Did Some Insider Just Spill The Beans On New Apple Laptop? (opens in new tab)

(whydoeseverythingsuck.com)

11 pointspius17y ago21 comments

21 comments

hugh17y 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.

jws17y 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.

mariorz17y 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_fish17y 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.

wheels17y 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.

1 more reply

antidaily17y 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_s17y ago

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

hugh17y 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.

1 more reply

mikedouglas17y 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'.

netcan17y ago

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

Create17y ago

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

1 more reply

Create17y ago

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

alaskamiller17y 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.

dfarm17y 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.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

21 comments

hugh17y 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.

jws17y 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.

mariorz17y 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_fish17y ago

wheels17y 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.

1 more reply

antidaily17y 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_s17y ago

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

hugh17y 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.

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

1 more reply

mikedouglas17y 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'.

netcan17y ago

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

Create17y ago

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

1 more reply

Create17y ago

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

alaskamiller17y 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.

dfarm17y 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.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse