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Why is there so-much steam behind this $99 netbook from Apple rumour? If Apple were to release a netbook it's not very likely to be $99! It'd be more of a lower-budget-Macbook if anything.

I mean heck, an iPhone isn't $99 except when you get it with a silly contract.

I agree with you here. People keep wanting Apple to release inexpensive products, however they haven't positioned themselves as a low-cost provider (quite the opposite: high quality, high price) and therefore unless they make a dramatic shift in strategy don't expect to see a $99 computer from Apple anytime soon.

Also it seems to me if Apple does release a netbook it won't be the same crap that the other companies are putting out...it'll probably be multi-touch and hopefully it'll be awesome which is another reason we shouldn't count on it being $99.
 
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Josh396 said:
Although I'm located in the US and not in the market for laptop at the moment, I'm interested to see how much of price difference there will be for those who sign up for the contract.

I still don't see Apple getting into the netbook market, but this deal may have some bearing on the rumored $99 netbook due this summer (although I still think it's more likely to be powered by a Linux OS).

Linux? No chance in hell. Either OS X Touch, or normal OS X.
 
Why not possible?
There is no clause in my contract with O2 that prohibits me from also joining other networks.
If I have a contract with O2, nothing stops me from having contracts with Orange, Vodaphone etc etc…

If I am willing to pay, then why not? ;)
I'm not saying you would be prohibited, but why would you want to pay if you already had free mobile access with your iPhone? Most people wouldn't.
 
1) the target market for this product is not those with iPhones. In fact, it won't be possible for iPhone customers to join these contracts unless they pay for Orange mobile broadband AND have free iPhone internet access.

The two aren't related.. these are mobile broadband contracts - you get a USB dongle and a data allowance, not a phone.

The target market is people who want a macbook but can't afford one right now.. for the tie in (2 years is a long contract.. most contracts in the UK are 6,12 or at most 18 months) you get it now rather than having to save up. Such deals are popular with students and those on lower incomes.

On most deals I've seen like this the laptop is free - I don't know if they'll manage to do the macbook free though as it costs a bit more than the average laptop.
 
I'm not saying you would be prohibited, but why would you want to pay if you already had free mobile access with your iPhone? Most people wouldn't.

Thanks for clearing that up…

Just your original quote…
In fact, it won't be possible for iPhone customers to join these contracts
made it sound as if you knew for sure there would be some prohibition or technical impossiblility. ;)
 
I still don't see Apple getting into the netbook market, but this deal may have some bearing on the rumored $99 netbook due this summer (although I still think it's more likely to be powered by a Linux OS).
No chance! :eek: I would say that hell would freeze over for real before Apple shipped a computer with Linux. Macs have always been and always will be powered by Apple's own proprietary OS. Using Linux would not make sense from a financial perspective (since they don't need to pay themselves a fee for the Mac OS X licence), plus it wouldn't be a Mac without Mac OS! The unity between hardware and software is at the core of Apple's philosophy.
 
i posted that apple will offer the netbook for 99 for a monthly contact.

people did not believe me, now it seems i was right
 
i posted that apple will offer the netbook for 99 for a monthly contact.

people did not believe me, now it seems i was right

This isn't apple it's orange, and they're offering the macbook not a netbook. All Orange have to do is be a reseller and have the stock. Someone signs up, Apple get the full price of the macbook and they're happy.
 
This is really nothing new - UK mobile phone networks have been offering subsidised laptops with mobile broadband for over a year.

Of course it isn't a new concept…

But it is new that Apple is getting into bed with someone else to offer subsidised laptops.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I think that has never happened before.
 
I'm sorry but this rumor just doesn't make any sense. Has ANY cell phone carrier ANYWHERE subsidized a standard laptop before? The MacBooks don't even have 3G chip built in to them...

pretty common in some european countries.
 
Seems odd that Apple wouldn't do this with O2. There seems to be a big push on mobile broadband in this country, I've never really understood why. I suppose I must be the exception in not needing to use broadband away from home or work much.
 
I agree with you here. People keep wanting Apple to release inexpensive products, however they haven't positioned themselves as a low-cost provider (quite the opposite: high quality, high price) and therefore unless they make a dramatic shift in strategy don't expect to see a $99 computer from Apple anytime soon.

Also it seems to me if Apple does release a netbook it won't be the same crap that the other companies are putting out...it'll probably be multi-touch and hopefully it'll be awesome which is another reason we shouldn't count on it being $99.

Yes, a $99 NetBook from Apple is about as impossible as a $199 Apple Smartphone...

:rolleyes:
 
Interesting but my immediate thoughts are:

1) This would make more sense with O2 (esp with future iPhone tethering)
2) Carphone Warehouse have been doing this for years (although a poorer machine given free)
3) Orange broadband is painful - a bag of hurt in dustbin of dystopia

On another issue, Carphone Warehouse confirmed the _new_ iPhone is coming out in July and have promised to call me on launch date. But we all knew that.
 
No chance! :eek: I would say that hell would freeze over for real before Apple shipped a computer with Linux. Macs have always been and always will be powered by Apple's own proprietary OS. Using Linux would not make sense from a financial perspective (since they don't need to pay themselves a fee for the Mac OS X licence), plus it wouldn't be a Mac without Mac OS! The unity between hardware and software is at the core of Apple's philosophy.
A bit of miscommunication there. I'm not saying Apple would ship a Linux powered Netbook ( I don't think anyone is that stupid, even me ;) ), I'm saying that if a $99 Netbook existed, I believe it would be made by a separate company (not Apple) and would be likely be Linux powered.

If Apple did create and sell a netbook, at any price, it would of course be OS X powered, possibly OS X Touch.
 
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Cheapest MacBook is £950 right. How much could orange reduce that by and still make a profit?
 
Just don't get why anyone would pay this extra cost for a so called 'subsidised' Macbook. On the UK store, you can get a brand new whitebook for 'just' £719 - and a 3G card will only be £5-10 a month...

Depends on the contract really. I would assume the £5-10 isn't for top-of-the-line service.
 
I'm sorry but this rumor just doesn't make any sense. Has ANY cell phone carrier ANYWHERE subsidized a standard laptop before? The MacBooks don't even have 3G chip built in to them...

Apple isn't the Burger King of computer manufacturers, always coming up with crazy half-baked ideas to see what happens. They're the Wendy's, always looking for existing ideas/establishments from competitors where a desire already exists then coming in and doing a better job. (Anyone who's taken a business class has heard this "Wendy's" example before..)

What if your laptop malfunctions? Do they take it back if you break your contract early? And most of all.. WHY??

In the UK we have various companies from Mobile Operators to PC World offering FREE Laptops (not just NetBooK) with Mobile Internet contracts.

AT PC World you can sign up for a 2 year Mobile Internet service and get a FREE - Dell, HP, Acer, etc, etc. Read more here :-

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/editorial/get_connected_free_laptops

For £40 a month on a 24 month contract you can get a FREE 17" Compaq or HP Laptop with unlimted data (fair use policy applies) and texts.

O2 are offering a FREE 15" Samsung Laptop for £29.38 a month on a 24 month contract (3GB limit a month)

You can read it here :-

http://shop.o2.co.uk/laptop/Samsung/R510-2GB

It is not about having the 3G chip built it, none of the Laptops offered have that. In the UK they ALL use an external USB 3G Modem that comes free as well.

The Laptops come with a 24 month warranty and at the end of the contract they are yours to keep.

So the deal is not that bad for say the HP 15" Laptop from PC World which costs £529.99 to buy in the store for cash. Or you can have it for FREE on a £40 a month unlimited data and text contract. That will cost you £960. So overall it is £430 more expensive to get the Laptop on the contract BUT for that £430 you get the USB Modem and Unlimited 3G Mobile Internet and unlimited texts (works out at £18 a month).

For some people that is a good way of getting a Latop and the 3G service.
 
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Cheapest MacBook is £950 right. How much could orange reduce that by and still make a profit?

The 'free' iphone 8gb contract is £45 a month, which is £1080 over the contract... I'm sure the macbooks would be sold to them at a fair discount, and even if they weren't, that's still a large profit.

They'll make a killing whatever, as there's still tonnes of people in this country that think it's acceptable to stick with the same provider, not shop around and pay >£15 a month for a 'free minutes/data/text' contract.
 
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Cheapest MacBook is £950 right. How much could orange reduce that by and still make a profit?

The cheapest MacBook is £719
 
This isn't about Apple making a product and then seeking a partner to market it, as with the iPhone. This is simply a mobile broadband provider going to Apple to do a deal for volume MacBook purchases. No big deal. Apple will sell MacBooks (at maybe a bulk discounted rate to Orange) and Orange do the rest of the business. A simple sales transaction based on an existing product. I'm sure Apple would have done a similar deal with O2 if it was available and they may well still do that - there's no reason (other than if Orange are paying for the privilege) for it to be an exclusive deal.

The possible netbook is a whole different matter, and I would not be surprised if that was linked to a specific partner, at least to start with. As for it replacing an iPhone, no way. The phone goes in my pocket and everywhere with me. A 10" screen netbook is not going to replace that.

Netbook? I've said it before...look at the Simpad. Think how Apple might do a version of that and then start salivating.
 
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