Handtops, UMPC - IF a MacBook Mini comes along..

12/18/07 + ecsk2

...how many would be tempted?

12/20/07 + ecsk2

tnkgrl said: "@MeanSquare I tried OS X (Tiger) on my Asus Eee, but it's a dead-end with some critical hardware not working (WiFi) and no support for software update - same thing with OS X on my 10" Averatec 1050 2 years ago...
"

Spend $29 for 802.11g link or $49 for 802.11n link and there you are

link
Almost too easy and good to be true

12/20/07 + ecsk2

ArchiMark said: "

2disbetter said: "Ok I guess I'm clueless on macs, but is this in the works? As in legit and serious?

2d"

2d, the reality is all this is speculation and rumor at this point...we'll know for sure once His Steveness makes his pronouncements at MacWorld in January....while a MacBook Mini would be great, I think if anything it will be a MacBook Thin...

What I'd really like to see is a MacBook Mini Convertible TabletPC style unit with touchscreen and full handwriting support, etc...

One can dream.....

;-)"

Correct the screen of the upcoming Macbook will be the same 13.3 size as currently on the...Macbooks (non PRO) now.
There's been some delays mainly due to some screen issues...

12/20/07 + ecsk2

2disbetter said: "

tnkgrl said: "...
I'm enjoying several real Macs at home and I want Apple's level of polish in an ultra-portable - I hope MacWorld 2008 will deliver but I'm sick of waiting!"

tnkgrl you hit the nail right on the head for me. I don't mind OS X as an operating system in many ways I like it a lot, especially in a creative vein, but I don't want it over windows or linux for example. I do't want to be locked into an OS. I do however love apple's polish. Their gear is great. I drowl everytime I go into an apple store. I would love to have something portable from Apple that will run whatever OS I throw at it.

2d"

Look at me now, taking a stand FOR MAC OS in a thread where tnkgrl is kinda almost leaning the other way LOL, anyway I agree and would've almost got the new Sony TZ series this was just as I was going over to MACs (Max?

) all together, now I have nothing between my iPhone and MacPro (and the 13.3 Macbooks we have around, but are not "mine") so I really want something in between I love that I could even mess an EEE up and not have all too large of a loss.

Anyhow what I really wanted to say is in my opinion the MAC OS is the only OS right now that does NOT lock me into any OS, thanks to VMware Fusion, Parallels, Crossover not to mention Boot Camp. I want to see if I can get as far with an EEE as to get OS X AND perhaps Crossover with one or two WIN prgs runing

12/20/07 + ecsk2

I would like both a ultra light Macbook AND something like this based on the iPhone technology
link

12/21/07 + ecsk2

This willfor sure be ineresting....
link

12/21/07 + 2disbetter

ecsk2 said: "This willfor sure be ineresting....
link"

Is this article perhaps a little overstated? Does the new Silverthorne chips really compare to Pentium M processors? If so that great. I have been more than happy with teh M series, and if I can get teh same performance from it in a smaller package... well then bring it on.

2d

12/22/07 + ecsk2

I wouldn't know I am NOT a processor expert by any means

12/29/07 + MeanSquare

tnkgrl: True, the issue with a "Hacintosh" is that every update to the kernel needs to be hacked before installing (as well as some of the other support software.) I understand Apple's decision to only support a small fraction of Intel equipment. It certainly makes the whole driver situation much easier, but it makes headaches for those of us who already have decent equipment.

My main issue with OSX is software though. It's a self-perpetuating issue that the vast depth of software runs under Windows (so software developers with limited resources develop for Windows, so...) The basic software is all there (also there under Linux), but the more you specialize the more you're hosed (except in those precious few areas where the MAC leads). Yes, you can run Parallels or VMWare, but on a handtop, you're devoting 2/3's of your hard-drive to the operating systems then.

Recent Blog: MeanSquare's Review of the Sony UX (with comparison to OQO)

12/29/07 + ecsk2

MeanSquare said: "...Yes, you can run Parallels or VMWare, but on a handtop, you're devoting 2/3's of your hard-drive to the operating systems then."

With SSD being the natural next step and should be the obvious use on any new UMPC/handtop I don't see why the HDD should have any capacity limitations. These prgs don't take up much of your HDD anyhow, they however like to have plenty of RAM, I am currently runing 9GB RAM, obviously not a must but...

12/29/07 + MeanSquare

ecsk2: Actually, I was referring to the SSD when I wrote that. With a 32GB SSD, Vista takes about 12GB and OSX takes about 8GB (depending on all kinds of variables) so it's about 2/3 or the drive space. Now that 48GB SSDs are available, that's less of an issue, but it still annoys me to devote so much space to just being able to run the software I want to run and not the actual software itself. In general terms, I like OSX better than Vista, but I like running the software that only runs on Vista. Ah well.

Recent Blog: MeanSquare's Review of the Sony UX (with comparison to OQO)

01/01/08 + ecsk2

A) Who wants VISTA

B) By the time was would realistically see something like this I am sure sufficient sized SSDs are available.

C) Being a fresh OS X convert I have to say the various options crossover, parallels, fusion do a good job, never tried boot camp.

01/02/08 + MeanSquare

A) Me. Various reasons.
B) Probably, but, as I said, it still frosts me to have to devote so much space to two OSes just to run the software I want and, since OSX isn't actually necessary to do that...
C) Lots of options, true. If I'm going to devote my HD space to double OS, I'd like some indication as to which one is more stable, more compatible, etc.

Recent Blog: MeanSquare's Review of the Sony UX (with comparison to OQO)

01/02/08 + ecsk2

MeanSquare said: "A) Me. Various reasons.
"

What might some of these reasons be?
I mean I use WinXP (virtually) but no need for Vista whatsoever.

01/02/08 + MeanSquare

...not exactly on topic, but here goes:
It's almost all "under the hood." The TCP/IP handlers were completely re-done and about six times more efficient. Likewise the security routines. Those UAC pop-ups that annoy everybody are the most visable aspect of an OS that's actually geared to prevent malicious code from executing. They get a lot of bad press because they're so visual. I'm not sure the folks complaining really understand what's going on. Both Linux and OSX have a similar feature. On the visual front, the rendering engine is also totally redone, both to take advantage of what's commonly available in graphics cards these days and to completely move away from simple bit-mapped windows. The most obvious result is the eye-candy, but that's the least important aspect. Windows render faster, with fewer artifacts, on various dot densities and multiple windows don't fight with each other. Lastly, there's the way that Vista uses memory. This gets a bit of bad press, partly again because (I think) people don't quite understand what it's doing, and because, if you use a page-file on a portable system with a conventional hard-drive, it can steal battery life. What's happening is that Vista grabs as much of system memory as it can for pre-fetching. However, it's completely willing to give any or all of it back if programs need it. It looks like a memory hog, but it's really just a different way of working with RAM. Unfortunately, if you use a page file, it's also working the hard-drive, which is why non-SSD systems have battery life issues. There are already work-arounds for that.

So basically, it comes down to Vista being a more "mature" OS which works for me. I'm not so myopic to think it works as well for everyone else, but I'm sticking with it. It gives me an advantage over the long haul as well since all development is moving toward Vista if it's not already there.

Recent Blog: MeanSquare's Review of the Sony UX (with comparison to OQO)

01/02/08 + ecsk2

MeanSquare said: "Both Linux and OSX have a similar feature. ."

Kind of my point

so why/how would Vista be better (if you need work arounds and what not), btw it just hit me your username in the short version would be MS