Apple Answers Questions About Low-end iPhone and Mac Netbooks

[studentmac]

Its not that its even vital, all phones can do it, and they wont even give an explanation why they wont put it in there. If Steve jobs came and said hey we aren't putting it in for (insert good reason here). that would be fine, but it seems like things are falling on deaf ears.

Well I think they did give a reason for not adding MMS....they said they were only interesting in making the best phone.

Making the best phone means adding only the best features, not the most features, and thankfully, MMS isn't one of those features.

MMS is old and dated, and the picture/sound quality sent is poor. Why would they want to add a feature like this?

 

[phoenix78]

Well, i think apple is missing out with not going for a netbook. From what i see in stores, Netbooks have been selling like hotcakes. But people have been buying the current netbooks because they are really cheap. Apple's offering will surely not be cheap. These wold also undercut sales of apples other, more expensive pcs in the range?

They should really concentrate on making the iphone like a mini computer. They have the expertise now to put a very capable ARM chip in their phones. Surely they could add capabilities to do some office apps on it. Like word + spreadsheet + presentations. This would need some better hardware and further developed software. Office apps would be a bit 'power' hungry at the moment?

 

[Watabou]

Damn! why didn't someone ask him about the new iMacs??

Forget the iMacs, what happened to the Mac Mini? June maybe?

 

[talkingfuture]

There seems to be a lot of positive information in this earnings call. I reckon that they have something special up their sleeves on the Netbook front. I wouldn't be surprised to see an 8" or thereabouts tablet device AND a smaller MacBook Air that is priced around the same point as the white MacBook. That way they won't be compromising the experience depending on what you really need in a device.

Low cost ultra mobile internet and media - Tablet

Smaller but fully featured laptop - 10" Air

 

[curmi]

FYI, the PS3 is the only console that is sold at a loss. The 360 was turning a profit about a year into production, unlike the original xbox which throughout its life -despite 13 revisions- never made money.

Not sure if this is still true since Microsoft dropped prices on the XBox to make it cheaper than the Wii.

However you'd have to assume it should be easy to sell the 360 at a profit, I mean it lacks bluetooth, wifi, slot loading drive, style. Not exactly state of the art.

 

[MH01]

Yes, I tried those "netbooks" - won't even run Apple HD videos. I think maybe the next gen ones will with the new Intel 500 chipset, or if someone builds them with the nVidia Ion.

But, the screen is too small and the keys are cramped. You might as well just use an iPhone or iPod Touch - which is what Apple is pushing...

Yeah mine does not run 2 30" displays...utter crap! How am i suppose to use this as a desktop replacement and meet all my computer needs.....geez..

Spot on about the display size, much better off using something 1/3 of the size....

but on a serious note, these things are going to evolve nicely, though apple would struggle create one at the current price levels, i think it will be only a matter of time before they create one. Most a cheap and simple, Cheap apple does not do. Watch this space...

 

[PCMacUser]

MMS is old and dated, and the picture/sound quality sent is poor. Why would they want to add a feature like this?

Yes, but even older and more dated than MMS is TXT messaging. Perhaps they should have excluded this feature too? Lots of people I know use MMS, even though it's crap.

The point is that TXT, MMS, and all those types of features are standard and expected features in a modern phone. End of story.

 

[The Phazer]

check this out.
if Apple gave a damn about MMS they'd make an app for it or implement it in SMS. Since it looks like it's not some heresy, forbidden by the SDK, Portugal's Vodafone made an App. It's up to the telecoms. In most countries you get a link and a password via sms that allows you to view your mms and you can send one via mail to a cellphone. If Apple didn't want MMS, this wouldn't be available, IMO.

None of these apps are true MMS - the full MMS spec requires access to the baseband like an SMS app does, and that is very much blocked by the SDK.

I do wonder why nobody at these Q&A sessions asks about why the pace of iPhone OS development is so glacial. I'm sure the missing features identified on launch day are holding back significant sales. I know a lot of people who won't buy an iPhone due to lack of Bluetooth transfer, MMS or being able to forward a text.

Phazer

 

[oscillatewildly]

Clearly people are deluded if they think they want/need something that is less powerful, smaller, lighter and less expensive than a MacBook/Air, and for them is more practical than an iPhone.

(Looking for a grant to help fund the search for a lower form of wit.)

 

[naco]

IMHO, Apple will be making a Netbook at some point in time. The only reason they are stepping back is because they are scared of little profit, and the Air. That is supposed to be Apple's most mobile computer. If you think about it, nothing on the Air makes it worth it's price tag. They can only charge that much for it because it's so small and well, Apple. If Apple did release something along the spec's of a Netbook, I'd expect it to be priced anywhere between $800-$1100 USD for a BASE model of it. Would it actually be worth that much? No. Would people buy it? Yes. And most importantly, would Apple make a profit? Yes. It's just up to Apple to give it a go.

I myself have a HP Mini 1035NR. 10.2" display with a webcam built in (much like the Macbook's glossy screen), 1.6GHz Intel Atom with a Intel GMA 950 (It's actually a dual core 800Mhz), 1GB of RAM on a 533MHz FSB with a 16GB SSD from SanDisk. It is also both Bluetooth and 3G capable along with basic Wifi. And I only paid $399 for the computer itself. Now in my opinion, apple would never release a computer with such a small hard drive. So a 64GB SSD would be base. Possibly 2GB of RAM out of the box. And other then that, pretty much the same fixings as mine has but with OS X. Now, I can turn my Mini into what I just said for $620 total cost (and that's consumer cost, not bulk) less the OS X part. Apple of course would put in a better CPU and GPU and a different shell for the unit. Possibly bring the price up to the high $800 area. Add in a few hundred dollars for Apple's "Ferrari-ness" and you have yourself a Netbook that's small but usable, affordable but not cheap for an Apple, still fast compared to other Netbooks, and has that high cost high fashion look that draws so many in. Would it eat away at MacBook sales? Not one bit because it's missing a disc drive. And someone that wants an everyday laptop needs one of those without having to carry around a sack of parts. Just like how the Air isn't eating much from both the MB and MBP. (There Apple, I just mapped out how to make a NetMac....now get to it )

In short, I can honestly say that there will be an Apple Netbook released in the future. Who knows when Apple will finally decide to take the plunge into a bare bones "laptop". They did do it with the desktop though so....

 

[cheesymogul]

Translation of Cook's Apple Talk:

"We're watching that space, = we are already working on it 24/7

but right now from our point of view, the products in there are principally based on hardware that's much less powerful than we think customers want, = ours will have dual core and decent graphics

software technology that is not good, = it will come with Snow Leopard

cramped keyboards, = a full size keyboard or large touchpad

small displays." = expect nothing below 1680 x 1050 and 11"

Cook added, "We don't think people will be pleased with those products. It's a category we watch, we've got some ideas here, but right now we think the products are inferior and will not provide an experience to customers they're happy with."
= watch out, our model will seriously kick ass!

You didn't seriously think we'll produce a $500 Mac?
Of course the price will start at $899...

 

[sdds]

Screw that. I want a 12" MBP! Give me that. Willing to pay full price of 15.4" MBP. Just want those features. Dedicated graphics. 4 GB RAM or more. And portability of 12" means can work on it in an airplane seat. Charge $1999 and they would sell millions. A lot of people want a 12" MBP. Why cannot Apple see that?

no. only some people want it (mostly former or still active users of the 12" powerbook). thing is, these people want it so badly and never leave out an occasion to voice their wishes that one could think that a lot of people actually want a 12" mbp. but they don't, most certainly not at the price point you propose.

 

[studentmac]

Yes, but even older and more dated than MMS is TXT messaging. Perhaps they should have excluded this feature too? Lots of people I know use MMS, even though it's crap.

The point is that TXT, MMS, and all those types of features are standard and expected features in a modern phone. End of story.

Yes text messaging may be even more dated, but it is still way more popular than MMS, and there is not yet a better way of sending a simple message to someone.

On the other hand, MMS can be replaced by using email, which is also a standard and "expected" feature on a modern phone. Emails send higher quality pictures than MMS, and are an overall better experience. You may be thinking this also applies to text messaging, but an email doesn't send text any better than a text message does, unlike with the pictures and audio with MMS.

MMS is dying, email will soon be the standard for sending media across mobile platforms.

 

[talkingfuture]

IMHO, Apple will be making a Netbook at some point in time. The only reason they are stepping back is because they are scared of little profit, and the Air. That is supposed to be Apple's most mobile computer. If you think about it, nothing on the Air makes it worth it's price tag. They can only charge that much for it because it's so small and well, Apple. If Apple did release something along the spec's of a Netbook, I'd expect it to be priced anywhere between $800-$1100 USD for a BASE model of it. Would it actually be worth that much? No. Would people buy it? Yes. And most importantly, would Apple make a profit? Yes. It's just up to Apple to give it a go.

I myself have a HP Mini 1035NR. 10.2" display with a webcam built in (much like the Macbook's glossy screen), 1.6GHz Intel Atom with a Intel GMA 950 (It's actually a dual core 800Mhz), 1GB of RAM on a 533MHz FSB with a 16GB SSD from SanDisk. It is also both Bluetooth and 3G capable along with basic Wifi. And I only paid $399 for the computer itself. Now in my opinion, apple would never release a computer with such a small hard drive. So a 64GB SSD would be base. Possibly 2GB of RAM out of the box. And other then that, pretty much the same fixings as mine has but with OS X. Now, I can turn my Mini into what I just said for $620 total cost (and that's consumer cost, not bulk) less the OS X part. Apple of course would put in a better CPU and GPU and a different shell for the unit. Possibly bring the price up to the high $800 area. Add in a few hundred dollars for Apple's "Ferrari-ness" and you have yourself a Netbook that's small but usable, affordable but not cheap for an Apple, still fast compared to other Netbooks, and has that high cost high fashion look that draws so many in. Would it eat away at MacBook sales? Not one bit because it's missing a disc drive. And someone that wants an everyday laptop needs one of those without having to carry around a sack of parts. Just like how the Air isn't eating much from both the MB and MBP. (There Apple, I just mapped out how to make a NetMac....now get to it )

In short, I can honestly say that there will be an Apple Netbook released in the future. Who knows when Apple will finally decide to take the plunge into a bare bones "laptop". They did do it with the desktop though so....

The Air is so expensive because people will pay for it as an aspirational product, mainly for the design. Now the Macbbook is aluminium it looks too expensive. I think it will transition to become the low end MacBook/High price netbook.

 

[godrifle]

My University is doing a netbook trial. I *hate* mine. It's awful, for exactly the reasons Apple has put forth. As a touch typist, I simply cannot type on it. Keyboard is so small they had to rearrange the keys. AWFUL.

 

[preservative]

Yes, I tried those "netbooks" - won't even run Apple HD videos. I think maybe the next gen ones will with the new Intel 500 chipset, or if someone builds them with the nVidia Ion.

But, the screen is too small and the keys are cramped. You might as well just use an iPhone or iPod Touch - which is what Apple is pushing...

Um I think you'll find the Asus N10 with a nvidia 9300 and newbooks with GN40 chipsets which are being released will run HD just fine.

 

[popelife]

Cut an inch off all the way 'round the outside the current MacBook Air and put a 12" widescreen display in it. That's your netbook, Apple.

(and please put a slim DVD drive back in it. If Sony can do it...)

Call it, I don't know, the MacBook Air perhaps?

Low-cost would be useless to me if it means it's under-powered. But light and small makes a lot of sense, as it would to anyone who's had to carry any Mac laptop around all day. Even the old iBook got heavy after a while (although the size was pretty good).

The current MacBook Air is light. But it's not small.

 

[Shivetya]

All I can say is, thank you Apple for saving me the two to three K I would have spent on a new iMac... if you had bothered to come out with one.

Put out a 27" iMac with matte screen and you will have my money, phones are for starbuck's hangerons

 

[puffnstuff]

I think consumers are getting confused and manufacturers too are confused on what is a netbook really is. Netbook is a low cost, low powered, small device meant for things like internet surfing,typing documents,etc. The popularity of the Netbook stems from the OLPC program. Initially it was expected for these netbooks to cost under $200 but manufacturers bumped the price up once release date.

It costs over $400 is it a netbook? No, I am sorry I do not thing so. The main purpose of a netbook was a low cost computing device that anyone can afford. Once you reach the $400+ mark in my opinion you just bought yourself a small POS notebook.

With that said I too do not think people are begging for Apple to bring back the eMate (which was $800 btw) I think they just want a smaller version of the MBA or MB. Just a fully functioning small notebook with OSX for $800-$899 I think would hit the sweet spot. Especially for students if you couple in the student discount + free ipod during back to school.

Not all NetBooks were created equal. There are expensive and awesome ones:

OQO model 2+
http://www.oqo.com

Not a netbook that is UMPC and that is what the iPod Touch has the potential in evolving into if Apple would release their death grip.

 

[Loge]

I hate LaTeX... and it's not WYSIWYG so it hasn't crossed the threshold from the '70's to the '90's, and we're well past that now.

I'm a scientist and an engineer, not a typesetter!

Just because it is not WYSIWYG does not mean it is stuck in the 70s.

The point of LaTeX is that it lets the computer do the typesetting for you, precisely because most scientists and engineers are not typesetters.

 

[The Phazer]

On the other hand, MMS can be replaced by using email, which is also a standard and "expected" feature on a modern phone.

NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO.

It cannot. They are compeltely different, and a lot more people have MMS capable phones than have email addresses, even now. A minority of the populace uses mobile email, and that will remain the case for several years yet.

You may be thinking this also applies to text messaging, but an email doesn't send text any better than a text message does, unlike with the pictures and audio with MMS.

Yes it does. There's no 140 character limit.

MMS is dying, email will soon be the standard for sending media across mobile platforms.

MMS isn't dying. The numbers of MMS sent have gone up consistently in every territory since the iPhone's release.

Phazer

 

[studentmac]

All I'm suggesting is, with more and more people using email, and an increasing number of phones allowing people to read emails, it won't be long until MMS (or even SMS for that matter) are even needed.

Apple are often first to use/discontinue features (the floppy disc for instance), and it is obvious they are trying to do the same with the way we communicate. Less MMS, more email.

I don't think I have ever reached a character limit on my phone, and I send a LOT of messages. Maybe if people are reaching that limit so easily they should try calling?

Yes, MMS has increased in use, but SMS has actually also shown plenty of growth.

 

[AidenShaw]

Atomic, not Core 2

Make a 10" notebook with the 1st Gen Macbook Air's internals for $600 and...BOOM! netbook or they will call it an " Applebook "

I agree with this, except for three things.

- Plug a dual-core x64 Atom into the thing, not a Core 2 Duo. Cooling and battery life are more important than raw power (no core shutdowns, please).

- Make it three dimensional - don't worry if it doesn't disappear when you look at it from the side. One inch thick is OK - helps with cooling and batteries. (Note that the 12" PowerBook that so many love is 1.2" thick.)

- Target price in the $699 to $899 range. It's not a cheap netbook, it's a small notebook.

 

[preservative]

Lots of people use a computer for the odd email and surfing the web. A netbook is just fine for them and they use much less power. Are cheaper etc. They do not need quad core CPU with 4g of ram.

 

[Evangelion]

FYI, the PS3 is the only console that is sold at a loss. The 360 was turning a profit about a year into production, unlike the original xbox which throughout its life -despite 13 revisions- never made money.

IIRC, MS's games & entertainment-divison is still solidly in the loss. I don't really see how they could sell 360 at a profit. It's not THAT much cheaper to manufacture than PS3 is. The CPU and GPU are about as complex as the one in PS3. True, it lacks some things (like blu-ray and WiFi), but the price-difference those features cause shouldn't be THAT great.