Related link: http://www.apple.com/powerbook/index12.html
Where’s my 3.5 lb Mac notebook?
When Apple announced new Powerbooks recently I thought, “Ah, finally, they’ll release a 12″ screen model without an optical drive so that it will be much lighter!” But I was wrong (and disappointed.)
One of the primary reasons I bought my Thinkpad X31 two years ago was its weight (or lack thereof): 3.6 lbs with battery. The lightest Powerbook (or iBook or TiBook or WiFiBook or whatever Apple is calling their notebook computers then or now) was 4.9 lbs. The lightest one of the new crop from Apple is 4.6 lbs.
The skinniness of my Thinkpad comes at a price, of course: 12″ screen, no optical drive. (And about $2000, in March 2003, for a 1.4Ghz Pentium M, 40GB hard drrive, Gigabit ethernet, 256MB RAM).
I have an external USB CD/DVD drive to use when I need it, which is infrequently: installing new software, burning a CD, copying music from a CD onto my computer, watching a movie.
But I have never needed that optical drive while traveling and I’ve been very glad not to tote around its mass. I suppose if I wanted to watch a large stack of DVDs while on the road, it would be handy, but putting a few video files on my hard drive before I leave home provides much the same result.
So how about it, Apple? I’m willing to pay a financial premium, but not a mass premium. Where’s my 3.5 lb (or less!) Mac notebook?
Would you buy a lighter Powerbook? How about a heavier Newton?
3 computer lines: Pro, Consumer... and mini?
So you are basically wanting Apple to maintain 3 complete product lines?
Pro:
G5 PowerMac
PowerBook
iPod
Consumer:
iMac
iBook
iPod Mini (they named this one too soon)
Mini:
Mac Mini
MiniBook (?)
iPod Shuffle
No Optical Drive?
The idea seems like a real step backwards, to me.
I remember seeing my first VAIO that had external everything -- external floppy, external optical -- the bag that it came with weighed as much as a full-featured machine. I realize your point is that you rarely need your optical, but for people who use their portable as their primary machine (an increasing trend), no optical would be a step back in usability.
I've had a few machines that had external devices, and though I seldom needed them, it was a real PITA to not have them on me the few times I *did* need them.
I'll close w/ this -- is one pound really that burdensome?
3 computer lines: Pro, Consumer... and mini?
Sure, you can organize it by product line if you want. Or they could just tack another (low weight) item onto the low end of the PowerBook or iBook line.
I don't particularly care how it's marketed -- call it the TiniBook if you want. I've learned from two years of toting my Thinkpad around that I don't need to be carrying around the mass of an optical drive.
No Optical Drive?
I use my Thinkpad as my primary machine. And I certainly do need an optical drive, sometimes. But never on the road. So yeah, that VAIO bag may weigh a lot fully loaded, but there's really no need to tote around all those accessories with you all the time.
One pound may not seem that burdensome but going from a 5 pound notebook to my 3.6 lb Thinkpad produced a noticeable difference for me when carrying it around all day.
Why Stop There?
I'd actually like a 9" ibook, no optical. Would be happy with tablet style, or a fold-out keyboard. Would require a dashboard mount for the car/plane/boat. Then get companies like Topo! to stop requiring the CD to function.
I used an iBook 12" for auto navigation this summer, 5000 miles. Biggest problem was having it try to slide off the passenger seat (I was alone, not sure where I would have put it if I'd had a passenger). Biggest benefit - free wireless access with MacStumbler!
It's "all-in-one-little-package" that counts.
To be frank, I'd consider traveling without some kind of optical drive not just inconvenient, but downright careless.
Burning a CD or DVD while traveling is an easy, non-hassle way of makeing an ad-hoc backup or for sharing data with others. Then there's the aspect of being able to install all that software you get at trade shows like MacWorld Expo right on the spot. ;)
Most importantly, though, I would never travel with my beloved little 12" P'Book without bringing the Apple Hardware Test and the Diskwarrior CDs along just in case Something Bad(tm) happens.
IMHO, this type of convenience and desaster prevention is well worth lugging around those extra 454g anytime.
3 computer lines: Pro, Consumer... and mini?
I agree. I have been using a Compaq T100 for the past two years with no desire or need for a cd player. In fact, the only time I have ever used the one that I have, was when I installed Debian.
Personally I think it would be great if Apple did this. Why, because it seems like they are the only company that does not charge extra when they make things smaller.
other options
I can see a case for a "one-spindle" laptop, but presumably Apple's marketing tells them there isn't sufficient demand.
The argument against leaving optical drive at home when you travel strikes me as questionable. It's only fairly recently that we could burn backups to CD from laptops anyhow. Thanks to thumb-drives, we have more compact options for backup of work files; with an iPod, one could carry a complete hard-drive mirror. ( Of course, you'd have to carry that iPod too--which some people might do anyhow, and some might not.) If you can get online, you can post your work files to a remote location.
I've never needed to reinstall any software from discs when on the road (and a good thing, since I never carry them). I could manage with an ultralight.
Good idea
I am not sure that I would be willing to pay that much extra for the pleasure, but I think it's a good idea with an ultra-portable. I would basically take the 12 inch iBook (mainly because of the more durable shell), drop the optical drive and a few other things which would probably drop a pound or so. And you may say that 'oh, what's a pound?' and from someone who carries his Powerbook to and from work (and at work) everyday I can say a pound matters ;-) The problem with the iBook heritage would be that business-people (who I think would be the main target) would want a Powerbook.
Agreed
Now I love my 12" Powerbook. It is great. But... Weight. I'm a student and I carry around a ton of stuff and I rarely use an optical drive out and about. Plus I wish I had a widescreen so...
My Wishlist:
I think that the next case revision (with a G5 or e600 chip) should modify the line like so: iBooks stay the same, but offer the 14" with a optional higher res. screen.
Powerbooks: 17" stays the same. 15.2" moves to a 15.4" screen for a little more room and to increase the distance between the new 13.3" widescreen Powerbook (replacing the 12"). All full featured, and the 13.3" finally moved to feature parity with the larger models.
And then you introduce the 10" widescreen Powerbook (Because Apple is not going to do a tablet) sans optical drive. If you want to make it really sleek use iPod hard drives (maybe that upcoming 80 GB one) or not if the performance hit is too much. Either way make it thin and sleek and tiny like those Sony laptops.
That would be great.
I bought an Compaq M300 for this reason
But, I ( and likely others in this list) am unusual. I tell people I use computers like golfers use golf clubs. I choose the one that best fits my needs Mac, Linux, Windows out of collection of 10 computers. I want a very light computer for traveling when I am taking digital photos. I take the M300 because it is 3 lbs. I'd rather be using a Mac because that is my own preference, and I hate having Windows machines outside my firewall.
The market may not be large enough
Some time back, I posted along similar lines. Someone pointed out afterward, in the feedback, that the market for ultra-small notebooks is not all that large. I can't verify the size of the market, but, based on what I see people carrying, I can certainly believe that market for laptops sans-CD is fairly small. It may not be cost-effective for Apple to address that market.
I'm an X30 user myself. The light weight is nice. But I've found there are two other things I like even more. The small form-factor is one. This laptop sits on a tray table and with room for drink left over. The clip-on, extended battery is something else I've come to appreciate. I never need to look for airport power-plugs anymore when I travel. Essentially, I've replaced the weight of a CD drive with the weight of an extra battery.
The market may not be large enough
Good points -- I have no idea what the market size is. However, since multiple companies ship ultra-small Windows laptops, it makes me think that it's a market worth addressing. Plus, IBM's latest tinybook, the X40, weighs even less - 2.7 lbs. So someone there thinks that small is attractive. Of course, they could be wrong and only sell a handful of X40s.
Your tray table comment makes me realize all the tray tables that I've put my X31 on and never given a second thought to the fact that it fit nicely (with room for my tomato juice on the side.) I suppose that's an element of good design -- you don't notice it when it just works. (Or maybe it's a sign of an inattentive user!)
Lighter laptops for the over 50 crowd
I'm a grandmother and I'd love a lighter PB for when I travel by plane especially. I'd adore a laptop small enough to wrap in a wetsuit and put in a tote with my snack, library book, change of clothes in case the checked luggage is lost,-- and still have that tote light enough for me to swing into the overhead compartment without wincing. I don't play music. I used to always travel with Norton CDs in case of a terrible crash, but since OS X I don't have crashes. The elimination of the optical drive for weight would be fine. If such a PB became available I'd likely have that for travel and perhaps to replace my Visor deluxe because I really prefer a computer to a PDA, and have a larger laptop for my main at home computer.
Laptops at home have the advantages of fewer wires than many desktops, smaller footprint than most desktops, and portability within the home. What I don't want to carry out in the world I can easily carry from one room to another at home.
So consider the market for mini-books to include older folk than those to whom computer ads generally are geared.
Save 1lb?
You guys should consider getting some more exercise.
8^)
I'm with you, sorta.
As a Thinkpad X40 user I love the lightness of it. Those of you saying loose some weight or whatever obviously don't run through airports very often. It's amazing what a few pounds, sometimes even a single pound will do for your back as you get a bit older and have more than just a laptop in a bag. Anything you can do to take some weight off it makes the neck, shoulders, and small of your back feel better. After dumping a T21 for X24 from IBM it was like a godsend. The sad part was it was about a 3 lb difference then. The X30/31 and now X40 are shaving oz off each time.
But that being said, Anyone remember teh Duo? That was the ultimate super portable. I loved the dock, I loved the machines size.
But I don't know if Apple would do that again. It wasn't the most popular laptop.
No drive
You are probably right about the optical drive. Maybe Apple can get rid of the optical in a few years or so. However, now most people would like to have them. Apple seems to be looking at the mass market now (i.e., low priced iPod low priced mini mac). As for the weight, the G5 is going to have enough problems with the heating issue. Don't know if they will be able to reduce the weight. Also, does one pound make that much of a difference? I don't think so. Now, if Apple could get the laptop down to 2.8 pounds that would make a bigger difference to me.
I agree
I have a 12" PowerBook (the new 1.5GHz model) and absolutely love it, but sometimes when I travel I still grab my ancient Toshiba Portege 3490, which lacks an optical drive, has an 11" screen and weighs 3.4lbs.
Actually, I've been eying the even older Portege 3110CT on eBay lately, as those will use my same ac adapters from teh 3490, but only weigh 3lbs.
Come on Apple, where is my driveless PowerBook? I'll be first on line at the AppleStore, just like I was for the speedbumped 12".
PowerBook 2400c
I think you are looking for a replacement for the PowerBook 2400c. I still have it from 1997. Super light. Too bad it can only run OS 9. I believe Apple will introduce something light next year. There, of course, will be a premium for such machine.
PowerBook 2400c
Exactly something like the 2400c, but these days there is no need for the screen to be less than 1024X768, an 11" widescreen would be even better, but merely taking the current 12" PowerBook and making it .7" thick without an optical drive would be more than enough for me to go buy it.
The 2400c was a great machine, but for today the inability to run X is crippling, plus it isn't really any smaller than the 12" PowerBook, and only a smidge lighter.
Andrew
Andrew
Is 8 oz or so really an issue
Is the small reduction in weight, that ditching the optical drive would yield, really the issue?
Or is it just another "Mine is littler than yours" pissing contest?
Most people who tote a portable around also have a bag, 1 or more batteries, a power adapter... whatever. The whole "package" weighs much more than the portable, with or without an optical drive.
Now, I can see a need mass-produced version of the Mac mini without an optical drive... but for reasons of price, not weight.
Is 8 oz or so really an issue
Yes, 8 oz really is an issue. Not only do we get a lighter laptop, but a smaller (and therefore lighter) bag as well.
As someone who used to own one-spindle laptops (Toshiba Portege, IBM X21) I can tell you from real experience that the travel weight (the bag on my shoulder) weighed a lot less when I was carrying a 3lb laptop than it does now with my 4.6lb 12" PowerBook.
I'd trade the optical drive in a heartbeat to get that lighter carry weight back.