Apple Patents Design of the MacBook Air

don't forget to put buttons below the trackpad...

problem averted!!!!!!!

and it is unlikely that Apple would go after Intel as long as the chipmaker is delivering the hardware for its computers

Apple went after Samsung, the chip manufacterer of every one of Apple's iDevices. Since Intel is pushing the ultrabook design if Apple gets this patented and sues Intel I think there will be a huge falling out over this (hey Apple already uses Radeons in its Macs).

Apple is one greedy ass company. They will sue anyone that remotely touches that shape or logo.

It's a copy of my old Dell except it's not slim as picture.
The picture also look like a Netbook.

Such patient shouldn't be accorded in first place.

I have a question, how can you patent a generic screen, a generic keyboard and a generic touch pad?
I asked my mother, "Do you see this laptop?" and she said "Isn't it like your sister's?", witch is a dell laptop . My sister does not have apple products and my mother is not an expert in tech stuff. So i would say, how can you patent a generic laptop design?

I don't see anything different that stands out from other laptops.

Yet another reason not to buy apple products, what they sell you looks nice but doesnt perform as well as other manufacturers kit which usually costs less.

The (cr)apple decide when they loose some of their market to sue everyone for patent infringement. Harldy an ethical move by a company that claims to be the be all and do all of the tech / audio world.

There seriously needs to be some patent reform in this country.

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/a [...] 12780.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/u [...] 13207.html
... so intel don't copy it... read articles to see, what i think with that...

So why can't the guy who made the clamshell laptop sue everyone else?

I'm really curious what's keeping any other manufacturer from putting obsolete hardware in an attractive case, dumbing down the UI and charging three times what the machine's worth.

Wow, I'm going to get a kindergartner to draw me a generic picture of something and apply for a patent and get it approved. Is that a dog, a cat, or a horse? Oh well, you own the patent for all 3 now!

Just Ridiculous !!! and of course apple is going after Acer. I knew it.

How does Apple become wealthiest company? Good products? No. Clever Marketing? No. Local Apple Stores? No. Sue anyone who steps on their Patent toes? Yes!

Honestly, Apple isn't doing anything here that any other big technology company hasn't already done, or is doing themselves. So I just dot understand why people get so upset when Apple does it.

Having said that, I will agree that patent system in this country needs a reform. Its old, outdated, and not ready for the technology world.

The Patent Law provides for the granting of design patents to any person who has invented any new, original and ornamental design for an article of manufacture. A design patent protects only the appearance of the article and not its structural or utilitarian features.

So... before anyone rants about this, I suggest you take a look at ALL the figures included in the patent; there are 42 which explicitely define the design monopoly granted to Apple.

BTW I am not an APPLE FANBOY and do not onw any Apple products.

Apple is really evil on this, they managed to ban the samsung tablet because it was also a thin rectangle. now they mean to say that they invented the thin laptop? It isn't an invention, or innovation, it's just the advancement of technology. I hope they go the way of Tim Langdel.

Take it with reserves as I can't remember where I read it days ago. It was, Apple the one asking INTEL for higher efficiency processors and as a response INTEL created the 300 million initiative they called "ultrabooks". As I remember It was something like "if you don't provide us (Apple) with higher efficiency processors we are going to look else where (ARM or AMD?)". Remember the AIR was the first machine to include the low powered Core2 1.4 GHz INTEL mobile processor. But now Apple is pushing its entire line of Mac Books to be an AIR like form factor including 15' model rumors. Also Apple comment said they were looking for close to 10 hours constant use for most of their line.

With respect of design I think every company should develop its own image and don't try to mimic others emerging designs. Arguing tablets or ultra-books have a default design is trying to ignore why we have a difference appearance and why it represents an advantage.

Design have been a powerful distinction fundament of mayor civilizations and a great contribution. Today, design is key in the entire industry, so why go blind now with tablets or ultrabooks? Because, not for the best user experience or advantage most companies are chasing some Apple designs. I am sure in the next incarnations we will see key design differences in tablets, smartphones and ultrabooks. Saying this I think the SAMSUNG tablets look very impressive, even better than the iPad, I just can't ignore they are Apple based. I don't have an iPad or an AIR and I am not temped yet with tablets, with the AIR, not even.

I think this patent falls under an obvious design therefore should not be granted. Apple can apply for it all it wants, it should not get this patent.

Otherwise capitalism will be replace by monopolies made through the systematic undermining of the patent system. Patents are a good thing, but this patent application just takes advantage of the process to get an undeserved competitive market advantage.

this patent shouldnt be granted as it looks exactly like any netbook except flatter. Apple will sue anything that comes close to that design. You would think that the gov would notice by now the patent monopolization of the market...

Apple didn't invent the Ultrabook form factor either. Sony sold a laptop in Japan that had a front end that gave the illusion of being razor sharp. The rest of the laptop was equally thin. Sony released this laptop long before Apple ever released its first Macbook Air.

Comon now that is a hit under the belt. Tomorrow they'll patent the spoon and fork...

I wonder how many here were rofling like Michael Dell was back in '97 when he said he'd 'fix' Apple by shutting it down.

I just patented the looks of a human being: one head, one trunk, 2 arms and 2 legs.
Whomever looks like that has to pay me royalties.
I heard that Jobs doesn't have to worry about it, though: one of his hands is permanently attached to your pocket.
/sarcasm

Why not they patent the word Apple first. If they accomplish this first, people will surely stop complaining.

No one can patent designs. What is Apple thinking. Do they mean that when the car sits were first put inside the car, the next builder can't copy it and must place their sits on the roof.

Such simple minded people.

So they patented being thin?
Better talk to weight watchers then.

This is yet another example of the broken patent system.

Apple can patent the gestures of kissing my ass.

Wow, the dispute is about a specific design/technology/use and not about the general "ultrabook or tablet" concept or invention. The patent dispute is about specific distinctive forms or style, technology and/or differences. Not about who invented the wheel.

i would love to see major chip developers give apple the big final BUTTFUK of the year and pull support for them, Slowly letting them die off.