I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks netbooks are a complete waste of time and money. It's a fad that needs to die a death.
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Apple Questioned Again About a Mac Netbook
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I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks netbooks are a complete waste of time and money. It's a fad that needs to die a death.
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.
Sony Laptop Concept
Sony Walkman Concept
Sony Laptop Concept
Sony Walkman Concept
My hunch is that we'll see a 9" or 11" Macbook that'll have no other name. It'll just be a Macbook, priced at around $899 (or perhaps replacing the current $999 Whitebook). I doubt Apple will release a new product line like a "Macbook Mini" or something. It could really hurt the sales of actual Macbooks. But they could easily put out a Macbook with a smaller screen that would really only appeal to people that want just that- a Macbook with a smaller screen (maybe downgrade the C2D to an Atom?). Apple needs to be aware of not releasing a product that could hurt lucrative Macbook Air or Macbook sales.
What is your definition of a computer????? If it's a device that processes information using a GUI, is able to input and output information to process this information then YES the iPhone is a computer. AND it is slow, and portable. oh and it makes phone calls and has wireless internet. Add a bluetooth keyboard to it, and use it's video output as a monitor??? Why can't it be a " NETBOOK"?
9.06 Billion in Revenue minus 1.6 billion in net profit. That means there was 7.46 billion dollars in costs associated with that profit. HOW is that a huge markup??? 1.6/9.06 = approx. 17% markup??!? That's HUGE??? Seriously??? C'mon!!
2 different size iphones. regular and the biggy aka the pro. Then it'd be just like the family of desktops. The iPod touch can stand in as the mini.
I'd rather see more work put into bringing complete value to those real notebooks. Well just the 15" MBPs. And whatever else they may have in store.
I'd rather see more work put into bringing complete value to those real notebooks. Well just the 15" MBPs. And whatever else they may have in store.
NetBooks just don't make sense. But...
An Apple product in the form factor of the Amazon Kindle just makes a lot of sense. It would fit into the product line-up nicely, would come in at $699 - 799 ish with lots of memory, full color touch screen, wireless bells and whistles and the Google books catalogue. No more newspapers and magazines, complements the iTunes catalogue does not cannibalize either the iPhone or the MacBook Air markets at all.
A netbook is still such a fringe product with the only real positive attribute up against the Air being price. I just don't see it.
An Apple product in the form factor of the Amazon Kindle just makes a lot of sense. It would fit into the product line-up nicely, would come in at $699 - 799 ish with lots of memory, full color touch screen, wireless bells and whistles and the Google books catalogue. No more newspapers and magazines, complements the iTunes catalogue does not cannibalize either the iPhone or the MacBook Air markets at all.
A netbook is still such a fringe product with the only real positive attribute up against the Air being price. I just don't see it.
Apple making a mistake by not making a netbook
Tim Cook's comments about the current netbook market were dead on. Most netbooks are made with junky hardware, small screens, and bad software.
However Apple would be making a huge mistake by not getting in to the netbook game. Although the current PC Netbooks might be garbage, the idea of a netbook is not! Especially in the poor economy that we are in!
Most people who are NOT doing high end computer work do not need the extra specs that come with Mac's current notebook lineup. Our society is moving further and further in to a digital age! I know many many people that would rather spend $300 on a netbook to be able to pay their bills, google, and write and send E-Mails. As opposed to spending $1,000 on a macbook!
Tim Cook's comments about the current netbook market were dead on. Most netbooks are made with junky hardware, small screens, and bad software.
However Apple would be making a huge mistake by not getting in to the netbook game. Although the current PC Netbooks might be garbage, the idea of a netbook is not! Especially in the poor economy that we are in!
Most people who are NOT doing high end computer work do not need the extra specs that come with Mac's current notebook lineup. Our society is moving further and further in to a digital age! I know many many people that would rather spend $300 on a netbook to be able to pay their bills, google, and write and send E-Mails. As opposed to spending $1,000 on a macbook!
yeah try to convince everyone that an iphone is a portable computer. Everyone would laugh at you.
Ok... because you WANT a netbook means that Apple is making a mistake for not entering the market? Apple's profits seem to be in the positive numbers more than not, and entering a market that may or may not be profitable will help their profits how??? As an owner of Apple stock, I hope they do what is in the best interest of me.. the stockholder. If they believe that a netbook would be unprofitable, then PLEASE don't do it. Their business plan, while to the dismay of apple fanatics (I am one of them) is somewhat skewed... they absolutely know how to run their company and they run it well.
Depends on what you consider portable and what you consider a computer. Crap... technically, a calculator is a portable computer. If I can read and edit word/excel/powerpoint files on my iPhone.. I would consider that a portable computer. Surf the internet, the "real" internet on it (not a phone hack version), yes I would consider that a portable computer.
OOOOH.. you mean because it doesn't have a full-size keyboard... or 10-13" monitor... I see.. if that is your criteria then I guess yes... an iPhone would NOT be a portable computer.
No ... it wouldn't look like the ones out there now. If they ever release one, I predict Apple's product will resemble the PADDs used in Star Trek.
How about only being able to install what Apple tells you you can install. You wouldn't tolerate that on your Mac. You wouldn't tolerate that on your portable computer.
I concede that point... but regardless... that point specifically doesn't cancel out the whole "Portable computer" concept. I believe Apple is trying to push the concept to the most portable.. with 3.0 who's to say we don't have stereo goggles to view the screen a nice 50" 3d screen???
Again though.. you make a good point about Apple's App Store.. however, the phone has been hacked, will be hacked.. for those die hards.. there will be relief...
I also own Apple stock. Nice earnings report by the way
But to respond to your comment, It's not that I want a netbook (I'm very happy with my Macbook), its that soooo many other people want netbooks!!
I understand that apple could cannibalize its macbook lineup with a low cost netbook. I think that may just be a strong commentary on apple's notebook price. And believe me I'm not trying to start the old PC Vs. Mac price argument that is older than Moses parting the red sea. I just think that the microsoft ads attacking apple's price have some validity and deserve consideration!
That being said, I think that a netbook that is more affordable could tap in to a group of consumers that aren't really in to computers, may or may not own a desktop, and is certainly turned off by the price of laptops.
Apple has STRONG brand name and believe me no one appreciates it more than myself as a shareholder. I do think that if apple can maintain that strong brand in a netbook product that consumers are happy with, its a win win situation.
But to respond to your comment, It's not that I want a netbook (I'm very happy with my Macbook), its that soooo many other people want netbooks!!
I understand that apple could cannibalize its macbook lineup with a low cost netbook. I think that may just be a strong commentary on apple's notebook price. And believe me I'm not trying to start the old PC Vs. Mac price argument that is older than Moses parting the red sea. I just think that the microsoft ads attacking apple's price have some validity and deserve consideration!
That being said, I think that a netbook that is more affordable could tap in to a group of consumers that aren't really in to computers, may or may not own a desktop, and is certainly turned off by the price of laptops.
Apple has STRONG brand name and believe me no one appreciates it more than myself as a shareholder. I do think that if apple can maintain that strong brand in a netbook product that consumers are happy with, its a win win situation.
Companies always deny the value of something until they start producing a similar product of their own. You could drive a tank through the openings left by the statements today. They are definitely going to enter this market. Just not the same way as everyone else has before them. Just as they did with the iPhone, it'll be something different that pushes the envelope a bit.
Mega Touch
While I can envision a large size iPod touch that could be carried in one hand quite comfortably by most adults, it would be too big for a pocket. Suddenly people would need something to carry it around in and that would surely hurt sales.
The most obvious answer comes from Nintendo who equipped their handheld with two screens. Fold it up and it fits in a pocket. As an added benefit the screens are protected from damage by coins, keys or other objects typically found in pockets.
Unfortunately, while two small screens work great for some types of games and for writing email, it doesn't solve the fundamental problem that 480 x 320 simply doesn't display documents or web pages at a readable size. Splitting a single item across two separate screens is a horrible solution.
It's a difficult problem, but Apple will find an innovative solution.
While I can envision a large size iPod touch that could be carried in one hand quite comfortably by most adults, it would be too big for a pocket. Suddenly people would need something to carry it around in and that would surely hurt sales.
The most obvious answer comes from Nintendo who equipped their handheld with two screens. Fold it up and it fits in a pocket. As an added benefit the screens are protected from damage by coins, keys or other objects typically found in pockets.
Unfortunately, while two small screens work great for some types of games and for writing email, it doesn't solve the fundamental problem that 480 x 320 simply doesn't display documents or web pages at a readable size. Splitting a single item across two separate screens is a horrible solution.
It's a difficult problem, but Apple will find an innovative solution.
I also own Apple stock. Nice earnings report by the way
But to respond to your comment, It's not that I want a netbook (I'm very happy with my Macbook), its that soooo many other people want netbooks!!
I understand that apple could cannibalize its macbook lineup with a low cost netbook. I think that may just be a strong commentary on apple's notebook price. And believe me I'm not trying to start the old PC Vs. Mac price argument that is older than Moses parting the red sea. I just think that the microsoft ads attacking apple's price have some validity and deserve consideration!
That being said, I think that a netbook that is more affordable could tap in to a group of consumers that aren't really in to computers, may or may not own a desktop, and is certainly turned off by the price of laptops.
Apple has STRONG brand name and believe me no one appreciates it more than myself as a shareholder. I do think that if apple can maintain that strong brand in a netbook product that consumers are happy with, its a win win situation.
In my opinion... I think that techies and the such are into netbooks.. those who aren't "into" computers are into the Apple period.. because they are easy to use. Frankly... at Airports (and I travel a fair bit) I see laptops.. (a lot more apples now a days..
but still more laptops.. ) I've seen 1 netbook... if I'm on business.. I am not carrying a netbook.. with limited capability, I am carrying at least a macbook (or pc equivalent). Having a Macbook and MBP I love both of them... I like the concept of MBA but it's not good for the road warrior, I can't see a concept that merges the MBA and MB together.. to make something even SMALLER??
what's insane is that they are basically half way there. the Air is really a POS as a standard computer. I don't know anyone that has one that does more than email, some web surfing and itunes on it. they could totally redo that model as a 'netbook' with perhaps a slight faster processor and a better battery and maybe a built in 3g antenna to go with the wifi. maybe even switch it to the iphone OS and let folks buy apps to run on it like they do the phone and touch.
I think that it's not really a computer simply because it can't be used standalone; it needs to be paired up with a "real" computer running iTunes in order to access all of its functions (if I recall correctly, it won't even boot to the springboard until it's been paired).