Analyst Believes Apple Will Unveil Netbooks at Macworld

[weckart]

Meanwhile in other news, whilst Apple is in no hurry to enter the netbook market, MSI, who is behind the Wind aka Macbook Nano, looks like having a go at the Macbook Air.

MSI to Demo Touchscreen Wind, Release Wind U110, Wind U115 and U300 in U.S.

Is 10-inches the only form factor we’ll see in the U.S. or will 8.9-inch screens come here? Will there ever be an 11-inch or 12-inch netbook?
We think people really want the 10-inch display in a netbook. It has been the most popular by far. We will be launching the 13-inch MSI U300 at CES. This isn’t a Wind but it’s part of our U line which refers to “ultraportables.” I think we will cut the Wind branding off at 10-inches but I am not positive about that just yet.

The U300 is a 13.3-inch device and it is very, very slim and light. I think when you see it you will be really surprised by the aluminum design and the price. We have put a lot of focus on it. I cannot comment on the price yet but it will definitely not be priced like a $2,000 typical ultraportable. I think it will just be a big shock for everybody.

What type of processor are you using in the U300?
I don’t want to comment just yet on the processor. But we are looking for a processor that can give 6 to 7 hours of battery life. I will say the Atom Z530 is one of the options. We have had prototypes with Centino 2 and Atom. But there are more options in this space and we have considered AMD as well and NVIDIA’s GeForce Atom platform. We have plans to deliver the latter but we can discuss that at a later date.

 

[BenRoethig]

Meanwhile in other news, whilst Apple is in no hurry to enter the netbook market, MSI, who is behind the Wind aka Macbook Nano, looks like having a go at the Macbook Air.

MSI to Demo Touchscreen Wind, Release Wind U110, Wind U115 and U300 in U.S.

I'll have to keep my eye on that U300. I'm looking for something a little lighter to replace my G3 iBook. Not looking for anything spectacular, I have a desktop for that, just something than can surf the web, store my iTunes music library, and use MS Office. A version of the Geforce 9000-series for a little light gaming would be a plus. A cheaper, Atom-powered version of the MBA would be ideal for me.

 

[Borjan]

I'd personally love to see Ion based laptops... Atom + 9400M would do me just nicely thank you...

 

[mambodancer]

Definition of a netbook

According to wikipedia a netbook is essentially a lower cost, under powered, under featured version of a laptop, usually without DVD drive and probably a SSD HD, weighing 2-3 lbs with a 7-10" screen. (which, given the cost of these things, I find them a hard sell when for a little bit more money you get a "real" laptop that's a bit bigger and weighs maybe 2lbs more - but that's just me.)

This description is essentially what the MacBook Air would be if it were smaller and less expensive or what the entry level MacBook would be except it would be more powerful and fully featured.

Smart phones approach netbooks in features (email, internet, etc) except for screen and keyboard size.

I just don't see apple announcing "just" a netbook unless it were also a new platform that would do something of the following:

Interface with AppleTV, expanding the capabilities of the iPhone Remote application. (or check out the i.TV app for the phone too.)

Interfacing with iTunes, iPhoto, etc. allowing you to remotely "touch" your media and essentially working and controlling your software like a universal remote control to a HDTV connected Mac (or next gen MacMini?)

Controlling a DVR remotely and allowing you to set programming and recording options. (Is it possible Apple didn't include DVR in AppleTV due to the forthcoming digital switch in February? Hmmm...I sometimes wonder if my Miglia EyeTV will be compatible after the switch)

 

[douggie]

Description of Apple's new netbook

Some time in 2009, Apple will release a scaled-up iPod Touch as a response to Netbooks. Here is my prediction of what it will be like:
- 10" multi-touch LED screen (960x640 resolution)
- Proprietary PA Semi processor built by Apple (or ARM processor)
- OS X Snow Leopard (same touch-driven version as iPod Touch)
- Seemless access to AppStore & 10,000 applications

I think Apple will pick the 960x640 screen resolution so that the applications on the AppStore can work seemlessly on the new device without having to be modified. Apple has been working on true 64-bit resolution independence for OS X for a while, and it will finally appear with Snow Leopard. This means that the same applications will be able to work on the current iPod Touch, future Apple "netbooks" and future iPhone nanos with smaller screens. As long as the screen size proportions are kept the consistent across the different screens, full resolution independence built right into OS X will allow one version of an application to work seemlessly on all screens. As such Apple will have a huge advantage with its new "netbook" because buyers will instantly have access to the 10,000 applications on the AppStore, and developers will be able to get great distribution for their applications by writing one version of a program and getting access to the iPhone, iPhone Nano, iPod Touch and the new Apple netbooks.

The device will not a have physical keyboard (although Apple's wireless keyboard will work with it). Apple will use a 10" screen because this will be large enough to allow for a close-to full-size virtual keyboard on the screen. This will allow users to put the device on their desks and start typing away, right on the screen.

Apple will use their own proprietary processors, which are being developed in-house by the PA Semi team. Apple also owns 4.5 % of ARM, so they might launch the new product with an ARM processor, but eventually they will use propietary processors that the competition can't get their hands on. These will be low power processors, which is PA Semi's specialty.

Apple will use the same version of OS X for their new "netbooks" as is used in the iPod Touch. This means that the netbook will be more limited in how much you can tweak it, but it also means that the device will just keep working without crashing and without having to adjust configurations all the time, just like the iPhone and iPod Touch.

In other words, Apple will completely redefine the netbook market with an internet device based on the iPod Touch. This will be great for Apple as it will differentiate the product from the competition, and offer access to Apple's AppStore, which the competition doesn't have.

 

[63dot]

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...

That's what I think, too.

Steve Jobs only told Macworld recently that he would "look at the netbook market closely".

It takes time for research and development, because Apple may not get certain things out as early as others like MP3 players and cellphones, but when they do, it's usually the best in the industry. The iPod killed the existing MP3 player competition when introduced. Steve Jobs also told Macworld that the iPhone outsold the former number one, the Blackberry phone recently.

Further back in Apple's history, PC makers had entry level laptops for about two grand in 1997-98, which back then was a lot cheaper than three to five grand for a full featured laptop. People looked to Apple and speculated for a long time, then the iBook came out. I held onto my cash for a long time and resisted two thousand dollar laptops running Windows 95 or 98 and I bought the iBook and still use it today. Any PC would have died by now. And Apple didn't put out a consumer laptop for $1999, but for $1599. Dell came out concurrently with a laptop for the same price with integrated graphics. Apple had a separate ATI graphics chip. Dell had a passive matrix screen, Apple had an active matrix screen.

I would like to see a Netbook from Apple next month, or even early in 2009, but I don't think it will happen. Late 2009 sounds more like it and then the price will fit the competition the way the "consumer" iBook did against the entry level PC laptops of the time. I also, for the fun of it, bought an entry level PC as-is model knocked down from $1899 to $1299 (Compaq Presario) and it was just OK but was nothing compared to the iBook.

 

[iOrlando]

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

well i see a ton of netbooks for uses such as Word, Excel, Email, Powerpoint...etc..for business....all of which you cant do on iphone, and even if you could...it wouldnt be fun with the typing.

Iphone is great for twits, texts, etc...but not for papers.

 

[63dot]

well i see a ton of netbooks for uses such as Word, Excel, Email, Powerpoint...etc..for business....all of which you cant do on iphone, and even if you could...it wouldnt be fun with the typing.

Iphone is great for twits, texts, etc...but not for papers.

When I first spent some time with the latest iPhone at the local Apple store, I was impressed how much it could do. Some sort of attachable after market, mechanical keyboard would make MS Office for Mac products practical on iPhone.

I see young people do amazing things with the iPhone and apps will continue to expand and become more powerful.

I don't know if I consider the iPhone the premier cellphone or a really small netbook that happens to double as a phone. In a couple of years, cellphones will be so far above what we have that any speculation we can think of now will be surpassed. My current cellphone was the rage nearly a couple of years ago and people were paying $300 dollars for it, if you could even find one. Now it comes free with signup with ATT.

 

[iMacmatician]

Some time in 2009, Apple will release a scaled-up iPod Touch as a response to Netbooks. Here is my prediction of what it will be like:

2009 makes sense. MWSF I believe is too early, but I can easily see a larger-than-iPod touch mini-tablet in the middle of 2009.

I think Apple will pick the 960x640 screen resolution so that the applications on the AppStore can work seemlessly on the new device without having to be modified.

Or Apple could extend the iPhone OS to support split-screen (exactly like my ClassPad 330 graphing calculator) or "windowed" applications (with full-screen option), which would give some form of multitasking.

Apple has been working on true 64-bit resolution independence for OS X for a while, and it will finally appear with Snow Leopard. This means that the same applications will be able to work on the current iPod Touch, future Apple "netbooks" and future iPhone nanos with smaller screens. As long as the screen size proportions are kept the consistent across the different screens, full resolution independence built right into OS X will allow one version of an application to work seemlessly on all screens.

UI controls are designed for a finger size. A smaller display may make the controls too small for a finger, and a larger display would just waste space (or not, depending on the app). Hence my split-screen/windowed prediction.

As such Apple will have a huge advantage with its new "netbook" because buyers will instantly have access to the 10,000 applications on the AppStore, and developers will be able to get great distribution for their applications by writing one version of a program and getting access to the iPhone, iPhone Nano, iPod Touch and the new Apple netbooks.

A related advantage is that this mini-tablet will be able to run all App Store apps perfectly, since its hardware specs will better than the iPhone and iPod touch's. A mini-notebook running Mac OS X would not be able to run all applications, and even fewer well. Even the MacBook Air has a full-size display and keyboard, as well as a non-ULV CPU. So I don't think Apple wants to pull Mac OS X down. However, I think there is quite a lot of potential for a scaled-up iPhone OS, especially if it has iLife mobile and iWork mobile (definitely should be on the mini-tablet). iPhone OS has room to go up, Mac OS X doesn't have much room to go down.

Further on the hardware side, I would like a camera, mini-DisplayPort, speakers, and a microphone.

The device will not a have physical keyboard (although Apple's wireless keyboard will work with it).

There goes my USB port prediction. (Actually it wouldn't if camcorders could be connected via USB to the mini-tablet...)

Apple will use a 10" screen because this will be large enough to allow for a close-to full-size virtual keyboard on the screen. This will allow users to put the device on their desks and start typing away, right on the screen.

I also hope for a cheaper model (≈6" 720·480 display?) that uses thumb typing, just for the lower price. That model will likely be only $200 or so more expensive than an equivalent-capacity iPod touch, depending on the extra features.

In other words, Apple will completely redefine the netbook market with an internet device based on the iPod Touch. This will be great for Apple as it will differentiate the product from the competition, and offer access to Apple's AppStore, which the competition doesn't have.

Apple has always gone this way. They don't follow the status quo, they make something new, which is usually better.

 

[eleven59]

I've seen something similar but a little smaller and with a single screen from this tech company out of the San Francisco Bay area called Apple.

ive seen a smaller one from a company that has actually found a way to make it usable and is making a killing off of it- nintendo

i couldnt resist!

 

[fleshman03]

I'll take a $1799 MacTablet!

I see what you did there. Very nice. Apple can count me in.

 

[63dot]

I see what you did there. Very nice. Apple can count me in.

Yeah, that's great. Let's have Macs only for rich people!!

I think Apple can beat that price. Only time will tell. I can't wait to see what happens very soon.

 

[fleshman03]

Yeah, that's great. Let's have Macs only for rich people!!

I think Apple can beat that price. Only time will tell. I can't wait to see what happens very soon.

Depends on what the creation is. I know I've been holding out on one of these for years:

To be Docked in:

There is an old patient for this from 07 I think. Maybe just a tablet would cost $600-$1k depending on specs, but with the iMac addition .... we're looking at $2k

 

[QCassidy352]

I don't get netbooks. IMO the real gap is between a pocket-sized smart phone (mini-computers, really) and the size at which you have to actually think about whether you take it with you (or to put it another way, do you need a bag for it?). Once I reach that point, I'll just take a real laptop. A 3 lb. netbook vs. a 4.5 lb. macbook is pretty irrelevant to me because either way I'm carrying a backpack or messenger bag. But an internet device I can put in my pocket vs. something I need a bag for is a very big difference indeed.

All of which is my way of saying I couldn't care less whether we ever see an apple netbook.

 

[kastenbrust]

Depends on what the creation is. I know I've been holding out on one of these for years:

To be Docked in:

There is an old patient for this from 07 I think. Maybe just a tablet would cost $600-$1k depending on specs, but with the iMac addition .... we're looking at $2k

oh dear that mockup of the imac is ridiculous, it would have to be about twice as thick as that to fit the netbook inside and have room for its screen and all the other internals, it is quite cool though!

 

[fleshman03]

oh dear that mockup of the imac is ridiculous, it would have to be about twice as thick as that to fit the netbook inside and have room for its screen and all the other internals, it is quite cool though!

Not really. A motherboard, screen internals, USB port or two, MagSafe, battery and SSD. It's possible in a .5" enclosure. They do an iPod touch in .33." For this, they would have more room laterally.

In terms of connecting it to the iMac, that would take some engineering. Take the power brick out of the chin and move that to the cable. You'll then have enough space for another HD, processer, BT, wifi and iSight.

Even without moving the power brick there should be enough room with the current 24" space if somethings are moved around.

 

[63dot]

Not really. A motherboard, screen internals, USB port or two, MagSafe, battery and SSD. It's possible in a .5" enclosure. They do an iPod touch in .33." For this, they would have more room laterally.

In terms of connecting it to the iMac, that would take some engineering. Take the power brick out of the chin and move that to the cable. You'll then have enough space for another HD, processer, BT, wifi and iSight.

Even without moving the power brick there should be enough room with the current 24" space if somethings are moved around.

Even if they added 1/4" an inch to the thickness of the current iMac with a dockable netbook/tablet/super iPhone, that would not bother me in the least. I think if anybody can do it, it would be Apple Inc.

Keep the iMac around the same price and have this dockable tablet/netbook in the $399-$699 range. Start with the netbook/tablet and add the iMac in a few months later that can work with it. Integrate some sort of port/wire for the tablet and the Macbook lines, too. I think this could be a great idea.

 

[Patcoola]

larger ipod touch = netbook?

 

[63dot]

larger ipod touch = netbook?

That would be a great idea, but maybe something between 2-3" inch iPod size, (to maybe 8.9" inch screen) but not quite full tablet size (14.1"+ inch), but big enough to do Word docs comfortably w/o having to boot up full sized laptops/desktops.

I would use the thing as my main machine outside of the house and sometimes in the house.

 

[zap2]

I'm not seeing this big iPod touch as a replacement for a netbook...I use my netbook like a normal PC, so unless the big iPod touch is going to hook up to external displays, have USB ports on it, and be able to type on it for a while, its not a replacement

 

[63dot]

I'm not seeing this big iPod touch as a replacement for a netbook...I use my netbook like a normal PC, so unless the big iPod touch is going to hook up to external displays, have USB ports on it, and be able to type on it for a while, its not a replacement

Why not have external display out, and a few usb ports? $499 or so, stripped down to basics, touch capability.

 

[Sehnsucht]

Netbooks. Are. Retarded.

I've messed with several different netbooks, including the Acer Aspire One, which was horrendously, hideously, painfully, excruciatingly, torturously SLOW!!! They SUCK!

In my experience with the Acer Aspire One sold at Wal-Mart, nobody cared in the slightest about its specs, and "ultra-portability" was the furthest thing from their minds. Not a single customer who bought this pathetic little POS asked me a single question about RAM, hard drive space, processor or anything. They had their eyes ONLY on the $399 price tag. (I seriously doubt they even realized its lack of an optical drive until they got home and opened it up.)

 

[bobjob186]

no netbooks....you'll get what's planned: mac mini update, imac update, the end.

It'd be cool to be wrong, but why would apple try to hit a small niche market when no one really has money. You'll get the early adopters in on it and after sometime a few new users will pick one up, but there's no big pool of customers that would want a small underpowered expensive mini notebook. Could you really see apple selling a netbook for less than $700? Could you really see yourself buying an apple netbook for $700? Both answers = no netbooks.

 

[branjosef]

They will probably introduce alot of things at macworld...but with the recession, they had to cut a few corners.

 

[iMacmatician]

Why not have external display out, and a few usb ports? $499 or so, stripped down to basics, touch capability.

Fixed that for you.

I'm strangely optimistic about the presence of ports on this upcoming device. Also, I think that the Apple wireless keyboard will work on this too. Maybe even print straight from the device.