). It has dropped FireWire (in favour of USB2) and has only micro-DVI as a video out (although it does seem to support 1920x1200 on an external monitor, so perhaps it can support full HD video output?)
Is it revolutionary? Well, I'm really not sure. I was really hoping for a product that was sort of halfway between an iPod Touch and a conventional laptop: a true tablet with no on-board optical or keyboard (but with the Touch keyboard built into the iPhone and iPod Touch and with Bluetooth so it could support Apple's BT Keyboard and Mouse). I want a trade-paper back sized tablet I can use as a portable document reader, web browser, email reader, and so on. And when I need to use it as a computer/monitor, I stick it in the "book stand" recharger on my desk, pull up my BT keyboard and mouse, and away I go. But it appears we're not there yet.
I would have re-arranged this year's budget to buy one of those. I'm not at all sure that I will do any re-arranging to buy a MacBook Air. All things considered, this is probably a good thing as it means not spending money. But I'm still a bit surprised that Apple wouldn't have leaped on their current position and launched something really revolutionary instead of "the same but smaller". Maybe next year?
And, frankly, given the size of this product, it's aluminum case, and the processor they've crammed into it (60% smaller!), the one question I would like to ask at this point is, "Gee, Steve, where do you intend to put all the heat?"
postscript: The cynical part of me cannot help but wonder why Apple is charging iPod Touch users for a software upgrade, when the iPhone users get it for free? And why are they charging 20 dollars for it? If they really wanted to make it a more palatable upgrade, and have a neat marketing message for it (because they're using the ITMS to distribute it), why didn't they make it "the same price as an album"?
On the other hand, don't you think it's interesting that ITMS has become the download/purchase point of presence for Apple? How long do you think it will be before they start offering application software (for download pay) through ITMS?
