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Apple Questioned Again About a Mac Netbook
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Ok let me explain it like this
Macbook air - big, expensive, light, beautiful - not very good performance
Netbook - small, cheep, lighter!, ugly (can be fixed by Apple) - not very good performance, at all (but at least is a computer)
Women, and active people requirements (like students) - small, cheep, light, beautiful, decent performance.
Tell me which fits best.
Speak for yourself. I think my Aspire One is one of the cutest little laptops I have ever seen, certainly on par with or better than the plastic MB. And it doesn't have that cheap creaky feeling of the plastic MB either.
Small "Netbook" but Affordable...
I think it may be possible for Apple to make something that is small, cool, and affordable. The way that they could do it would be by tying the device to AT&T wireless broadband. That way you'll be connected no matter where you are (just like iPhone) and if you sign a service contract you can get the device at a "bargain price" (at least in terms of Apple's usual pricing). Therefore the Netbook-like device will cost about as much as regular netbooks but it will feature an beautiful, sleek, portable design that is always internet-connected. I think that would be a very tempting deal.
I think it may be possible for Apple to make something that is small, cool, and affordable. The way that they could do it would be by tying the device to AT&T wireless broadband. That way you'll be connected no matter where you are (just like iPhone) and if you sign a service contract you can get the device at a "bargain price" (at least in terms of Apple's usual pricing). Therefore the Netbook-like device will cost about as much as regular netbooks but it will feature an beautiful, sleek, portable design that is always internet-connected. I think that would be a very tempting deal.
Itunes is "malware", not a "virus"
I called it malware, not a virus. It's more of a trojan, anyway.
By the way, Sehnsucht, with a name like yours you might recognize what "ficker" means.
I called it malware, not a virus. It's more of a trojan, anyway.
By the way, Sehnsucht, with a name like yours you might recognize what "ficker" means.
Heck no. I have an eeePC and what attracted me was the price. I already have a $1000 Mac, I didn't need another supra-$1000 computer. Netbooks are so popular due to their price. Even look at the iPhone. It didn't get crazy popular until the price came down (via subsidization).
Guys, thats not the point.
Netbooks satisfy the needs of a very large group of people, and the statistics about the sells confirm it. If Apple wants this delicious piece of the market for themself, they have to deliver something, and that is surely not something thats just thin like the air, or something thats just full of applications and fit in ur pocket.
Netbooks satisfy the needs of a very large group of people, and the statistics about the sells confirm it. If Apple wants this delicious piece of the market for themself, they have to deliver something, and that is surely not something thats just thin like the air, or something thats just full of applications and fit in ur pocket.
That's if people are willing to take on another $50+ monthly bill for what basically is a luxury. Myself, I already give AT&T $154 per month (for 2 iPhones). I could never be able to convince myself to tack-on another $50+ per month. I could swing $20 extra per month though. (discount for current iPhone owners?)
Not true. They are telling you how they honestly see the market.
Well, actually, it does give you some insight. Remember when the iPhone was developed? Remember how it started off by saying what was WRONG with the market? What Jobs and Cook have commented on, is exactly what they'll use in their inaugural presentation later. Just re-read the statements in process it:
Apple's netbook will be:
- A new kind of netbook (very thin, multi-touch)
- Will not utilize a cramped keyboard (folding/wireless)
- Hardware will be solid quality (unibody)
- An innovative product that makes a real contribution to the space (multi-touch, App Store/iTunes)
~ CB
No offence, but this is futurist fantasy stuff.this is apple we're talking about... if they were to do a netbook then it would probably be along the lines of Sony's ideas of the flex OLED. flexible screens are inevitable.
...
We are talking real products here not spaced out mock-ups of products that *might* exist someday.
Apple might build an orbiting space hotel one day also but it's not relevant to whether or not a tablet/netbook is on the way next month.
I agree. The MBA is so gimmicky and really doesn't cater to a large population. Oooh, it's thin and can fit in a large envelope. Who cares, it's still not ultra-portable. Apple should have developed the netbook and introduced this product instead of the MBA. Now they have to play catch up.
3G would be optional - in two ways
First of all, 3G would be most likely a BTO option. It's in the $125 range on other laptops - Apple wouldn't want to add that much to the base cost of the system.
Second, after you've paid the $125, you don't have to pay anything to any carrier unless you want to sign up. You have to go get the SIM card, you're not forced to take one.
Although it's conceivable that Apple could require activation, I find that highly unlikely.
First of all, 3G would be most likely a BTO option. It's in the $125 range on other laptops - Apple wouldn't want to add that much to the base cost of the system.
Second, after you've paid the $125, you don't have to pay anything to any carrier unless you want to sign up. You have to go get the SIM card, you're not forced to take one.
Although it's conceivable that Apple could require activation, I find that highly unlikely.
I have a bad feeling that the insult towards "cramped keyboards" is going to mean there will be an onscreen keyboard. I'm not sure how easy it would be to type on one of these. After all, these "keyboards" will essentially be the same dimensions as a physical keyboard.
I called it malware, not a virus. It's more of a trojan, anyway.
By the way, Sehnsucht, with a name like yours you might recognize what "ficker" means.
Ja, I thought I was the only one who caught that one right off the bat.
German profanity is the best ever...Ficker, Fick dich, Arschficker, etc.
The post I was commenting on said he could see the device tied to AT&T's 3G network and be heavily subsidized. In your scenarios, it would not be subsidized, but extra money (for the 3G card through a BTO option).
Good thinking. By that logic, because people want to buy them:
Krell has to start selling $100 surround sound systems.
BMW has to start selling stripped Tata copies.
Harley Davidson has to start selling 50cc scooters.
Grado has to start selling knock-offs of $8 gummy ear buds.
Ruths Chris has to start selling $1.00 hamburgers (you want fries with that?)
Man! They are ALL GONNA GET RICH on that strategy!
Also, what part of the netbook market is "delicious?" The low profit margin (if any profit at all) part?
Also, also... It's not the size of the netbook that is Apple's problem. It is the price/profit/quality problem. Whatever they build has to make sense for the product line. Apple cannot/will not replace high margin units with low margin units. That is just not Apple's market strategy. Apple cannot build a netbook "copy" at high margins; it would not sell. Apple must design/build a device that will warrant the high margins it requires. And that will require an innovative product, not like all the other netbooks.
Another potential scenario I thought of is:
10" Alu Macbook priced at the same point as the current plastic Macbook minus optical drive and some bulk - MB Air like in this respect.
AND
a tablet device with screen around 7-10" priced below the notebooks and above the iPod touch.
10" Alu Macbook priced at the same point as the current plastic Macbook minus optical drive and some bulk - MB Air like in this respect.
AND
a tablet device with screen around 7-10" priced below the notebooks and above the iPod touch.
This is the main point I'm trying to make, the netbook form factor has been around for awhile, the only reason why there is even this craze about them is they are dirt cheap.
As for the iphone I agree with you that they started moving more units when it became subsidized but in terms of mindshare ad popularity its always been there.
Huh? How much more ultra portable can you get if it fits inside an intra-office envelope and weighs 3lbs, within a .5 lb of most netbooks.
I agree the MBA is missing a market at it's current price price and feature list but its insane to say it's not an ultra portable unless you are an ant. If the MBA were $700 less it would be a great business travel machine.
I don't think Apple feels the need to play catch up. Clearly then have no desire to play a neighborhood pick-up game when they are a championship caliber team.
Several people I know have recently gone out and purchased Acer netbooks. My roommate bought one, even though I rarely see him on it, he still insists on using his 17 inch MacBook Pro. My boss's wife bought one thinking that it would be great for when she traveled, but she was so used to the speed of her 17 inch MacBook Pro and now I rarely see her using the Acer. On the other hand my parents both bought the Acer Aspires at Sam's when they were on sale and they like them, mind you all they do is email/web surfing.
Bottom line, I don't want to see Apple put a product on the market that makes any major compromises. Mind you that here I am comparing the power of a MBP with the Acer, and that is unfair. Even comparing my 13 inch MacBook with an Acer is unfair. My point though is that it seems that a lot of Mac users that I know are power users. They bought their Mac because they wanted the power that it gave them. Apple doesn't have to make a low-cost compromise machine to gain market share like the PC companies do.
Now if they made a netbook with a touch screen and was able to give it the power of a low end Mini than i am sure there would be a market for it. Certainly if they were able to sell it slightly lower than the MacBook's. But I wouldn't hold my breath for a crappy Mac in the $300 range.
Bottom line, I don't want to see Apple put a product on the market that makes any major compromises. Mind you that here I am comparing the power of a MBP with the Acer, and that is unfair. Even comparing my 13 inch MacBook with an Acer is unfair. My point though is that it seems that a lot of Mac users that I know are power users. They bought their Mac because they wanted the power that it gave them. Apple doesn't have to make a low-cost compromise machine to gain market share like the PC companies do.
Now if they made a netbook with a touch screen and was able to give it the power of a low end Mini than i am sure there would be a market for it. Certainly if they were able to sell it slightly lower than the MacBook's. But I wouldn't hold my breath for a crappy Mac in the $300 range.
I keep seeing rumors and hype building about netbooks. But, as a Mac user, I don't see the point. I can understand people want a computer for checking emails, doing some text editing and listen to some music/watch videos through iTunes.....but in a small package. But, Macs are made for doing some much more. Those requests are silly. It would be like asking Ferrari to build a go-cart. Ferrari isn't going to waste time designing a smaller engine that will match the small frame design.
And why pay more than a MacBook for a machine that is limited to do so much less. The MacBook Air is pushing that status already.
Maybe there should be a keyboard that you can plug into your iPod Touch/iPhone for easy typing. Maybe even a USB dock connector that will allow you to connect to a monitor or TV & keyboard.
I just don't see the point in having a different size computer for all your occasions.
If your a professional, there is a MacBook Pro. If your not running any Pro software that requires a special video processor, a MacBook is very powerful for everyday use. If you've got more money than most people and want people to see how much more money you spend on yourself, there's the MacBook Air. Many choices for everyone AND they're ALL portable.
Netbook just don't make sense in the Apple world.
And why pay more than a MacBook for a machine that is limited to do so much less. The MacBook Air is pushing that status already.
Maybe there should be a keyboard that you can plug into your iPod Touch/iPhone for easy typing. Maybe even a USB dock connector that will allow you to connect to a monitor or TV & keyboard.
I just don't see the point in having a different size computer for all your occasions.
If your a professional, there is a MacBook Pro. If your not running any Pro software that requires a special video processor, a MacBook is very powerful for everyday use. If you've got more money than most people and want people to see how much more money you spend on yourself, there's the MacBook Air. Many choices for everyone AND they're ALL portable.
Netbook just don't make sense in the Apple world.
Better in not creaking when I open the darn thing, better in not flexing, better in feeling solid, better in having a clear, readable LED backlit display (low power). It's a netbook, it's not meant to have the processing power of the MB (of course it doesn't) but what it does it does very well. I bought it to have an inexpensive portable for those few times that I need one on trips, and it does a fantastic job of that; losing/breaking a $220 netbook on a trip would be a lot easier to take than the $1500 Blackbook that I did have.
There's nothing wrong with the MBA, it is more than capable of being your main computer especially with the recent revision. Not everybody wants a crappy dirt cheap netbook. There must be a market for the MBA if we see the likes of Dell releasing the Adamo.