steve, give us the 999 ibook

[jefhatfield]

when the original ibook was released in 1999, the basic model was, in usd, $1599

later, the indigo color came out and that basic ibook was $1499

the dual usb, sexily redesigned icebook followed suit and started at $1299

the current dual usb icebook with amazing 512k level 2 cache starts at $1199

see a trend here? <1599-1499-1299-1199>

i know we will see $1099/$1049 before long

...but i want to see the $999 ibook...mainly to keep pace with dell, the leader in computer sales...and their offering is at 1 ghz, so our sub-grand machine should at least be 900 mhz

[edesignuk]

Yes, $999 is a key price, they can then advertise the iBook for "Under $1000" which I think make good comercial sense, it may get more people interested.

[job]

Shades of the old Apple sub-notebook. :D

I sure hope they go south of $1000; maybe then I'll be able to consider one for college.

[jefhatfield]

here is what would rock my world as much as an annoucement of a g5 pro tower:

ibook/cd rom model $949
ibook/dvd $999
ibook/combo drive/large hd - something considerably higher ($1299?)
ibook/superdrive - and higher yet ($1599 to $1799?)



or six to twelve months from now

g3 ibook with combo drive - $999
g4 ibook with combo drive - $1499
g4 ibook with superdrive - $1799




or by next christmas 2003

g4 ibook with combo drive - $999
g4 ibook with superdrive - $1299



or sometime in christmas 2004

any ibook with superdrive - less than a grand

[Wes]

Having a product for that price, even if it doesn not make too much profit, could open the door to the masses and get people hooked on the mac. Later profits may justify this gamble , if it happens. Although apple can not afford a commercial failure, the current popularity of the ibook would make this a success

[job]

Originally posted by jefhatfield
ibook/dvd $999


I'd buy one. I really would not complain either if it still used the G3 chip. I don't have many apps that support Altivec anyways, so raw Mhz is all that matters for me.

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by hitman


I'd buy one. I really would not complain either if it still used the G3 chip. I don't have many apps that support Altivec anyways, so raw Mhz is all that matters for me.

and could you imagine two years after that, a g3 ibook at 3.9 lbs for $499 usd?

that was a thought of mine and ensign paris...one usb, one firewire, cd or dvd, and maybe a 10.5" inch screen

[job]

Originally posted by jefhatfield


and could you imagine two years after that, a g3 ibook at 3.9 lbs for $499 usd?

that was a thought of mine and ensign paris...one usb, one firewire, cd or dvd, and maybe a 10.5" inch screen

It reminds me of that Apple sub-notebook. I forget the name, but it was a slimmed down version with a smaller screen, etc. It was a couple of years back....

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by jefhatfield


and could you imagine two years after that, a g3 ibook at 3.9 lbs for $499 usd?

that was a thought of mine and ensign paris'...one usb, one firewire, cd or dvd, and maybe a 10.5" inch screen

and that would be the "thin and light" category ibook

and for the true, modern sub-notebook, one to compete with fujitsu and sony picturebook

how about a "mini-me i-book"

g3/usb/firewire/8.7" lcd/12 GB hd...2.9 lbs with belt clip...$1399 usd w/external combo drive extra $$$ however

the sub-three pound fujitsu (with win 2000 or xp) is currently $1399 (w/o ext dvd-cdrw drive) and i saw it either in pen computing or another sub notebook handheld magazine last night

[kishba]

Originally posted by hitman


It reminds me of that Apple sub-notebook. I forget the name, but it was a slimmed down version with a smaller screen, etc. It was a couple of years back....

the duo! my friend had one and we used it up to a few years ago when we were in the drama club... great way to pass the time backstage ;)

[jefhatfield]

here's another idea while we are on the ibook and other small creatures

an ibook with twistable screen to make it double as a tablet with built in touch screen

and make it under $1799 usd

[Hemingray]

Originally posted by kishba


the duo! my friend had one and we used it up to a few years ago when we were in the drama club... great way to pass the time backstage ;)

There's a Duo 280 on eBay for $1.27! :eek: LOL! How's THAT for sub-$999? ;) :D

Oh, and I've been looking for a replacement for my tangerine iBook for quite some time. If they hit the $999 mark I'd definitely buy one!

[job]

Originally posted by kishba


the duo! my friend had one and we used it up to a few years ago when we were in the drama club... great way to pass the time backstage ;)

That's the one! I had forgotten what it was called. Do you remember how fast it was?

If Apple does come out with a sub-1000 iBook and a slightly faster (more HDD space, RAM etc) one for about 1299 I might just consider replacing my iMac with that.

[Hemingray]

Originally posted by hitman


That's the one! I had forgotten what it was called. Do you remember how fast it was?

Duo 210 = 25MHz 68030
Duo 230, 250, 270c = 33MHz 68030
Duo 280, 280c = 33 MHz 68LC040
Duo 2300c/100 = 100MHz PowerPC 603e

[barkmonster]

The entry level is £999 including V.A.T. in the UK, that's under a grand !

Under $1,000 would make it about £830 - £850 in the UK, that sound good to me, all they need to do now is add a DVD Rom to the entry level instead of a CD Rom and up the screen size to 14" across the range and it will be a very attractlve laptop for the price. The only thing the PCs laptops in that price range will have is a higher MHz a far lower battery life, no style and a nasty OS.

I still think it's the most value for money mac there is apart from the eMac.

[edesignuk]

Originally posted by barkmonster
...up the screen size to 14" across the range and it will be a very attractlve laptop for the price.
Nooooo! I really hope they don't do that.
I don't see the point in the 14" anyway, it gives you know extra resolution, and just makes the notebook bigger and heavier for no real gain.

[tjwett]

just the sound of $999 is a very big deal and would boost sales a bunch, i bet. if the iBook was $999 and the eMac was $799 for everyone and the iMac was $1099 they could really clean up. also, i hope to God they don't drop the 12" model. that's the most appealing thing about it to alot of people. i have TiBook which i think is very sexy looking but it ranks very low on the portability scale.

[job]

Originally posted by Hemingray


Duo 210 = 25MHz 68030
Duo 230, 250, 270c = 33MHz 68030
Duo 280, 280c = 33 MHz 68LC040
Duo 2300c/100 = 100MHz PowerPC 603e

Ah, the days when software would run on 33Mhz :D :D

I've never really seen the 14.1" iBook in person, but I do know that the 12.1" iBook is a very attractive, compact piece of hardware. I don't think they could include a 14.1" screen for under $1000 right now anyways.

[jefhatfield]

when i started this thread, with five thousand members out there, i thought i would hear one naysayer say:

"the ibook will bottom out at $1099 usd and never go below that price"

or

"$999 is totally unrealistic and will not happen this year, or the next, or the next"

or

"at $999, apple will not make enough profit on a basic ibook model and this low pricing will make apple go out of business"


...instead, the idea of a $999 ibook has been received with relative open arms here

dell's low end 1 ghz laptop (with 1 yr parts and labor coverage) is $999 and advertised in every single pc magazine i have ever seen

they must be selling tons of them to students and people who want a portable to go with their regular desktop

it is time for apple to be bold and get a sub-one thousand dollar laptop in 2003

[vitruvius]

Originally posted by jefhatfield
when the original ibook was released in 1999, the basic model was, in usd, $1599

later, the indigo color came out and that basic ibook was $1499

the dual usb, sexily redesigned icebook followed suit and started at $1299

the current dual usb icebook with amazing 512k level 2 cache starts at $1199

see a trend here? <1599-1499-1299-1199>



well, folowing that logic,maybe in 2015 Steve will pay us 1500$ to have a G7 Holographic Combo Drive iBook :p

[jefhatfield]

Originally posted by vitruvius


well, folowing that logic,maybe in 2015 Steve will pay us 1500$ to have a G7 Holographic Combo Drive iBook :p

certainly there is a lower limit

emachines has stayed at $399 for baisc tower for over two years and that seems to be their retail low for now

who's to say what the lower limits of technology prices will be by the time a G7 comes out?

remember those days of free computers in 1999-2000? that did not last long...he he

...but it works with cell phones though;)