Featuring a 12.1" display, this sub-notebook can also be used as a "Tablet PC" with its rotating screen.
Its specifications are illustrating the top components currently available for each parts of a sub-notebook:
- Ultra-Low voltage Core 2 Duo COU U7500 clocked at 1.06GHz
- 12.1" LED-backlighted LCD display featuring 1280x800 pixels resolution (16 millions colors)
- IGP GMA X3100
- 533MHz FSB
- Up to 4 GB of RAM
- 1.49 kg
- SSD as an option
- Battery lifetime 7.5 hours, up to 11 hours with an optimal battery
We publish a news about this sub-notebook to illustrate how competitors are releasing one after the other their own sub-notebook models while Mac users are still waiting for Apple to announce such product. Apple can easily take hardware components from Intel, Samsung, and others manufacturers to build up a sub-notebook which should be something like a MacBook Pro mini. Indeed, this potential sub-notebook will be a professional machine, and its price will no be competing with entry-level MacBooks. One should rather be prepared for a price equivalent to the high-end MacBook Pro 15".
If many users claim to be waiting for such Apple-branded sub-notebook, does it mean that they will purchase it, and what should be the price range to be affordable? Most switchers or first-Mac users are purchasing iMac or MacBook hardware units. So, Cupertino needs to define if the market for such sub-notebook is there. Keep in mind that the Tablet PC failed because it was too expensive and only useful for some niche users. Such sub-notebook would be mostly dedicated to corporate, and Apple might need to strengthen its position on this market before releasing a sub-notebook. On the other hand, a sub-notebook from Cupertino might be the perfect tool to further explore/invade the market of corporate-dedicated mobile computers.
