Apple know in their heart of hearts that one of the big advantages to computing on Macs (possibly the biggest) is the lack of malware on the platform. Whatever they say publicly they also know that this is largely due to their small overall market share in the personal computer business. People seem to generally agree that Macs are better than the nearest equivalent Windows based machine, and that the overall user experience is better, largely due to the lack of viruses etc. The net effect of Apple moving down market could be that they end-up making less money selling more computers. Not only this but when the Mac reached a certain point of market penetration, maybe thirty per-cent, I don’t know, the writers of malware would no longer be able to ‘neglect’ the platform, and at that point the best feature of the Mac would be lost forever – the Mac would be another commodity product, that could achieve only competitive prices, not premiums against the offerings from other computer makers

I think this is why we will not see cheap Macs anytime soon

As a matter of fact I’m of a mind that the iPhone and touch, both of which have thero place, are a completely different animal than the netbook laptop, and do not seriously compete in the same space. I’ve ranted about touchscreen “keyboards” here fairly recently, so will not go into that except to say that for me at least, no machine without a real keyboard and a screen of at least 10″ would be adequate for what I need in even a lightweight Internet machine.

I think just about everyone knows what “netbook” signifies by now.

As for MacBooks and CULV processors, DigiTimes’ Monica Chen and Joseph Tsai reported yesterday that Intel has outlined its plans for traditional notebook, CULV-based ultra-thin notebook and netbook product lines for its partners, according to sources at notebook makers.

Chen and Tsai note that Intel’s next-generation Calpella notebook platform will launch as scheduled in the third quarter 2009 and targeting models in the 14.0-, 15.6-, 17.1- and 18.4-inch segments at retail prices of above US$1,200 initially for high-end market — presumably inluding tha MacBookn Pro.

Their report (http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20090512PD211/intel_outlines_notebook_plans_for_2h09.html) alsosays that notebook makers, including Apple subcontractor Quanta Computer, are ramping up to mass produce Calpella-based notebooks in the third quarter with more models to launch in Q1 2010, and that in the 12- to 13-inch segment, Intel will be pushing CULV-based ultra-thin notebooks the major force targeting the $699-1,100 price range that takes in the low end Apple MacBooks, and I would venture a likely Apple entry in the $800 or so price range/

CM

First off, you talk about how Apple has “no offering” in the netbook market and call them “netbook-less Apple,” without mentioning (even off-handedly), the general understanding of the tech press that the iPhone and iPod touch platform is Apple’s entry into this market. You may disagree or even mention it with scorn, but not to mention it at all reveals the bias of your story.

Secondly, the entire article is about “netbooks” yet you do not define what you mean by that. The text suggests that you are talking universally about *cheap* computers or a segment of the market based on price, whereas the netbook category is just as often formulated as being based on size alone and *not* on price. Furthermore, other formulations of “netbook” are based on function and portability and would even include such computers as MacBook Air. Needless to say this muddles your argument.

Then you end the whole thing with a quick advertisement for some intel technology that wouldn’t be in Apple’s plans in a million years! Egads! Who paid you to write that in?