Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple Questioned Again About a Mac Netbook

apolloa said:
Wow! I love the editing of the article there Mac Rumours.

What he actually said was:

When I'm looking at what's sold in the Netbook market, I see cramped keyboards, junky hardware, very small screens, bad software. Not a consumer experience that we would put the Mac brand on. As it exists today, we're not interested in it nor would it be something customers would be interested in the long term. We are looking at the space. For those who want a small computer that does browsing/email, they might want an iPhone or iPod Touch. If we find a way to deliver an innovative product that really makes a contribution, we'll do that.

As taken from the engadget report here:

http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/22/apple-reports-best-ever-march-quarter-with-a-1-21b-profit-call/

So yes, the dumb ass idiot said netbooks were cramped with small keyboards and screens then he tells you to buy an iPod Touch or iPhone instead?!?!?!?!?!?! :rolleyes::rolleyes:
Hypocrisy at it's best IMO. I think he's talking out of his ass anyway and they WILL launch a netbook of some sort. just my opinion though of course ;)
Click to expand...

Do you honestly think that Cook or anyone at Apple is going to say

"netbooks? Yeah we're working on one, it's cool, but I don't have details yet, or any pictures".

No, he's going to say that they're looking at the market, and when they have something to debut with some fanfair, they will.

Do you think Apple is going to say "We don't have a netbook, so I'd recommend a Wind or Aspire One".

No, he's going to say:

"most people use it for browsing or e-mail anyway, so why not an iPod Touch or iPhone, which we sell currently, as in right now?"

It's a friggin' business, people. They're either not going to tell you what they're working on in secret, or they're going to tell you to buy what they currently offer. Or both. Not rocket science.
 
APPLENEWBIE said:
From the Digitimes article of 4/23/09: "To counter the drop, both MSI and Acer have already turned their focuses toward the ultra-thin notebook market, and will reduce their investment in the netbook segment, the sources claimed."
Click to expand...
The first thing I thought of when I read this was "MacBook Air."
 
I was just discussing this:

http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/19/viliv-s5-pre-order-details-firm-up-599-and-its-yours-may-8th/

as well as Archos portable media players (PMPs) in another forum and wondering what the usefulness/market would be like.

Like some others have suggested here, I think Apple's best bet is to deliver essentially a giant iPod Touch (I like the term iBook Touch whoever coined it) and just kill off the remaining UMPC/PMP market, as well as Kindle and other eReaders, and netbooks, once and for all. Take full advantage of the App Store (which to me is appearing like a revolution in software development and deployment) with this device. Price it in between the Touch and the Macbook at $699/$799 and I think Apple once again commands and creates a new marketspace.

Audio, video, books, internet, apps, iChat (front camera), maybe GPS to boot. Another game changer. I don't think they necessarily need to pair with AT&T or whatever; to destroy the netbook market all they need is Wireless-N.
 
The problem with netbooks is that no sane company wants to make them, but they are stuck with them anyway. I know for a fact that they all hate ASUS for introducing Eee PC in 2007, and Acer for following the same path so quickly, which left no other choice with the others.

And ASUS is clearly trying to move away from the tiny uber-cheap netbooks so fast. Their latest model will even have an optical drive, and 12" screen "netbooks" are coming soon. They won't be priced around $300-400 for sure.

The race-to-the-bottom phase is over.
 
sidelarge said:
The problem with netbooks is that no sane company wants to make them, but they are stuck with them anyway. I know for a fact that they all hate ASUS for introducing Eee PC in 2007, and Acer for following the same path so quickly, which left no other choice with the others.

And ASUS is clearly trying to move away from the tiny uber-cheap netbooks so fast. Their latest model will even have an optical drive, and 12" screen "netbooks" are coming soon. They won't be priced around $300-400 for sure.

The race-to-the-bottom phase is over.
Click to expand...
They found out they can't make any money making cheap junk.
 
Goona said:
They found out they can't make any money making cheap junk.
Click to expand...

But they also know that the MacBook Air is a fail for charging $1800 for the specs of a $399 netbook.

I think that we'll see $799 as the sweet spot for something that's either a higher end netbook or a midrange thin/light laptop.
 
AidenShaw said:
But they also know that the MacBook Air is a fail for charging $1800 for the specs of a $399 netbook.

I think that we'll see $799 as the sweet spot for something that's either a higher end netbook or a midrange thin/light laptop.
Click to expand...

Show me a 400 dollar netbook with the same specs as a Macbook Air.
 
AidenShaw said:
...and I thought of "$799 11" MacBook Air" ;)
Click to expand...

oh I can only dream of something wonderful:D


I don't think Apple will ever make a notebook under $500 but I do believe they will make a small notebook. They know that there is a market for under 13" and that there are people still upset about the departure of the 12".
 
BMWFan said:
Why not? In some other reality, the hardware makers could have just decided to make their own OS just like Apple does with OS X. Since each OS was different there would be no direct way to compare them. Computer makers could arbitrarily price their machines.
Click to expand...

BMWFan said:
Imagine if all companies were like Apple and selling products with high margins. The world would be a completely different place with only rich people being able to afford a computer. A computer would be a status symbol.
Click to expand...


Status symbol maybe, but not in the suburban sense. A lot of geeks could go the BYO route without laying out a lot of cash.
At this point I probably know enough myself to build a simple computer out of breadboards and parts if I had to. It might be the size of a file cabinet but it would work. As a matter of fact I was recently checking out some items at
http://www.eScience.ca/hobby/RENDER/0001/88/3088/W3088.html

It would just be the 70's home pc thing all over again now that the knowledge is there. The bigs couldn't possibly hold a monopoly on prices.
 
Goona said:
Damn seems it might be right for Apple not go near netbooks:

http://www.digitimes.com/NewsShow/N...000000000000000000000000009710&query=NETBOOKS
Click to expand...

Part of the problem, specifically in the Windows market, is the comparable prices of a netbook versus a real notebook. For $500, you can get a fully featured notebook with a Dual Core processor, more memory, a 15" screen, a hard drive and an optical drive -- all features lacking on a netbook that's $150 less. There's a lot of value in that $150. (EDIT: It looks closer to $200 in your capitalist American dollars)

I think it makes a little more sense in the Mac world. I've seriously considered a Mini 9 from Dell for an OSX installation for a variety of reasons -- it's more reliable than my Macbook, which is on its last legs and it's hundreds cheaper than a new Macbook. But if they were able to release something small in the $600 range that fit their design and usability goals, it would be a big deal.
 
Apple needs to be innovative

The fact that Netbooks are selling so well is because they are innovative products. Intel did a great job with the Atom and manufacturers have figured out how to pack a lot of functionality into a small affordable design. Before anyone writes these off as junk they should take a look at the Samsung NC-10, which is solidly built, well designed, and plenty fast for far more than just web/email.

Most people who buy netbooks are buying one as their second computer for use on the couch or while traveling. These consumers are more than willing to trade performance for battery life, and screen size for portability.

Of course low-margin computers are not Apple's market, but Apple does need to get something out in a small form factor quickly to avoid losing market share. I'm curious to see what type of innovative product they come up. It will need to have some really unique features to effectively set itself apart from the Atom-based netbooks and command a premium price.
 
Goona said:
They found out they can't make any money making cheap junk.
Click to expand...

Oh boy. Here we go again with cheap junk.
Do people just scroll t the end and post comments??

No offense but you do realize you pay, for example, $1000 for a $250, at best, manufactered MacBook right. It's not about junk, it's about profit margins and what would happen to the air and MacBook. The air should never have been more than $799 and the MacBooks in at $1000 with FireWire. The pro models 4 cores, best gpu. That's how you seperate them. Otherwise, I see no window for a netbook unless they kill off something Or refresh as mentioned.

Personally, AND I SAY NOTE THIS AS THIS WILL BE THE NORM SOON that we will all move from notebook or laptops(you also know laptops was removed as the frost diu fires were to hit for the lap, hence the term, notebook), anyway we will demand all laptops to have 4 votes, great gpu, FireWire and be super slim with great battery life. In a year or so, netbook and notebooks will be blurry and defined by it's power as all will be super slim and cheap. As well, should windows 7 gain the steam it could, watch out as when vista was out, msft still supported xp, server 03/08, vista, and multimedia and some nt. This time all one OS with a slight option for xp but win 7 runs light and with older hardware, unlike vista. Good time for us as consumers as prices will drop. I know many die hard mac users pumped about win 7 and it's multimedia capabilities not to mentio all the IT departments upgrading from xp.

Peace

Then of course to have 50 million iPhone contracts about to expire at the see time flash phone and new os smart phones coming out. Apple will be forced like nonithervtime, thusbthe massive 3.0 iPhone update. Very exciting times and nice to see apple sweat a bit for a change.
 
scottness said:
There's no netbook. It'll be something more spectacular. Like a macbook you can fit in an envelope. :D
Click to expand...

Yup. No netbook. The overpriced air and margin on MacBook doesn't allow for it unless refresh includes thin and 4 cores a few years away. Has to be a touch tab. Something you can browse andcread on toilet and hopefully with flash fir juku and news tv and let's hope for apple LCD and plasma tvs.
 
sushi said:
A buddy of mine was intrigued at getting a netbook and asked my recommendation. We discussed his needs and he really like the EEE PCs.

I cautioned him about the lack of storage in the models that he was looking at. His current laptop was an older, large and very heavy PC one. He wanted something that he could easily carry that would allow him to surf the web, do e-mail and type Word documents.

I mentioned the pros and cons of the particular model. I stressed the keyboard issue and more importantly the limit on storage space. When I saw him about a week ago, I asked him how his netbook is working. He just received it the prior week. His first comment was, "All my files are on the other computer." He second comment was, "The keyboard is a bit small."

So the two main issues that I warned him about ended up being real issues to him. I will be curious to see if these two initial issues remain after he has had a chance to use his netbook for a while.

Personally, after testing many (I think just about all of them at least offered here in Japan) netbooks, I am thinking that the MBA would provide a much better solution. I usually carry letter sized documents so carrying an MBA would be easy with the bags that I have. Even a fairly small backpack or one strap cross shoulder pack would be plenty big to carry the MBA.

Supposedly Apple is purchasing 10.4 inch screens. What could they be used for? A netbook is one possibility. Another might be a larger touch type device. Either way, it won't be cheap and it will probably be good. :)
Click to expand...

It also depends on which model you got. I recently got the Eee PC 1000he, and the keyboard doesn't feel cramped in the slightest. And space? I have 160GB... If that's not enough for netbook use, then someone is overusing their netbook! That is PLENTY for my music and movies, and with 60GB to go, too.

The only issue I had with mine was that it shipped with Windows, but that was easy enough to fix ;)
 
hiimamac said:
Oh boy. Here we go again with cheap junk.
Do people just scroll t the end and post comments??

No offense but you do realize you pay, for example, $1000 for a $250, at best, manufactered MacBook right. It's not about junk, it's about profit margins and what would happen to the air and MacBook. The air should never have been more than $799 and the MacBooks in at $1000 with FireWire. The pro models 4 cores, best gpu. That's how you seperate them. Otherwise, I see no window for a netbook unless they kill off something Or refresh as mentioned.

Personally, AND I SAY NOTE THIS AS THIS WILL BE THE NORM SOON that we will all move from notebook or laptops(you also know laptops was removed as the frost diu fires were to hit for the lap, hence the term, notebook), anyway we will demand all laptops to have 4 votes, great gpu, FireWire and be super slim with great battery life. In a year or so, netbook and notebooks will be blurry and defined by it's power as all will be super slim and cheap. As well, should windows 7 gain the steam it could, watch out as when vista was out, msft still supported xp, server 03/08, vista, and multimedia and some nt. This time all one OS with a slight option for xp but win 7 runs light and with older hardware, unlike vista. Good time for us as consumers as prices will drop. I know many die hard mac users pumped about win 7 and it's multimedia capabilities not to mentio all the IT departments upgrading from xp.

Peace

Then of course to have 50 million iPhone contracts about to expire at the see time flash phone and new os smart phones coming out. Apple will be forced like nonithervtime, thusbthe massive 3.0 iPhone update. Very exciting times and nice to see apple sweat a bit for a change.
Click to expand...

Again, where is your proof to back up this claim that your paying $1000 for a $250...? Lets not forget your the same person that said you can build your own hackintosh MacPro for $800.00, although a single xeon 2.6 quad core processor runs about $1000.00....you should quit making things up...
 
hashholly said:
Again, where is your proof to back up this claim that your paying $1000 for a $250...? Lets not forget your the same person that said you can build your own hackintosh MacPro for $800.00, although a single xeon 2.6 quad core processor runs about $1000.00....you should quit making things up...
Click to expand...

Or at the very least, don't cite specific stats and make broad generalizations without adding "I think" or "it's possible"... well, unless of course the person making the statement knows it is a statement of face and not just speculation...:rolleyes:
 
good. I personally think that netbooks are just a phase of an economy slump, using 4 year old technology that is simply thinner is not smart in a world where the bar is being raised constantly on the requirements to run even the simplest websites. Even my 4 year old powermac G5 is starting to struggle to pull up multimedia based webpages. Working in a retail environment with and around netbooks and other laptops all day convinces me that this is not a good move for Apple IMO.
 
Apple vs. Mac

Anyone else notice that Tim Cook said they wouldn't put the 'Mac' brand on... he didn't say Apple....

Makes me wonder if any new device (avoiding term netbook!) will therefore be an extension of the iPhone/touch family and not Mac i.e. will run OS X but not Mac OS X

Just an observation :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back