Apple Computer appears ripe to extend its Front Row media experience to a new line of iBook consumer laptops this spring.
This spring Apple is expected to roll-out the a new series of iBook consumer laptops built around a 13-inch widescreen display. The new models will sport the first major design revision to the iBook in several years and come bundled with both Front Row and the Apple Remote, people familiar with the company's plans tell AppleInsider. Like Apple's new iMac Core Duo and MacBook Pro computers, the new iBooks will also feature a built-in iSight video cam and come bundled with the company's Photo Booth software, these people say.
Although processor specifications for the upcoming iBook series remain largely unconfirmed, it's only logical to assume the laptops will be powered by Intel's 1.67GHz Core Solo processor — the only processor on the chip maker's roadmap suited for a laptop that is neither equal to, nor greater than, the Core Duo chips used in Apple's MacBook Pro laptops. As the name implies, Intel's Core Solo processors contain one processing core, compared to the Core Duo's two.
Keeping true to its roots, the iBook's industrial design is expected remain similar to the current models. One person who claims to have caught a glimpse of the nearly-finalized prototype describes it as a slightly-smaller cousin to the recently introduced MacBook Pro, but clad in iMac white. Meanwhile, rumors that Apple's Intel-based iBooks would arrive without support for FireWire are untrue, this person said. The new models are said to retain a single FireWire 400 port in addition to two USB 2.0 ports.
Although Apple has reportedly decided to base the new series of iBooks around a single enclosure and display size, it's still expected that the laptops will arrive in at least two retail configurations — one with a SuperDrive and the other without. The latter model will fall within the sub-$1000 range currently occupied by the 12-inch PowerPC-based 1.33GHz iBook. All configurations will include an infrared sensor in the front of the laptop capable of communicating with the Apple Remote. This will allow users to control the included Front Row software on their iBook from up to 30 feet away.
Of interest, those people familiar with Apple's plans say the company at one point seriously considered adding a black-colored Intel iBook model to its offering. However, no such model has ever been seen, and with the development of the new laptops winding down, this option seems unlikely. The idea was reportedly inspired by the success of Apple's black iPods, which instantly became a hit with consumers when Apple introduced its iPod nano digital music player this past September.
It remains unknown whether Apple will re-brand the iBook under new name like it recently did with the PowerBook line.
126 Comments
Hooray! I get to control a 13" screen from 30' away!
Hooray! I get to control a 13" screen from 30' away!
When I first thought of Front Row on laptops, I thought it was a crazy idea too considering how small the screens are...
...but then I remembered that they can be hooked up to TV, projectors and large displays.
Hopefully Front Row 2 will allow itself to be streamed to TVs using Airport Super Duper Express 802.11n.
This is all fairly cool (and predictable).
As a slight aside, I think the next few years of Mac design are going to be interesting...in their dullness. What I mean by this is that it looks like Apple has landed (with the laptops and the iMac and even the Mac mini) on a collection of form factors that have some legimitate staying power. I mean, at some point, there isn't much more that can be done with a laptop (form-wise). Even the iMac, if you pay attention, what Apple is doing is slowly making the computer disappear. Once it does, form-factor matters less and less. I think you'll continue to see thinner, smaller bezels, lighter, etc. You'll also see features like the backlit keyboard migrate through the whole product line. Maybe new materials. But the form of the things? It is difficult to imagine much new. Which I actually think is an okay thing. It elevates the OS and software and user experience even further.
This is all fairly cool (and predictable).
As a slight aside, I think the next few years of Mac design are going to be interesting...in their dullness. What I mean by this is that it looks like Apple has landed (with the laptops and the iMac and even the Mac mini) on a collection of form factors that have some legimitate staying power. I mean, at some point, there isn't much more that can be done with a laptop (form-wise). Even the iMac, if you pay attention, what Apple is doing is slowly making the computer disappear. Once it does, form-factor matters less and less. I think you'll continue to see thinner, smaller bezels, lighter, etc. You'll also see features like the backlit keyboard migrate through the whole product line. Maybe new materials. But the form of the things? It is difficult to imagine much new. Which I actually think is an okay thing. It elevates the OS and software and user experience even further.
Very true. The iMac now is simply a flat screen on a stand. And that's perfect...you can't get any simply than that since you absolutely need to have a display. It would suck if Apple put everything back into a base ala sunflower iMac.
The only things Apple can do now is make them thinner. Oh, and I'm also hoping Apple will eventually make the damn things wall-mountable out-of-the-box.
Get that iSight crap out and put a Superdrive in as standard... Apple will be a laughing stock selling a $1000 computer with CDRW in 2006 - worse, the tag of selling over priced hardware would be fully justified.