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Topic: Apple

MacBook mini concept could be a sign of things to come

Summary: 9-to-5 Mac brings us this delicious concept shot of a what they're calling the MacBook mini. While definitely a concept created by someone with a healthy imagination, it looks like the killer Mac netbook we're all waiting for.

Jason D. O'Grady

By for The Apple Core |

9-to-5 Mac brings us this delicious concept shot of a what they're calling the MacBook mini. While definitely a concept created by someone with a healthy imagination, it looks like the killer Mac netbook we're all waiting for.

The only downside is the price -- $899 according to the report. Unfortunately, $900 just won't fly for a viable netbook alternative. It needs to be sub-$500 or risk a nasty Microsoft commercial about it.

According the the Russian magazine it was spotted in, specs are:

• 10.4" WXGA display • 1280 x 768 pixel with LED backlighting • NVIDIA MCP79 • Intel Atom Z740 1.83GHz with 1MB L2 cache • 2GB DDR3-800 • NVIDIA GeForce 9400M • 64GB Solid State Drive • Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n • 1 x USB 2.0 • 1 x Mini Display Port • Battery Li-Ion 5100mA

What do you think? Would you buy one?

Tip: Gizmodo, who also has a picture comparing it the the MacBook Air.

Topics: Apple, Hardware, Laptops, Mobility

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Talkback

25 comments
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  • The specs are quite high end for a netbook

    That somewhat does justify the higher cost. However the question will come up about why this cannot be offered with a 16 GB SSD, 1 GB memory, 1080x600 display, and perhaps no Bluetooth.

    Perhaps OS X may not display well on 1080x600, so that could be an answer for that one. But very few people actually use Bluetooth on a computer (partly because so much gets intentionally disabled), and 1 GB memory and 16 GB disk is plenty for what a netbook is designed for, which is mobile low end computing.
    Michael Kelly
    Reply Vote

    • Exactly

      I have an HP Mini and it meets my basic needs as a netbook should, so I'm not entirely sure why you'd need all this extra horsepower if you can go 100 dollars more and get a whole laptop.

      Come on Apple, give us a real netbook.
      clindhartsen
      Reply Vote

      • One thing to remember

        And I should have remembered to note this as well: This is only a rumor. Apple may offer what we ask. Or they may not have a netbook at all.
        Michael Kelly
        Reply Vote

  • Overpriced..

    An overpriced overperforimng netbook.

    An overpriced underperforming notebook.

    Notice a general theme here?
    pdskep
    Reply Vote

  • Again, Apple. Overprice everything

    Would I buy one? No.

    I will admit that it's nice, you forgot to put in battery time, or weight. That's important to me. But again, Apple shoots their foot off. The price is for a good non-apple laptop, much less a netbook.

    Also what is Apple's problem with USB? 1 port? At this price, 4 ports wouldn't hurt anything. After my T22, I won't have a laptop/netbook with anything less than two USB ports. You need at least one for the laptop cooler, and they won't put a port on them.

    I'll just go and keep building my own systems. If it's not forcing you to buy Winders, even when you use Ubuntu, it's Apple.

    - Kc
    kcredden2
    Reply Vote

    • Apple didn't make this, it's concept art from a Russian magazine. [nt]

      [nt]
      olePigeon
      Reply Vote

    • My $400 Eee PC has more USB ports than that! nt

      nt
      T1Oracle
      Reply Vote

    • "You need at least one for the laptop cooler"

      Laptop cooler not required. My 2.6Ghz Intel Core 2 Due MacBook Pro is silent and cool...in more ways than one. Fans not needed (unless I am rasterizing).
      No More Microsoft Software Ever!
      Reply Vote

  • I'd Just Get a MacBook...

    At that price it just makes sense to go with a full-
    blown system. Now, with lesser features and a $500-ish
    price tag - I'd go for it.
    tonyhunterajh
    Reply Vote

  • Value for money...?

    Is $899 really expensive?

    Take a Dell Mini 10 for example and add the price for a 64 GB Solid State Drive ($299), 2 GB of memory and a better Atom Processor and you would pay at least $700 to $800.

    Of course, Dell doesn't offer those options for the Mini 10 but considering the cost of you could customize a Dell Mini 10, than $899 isn't such a big deal anymore.

    If I would buy one? Most likely yes! The resolution (1280 x 768 instead of 1024x576) and the SSD are worth the premium price over the Eee PC or the Mini 10. Customizing an 1002HA to similar specs (without having the resolution) won't be much cheaper.
    AHMR
    Reply Vote

    • It's the price...

      that's is the issue. Yes looks like a good amount of specs, it's probably very reliable, and it probably has a good value price vs. specs. But the issue is most people don't need all that value for a netbook/2nd laptop. They want something cheap for on the go and if it breaks or get's lost your not out $800 dollars.
      ~Obelix~
      Reply Vote

  • guys... in all likelihood this is a fake.. take it easy... nt.

    ...
    doctorSpoc
    Reply Vote

  • RE: MacBook mini concept could be a sign of things to come

    Looks like a smaller version of the MacBook Air - with 64GB of solid state disk it's pretty tempting.
    SteveJacek
    Reply Vote

  • RE: MacBook mini concept could be a sign of things to come

    $900 for a netbook?

    No thanks... I'll settle for a $300 EEE... That gives me $600 to spend elsewhere, and not on the Apple Tax
    The one and only, Cylon Centurion
    Reply Vote

    • Considering the logo costs $500, this isn't a bad deal

      [i]$900 for a netbook?[/i]

      No, it is $400 for the netbook which is quite reasonable. You can't count the $500 for the Apple logo.
      NonZealot
      Reply Vote

      • LOL nt

        nt
        T1Oracle
        Reply Vote

      • Swallowing yet another Ballmer

        squirt, I see.
        frgough
        Reply Vote

        • LOL!! You're funny! (nt)

          .
          NonZealot
          Reply Vote

    • "and not on the Apple Tax"

      A tax is something you can't avoid. You can easily avoid Apple. It's near impossible to avoid Microsoft so go moan and complain about them!
      No More Microsoft Software Ever!
      Reply Vote

  • RE: MacBook mini concept could be a sign of things to come

    Personally, I think Apple will do something unique in the ultra-portable class...something like an iPod touch tablet maybe. But that's neither here nor there.

    What's really interesting is not whether Apple will produce a netbook, but that everyone cares so much about it.

    Personally, putting a full, consumer OS on these little machines little sense.

    When I bought my netbook one of the criteria was I wanted a machine that didn't need baby sitting. Windows XP certainly didn't meet that criteria. OS X has less over head than Windows, but it still require more effort than what I wanted to invest in a $300 machine that would mostly live in my brief case. And face it, full Linux distributions are often a science project.

    So I opted for one of these scaled down, appliance Linux distributions and it is just perfect. I open the lid, a minute later I am checking my email or the news, and then I close the lid. Sure I can't customize it like I would with a full, consumer OS, but that's not the point of a netbook.



    joshdcohen@...
    Reply Vote
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