If you have been spending any focus to technological innovation this 12 months then you will understand that netbooks, the class of wee laptops pioneered by ASUS, is the speak from the city. Couple of hardware makers can discover in which, in the grand scheme of things, these little gadgets suit in their lineup. Make them as well underpowered and so they look like toys, make them as well powerful and so they could siphon revenue from more rewarding offerings.
Hardware makers like HP and Dell are content material to check the waters with some intriguing gadgets which are trendy at the same time as easy. But design and usefulness isn't really explanation sufficient, in my never so humble opinion, for Apple to acquire into your netbook enterprise, they've got to supply some thing a lot more.
More is surely an simple issue for Apple; their computers feature a complete host of useful apps all built to let you get one thing accomplished. If Apple took that exact same philosophy and applied it to netbooks what may they come up with?
How about a netbook patterned after the plastic MacBooks
Office 2007 Key, but these would activity a copious 10.2-inch broad element display screen and entire sized keys comparable to individuals on HP's Mini. Give it 32GB of sound state hard drive room, regular 1GB of RAM along with a Compact Flash (CF) or Safe Digital (SD) card slot. Also give it WiFi
Windows 7 Enterprise Key, Bluetooth, and a minimum of two USB two.0 ports. Ensure it is rugged in order that it could survive in backpacks and briefcases and even now search excellent. It's possible rubberize the exterior or give it a tough aluminum shell. Run it all with Mac OS X. No CD/DVD generate needed
Windows 7 Product Key, thank you a great deal.
Ok
Office 2010 Standard Key, so we're not discussing anything significantly different than what HP and Dell presently presents. Here's exactly where Apple differentiates by itself: contain a 1 12 months subscription to MobileMe and Net informed variations of iWork. MobileMe iDisk as well as the personal computer at your home grow to be the main storage devices. With iWork set up true perform may be accomplished. With MobileMe, access to all your information is possible
Microsoft Office Professional 2010, and Apple's Mail app in MobileMe indicates your mail is usually obtainable.
Of course, you might be not tied into MobileMe or iWork, you could use Google apps (Docs, Mail, and so forth) or other cloud services, and while OpenOffice can be a chubby app it can give instruments which might be far more acquainted to individuals utilised to Microsoft Workplace -- and it'll even now suit nicely in 32GB of storage. Even so, MobileMe and Apple apps would give you the entire Apple expertise and connectivity that other providers and applications just cannot provide.
Is that a strong sufficient argument for Apple to arrive out which has a netbook?
Well, consider this: MobileMe usage would increase thus creating a constant revenue stream, as well as a Web enabled iWork would make MobileMe much more palatable for other Apple laptop users not at present subscribed. Add to that the relatively safe closed and controlled environment Apple would provide and you have a very compelling offering.
One last thought; If Apple introduced a netbook now its timing couldn't be better. The economy is in a tailspin and people are keeping their wallets shut tight. Apple may feel the affects of this far more acutely because Apple products, especially its laptops, are considered to be premiumly priced. Introducing a truly cost concious device and service now may be just the ticket to keep people flocking to Apple Stores.
And there's no resond to think that netbook sales would cut into Macbook or iPhone revenue, in therse trying economic times people buy only what they think they need. Apple would be grabbing sales from the like of ASUS and Dell, but only a really small percentage of people people considering Macbooks.
One last thought; An Apple netbook (possibly resurrect the iBook name?) would sell like snowcones on a hot Summer day in the education arena. Parents of college bound students would feel a lot of relief with the complete Apple offering as opposed to that from HP, Dell, and others.
Basically, an Apple netbook could generate a new source of income for Apple, plus a varied income source is what any organization would want, right?
So, an Apple netbook at Macworld? I honestly don't know, but if they do introduce one particular it would sure take some of the sting out of Steve Jobs' absence.
Should Apple netbook? Most definitely!
Note: Soon after writing this article I saw a rumor over at 9 to 5 Mac that suggests that Apple will indeed put iWork in a cloud. I would be cool is the stars are aligning for an Apple netbook. Keep individuals fingers crossed.