Analyst Believes Apple Will Unveil Netbooks at Macworld

[MacRumors]

Computerworld reports on an analyst Ezra Gottheil of Technology Business Research Inc. who believes that Apple could introduce two new netbook models at Macworld San Francisco.

While an intriguing possibility, Gottheil admits this is not based on any inside information:

"I don't have any inside information," said Ezra Gottheil of Technology Business Research Inc., as he spelled out his take on Apple's next hardware move. "This is just by triangulation."

Instead, Gottheil simply believes this based on the increasing popularity of netbooks and increasing financial pressures on Apple due to the recession. He goes on to describe how instead of a stripped down MacBook, Apple may choose to pursue a model similar to the iPhone -- a closed system in which software is delivered through the App Store.

That's why he believes Apple will introduce netbooks next year that, like the company's iPhone, will exist in an Apple-controlled "closed system" where software is delivered via the App Store, device restore is done from iTunes, backup is available through an optional online service, most likely MobileMe, and peripheral and add-on choices will be limited.

Macworld kicks off on January 5th, 2009.


Article Link: Analyst Believes Apple Will Unveil Netbooks at Macworld

 

[Dejavu]

Macbook Air Lite?
Or would it be a Macbook Air Extreme?

 

[italiano40]

i think the new mac mini will be like their entry into the small lightweight computers. I believe Jobs that he will not make a netbook, i think the macbook air is the closest to netbook apple fans will get

 

[Tallest Skil]

In other news, Idiot Corporation Grants "Analyst" Title To Idiot.

The MacBook Air is the netbook. Get over it.

 

[nick9191]

Just like the rest of the budget PC market, the netbook market is flooded with a million and one products, all from manufacturers making $20 profit per unit. Apple will not be in this market unless they create a netbook that reinvents the market and sets itself as superior from the rest, and lets them ship in high volume with a 30% profit margin.

If you want a $400 Apple netbook then you are going to be sadly disappointed.

 

[plokoonpma]

I hate that kind of statement.
Cause the guy says he has no info or nothing to sustain such a claim.
That kind of buzz only hurts Apple stock cause they rise expectation and then when it not fulfill it the stock goes down.
I think that kind of reports are paid by others.

Jobs said they wont release any netbook anytime soon, Intel said netbooks failed to reach their own expectations, research found that netbooks are machines for browse the internet and do lite work.

Mini mobile computing = iPhone, that simple

 

[kjs862]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5G77 Safari/525.20)

How about a $799 netbook?

 

[Tallest Skil]

How about a $799 netbook?

I'll take a $1799 MacTablet!

 

[brop52]

Netbook G5.

 

[Penguinwrangler]

Shorter Ezra: "I don't have a bloody clue, but they pay me to have one, so here it is! Hehe!"

 

[maplestar]

Netbooks...

I agree. Apple will probably not introduce a Macbook. As a conservative guess, I think they will refresh the mini, as well as all of their desktops. Add new processors, memory...

Hopefully, if they are still on top of everything, a "surprise" will either be Snow Leopard (And how amazing it is) or a new product (probably not). A new product will definitely help Apple out in this crisis, but it needs to be really good.

In terms of the people that say netbooks are for light work. I disagree. I have a EEE PC netbook that I fiddled around with. It can run basic games, has photoshop, flash, microsoft word 2007, vnc clients, chrome...

Definitely not a powerhouse, but that computer is perfect for an average computer person. Add-in the compactness, lightness, (and my built in touchscreen XD) the computer is definitely a competitor.

 

[drichards]

I saw some material from the ARM processor people that suggested they would like to put their processors in a mac netbook. It had photos of a macbook air on it, but it was some of their product possibilities stuff. I don't think its relevant or real, but hey who knows. If its there to buy, I'll buy it.

 

[alexbates]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5G77 Safari/525.20)

How about a $799 netbook?

Either $799 or $899.
I think it's going to be a MacBook Mini (stripped down MacBook) or a MacTablet (an 8-in tablet similar to the iPhone).

 

[kolax]

The MacBook Air is the netbook. Get over it.

Not in competition with other netbooks. Needs an 8" screen and needs to cost no more than $500.

 

[TheCookie]

Sounds to me like an analyst who's taking a stab in the dark, without doing his research.

Jobs sounded pretty clear on the last call when he said that Apple was in a wait-and-see on netbooks. I highly doubt that means they had one in development, they were just trying to decide whether to release it.

I also think a $400 mac is an oxymoron.

 

[cyberjunky]

If like the news item claims apple releases an iphone like netbook that uses iphone like interface and app store then it will miss its market as a netbook. Netbook owners want a proper operating system with the same software they use on their other macs.

 

[BornAgainMac]

I hope they don't. I don't want to spend any more money on Apple products in January. Macworld is like paying taxes ever year. I always want all their stuff so I spend the Apple Tax almost yearly. I know I'll want a Netbook Touch from Apple. Apple please don't sell it and update my iTunes to version 9 instead for free.

 

[krye]

This whole Netbook rumor is just stupid. You don't just pull a Netbook out of your ass. And that's what everyone is expecting Apple to do. How long has this "recession" been going on? Even if Apple had plans to come out with a Netbook, it would take at least 2 years to get something out the door, not two months. And why would Apple cannibalize their MacBook sales? And Apple has said on more than one occasion that the Netbook market is too young for them to get into it.

You want a NetBook? Buy an iPhone.

 

[drewsof07]

Not in competition with other netbooks... needs to cost no more than $500.

Yes, because Apple always follows industry standards when it comes to pricing

Analysts get paid to analyze, not make ridiculous rumors for which they only have speculation and "gut feelings".

 

[Yvan256]

If Apple comes out with a netbook, I bet it's going to use a Dual-Core Atom, on-board 1GB RAM (not upgradable), probably only 32GB of Flash storage (or a 60/80GB 1.8" drive) and GMA 990/X3100 just so it doesn't steal from MacBook sales.

As long as it runs OS X (i.e. desktop version that can run regular OS X software), it will sell pretty well.

 

[dejo]

MR Poster Believes Analysts Will Continue To Make Baseless Predictions In Future

"I don't have any inside information," said dejo of DEJOware, LLC, as he spelled out his take on analysts' next cow-manure move. "This is just by triangulation, with a square root thrown in for fun."

 

[Santa Rosa]

on an analyst Ezra Gottheil of Technology Business Research Inc. who believes that Apple will could introduce two new netbook models at Macworld San Francisco.

Is that wrong or am I just not reading it right??

 

[MacGohil]

New Mac-Mini....No Mac-Netbook.

No Netbooks but there will be New Mac Mini's will be low-budget Mac for pleasing the recession hit.

Apple had a troubled time back before Steve Jobs came back to Apple. The first thing he did was cleared up the overlapping products in the Apple catalog. Apple will not repeat the same mistake again. Macbook Air is a netbook, apple will introduce a new portable and cannibalize its own products.

 

[kolax]

Yes, because Apple always follows industry standards when it comes to pricing

They'd need to in this situation - most netbooks cost £250, so an Apple one would need to be around £300-£350.

 

[IJ Reilly]

This whole Netbook rumor is just stupid. You don't just pull a Netbook out of your ass.

So that's the plan. I didn't realize.