Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Flash Apple Ultraportable Flash MacBook end of the PC?
According to rumor, Apple will release a flash memory 12 inch screen sub notebook MacBook next month. The reports have emphasized the slimness of the unit. But what might be more significant is that this could make small notebooks with flash memory, and even flash desktops, from other makers more acceptable. Other makers could respond quickly by replacing the hard disk in their sub notebooks with flash and leaving out the DVD/CD drive. The Apple unit is the size I suggested for thin client Linux sub notebooks. However, the Apple is likely to be about four times the $500 price I would see the low end units selling for.
As expected, Apple released a flash memory sub notebook. The MacBook Air has a 13.3 inch screen. It is 1.93cm high, but looks much thinner, due to tapered sides. With its rounded corners, the case a little reminiscent of the iBook. It has 2Gb of RAM by default and 80GB hard drive, with 64GB of flash memory as an option. The touch pad has "multi-touch", to allow similar gesturing as on the iPhone and iPod touch. There is an optional external DVD/CD drive. At AU$2,499 this is not a low cost sub-notebook like the AU$499 ASUS Eee PC. But it will help legitimize the market for disk-less ultra small computers.
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