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Apple Touchscreen Netbook to Launch in October at $800?
- Thread starter Divine Comedy
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From the Wall Street Journal....
UPDATE: Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster just weighed on these rumors in a research note. His thoughts, below:
On 7/13 Asian media reports suggested Apple is planning a tablet/netbook in Oct-09. Last week we spoke with a Taiwanese component supplier and continue to believe that Apple will launch a tablet, not a netbook, by early CY10. We expect [it] to be a touchscreen device in the $500-$700 range (between the iPod Touch and MacBook).
UPDATE: Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster just weighed on these rumors in a research note. His thoughts, below:
On 7/13 Asian media reports suggested Apple is planning a tablet/netbook in Oct-09. Last week we spoke with a Taiwanese component supplier and continue to believe that Apple will launch a tablet, not a netbook, by early CY10. We expect [it] to be a touchscreen device in the $500-$700 range (between the iPod Touch and MacBook).
Are you guys talking about lengthwise or diagonal
. And also is there going to be variations of the device.
. And also is there going to be variations of the device.
Are you guys talking about lengthwise or diagonal
Diagonal, like everyone always says.
My prediction:
This thing is going to be super thin. It's main purpose will be for internet browsing, some light word processing, listening to music and watching movies. Don't expect more than one usb, headphone jack and sd card. ATOM? No MBA processor? No. It will run snow leopard.
This thing is going to be super thin. It's main purpose will be for internet browsing, some light word processing, listening to music and watching movies. Don't expect more than one usb, headphone jack and sd card. ATOM? No MBA processor? No. It will run snow leopard.
Amazing foresight...
Nice predictions, Peace... any further ideas about what the new "Macbook Touch" will have?
Btw... I was really hoping for *some* reaction to this amazing and informative news report that shows what the new Macbook Touch input device will look like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BnLbv6QYcA
Nice predictions, Peace... any further ideas about what the new "Macbook Touch" will have?
Btw... I was really hoping for *some* reaction to this amazing and informative news report that shows what the new Macbook Touch input device will look like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BnLbv6QYcA
This would be sweet if it would have the ability / capacity to download photos from a DLSR camera or it's SD card.
I've gotten so I only take my Macbook when we travel if I'm going to take a ton of photos. My iPhone does everything I typically use my Macbook for except for let me download my camera.
<$800, tablet form running OSX and I would be all over it.
Steve
I think tablets are pretty limited use. Writing or typing with a pen would be too slow. I really hope apple has a real style netbook. Id buy it in a heartbeat.
Why I want (and maybe many) want an Apple netbook
I have a Mac Pro at home...I don't like doing a lot of work on the subway, cafes, park, even at the library. But there are times I wish I had something when inspiration strikes, or when I want to take notes from a library book I don't/can't take out. When working at the library I usually type it in at the library computers and then send an email to myself. Other times I go old-school and write it on a piece of paper with a pen (imagine that!).
I see a lot of students these days with netbooks because it is easy to carry around with the 4 or 5 large textbooks, library books they have to carry.
I think there is a large market of students out there who want basically a compact glorified typewriter, a glorified notetaking machine. Maybe listen to music while typing and maybe look for some facts on the internet. But mainly do some writing when away from their main computer (if they should have one).
In short:
1) Notetaking from books, lectures, thoughts while on the move or away from main computer.
2) Check email, internet.
3) Listen to some music while typing/inputting
4) Maybe, maybe some presentations in class via powerpoint or keynote...(but at my school the majority of students just read their papers and play some burned CD (I'm majoring in musicology))
With smartphones, and library computers being able to keep you connected and fulfill some of these roles, a netbook would be great as personal notetaking advice.
Now if only Mac/Apple can come up with a great dictation programme (ok there is MacSpeech; but still has to be perfected) that can work with an internal microphone one can get around the cramped keyboards. With a touch screen more space can be dedicated to the main keys.
Now I'm very tempted to buy a netbook any netbook simply to take notes at school because my main need is notetaking. I'm tired of transferring from my written notes or I simply end up not doing it. I'd rather go apple, but will be buying something else if apple doesn't respond soon.
I'm an older person who has returned to school so tell me if I'm out of touch or if my list of students' needs are way off...
If Apple can hook in university students this way, then they will have a lifetime clients....
I have a Mac Pro at home...I don't like doing a lot of work on the subway, cafes, park, even at the library. But there are times I wish I had something when inspiration strikes, or when I want to take notes from a library book I don't/can't take out. When working at the library I usually type it in at the library computers and then send an email to myself. Other times I go old-school and write it on a piece of paper with a pen (imagine that!).
I see a lot of students these days with netbooks because it is easy to carry around with the 4 or 5 large textbooks, library books they have to carry.
I think there is a large market of students out there who want basically a compact glorified typewriter, a glorified notetaking machine. Maybe listen to music while typing and maybe look for some facts on the internet. But mainly do some writing when away from their main computer (if they should have one).
In short:
1) Notetaking from books, lectures, thoughts while on the move or away from main computer.
2) Check email, internet.
3) Listen to some music while typing/inputting
4) Maybe, maybe some presentations in class via powerpoint or keynote...(but at my school the majority of students just read their papers and play some burned CD (I'm majoring in musicology))
With smartphones, and library computers being able to keep you connected and fulfill some of these roles, a netbook would be great as personal notetaking advice.
Now if only Mac/Apple can come up with a great dictation programme (ok there is MacSpeech; but still has to be perfected) that can work with an internal microphone one can get around the cramped keyboards. With a touch screen more space can be dedicated to the main keys.
Now I'm very tempted to buy a netbook any netbook simply to take notes at school because my main need is notetaking. I'm tired of transferring from my written notes or I simply end up not doing it. I'd rather go apple, but will be buying something else if apple doesn't respond soon.
I'm an older person who has returned to school so tell me if I'm out of touch or if my list of students' needs are way off...
If Apple can hook in university students this way, then they will have a lifetime clients....
"Oh, a stylus! So we'll use a stylus, right? No. You have to get 'em and you put 'em away, and you lose 'em, YUCK. NOBODY WANTS A STYLUS, SO LET'S NOT USE A STYLUS."
-Steve Jobs
You don't get it. No MacTablet would have a stylus. You'd use your fingers.
$800 sounds about right, but I was expecting even $899.
This could be interesting.
http://www.last.fm/music/Bloodhound+Gang/Use+Your+Fingers
This could be interesting.
http://www.last.fm/music/Bloodhound+Gang/Use+Your+Fingers
Why do you guys think Apple made all the new unibody Macbooks Macbook Pro's ?
There is now only one Macbook and it's a white plastic one. This will be gone come Sept. all new "Macbooks" will be "Macbook Touch's".
Various HD capacities and memory configurations..
Not sure on this one but Apple "may" be using their own processors along with the NVidia 9400M or greater.
I really don't think there will be one price point. Perhaps something along the lines of $599 to $799.
There is now only one Macbook and it's a white plastic one. This will be gone come Sept. all new "Macbooks" will be "Macbook Touch's".
Various HD capacities and memory configurations..
Not sure on this one but Apple "may" be using their own processors along with the NVidia 9400M or greater.
I really don't think there will be one price point. Perhaps something along the lines of $599 to $799.
It's going to be more than the sum of it's parts. I believe they will add more sensors in the device than an accelerometer and a capacitive touchscreen. This will open up the device to native apps that will go beyond what any standard notebook computer....or iphone can do.
This I think will be the differentiator of the device from the competition.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: It's designed to house your iPhone or iPod Touch inside.
EDIT: Plus it'll have a battery in it.
If they're going to make it the same power as a Touch and 3GS, I would rather have both devices that work together, than simply the "netbook" that doesn't break down to something smaller.
If they intend to make it MORE powerful than the 3GS - my theory is out the window. But I think the 3GS is powerful enough for these purposes PLUS all your apps still work! CRITICAL!
EDIT: Plus it'll have a battery in it.
If they're going to make it the same power as a Touch and 3GS, I would rather have both devices that work together, than simply the "netbook" that doesn't break down to something smaller.
If they intend to make it MORE powerful than the 3GS - my theory is out the window. But I think the 3GS is powerful enough for these purposes PLUS all your apps still work! CRITICAL!
Soo... keyboards will be considered a pro feature, just like firewire is right now? Could actually happen. With top sites in Safari, you (in theory) don't need to type URLs much, and actually writing would only be on forums or word processing. I Imagine a Macbook Air with the keyboard replaced by the touchscreen and no lid to close. Similar 1.8" hard drive and all. Battery life needs to be good on that tpe of thing, so the Core 2 Duo might actually not be used.
The Air, IMO, was not a netbook. I've used netbooks and I've used the Air. The Air was much nicer, much faster, and could actually work as your main computer if you didnt have a lot of music/pictures. The netbooks were a bigger pain to use. They may be similiar, but the Air was definitely a step up (now for the dollar value of that step, thats a different thread).
I think an 800 dollar Apple Netbook would do great. Anyone looking for a 300 dollar netbook is not looking for an Apple netbook, to be honest. But people looking to spend 5 or even 600 on a netbook that is really, really good, will probably be enticeable for another 200 for an Apple. Especially if they have a Mac at home. Using the same OS with the same software you already own is nice.
And in terms of a keyboard, while I prefer a real keyboard for real work, a netbook could easily get away with a large touchscreen keyboard and a USB port or BT to use a full size. From what I have seen, most netbooks are used for internet, email and editing, not composing long texts.
I think an 800 dollar Apple Netbook would do great. Anyone looking for a 300 dollar netbook is not looking for an Apple netbook, to be honest. But people looking to spend 5 or even 600 on a netbook that is really, really good, will probably be enticeable for another 200 for an Apple. Especially if they have a Mac at home. Using the same OS with the same software you already own is nice.
And in terms of a keyboard, while I prefer a real keyboard for real work, a netbook could easily get away with a large touchscreen keyboard and a USB port or BT to use a full size. From what I have seen, most netbooks are used for internet, email and editing, not composing long texts.