According to numerous reports, Apple is about to answer the netbook question by introducing a new device that, some believe, will totally shake up the nascent netbook market, and quite possibly, kill it in it's present form factor.
InformationWeek is reporting that analysts are beginning to say that Apple could find a very healthy market for a $500 - $700 device, one that's more powerful, easier to use and far more functional than the current crop found in todays netbooks.
Consumers, they say, are willing to pay more for a device that offers them more functionality, features and ease of use than your typical netbook offers, which for many, are much too small and too underpowered compared with traditional laptops and desktops.
Evidence for such a new Apple device, one that would bridge the gap between it's more expensive MacBooks and those of it's iPhone and iPod Touch lines, comes from Gene Munster, an analyst from Piper Jaffray, who sights various Asian component contracts and recent Apple patent filings, plus comments from Apple's acting CEO, Tim Cook, and Apple's acquisition of chip designer PA Semiconductor.
Over at ZDNet , Larry Dignan says that an Apple tablet is indeed coming and that it will shake up the netbook market. He says that such a device could be ready for release sometime in 2010, which would be a bummer as some people, myself included, are hoping for such a device to be announced as early as next month's WWDC to be headed by Phil Schiller. Of course, even though such a device, a super iPod Touch to some, may not be released next month, nothing says that it can't or won't be announced ahead of time. Apple rarely does this, however, but there have been occasions in the past where it has, such as with the iPhone.
Munster, Larry reports, wrote:
"Between indications from our component contacts in Asia, recent patents relating to multi-touch sensitivity for more complex computing devices, comments from Tim Cook on the April 22nd conference call, and Apple’s acquisition of P.A. Semi along with other recent chip-related hires, it is increasingly clear that Apple is investing more in its mobile computing franchise. Specifically, we expect this to result in a larger (7″-10″) touchscreen tablet that will launch in 1H CY10. Additionally, Apple’s consistent message that it refuses to launch a “cheap” portable netbook, and its desire to differentiate itself in a maturing market before it’s too late (similar to the timing of iPod and iPhone), plus its gradual addition of multi-touch technology to all of its core products (iPhones, iPods and Macs) leads us to conclude this product will be a touchscreen tablet (not a netbook). "
Fortune is also reporting that any new Apple tablet for 2010 will be 'Dramatically different' from what we have seen so far in the PC netbook space.
For one thing, the new device will most likely employ a new type of OS X, and one that is much closer to that of the iPhone rather than that of the desktop version. It would be a new and very complicated OS, and it would include very rich multi-touch and possibly facial recognition capabilities. Hopefully, it could also include specially designed PA Semiconductor chips that not only would make any multi-touch capabilities faster, more responsive and easier to use, but also ones that Apple's competition will have a hard, if not impossible, time to copy.
Well, all of these different reports are certainly very interesting, and what, if anything, this impending new Apple device would mean to the booming netbook market place will be very interesting to watch develop. Could it really be the netbook killer as some are claiming? Could it have have the competition bending over backwards in a mad dash to copy and keep up with Apple yet again?
Possibly, but until a very conservative, secretive and tight lipped Apple actually spills the beans and gives us more to chew on, we are all left, in the meantime, in the dark to make educational guess's based on the few scraps of information that we discovering here and there.
I certainly hope that Apple's answer to the netbook will address the biggest complaints of such devices, namely that they are too underpowered, lack decent sized keyboards and screens. Well, at least they do for people like me. For me and many others, netbooks are still not exactly the most enjoyable things to work with. They certainly have their place, I guess, but they are not quite there yet for many, so any new Apple device that would address these netbook issue's would be very welcomed by the public indeed.
So, is Apple really going to introduce a new device that will kill off the netbook? Again, maybe, maybe not? But if anything, it should really shake up the netbook market up and possibly to it's very core, just as the iPhone did in the mobile space.
All we know for certain is that Apple is back in the kitchen and they are cooking up something special, and from the whiffs coming through the kitchen door it not only smells different, it smells exciting and like something that could be another game changer!
2010 is only six months away, but that's forever in the tech world. Hopefully, if they can't bring it to market before then, at least they will hopefully spill the beans and let us know a little more about it next month. But knowing Apple, I wouldn't hold your breath on that one happening anytime soon.
And that's my 2 cents 4 this Friday, May 22, 2009
MacTablet mock up via: Frato Blog
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