Apple's Netbook will be too expensive.
When the Netbook market's flooded, then Apple will come out with a REVOLUTIONARY DEVICE, just like the iPhone...
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Apple Answers Questions About Low-end iPhone and Mac Netbooks
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Apple's Netbook will be too expensive.
When the Netbook market's flooded, then Apple will come out with a REVOLUTIONARY DEVICE, just like the iPhone...
I beg to differ. I'm running Leopard *nicely* on a "Sawtooth" PowerMac G4. Admittedly, it's been upgraded to a 1.2GHz CPU, and 1GB RAM, but other than ripping our DVD collection (3-4 days per disc), it does everything we want it to, and more.
Still waiting for
10" Air
Internal 3G Antenna
Matte Screen
Silver Keys
C'mon guys I know you can do it!
10" Air
Internal 3G Antenna
Matte Screen
Silver Keys
C'mon guys I know you can do it!
Why do people want a Netbook? What advantages would it have over a $999 Macbook ?
It might be smaller and weigh less, but again, your gonna sacrifice performance.
I think the Mac Air is a netbook and I see no reason to make another device between the Mac Air and the iPod Touch.
It might be smaller and weigh less, but again, your gonna sacrifice performance.
I think the Mac Air is a netbook and I see no reason to make another device between the Mac Air and the iPod Touch.
Many people buy netbooks as a secondary computer for travel, etc. Something cheap and small. An information appliance that actually makes sense, unless previous attempts like the Audrey, etc.
A netbook is cheap and small. A MBA is definitely not cheap, and is not considered a netbook by majority of people. A MacBook is practically closer to a netbook because of its price. If I was purchasing a main machine, I would definitely choose a $999 MacBook over a netbook. But if I was complementing a desktop or even say a MBP, a cheaper netbook is an attractive option.
I can see Apple's reasoning for not doing a Mac netbook, although I hope they closely follow netbook sales in the next couple of years (I'm sure they are.)
If someone really wants a Mac 'netbook', it's pretty easy to install OS X on a MSI Wind with practically full hardware support. And if the price is important, well Apple is not going to beat the MSI Wind on price anways.
Don't spend a lot of time wanting a 'netbook'
Is there really a huge pent-up demand for 'netbooks'?
I know it's just one point of view, but I don't lay awake nights dreaming about a really cool, smallish, 'netbook' that would fill the gap between my MacBook Pro and my iPhone.
Maybe I'm alone in that thinking, I guess. But I do admit I was really not fond of my 'smart phones' and was really looking forward to Apple's take on that.
The iPod was kind of the same thing, particularly with iTunes. The clunky nature of mp3 players was kind of lame, and then iTunes came along so the iPod+iTunes was definitely something that seemed, forgive the term, 'needed'.
I guess there's a gap for folks out there between their laptop and smart phones that I just don't see the way I use these devices.
I just can't think of where a netbook would fit...
Is there really a huge pent-up demand for 'netbooks'?
I know it's just one point of view, but I don't lay awake nights dreaming about a really cool, smallish, 'netbook' that would fill the gap between my MacBook Pro and my iPhone.
Maybe I'm alone in that thinking, I guess. But I do admit I was really not fond of my 'smart phones' and was really looking forward to Apple's take on that.
The iPod was kind of the same thing, particularly with iTunes. The clunky nature of mp3 players was kind of lame, and then iTunes came along so the iPod+iTunes was definitely something that seemed, forgive the term, 'needed'.
I guess there's a gap for folks out there between their laptop and smart phones that I just don't see the way I use these devices.
I just can't think of where a netbook would fit...
I think this could be a viable approach if an Apple netbook were to start from the existing Macbook Air architecture. It wouldn't be too hard for Apple to use the same multi-touch technology as a keyboard instead of physical buttons as seen on existing Macbooks (I know some people like the feedback from tapping actual keys). Such a move would help in keeping it's profile very thin and it's weight down. The screen that would be LED backlit (powered by the latest Nvidia chipset) could also be multitouch - in the sense of having coverflow for switching b/w open applications, etc. A netbook would have definitely marketed well with the new iWork.com web-based software - and still can. Now just chop down the existing Macbook Air to dimensions of say 5.5 inches wide by 11 to 12 inches long and a total thickness not to exceed a half of an inch - that would be one sexy netbook to behold. Price would have to be sub $900 to be plausible.
There is no market in China. They assemble it all and probably get enough "freebies" off the line to satisfy the few who want Apple products.
Smug CEO's selling designer products at ridiculously high markups is a SoCal and European market, not the Chinese.
No market for high-end mobiles in China?
Better not tell that to the millions of chuppies I see here in Shanghai with their re-imported, TurboSIM-unlocked iPhones. Status conscious Chinese middle class happily shell out the big bucks for designer clothing and expensive electronics, including Apple. How many Vertu boutiques do you see in the states?I think the main difference lies in typing for a while, wouldn't a virtual keyboard not be as suited as a physical one? But Apple could just release a physical wireless keyboard for the iPhone, iPod touch, and other mobile device.
Solving the problem with resolution Independence (if I read your quote right) would shrink text and UI objects, which would increase relative blurriness.Something tells me that Apple will expand the OS X iPhone to run on a NetBook. Think about it, its an iPhone minus the Phone.
I installed OS X on a eeePC 1000H, it is clear it does not handle the resolution well. Maybe ResInd would solve this.
That's right, Apple knows when not to release a product as when to release one. Apple is definitely holding out on the netbook market, and Apple's "netbook" may be a twist on existing netbooks or a new device entirely.
Given the three sizes of MacBook (Pro) and 15" MacBook Air rumor, maybe there will be a 11" MacBook Air in the future, giving three sizes of MacBook Air. I also see the MacBook Air going down in price a bit soon.
I have an iBook G4 and Leopard itself runs fine, although not as snappy as current Macs. It's the software on top of that (Safari, iLife '04, and iWork '08) that slows things down quite a bit. Also I'm sure that an Apple netbook will be really thin, therefore is likely to have room for only 1 RAM slot, which means less RAM.
And Snow Leopard, at least the WWDC 2008 version, seems to have similar hardware specs to Leopard (besides the CPU).
I don't get it...
Quote:
We're watching that space, but from our pov the products are based on hardware that's much less powerful, software technology that's not good, cramped displays. We don't think that people are going to be pleased with those type of products. It's a category we watch, we have some ideas here, but we think the products there now are inferior and won't provide the kind of experience people want.
Do they mean
products? Or do they mean within the category? I think if they have some ideas then why don't they release something now? If they leave it to long then they may have missed the boat!!! Come on go the MacNetbook... or at least a new Mini
Quote:
We're watching that space, but from our pov the products are based on hardware that's much less powerful, software technology that's not good, cramped displays. We don't think that people are going to be pleased with those type of products. It's a category we watch, we have some ideas here, but we think the products there now are inferior and won't provide the kind of experience people want.
Do they mean
products? Or do they mean within the category? I think if they have some ideas then why don't they release something now? If they leave it to long then they may have missed the boat!!! Come on go the MacNetbook... or at least a new Mini 
Sorry if it's been mentioned before, but given that the vast majority of netbooks manufactured now are Atom based, Tim Cook's comments about netbooks being made from "hardware that's much less powerful" appears to debunk the nasty rumour of a new Atom based Mini
I run Leopard on my dual 1GHz G4 PowerMac w/1gig of RAM and have no complaints. Programs and such open a bit slower than on my MacPro, but the G4 isn't slugish at all.
Lethal
All this talk about the rising Chinese middle class is about five years behind the times. It's risen, powered by US and European debt, and is already crashing along with the rest of us. Chinese manufacturing has already been contracting, and we'll discover in the coming months that it's been in absolute free-fall since about July 2008.
There will be very little electronics market in China going forward--even less than there will be in the States, which isn't much.
There will be very little electronics market in China going forward--even less than there will be in the States, which isn't much.
I run Leopard on my single 1GHz G4 PowerMac w/1.3 GB RAM, and I agree. Performance is comparable to Tiger.
Bunk.
Apple has a long history of statements that are misleading or of questionable honesty regarding future plans. I wouldn't read too much into Cook's comment - they have ideas about netbooks, you know.
Anyway, the recently released Atom 330 (dual core 64-bit) isn't found in many current netbooks - so Apple could use that and claim "the fastest netbook".
Tim Cook's comments about netbooks being made from "hardware that's much less powerful" appears to debunk the nasty rumour of a new Atom based Mini
Apple has a long history of statements that are misleading or of questionable honesty regarding future plans. I wouldn't read too much into Cook's comment - they have ideas about netbooks, you know.
Anyway, the recently released Atom 330 (dual core 64-bit) isn't found in many current netbooks - so Apple could use that and claim "the fastest netbook".
I'm not disagreeing with your first point, but on the flipside China's excess savings underwrites American consumption. The unraveling of debt and credit markets means an end to easy money and cheap credit, so fewer Americans who can afford to buy Apple's products. At the same time, the Chinese government is pushing hard for middle class consumers here to take up the slack and buy more to spur domestic consumption. Even if those with discretionary income here in China are halved, that's still 60-70 million potential customers.
Anecdotally, a new Apple shop just opened a few blocks up the street from my apartment and it's packed with shoppers, the Apple section of Best Buy is always full, and whenever I go into a Starbucks or Coffee Bean chain, I'd say 60% of the laptops I see are
Even if the majority are tire kickin', it shows the appeal of the brand.I'm not saying there won't be hard times, possibly for a long time, but as in the US there are still enough affluent people in China that it represents a big market.
I think they mean within the category.Quote:
We're watching that space, but from our pov the products are based on hardware that's much less powerful, software technology that's not good, cramped displays. We don't think that people are going to be pleased with those type of products. It's a category we watch, we have some ideas here, but we think the products there now are inferior and won't provide the kind of experience people want.
Do they mean
The likely reasons why nothing is released yet is because either Apple doesn't want to release anything yet, or the Apple product isn't ready yet.
My take on these "ideas" is that Apple's plans for the netbook space involve a significantly different product from conventional netbooks. Basically I see either or both a 7"~9" iPod touch with extended iPhone OS or a 11" low-cost Atom MacBook Air.
...or that Leopard is too big/slow on these devices, and Apple will release its netbook when Snow Leopard ships.
I'd agree that a 10" or 11" "Air-like" notebook would be likely.
I don't see Apple using the "Air" name, however. It would tarnish the status symbol of the big Air to have an affordable system with the same name.
I'd expect "MacBook Mini" or "MacBook Nano", or something new that emphasizes portability.
I agree with you there. I just said "MacBook Air" just because my envisioned 11" notebook would have a similar shape to the Air, use 1.8" drives, etc.
Does Sony have netbooks? No, they have notebooks of various sizes from 8.9"-18" but nothing lower then $790. Sony tax just like Apple tax. I see Sony as the PC version of Apple when it comes to pricing, style though certainly not in variety.
The Touch starts at $229 just needs some sprucing..
SDK should allow access to the dock this would allow keyboards,cameras,gamepads,etc
OS needs to be revamped to act more like a lite version of osx. Needs a lite version of iworks too.
Allow the screen image to be mirrored exactly like what SJ does during his keynote. So plug the touch into 8" shell you got yourself a netbook.
Maybe stretch the screen to 4.8" still pocketable though
Focus needs to be put on tweaking products that are already out rather then begging for new ones.
The Touch starts at $229 just needs some sprucing..
SDK should allow access to the dock this would allow keyboards,cameras,gamepads,etc
OS needs to be revamped to act more like a lite version of osx. Needs a lite version of iworks too.
Allow the screen image to be mirrored exactly like what SJ does during his keynote. So plug the touch into 8" shell you got yourself a netbook.
Maybe stretch the screen to 4.8" still pocketable though
Focus needs to be put on tweaking products that are already out rather then begging for new ones.
Sure does
Those revamps could be limited to the mini-tablet version of iPhone OS. Multi-tasking, windowed/split-screened, tabs, and more editing features in apps are what I'm thinking. The Dock could appear systemwide if the display is big enough, and the home screen could have Stacks or that home screen Spaces feature someone mocked up some time ago.
And a lite version of iLife, Preview, and maybe another Mac OS X app or two. I'm wishing for Grapher
Maybe two sizes, one at ≈5", another at ≈8"?Maybe stretch the screen to 4.8" still pocketable though
Sure does
Those revamps could be limited to the mini-tablet version of iPhone OS. Multi-tasking, windowed/split-screened, tabs, and more editing features in apps are what I'm thinking. The Dock could appear systemwide if the display is big enough, and the home screen could have Stacks or that home screen Spaces feature someone mocked up some time ago.
And a lite version of iLife, Preview, and maybe another Mac OS X app or two. I'm wishing for Grapher
Maybe two sizes, one at ≈5", another at ≈8"?
A lite version of GarageBand and iPhoto with a couple USB ports for input would be friggin' stellar, along with a 64GB SSD. I could record at jams or shows without lugging a notebook, just a 8 or 9" tablet and a USB interface. I know it can be done, because I've done it on an Asus Eee running Linux and a 24-bit audio interface. If they used an Atom or similar chip, it'd do fine.