More Magnets in the Intel iBook?

wait, they are sure that there won't be intel ibooks on tuesday? my hopes are ruined.:(

I like magnets! The more the merrier. Magnet lids, magsafe, magnet whatever. all is good for me.

EDIT: i hope they are next week. read the article more closely and they say it might happen. they do seem sure about intel mac mini and boombox though. Their specs sound good for me with a 1.67 GHz duo.

bah to the same white enclosure, but im looking forward to a 13''

I can't seem to find it now, but someone in the forums a couple days ago linked to a review of the MacBook Pro that was by someone who apparently had no idea what he was doing. He dropped the MacBook to test if the power connector would really disconnect itself.

i.e. he did it backwards. Instead of yanking the MacBook, and made sure the MacBook didn't fall to the ground; he dropped the MacBook, and made sure that the power cord didn't yank out of the wall socket.... Ooooo-kay. I think I'd rather have the power adapter get destroyed than the notebook, but maybe that's just me...

His other "insightful" observation was that the latch was magnetic, but wouldn't accidentally open, the magnets were so strong. He didn't notice that it is actually two small magnetically-operated latches. One of his pictures even shows the latches in mid-extension.

I wonder if this rumor comes because someone read that, passed it along, and it filtered around (a la the old kids game 'Telephone',) and it came back as a 'new feature' of the iBook.

I, for one, like the 'latchless' connectors when done right; like the original clamshell iBook, and the ultra-thin Sony that looks so thin it could cut you. They should hold the notebook closed tightly enough to prevent accidental opening; hold their power for a very long time (not weaken over time,) and yet not be so hard to open that it's a struggle.

Not to take anything away from Apple's awesome idea to use magnets in the plug of a laptop, but magnetic breakaway plugs are nothing new. Fondue pots (and probably other portable cooking devices like deep friers, crock pots, etc.) have had them for at least 5 years.

Maybe this is common knowledge, but I just thought I'd mention it. Appleinsider kind of makes it sound like Apple is the only company to use magnets for anything besides sticking a shopping list to the fridge.

I can't seem to find it now, but someone in the forums a couple days ago linked to a review of the MacBook Pro that was by someone who apparently had no idea what he was doing. He dropped the MacBook to test if the power connector would really disconnect itself.

i.e. he did it backwards. Instead of yanking the MacBook, and made sure the MacBook didn't fall to the ground; he dropped the MacBook, and made sure that the power cord didn't yank out of the wall socket.... Ooooo-kay. I think I'd rather have the power adapter get destroyed than the notebook, but maybe that's just me...

His other "insightful" observation was that the latch was magnetic, but wouldn't accidentally open, the magnets were so strong. He didn't notice that it is actually two small magnetically-operated latches. One of his pictures even shows the latches in mid-extension.

I wonder if this rumor comes because someone read that, passed it along, and it filtered around (a la the old kids game 'Telephone',) and it came back as a 'new feature' of the iBook.

I, for one, like the 'latchless' connectors when done right; like the original clamshell iBook, and the ultra-thin Sony that looks so thin it could cut you. They should hold the notebook closed tightly enough to prevent accidental opening; hold their power for a very long time (not weaken over time,) and yet not be so hard to open that it's a struggle.

i saw that review, a little messed up. i agree that i would rather have the charger brreak than the laptop.

however, i don't think that the rumor was based on that. it seems likely and logical. We will all see soon:D They have used magnets in ibooks in the past, and with this latest trend towards magnets in macs, it seems very likely. maybe even a small revision to the MBPs, who knows.

It was pretty inevitable that they would put the magsafe connector on the iBook, as far as im concerned there would be no harm having it on all mac's...

Shadow;)

so how are you going to open it if it is magnetically held down? at least when it had a latch, you could press the button and it would give you enough room to slide your finger under and open the lid...

Hope they have thought of that...

remember back in the day when if u put a magnet near a computer it would mess it up? lol.

The Intel-based iBook, which may make its debut under a new product name such as MacBook, is rumored to be the most heavily redesigned Macintosh to come out of Apple's industrial design labs in the last two years.

The notebook reportedly resembles a shrunken MacBook Pro, based around a 13-inch high-resolution display, but clad in iBook white. Like Apple's iMac Core Duo and MacBook Pro, the new iBooks are also expected to pack a built-in iSight video camera, Apple Remote, and Front Row media software.

I love this idea of magnetism, great design-decision (assuming Apple will pull it off, which they likely will).
Moreover, this quote is like music to my ears. Since I first saw the G4 Powerbook, I've been wondering what it would look like in white. Don't ask me why, but this seems to me as though we'll be seeing a white anodized aluminum case. Here's to hoping...

Oh, yeah. Apple: if you introduce it on Tuesday, my birthday will be complete!

Magnets are good. Soon as I saw that Mag/power/safe thing I knew that this was the way forward. magnetic USB and all that. magnetic lid. it's all good.

I think the white casing could look better. a little more finesse and I'd have probably got an iBook over my Powerbook.

still though, if the iBook doesn't support monitor spanning without a hack and the graphics card is weak... I'll get myself a MacBook Pro.