What Do You Want Out Of The Intel Based Mac Laptops?

Mac rumors are staple of the Mac community but, occasionally, the pleasant background buzz of the rumors ratchets up to the scream of an F-16 just prior to takeoff. With Macworld around the corner and Intel based Machines appearing at some point in the future it was easily predictable that this would be one of those moments. A variety rumors are gaining energy like a tropical storm feeding on the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, particularly noisy is the rumor that Apple will be introducing an Intel based PowerBook during Macworld or shortly thereafter.

A rumor that could be immediately dispelled or trivially obvious wouldn’t be much of a rumor so, as always, there are reasons to believe the rumor and equally valid reasons to dismiss the peek into the future. One reason to put a little faith in the rumor: an early Intel powered laptop would likely provide a boost to Apple’s sales, surely there has to be some amount of pent up PowerBook demand. Providing a counterpoint to the “early rollout” cash grab theory is the likelihood that if PowerBooks roll out, say January 15th, the pro level applications to go with the new sleek new beauties won’t be available for months. A lack of pro applications is compelling reason to hold off a purchase no matter how Intel based PowerBook hungry you are. For example, if you’re a professional Photoshop user the allure of an Intel PowerBook will be severely limited until a native version of Adobe CS is available (Pro’s don’t emulate). So, as always, take the rumor with the proverbial grain of salt.

Rumors aside, we know (where our “certain” knowledge is tempered by the fact that it came via S. Jobs) that eventually PowerBooks and iBooks will be Intel based. Now, for the sake of discussion, let us assume that the Intel powered laptops will feature some level redesign greater than just a new motherboard and processor swap. The scenario seems plausible, both the iBook and the PowerBook are getting a bit long in the tooth by Apple design standards (though it is certainly not a given). This leads us straight to the question: if Apple significantly changes the laptop line beyond the processor what changes would you like to see?

There are a few changes everyone would like to see: longer battery life, cheaper machines and an integrated bagel toaster (many were hoping for bagel toaster integration with the new iPod). While the yearning for increased battery life seems to be likely fulfilled with the revision the idea that substantially cheaper ‘Books will come along for the ride seems as probable as the latest free energy scheme actually making it to market. The bagel toaster is, of course, an absolute no brainer. Realizing that we are now free to leave the arena of solid thinking and ergonomically aware designs we can speculate unencumbered on what we would like to see with new Apple Laptops.

I’ll (using rare first person perspective) start. Personally, I would like to see the iBook line and PowerBook line continue to be differentiated by case materials. I’d like to see keyboard backlighting go standard across the laptop line and, more importantly. no soldered memory. Laptops aren’t going to be the most expandable machines but dropping the soldered memory would allow users to upgrade two memory slots instead of one. I’d also like to see the iBook get a little tougher. You’ll remember that the original toilet seat hello kitty iBook was touted as being much more rugged than the PowerBook. That trend was continued with the iceBook until the Aluminum PowerBooks were introduced. I can’t say which one is actually tougher (Hadley Stern maintains it is certainly the PowerBook) but the iBook can afford to trade a little size for toughness, it is after all, the laptop for the dolts among us. With the advent of the Mighty Mouse, I’d like to see multiple clicks and a scroll device on the laptops (none of that two finger scrolling either) though not if were implemented in Mighty Mouse fashion. Lastly, I would an option in a very dark color that managed to look unlike every fairly ugly Windows laptop on the market.

So those are the things I’d like to see, admittedly my list isn’t too exciting. Apple Matters readers are much more insightful than the Tuesday/Thursday guy so I’m very interested what you’d like to see in Apple’s next generation of laptops.