I wouldn't be so specific, though you might.
The MacPro is the only 'real' computer Apple has, and I love it. If I had to go back to an iMac I would cry, despite the iMac being quite nice as a compact package.
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Apple Event for September 9th?
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I wouldn't be so specific, though you might.
The MacPro is the only 'real' computer Apple has, and I love it. If I had to go back to an iMac I would cry, despite the iMac being quite nice as a compact package.
In my opinion, I think that such an event wouldn't be too difficult for Apple. Introducing new iPods is fairly simple, they just release them into the shops, and if it turns out there is something wrong they just tell people to send them back for a replacement. It's not like mobile me where Apple was catastrophic in rolling it out, as with mobile me Apple kept getting it wrong each time they tried to fix the problems.
However, i'm not sure if Apple could cope with releasing a load of new macs as well. If they had problems Apple would be well and truly Daffy Ducked.
Besides the Intel transition, there hasn't been a Macworld revamp of any Mac after MWSF 2003.
Let's go back in time and see what Apple has done at the September Media Event over the past few years.
9/7/05
- iTunes 5
- Motorola ROKR
- iPod nano replaces the mini
9/12/06
- iPod video
- iPod nano update
- iPod shuffle update
- iTunes 7
- downloadable videos (Apple Music Store becomes the Apple Store)
- Apple TV
- One More Thing: movies
9/5/07
- new colors for shuffle, woohoo
- nano update
- iPod classic
- iPod touch
Seeing a pattern here? Apple holds their September Event to promote their iPod lines and to announce new iTunes services.
My predictions are relatively conservative: We'll see iTunes 8, and all of the iPods will get a significant upgrade. I think the iPod nano pictures that have been leaked to us are fakes - the curved screens are really ugly, and their glossiness will be distracting.
Notice how Apple hasn't done anything yet to the iPod Touch despite the iPhone 3G's release two months ago: they're clearly trying to categorize it separately from the iPhone brand. GPS is likely if only because so many App Store applications rely on the positioning API.
Apple really believes in its product line differentiation and won't muddy the iPod-centric September event with notebook news. If MacBook upgrades are coming, Apple will wait until later to announce them - probably in October or November. Capella won't be out until the middle of 2009, and that's just too long to go without an upgrade. They'll do a Penryn bump with a form factor change for now, then advertise Capella's blazing speeds in 2009.
I have no idea where the iTablet fits into any of this. If it's being sold as an iPhone variant, we might hear some news in September. But it's probably going to be marketed as something else, with web browsing and multitouch as the main selling points; remember that the iPhone was originally codenamed "Safari Pad". I do think it's coming at some point; netbooks are finally taking hold in the marketplace, and Apple, fueled by over a decade of research, is going to master it.
Right on.
Kevin Rose is blogging that a new rounder Ipod will replace the old and the price point on all will fall to allow the Iphone to stand alone in the $200 area. So the MacBooks and Mac Mini won't be updated, Go figure. But Itunes 8 will be introduced and the Touch will get the 2.0 software. That's the so called Big news that Apple is trying to make a big deal out of.
$149 iPod touch?
Quite the contrary. Its significance warranted an exception.
He can shove his ipod's ring on the laptop already..
We lived with the bugs in these long enough.
We lived with the bugs in these long enough.
One thought
I think everyone is looking at what has transpired and is interpreting it incorrectly.
Release of the iphone 3g, (which is only really a polishing of a previous product) and the Mobileme service, was enough to cause massive difficulties in apple's usually streamlined production/distribution? Most people have observed, and decided that if these problems were present for the launch of one product and one service, there is no way they could handle the diversity of updating all of their lines simultaneously, but i beg to differ.
I think, that the problems that surfaced with Mobileme, and the iPhone 3g are indicative of a greater diversification of efforts unbeknownst to the public. That these problems indicate they were stretching themselves thinner then, than we knew about.
Perhaps not in two weeks, and perhaps not all at once, and even perhaps not in the embodiement that I suggest, but I believe apple is restructuring their entire line.
As a result of the popularization of the nettop, the introduction of a full featured mobile device (iphone) as well as revolutionary advances in touch input, the needs of the different markets have changed.
I feel as though we will see a convergence of some lines and divergence of others. Below is one embodiment that I feel is likely to develope, all at once, or over time.
Notebooks
Convergence of MB and MBP into one line, differentiated by features connected to size. Essentially those who need more portability need less features typically. The high end will be the larger laptops. Pro's who typically need dedicated graphics and large screens are willing to carry a heavier laptop, those who need to take notes in a lecture hall dont need as much, however to a certain extent they will be configurable across the size
Possible convergence as well of the MBA; resulting in a this poridge is really small, this poridge is pretty small, and this poridge is bigger, but powerful.
Ipod
Refresh in line with current rumors; new ipod touch, new nano, price cuts
New product:
A tablet in line with that one patent, that shows it docking with an imac desktop. With its own processor ports etc, that when docked can improve the imac performance but when absent does not cripple either. This tablet could be used for any number of purposes, a multitouch surface when doing work on the desktop, a remote for itunes, as well as a full touch enabled computer when necesary on the go. With the ability to turn into a mac mini-esque (in terms of power) when connected to an external monitor
This would also necessetate an imac refresh.
Pro desktop line
little changes; increase in speed processor etc...
Displays
Revamp including the rumored isight hd, as well as divergence of the line. With and without apple tv integration. This integration will bring true tuner features, as well as expansion of the wireless mantra: ability to stream media to and from the display (which is actually now a television). Again with remote ability from iphone or tablet.
All tied together with expanded functionality of itunes/timemachine/mobile me
allowing for true decentrilized service of data/multimedia across the home. The ability to append libraries remotely, access documents or emails at the tv, on the iphone, with the tablet, at the desktop, or at the laptop. All able to synchronize quickly and efficiently, with secure backups kept for safety.
Now I have excluded the mini, because i cannot even guess what form it will take, unchanged, absorbed by the tablet and apple tv's increased functionality, or some other change, I have no idea.
Please realize these are guesses made by my personal observations of the changing mobile computing market, as well as the rumors floating about the net.
I just feel that the 3g update to the iphone, and the release of mobileme was not enough to stretch apples resources that thin. I think the mistakes portend of a revamp of the entire business' structure; a new delineation of products for a new market.
These are all giant revamps I understand, but at least now it seems once again feasible to own one of each product (since there is little or no overlap in functionality anymore). You have one device for your phone, one is a tablet for when you have more room but are on the go (class, meetings etc) one is a true laptop (in various sizes) for travel, one is the home computer, and one is your television. And the best part, is they all can function independently, but it's so much nicer that they all play well together.
Just my thoughts.
also this is included on my new awesome blog; Its awesomeness is only exceeded by its newness
http://strangersonly.blogspot.com/
I think everyone is looking at what has transpired and is interpreting it incorrectly.
Release of the iphone 3g, (which is only really a polishing of a previous product) and the Mobileme service, was enough to cause massive difficulties in apple's usually streamlined production/distribution? Most people have observed, and decided that if these problems were present for the launch of one product and one service, there is no way they could handle the diversity of updating all of their lines simultaneously, but i beg to differ.
I think, that the problems that surfaced with Mobileme, and the iPhone 3g are indicative of a greater diversification of efforts unbeknownst to the public. That these problems indicate they were stretching themselves thinner then, than we knew about.
Perhaps not in two weeks, and perhaps not all at once, and even perhaps not in the embodiement that I suggest, but I believe apple is restructuring their entire line.
As a result of the popularization of the nettop, the introduction of a full featured mobile device (iphone) as well as revolutionary advances in touch input, the needs of the different markets have changed.
I feel as though we will see a convergence of some lines and divergence of others. Below is one embodiment that I feel is likely to develope, all at once, or over time.
Notebooks
Convergence of MB and MBP into one line, differentiated by features connected to size. Essentially those who need more portability need less features typically. The high end will be the larger laptops. Pro's who typically need dedicated graphics and large screens are willing to carry a heavier laptop, those who need to take notes in a lecture hall dont need as much, however to a certain extent they will be configurable across the size
Possible convergence as well of the MBA; resulting in a this poridge is really small, this poridge is pretty small, and this poridge is bigger, but powerful.
Ipod
Refresh in line with current rumors; new ipod touch, new nano, price cuts
New product:
A tablet in line with that one patent, that shows it docking with an imac desktop. With its own processor ports etc, that when docked can improve the imac performance but when absent does not cripple either. This tablet could be used for any number of purposes, a multitouch surface when doing work on the desktop, a remote for itunes, as well as a full touch enabled computer when necesary on the go. With the ability to turn into a mac mini-esque (in terms of power) when connected to an external monitor
This would also necessetate an imac refresh.
Pro desktop line
little changes; increase in speed processor etc...
Displays
Revamp including the rumored isight hd, as well as divergence of the line. With and without apple tv integration. This integration will bring true tuner features, as well as expansion of the wireless mantra: ability to stream media to and from the display (which is actually now a television). Again with remote ability from iphone or tablet.
All tied together with expanded functionality of itunes/timemachine/mobile me
allowing for true decentrilized service of data/multimedia across the home. The ability to append libraries remotely, access documents or emails at the tv, on the iphone, with the tablet, at the desktop, or at the laptop. All able to synchronize quickly and efficiently, with secure backups kept for safety.
Now I have excluded the mini, because i cannot even guess what form it will take, unchanged, absorbed by the tablet and apple tv's increased functionality, or some other change, I have no idea.
Please realize these are guesses made by my personal observations of the changing mobile computing market, as well as the rumors floating about the net.
I just feel that the 3g update to the iphone, and the release of mobileme was not enough to stretch apples resources that thin. I think the mistakes portend of a revamp of the entire business' structure; a new delineation of products for a new market.
These are all giant revamps I understand, but at least now it seems once again feasible to own one of each product (since there is little or no overlap in functionality anymore). You have one device for your phone, one is a tablet for when you have more room but are on the go (class, meetings etc) one is a true laptop (in various sizes) for travel, one is the home computer, and one is your television. And the best part, is they all can function independently, but it's so much nicer that they all play well together.
Just my thoughts.
also this is included on my new awesome blog; Its awesomeness is only exceeded by its newness
http://strangersonly.blogspot.com/
I'm really sick of the whole over the next hill routine of waiting for the new laptops to be released. I've decided to just buy one already and let it go.
Interesting theory. So I wonder. Was the iPhone 3G and Mobile Me just some kind of preparation for bigger things to come next month? What those things are, I don't really know.
We can hope though.
But I don't even know what to hope for (beyond notebooks and iPods)... I don't even know what to hope for. 
I am of the opinion that convergence is not likely to happen on the Mac side as it would disrupt the product stratification that we have now and have had for quite some time.
The iBook/MacBook and PowerBook/MacBook Pro have long addressed two separate markets with two separate price-points and feature-sets. If Apple indeed moves to nVidia, their integrated GPUs are much stronger so that should address much of the complaints tossed at the current MacBook models and their Intel GMA units.
If Apple does launch a 13" MacBook Pro model with the extra features (FW800, ExpressCard, etc.) to replace the MacBook line and serve as the replacement for the 12" PowerBook, it would need to have a price tag of around $1799 with the 2.4GHz CPU, LED back-lit panel and a 200GB HDD / Superdrive. That's $300 more then the "BlackBook" (with a smaller HDD) and $700 more then the entry-level MacBook. That is a pretty steep jump.
I do, however, believe tt will likely happen on the iPod side with the termination of the iPod Classic and iPod Shuffle. The 4GB Nano can drop to $99 and replace the shuffle. The 8GB can drop to $149 and they can release a 16GB model at $199. The 8GB Touch will disappear and the 16GB will drop to $299 and the 32GB to $399.
The iBook/MacBook and PowerBook/MacBook Pro have long addressed two separate markets with two separate price-points and feature-sets. If Apple indeed moves to nVidia, their integrated GPUs are much stronger so that should address much of the complaints tossed at the current MacBook models and their Intel GMA units.
If Apple does launch a 13" MacBook Pro model with the extra features (FW800, ExpressCard, etc.) to replace the MacBook line and serve as the replacement for the 12" PowerBook, it would need to have a price tag of around $1799 with the 2.4GHz CPU, LED back-lit panel and a 200GB HDD / Superdrive. That's $300 more then the "BlackBook" (with a smaller HDD) and $700 more then the entry-level MacBook. That is a pretty steep jump.
I do, however, believe tt will likely happen on the iPod side with the termination of the iPod Classic and iPod Shuffle. The 4GB Nano can drop to $99 and replace the shuffle. The 8GB can drop to $149 and they can release a 16GB model at $199. The 8GB Touch will disappear and the 16GB will drop to $299 and the 32GB to $399.
I'm trying not to get too excited... as then I'll just get disappointed after the event!
All the talk regarding this supposed event is about iPods though, not computers.
Not to worry. Macs make such great iPod/iPhone peripherals, Apple would be insane not to mention them.
I'm trying not to get too excited... as then I'll just get disappointed after the event!
Lets hope this'll be different. Jobs has some ass-kissing to do, he better give us something good.
I agree. I can't see Apple moving away from offering an entry-level laptop. Whether they officially collapse the two lines into a single name, they still need to have a low-end model and a high end-model, differentiated by price and features. And also I disagree with the speculation that the MB and MB Air will be collapsed into a single product; these also address different market segments and feature requirements.
Wow, I would never consider the Nano to be a replacement for the Shuffle. In a situation where I can have 250-350 songs on a postage stamp-sized gizmo, why would I want the overhead of carrying around a video screen if I don't care about video? The Shuffle is perfect the way it is for what it does.
And I would not want to see the Touch replace the Classic unless Apple a) dramatically improves the Touch's music interface, and b) offers significantly more storage (32GB won't cut it).
I see no reason why a combined "MacBook" wouldn't have low-end and high-end models.
And Daniel Eran Dilger called him out on it.
Gee, wiz... that's getting very Blackberry-ish!
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/wp-co...3e-80e5-4f59-a9df-84ddbab2021d-files-g6-1.jpg
An MacBook Pro is just an "advanced" MacBook. If the MacBook gets an dedicated graphics card, why not combine the line and call them all either MacBook or MacBook Pro.