The next Mac

So what is the next Mac coming down the line? That is the big question on my mind as a Macintosh software developer. I want to know so that I can start thinking about the next killer application that will change the world. Lofty goals I know, but humor me.

There are recent reports of the Mac Mini getting killed off or about to get killed off. Not that it was a popular machine so it probably wont be missed by to many people. When you see minis being sold at Costco you know Apple is trying to get rid of the overstock. And Costco has been carrying them for at least a year. I don't know many people who have purchased them except a few developers who wanted a PPC version to hang onto when they switched to Intel version desktop computers (MacPro). And I only know of a couple of Intel minis in the wild. Compare that to popularity of the iMac or any of the laptops (PowerBook, iBook, MacBook, MacBook Pro) which I see everywhere. I seem not to be able to stop at a coffee shop for a coffee without seeing at least one Apple laptop model.

The next bit to add to the discussion is the fact that you can no longer get a 12" display model laptop from Apple. They stopped making the 12" iBook (2005) and 12" PowerBook (2005). Now it is not that big of a deal if you are in favor of the 13" MacBook, but that is mainly targeted at the consumer and not the professional. If you look back at the Apple product matrix, you will see that the iMac, MacBook, and iBook are all targeted to the average consumer. Whereas the Mac Pro, MacBook Pro, and PowerBook are all targeted at the professional user. The current smallest professional laptop you can purchase from Apple is the 15" MacBook Pro.

So to me this all adds up to the next cool Macintosh being an ultra portable professional laptop. It is a big leap but again, indulge me for a minute. If anyone remembers (besides me) the really old PowerBook Duo series with the Duo Dock, you would probably remember their popularity in the business realm. There were a lot of business folks at the time in the US and Japan who were using these small computers. They didn't have many features by themselves but when added to a Duo dock you got most of the functionality of a full desktop computer. So what are some of the product specs we can expect in the next ultra portable:

• 10" OLED LCD (100 dpi)
  
• Intel processor, maybe dual core, but not needed. (low power model)
  
• 2GB RAM max. (single RAM slot)
  
• 24 GB Static Ram cache
  
• 200GB SATA 4200 RPM hard drive (low power, low heat)
  
• Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
  
• Airport Extreme (802.11n)
  
• iSight camera
  
• External ports:
  
  
  • micro USB 2.0 (no power out)
    
  • Magsafe Power Adapter
    
  • Headphone jack (analog, no optical)
    
  • Docking connector
    
  • no firewire
    
  • no ethernet
    
  • no video out
    
  • no Express Card/34
    
  
  
• no optical drive
  
• no illuminated keyboard
  
• very small stereo speakers
  
• Weight: 3.5 lbs.
  

So when will this be out, I'm thinking Q4/07 to Q1/08. If you look at the release schedule of upcoming products, Apple doesn't want to crowd out their other cool products.

• Mac OS 10.4.10 (June 07 before WWDC)
  
• Mac OS 10.5 Preview (June 07 at WWDC)
  
• iPhone (June 07)
  
• iLife 07 and iWork 07 (July 07)
  
• iMac (Aug 07)
  
• iPod (Aug 07)
  
• Mac OS 10.5 (Aug or Sept 07)
  
• MacBook Mini (?)
  

I look forward to playing with one of these computers. Who know, maybe I can find a reason to buy one.