|
Meet Tim, a senior technician here at Laptop Broker. Like all our technicians, Tim knows his way around a laptop and has upgraded and rebuilt thousands of computers over the years.
We asked Tim to review a few laptops he is familiar with and have posted them for our customers to review. We hope you find this information helpful and welcome your feedback.
|  |
View current pricing and availability
Apple Mac OS X Tablet Computer
Apple is to come out with a new Apple Mac OS X tablet computer around early or by the middle of 2008. This product will feature completely new designs and will evolve from a new blueprint. Rumors and speculations have been strife since quite some time. However, these rumors gained momentum since late 2006. Confirmed news was that Apple was working on an Intel-based Tablet Mac with docking station and HDMI output. This PDA would be more than one and half times the size of the current iPhone.
According to latest reports in November and December 2007, Apple would launch a new product at Macworld Expo 2008. In all probability, this would be Apple’s Mac OS X Tablet computer. This product would include features from the popular multi-touch interface from iPhone and iPod touch.
On November 16, 2007, the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple's patent application titled ‘mechanical overlay'. This patent was filed originally in May 2005.This patent relates to mechanical overlays including few mechanical actuators that provide touch inputs to touch sensing devices. Such mechanical touch screen overlays would be useful in PDA, cell phone, iPod, and remote control or gaming device.
The touch screen and handwriting recognition of the Apple tablet would be perfect. It should naturally be better than the built-in speech recognition. In all likelihood, Apple would use Inkwell handwriting recognition technology in its Apple Mac OS X Tablet Computer.
The latest indications are that Asus is helping Apple build a Tablet PC. Asus is responsible for building iBooks, PowerBooks and Mac Books for various companies. The Apple Mac OS X tablet computer would have features according to a blueprint patented way back in 2005. It will primarily feature Intel Core architecture.
Apple has been very successful in delivering various other gadgets with unbelievable features. The company has been able to transform a mobile phone into a most desirable phone with features ranging from exclusive videos, picture messaging, instant Web access, and button-less phone. Apple would incorporate the 3G technology in its iPhone.
Apple unveiled aftermarket hardware modification device on January 09, 2007. This device would offer the first ever Mac OS X tablet computer solution. This tablet has all essential hardware features of Apple Mac Book line.
History
Macintosh computer or Mac computer was popular as Apple I in 1976. Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs came with few of their other friends to build the first fifty computers for the Byte Shop. Each of these computers cost $500. This Apple computer had a display screen and an assembled circuit board. Both these features were a rarity then. Slowly they improved over their design and came out with Apple II the next year.
Thereafter, Apple has been constantly improving and making available various technological choices at cheaper rates. Apple was again the first technological company to use Graphical User Interface and brought out the home computer, Apple Macintosh or Mac in 1984.
This started the desktop era. Publishing now constituted LaserWriter printer, specialized software of Aldus (Adobe) PageMaker, and Mac Publisher. These features allowed designing and printing of documents with text and graphics. This was the main stronghold of Apple. Apple’s main competitor was Microsoft. Slowly Microsoft overtook Apple, although Apple retains its leadership in the Mac computer market with the popular iMac and Power Mac.
Probable Product Specifications
The Apple Mac OS X tablet computer is to be the perfect answer for every IT problem. Mac software has higher software standards and proves to be a serious IT tool. This will be an ultraportable and new laptop computer. Sources indicate that the product unveiling could be even as early as January 2008.
This will be the world’s smallest laptop. It will have a twelve-inch screen. It will be only half the size and weight of the present versions of the Mac Book Pro. There will be no hard drive but will only have a Flash memory in place of the hard drive. The retail price is expected to be around $1500. However, the cost could see further slides in the months that follow the launch of this product. Cost could eventually be around $1,000.
Rating: 5/5
Mac OS X
Apple Mac OS X is a graphical operating system. Its predecessor, Mac OS, has been the operating system of Apple since 1984. Mac OS X is a Unix-based operating system. The technological expertise of this system was primarily through NeXT until the eighties. Thereafter, Apple purchased the company in 1997 and has been developing the technology since then.
The first version of Mac OS X Server 1.0 was in 1999. The desktop version Mac OS X v10.0 came out in March 2001. There have been five more distinct ‘end-user’ and ‘server’ versions since then with the most recent being Mac OS X v10.5 in October 2007.
Mac OS X Server is very similar to the desktop version. However, server hardware is Macintosh. This hardware includes administration software and workgroup management tools. These provide easy access to key network services like Samba server, mail transfer agent, domain name server, LDAP server, and others. Customized versions of this hardware are in use in Apple’s iPhone, TV, and the iPod touch. Apple wanted a serious and concerted improvement over all its hardware devices.
Rating: 5/5
Making of Apple Mac OS X Tablet Computer
Apple Mac OS X Tablet Computer is said to be the prototype of a Mac tablet PC. This would feature a new device, which is a touch screen link to other source devices like a new media center.
The Mac tablet constitutes various applications like home automation software. This will allow users to control security feeds, lighting, audio, and entertainment devices. It will also function as a complete PC with wireless linking to a new generation of Wireless Hi Fi speakers. These speakers are currently undergoing testing at Apple. This Apple Mac OS X tablet computer would be a complete prototype with a docking station.
This tablet computer will have an Intel chipset, a full version of Apple’s Leopard, and the multi-touch technology as available in iPhone and iPod touch. This ultra-compact laptop would have a typical and impressive design from Apple. Obviously, the hardware would be very light in weight and battery life would be comparable to the best.
Software would be mostly a combination of Apple’s own handwriting-recognition technology and Mac OS X. There will be some inputs from pen-input technology from Wacom. The handwriting-recognition technology would support extensive software uses and applications like the Internet, input of texts, Finder navigation, and enter commands without the use of a keyboard. Yet, the full potential of a pen-input technology is yet to come to the fore.
Rating: 4/5
Overall Conclusions
Apple Mac OS X Tablet Computer would no doubt be a technological feat. Nonetheless, Apple would also have to look into its various marketing priorities. Apple is a vertically integrated company and all its products rely on proprietary software and hardware. In the same vein, Apple generates the maximum revenue from its portable devices. Hence, it should look into newer avenues to reshape the notebook market.
Apple is primarily concentrated in the multimedia and educational fields. The company has comes a very long way since it ventured into the electronic publishing arena through Apple II. Similarly, it has been the leader in the field of portable computing. The major shortcoming of Apple has been that it has never been a marketer or a developer.
Even its entry into portable computers was pretty late; much after most of the other technological giants had made their mark. Hence, Apple needs to garner up for the big challenge. Nevertheless, given Apple’s spirit and attitude, this should not be a problem. Apple would be able to use its experience and make it difficult for its competitors. Its launch of a tablet computer, Apple Mac OS X tablet computer, is bound to be a huge success.
Pros:
• Superb Functionality
• Unbelievable connectivity
• User-friendly Interface
• Unique Mobility
Cons:
• Expensive
• Less functional than notebook PCs
• Handwriting recognition slow
• Bulky
|
|
Laptop Broker has shipped over 500,000 orders to people around the country since 1999.
What is our secret?!
|
|
 |
Dell D810
You Save: $750.00 (58%)
Sale Price: $549.99 |
|
|
 |
Dell Latitude D800
Expert Review Summary: The Dell Latitude D800 perfectly fits the bill of a laptop with almost desktop-like features but with increased portability than a desktop. There is no compromise on performance and the huge 15.4 inch wide-screen display is amazing. Want more? Read full review. |
|
|
|
