History of the MacBook Touch

The rumor mill really revs up weeks before Macworld starts, but one fabled product (or even products) has taken the spotlight: an ultra portable MacBook. This rumor has taken many forms but originated in 2003-2004. From the looks of it, it should arrive at Macworld and imitate the iPhone in functionality.

The Mac Tablet

Tablet computing was on the rise and of course the rumor mill reflected this into the Apple world. Rumors arose of a tablet Mac arriving at Macworld 2004. The exact specs were unknown, but some were confident that Apple would jump into touch screen computing. Rumors were refined even more, integrating potential Apple design into a Tablet Mac, citing anonymous sources. Continued speculation led up to a possible 2004 launch which was cited by DigiTimes, previously known to have been unreliable for Mac related rumors. Nonetheless, DigiTimes ran with the story foretelling more of an at-home device targeted towards consumers. This particular configuration relies on a detachable, wireless, 15-inch screen that resembles a tablet in appearance. Noise died down but later revved up with not a Mac Tablet arriving, but rather a pocket computer with touch screen functionality. An initial report in 2005 by O’Grady’s PowerPage (which during this time was undergoing legal issues from Apple due to the publication of a rumor that revealed possible trade secrets), the design would be a mini computer that ran a stripped down version of OS X, utilize Inkwell, then finally fold in your pocket for easy transport. However, rumors once again started in early 2006 of a portable touch screen device that would eventually become the iPhone. Patents were also dissected and the distinction between a handheld Mac and Tablet Mac were further blurred. The designs and rumors for a Tablet Mac have been interwoven with the iPhone and eventually iPod Touch designs since day one. It is unclear whether a Tablet Mac was the original plans for the iPhone or meant to be a separate product.

Separated from the iPhone at Birth?

This confusion made the likelihood of a Tablet Mac diminish once Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone during his keynote at Macworld 2007. However, it was not impossible that Apple couldn’t apply these same patents and designs for future products. The same has been done for the iPod Touch, which essentially is a barebones iPhone running an almost identical version of OS X. In early 2006, it was predicted by multiple sources and rumor sites that Apple would release the true video iPod. Many had expected a device that expanded on the basis of the 5G iPod but included a larger, touch screen. Still, it is not confirmed whether or not a Mac Tablet was derived from the iPhone or vice versa. My guess would be that the iPhone was based off a larger project that allowed flexibility in design, leading it to be adopted for mobile devices and provide enough power for laptops.

Patents, Patents And More Patents

The Rumor Mill wasn’t just the dreams of the wishful running rampant; Apple has filed many patents that hint towards a Tablet based Mac. Some point towards the iPhone itself and others toward a touch system that could be implemented on existing MacBooks. It’s unclear how far Apple wants to implement a touch system in a laptop form factor (or at all, going on the ultra portable rumors), but to base the whole design on the iPhone would detract from its functionality.

Nonetheless, it’s interesting to see what patents Apple has filed and to see whether or not they would work for a touch oriented Mac. One such patent was in early January 2006 for an Accelerometer. We already know the outcome of this patent: it was implemented in the iPhone a year later and eventually the iPod Touch. As noted in the article, an Accelerometer exists in current Apple laptops to spin the hard drive head down in the event of a fall. An Accelerometer could be expanded on but would work best in a Tablet styled device, as we’ve seen with the iPhone. Patents filed throughout 2005 paint the perfect picture of a Tablet based Mac in functionality. These patents point towards a refined OS X interface that would allow for optimal use in a touch oriented environment. But it doesn’t stop there, as later patents reveal a Multi Touch system that takes over a MacBook’s touch pad and possibly keyboard to act as an enhanced input system. The hand rest area would be completely eliminated to accommodate the larger touch pad.

Further Speculation

As usual, speculation roars up this time of year just before Macworld and the current trend of rumors is a 13.3 inch screen sporting an SSD drive in various sizes. The size will be slimmer than current MacBooks thanks to the removal of the Optical Drive. Of course this is all speculation, but a recent patent points in the ultra portable direction. The patent shows a docking station for an ultra portable MacBook in an iMac form factor. This is by no means an indicator of anything (hell, why hasn’t this been done for the iPhone yet?) yet it does inch closer and closer to Apple introducing either a tablet or an ultra portable MacBook. I say, just wait and see.