Comments on: Apple netbook coming?

By: conzo.nl

conzo.nl — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:21:50 +0000

(Apple has always resisted (rightfully so, in my opinion) slugging it out with Dell, HP,)

what? i mean they put inter prossesors in tehre macbook..en now they puttng nvidia chip on there macbook too..they become a PC..

By: Oliver

Oliver — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:51:26 +0000

I am with PJE — I’d basically like a supersized iPhone (with a real… open… OS) for use around the house.

By: Weylund

Weylund — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:56:23 +0000

@PJE: I’m pretty sure that tablets take a bit more engineering than that, especially if it’s Jobs at the helm. That, and Apple’s not going to use any old touchscreen. I would lay a bet on a high price.

Apple customers will pay it.

And — do you think the parts of the original Macbooks actually came anywhere near the MSRP? Apple charges a premium for their stuff, no matter what they use.

By: Sam

Sam — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 07:45:14 +0000

If Apple wants to maintain their presence in the education market, which has been one of their longstanding customers, they better jump on the Netbook bandwagon. For an innovative bunch, they definitely missed the boat on the “One Laptop Per Child” program. But in addition to that market, they are missing the great majority of people who do not need the full computing power of a Macbook Pro (as magnificent as it is) when they are on the road. They need a device that allows the user to to communicate (email and video conference), actually type as well as copy and paste documents (iphone failings), some entertainment capability (minimal games and movies), and has a reasonable price point particularly in these economic times.

By: John in Norway

John in Norway — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:44:05 +0000

I’d buy one and as soon as I got it home I’d put Microsoft Vista on it!! Or XP.

Happy weekend everyone!

By: PJE

PJE — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:29:43 +0000

@Weylund – Why would it be $1200? Take an 8.9″ Atom based netbook, put the display where the keyboard is and remove the lid. A capacitive touchscreen shouldn’t cost any more than a keyboard. Overall cost should be similar.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:00:21 +0000

James,

I agree with you. Spec-wise, I don’t expect much of an upgrade from the current base MacBook (though there will likely be some improvement), and with a new case and $300 price drop it should be quite compelling.

By: James Kendrick

James Kendrick — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:24:03 +0000

My guess is an $800 13-inch MacBook made out of aluminum that looks like a MacBook Pro. I don’t think there will be that much in the features too special, the special is the new casing and pricing. Hope I’m wrong and Kevin is right that it will be a smaller netbook.

By: Weylund

Weylund — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:16:13 +0000

@Tom – yes, a netbook “alternative”. An Applebook, or some such thing. Cheap, but high end (doesn’t $800 sound about right for Apple’s “cheapest ever” laptop?).

I don’t know if there will be a razor-thin margin — if MSI can win with decent-quality hardware at $550, Apple can win with a controlled source of similar decent-quality hardware and a better case at $799.

@PJE – an Apple slate would be interesting, but I doubt it would sell like hotcakes. Plus, the darned thing would probably be $1200.

By: PJE

PJE — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:06:30 +0000

I want a 8.9″ slate iphone like device with multitouch. I can add the bluetooth wireless keyboard if I need to type lots of text, otherwise a well integrated on screen keyboard.

Dropping the keyboard stops it competing with the macbook laptops, as well as keeping the cost down.