As you can see from the Chinese spy shots below, the new MacBooks will have all I/O ports on the left and optical drive on the right. While this seems somewhat trivial, it does enable one of the more interesting patents of recent memory to become a reality.
The 'iMac dock'.
It is also interesting to note that the ports generally line up between the smaller and large laptops. Will we see a dock on Tuesday?
Thanks to Gizmodo for for the mockup
Update: Check up this image from the comments:
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Comments
doubt it but it would be
doubt it but it would be cool
what does "generally line up"
what does "generally line up" mean? the ports would either have to line up exactly, in which case a dock could work for all models, or they don't line up, meaning you'd either have to buy a laptop-specific dock, or the dock wouldn't work at all.
did you mean, "they appear to line up"? Or taken at your word, does it appear there are inconsistencies in the lineup?
MacBook Dock
While the concept may be viable, the illustration from Gizmodo does not make sense to me. Here's why: MacBooks and MacBook Pros are getting quite powerful on their own, with little compromise, computationally compared to the iMac. So, why duplicate all those electronics just to have a larger viewing surface.
The MacBook should be shown docking to a NEW Cinema Display, with docking capability. So much more logical. Spend as much as you can on the most powerful MacBook for your nomadic needs; Then, when you come home and want or need a large viewing surface, just slide the laptop into the back of the Cinema Display.
You will get much more bang for the buck and you won't have to be reminded when you are going to get a double chin. Who could ask for more?
MacBook/MacBook Pro Dock
I agree with @ dentaldoc. While my employer does not use Mac widely in their enterprise I did have an opportunity to use my MacBook at work one day ( while waiting for delivery of my corporate ThinkPad to be serviced). I connected the MacBook to the 19inch widescreen LCD that was provided and suddenly realised I had no place to dock the MacBook. The ThinkPad came complete with a dock.
If Apple were to provide a display that allowed me to slide store my MacBook/MacBook Pro as illustrated here ... I would be sold.
Not Possible
Take apart the iMac aluminum and you will see in ever model, that there is just simply no room for a dock. It just will not work. There is jst no way of putting a dock in there without removing the optical drive, moving the HD a bit to the left, squishing the PSU, and re-shaping the Logic Board. A lot more will have to be done, but it just will not happen. Its a nice concept though.
Maybe a adon that clings to the back of the iMac makes more sense; but in it? No.
its a dock, so it wouldn't
its a dock, so it wouldn't need all of that stuff. Without the laptop, it is just a monitor.
Do you know what a dock is?
Do you know what a dock is? It allows you to store your computer and use it with a larger monitor as well as a desktop keyboard and mouse. The dock wouldn't be an actual iMac; it would just look like an iMac that you could slide your laptop into.
Yep, that's right. A dock is
Yep, that's right. A dock is just a lock, a USB hub, and a 15-pin port all in one grossly over-priced device.
Their drivers are generally designed to crash Windows upon "eject".
As you said, it would have no
As you said, it would have no optical drive. Funnily enough, the optical drive will be on the side on both the Macbook and Macbook Pro prototypes (instead of the front of the MBP). This would allow an optical drive in the normal position for an iMac...
I think we have a better
I think we have a better chance of seeing a tablet mac first.
Bad idea - bud stupid fanboys will like it
This wouldn't be cool, because you have to use an apple display (i don't think that you would be able do use it with other macs or pcs) and won't be able to use your macbook-schreen as a second schreen.
a real docking station would be nice. i want to be able to use a display of my choose.
OR...you can just connect
OR...you can just connect your Macbook or Macbook Pro to a cinema display with an adapter..
its all possible..
maybe the macbook dock that is being shown is actually a new cinema display but with a keyboard and mouse. the silver on the bottom does look a little smaller than that of the imac and if you slide the laptops into the computer you wouldnt need much, you already have everything on that computer. thats the purpose of a dock. just an idea.
i agree with the idea, maybe
i agree with the idea, maybe its just a new Apple Display with an integrated dock, not an iMac, where you can fit a MacBook or a tablet, just behind the display and "dock it".
its all possible..
maybe the macbook dock that is being shown is actually a new cinema display but with a keyboard and mouse. the silver on the bottom does look a little smaller than that of the imac and if you slide the laptops into the computer you wouldnt need much, you already have everything on that computer. thats the purpose of a dock. just an idea.
iMac or Cinema Display
I disagree. The drawing is definitely the latest iteration of the iMac. The "chin" looks narrower because part of it is hidden by the bottom part of the black screen mask. This was a well know design device used by Apple to make the chin look less obtrusive.
Apple would never go out of their way to add a chin to a new Cinema display. Bigger rectangle with less screen? Useless plastic to add ugliness? For what? All design trends are towards making the bezel narrower. We want maximum SCREEN real estate.
iMacBook
Maybe it's a new iMac/MacBook combo device. It could be marketed an the iMacBook. That machine that becomes great for students. Combines a large screen (20" or 24") with portability ( slide out notebook ).
I think this concept would be great...
I think this concept would be great. Larger screen, additional ports, and you already have the power from how high end the macbooks (pros) come now. It would be even better (why it looks like an imac not an apple display) if they incoporated an extra hard drive preferably at least 1 tb and it would automatically backup you computer whenever it is docked. This would be a great alternative for those of us who don't use time capsule. This is probably why they moved the superdrive as well so you could still access it and not have to put another one into the dock. I would buy this instantly. I am sooo glad the macbooks (pros) are finally coming out I have been waiting for this for about a year!
iMac or Cinema Display
I disagree. The drawing is definitely the latest iteration of the iMac. The "chin" looks narrower because part of it is hidden by the bottom part of the black screen mask. This was a well know design device used by Apple to make the chin look less obtrusive.
Apple would never go out of their way to add a chin to a new Cinema display. Bigger rectangle with less screen? Useless plastic to add ugliness? For what? All design trends are towards making the bezel narrower. We want maximum SCREEN real estate.
it's coming !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://img.skitch.com/20081012-paaq44adjabmaw5nnh6kfydma5.jpg
edit:
images from macrumors.com and macnn.com
From the image it looks like...
From the image it looks like the wider port that (in the image) is to the right of it before would make more sense.
Have I missed something?
If you already have an iMac, why stick your laptop into it? Why not just drop the files onto it and work from there?
Yes, you have missed
Yes, you have missed something. This isn't an actual iMac. It's just a place to store your laptop and use it on a larger screen with a desktop mouse and keyboard.
Ah...
I see. But wouldn't the MacBook overheat if it was implemented as shown?
iPhone Dock
I would rather have a place to slide my iPhone into the laptop to:
a) Charge
b) Act as a killer touchpad / mouse
c) Satellite screen ( control panel ) if using an external mouse
d) etc. etc. - the list could go on and on...
Or, no.
And you wouldn't look at all like a moron holding your laptop to your ear to take a call because you couldn't remove the iphone in time...
If this is true... The Duo is
If this is true...
The Duo is back!
Then will come the Newton... (a.k.a. iTablet)
And finally the Pentahedron... (a.k.a. Cube Pro)
Just a thought here, but what
Just a thought here, but what if the "brick" was not related at all to the manufacturing process at all, as:
1. It is now known they are not being crafted out of a single piece of aluminum, and
2. The notebooks are still being manufactured in China (not the states as previously rumored), thus...
Debunking that "brick theory". Instead, what if the "brick" was this slide in dock system??
I myself have the latest 17"MBP. I have heavily invested in this machine because it houses the same specs at the iMac, but with the portability. I often plug my MBP into my monitor in my home office and use a bluetooth keyboard and mouse. On top of plugging in my monitor, I also plug in firewire cables, ethernet and usb hubs. There are times where this is both tedious and bothersome. I would much rather be able to slide my MBP into the screen. Simple, clean, and hassle-free. This would make complete sense, especially since the iMac and MBP have the exact same specs!
I heard from a previous rumor (weeks ago), the new notebooks, according to an apple source, "was all about the brick". As well, the latest shareholders conference about a month ago, I remember them saying they will cut profit margins and release a product, other companies won't be able to match for years.
This is all very interesting. It's innovative and would snag a quite a few more PC users.
I for one am counting the sleeps... T-minus 2 sleeps!
Yes
I think this is the most likely scenario or at least it should be. Dell and HP and the rest won't be able to match this for years. It would require too much investment in R&D.