TUAW Predicts! The October 14th notebook event
With the October 14th Apple Notebook Event just around the corner, the TUAW blogger squad decided it was time to look into our iCrystalBalls and make a SWAG predictions about what laptop goodness will be announced by the Cupertino Kids on Tuesday. To make this extra crunchy, we're not only posting our best guesses as to what will actually be announced, but what Steve J. will announce as "one more thing".
Steve Sande
Best Guess -- The entire MacBook line will be made of aluminum, and the 15" and 17" models will get slightly faster processors and more installed RAM. If that's the only announcement, expect Apple's stock to dive even further than it has during the recent stock market freefall.
One More Thing -- The iTablet. Netbooks are selling like hotcakes, so Apple will get in on the action by coming out with a 9" tablet with a virtual keyboard and multi-touch support. Since it is all display and no keyboard, it will weigh less than two pounds. Think of an über-iPhone.
Victor Agreda, Jr.
Best Guess -- Ditto what Steve said, except I think a drop in price will happen in light of tough economic times. Despite what some analysts may babble about, Apple is interested in the long game, and that means building more market share. To stay in the game they have to get more price competitive on the low end.
One More Thing -- Again, I agree with Steve, although I wouldn't call this a tablet. More like a mini-Air with a decent keyboard (Apple has long been in favor of keeping decent-sized keyboards on smaller laptops) and touchscreen up top. I think the form factor will be something clever and surprising. If it appears at all, of course.
Robert Palmer
I think we'll see higher-end MacBook enclosures made of aluminum, and a sub-$1,000 model still made from white plastic. There's a part of me that says they won't ditch plastic altogether, because of the style factor: I bet there will be some people who still want a black MacBook. Hey, maybe there will be a black aluminum MacBook. Classy.
One More Thing -- I'm still bearish on the iTablet. I think Apple has too much invested in the iPhone as a mobile platform to try and dilute it with another form factor with a different screen size. If it's a Mac, I'm not a fan of jury-rigging traditionally mouse-driven operating systems for styluses. Personally, I just don't think there will be "one more thing." He hasn't done that in a while, especially at "themed" events (like the music event last month).
Michael Rose
I'm also fairly well convinced that the $800 MacBook (dare we call it the MacBook Jr.?) is inbound on Tuesday, although I'm not sure that the manufacturing rumors are completely on target. The mutterings about a mystery port on the new MacBook -- and a dockability patent from years past -- are starting to sound credible too.
One More Thing: I would love to see a BTO touchscreen option... and maybe a technology preview of an iTablet for delivery later in 2009.
Mike Schramm
New MacBooks are a given -- the Nvidia rumor sounds credible to me, not to mention that it's just what would push me to finally replace my old G4 Powerbook (though I'll miss my little 12" screen). "One more thing" seems like it's trending towards an AppleTV upgrade -- we've got HD content on the iTunes store, so it's time to have a set-top box that's fitting to play that content on. I'm hearing lots of Mac mini rumors as well, but I wonder if Apple will ever upgrade the mini -- it's small, it sells as-is, why break what's not broken?
Of course, as Victor mentioned in an email, "Whatever happens, AAPL will drop 10% because iUnicorn wasn't announced..." Think we're out of our minds? Let's hear your prediction in the comment section!
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With the October 14th Apple Notebook Event just around the corner, the TUAW blogger squad decided it was time to look into our...
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New processors from Intel and a Mac Notebook to fit each one... all the way down to the new dual-core Atom they will release today that will find it's way into the low-end Macbook for $799. All new NVidia graphics cards across the board too. Hard drive and memory bumps for all, including SSD options at 128gb.
Mac Mini update?
Price cut and dual core Atom would work oh so perfectly.
Macbook Air will get few if any changes.
Heres the big one though: Firewire "2008". It was expected in October, and works through a FW 800 port, which is the only port we've seen on the new cases. It will offer FW400 FW800 FW1600 and (maybe only on the Pros) FW3200. This will continue Apple's stronghold on creative professionals, especially anyone who works with HD video and needs big and fast external storage. No need for eSATA anymore boys.
Apple TV Update? Can we hope? If anything it needs more storage, and 1080p support. I'd love to see an integrated aluminum AppleTV television. Just 3-4 models in the line, someone else's panel powered by Apple's hardware (there was a patent for a more complete Apple TV, w/ tuner and full remote, some time ago) with DVR and streaming capability? What can top that? Maybe Sling-like capability and an App on the App store. These are just dreams, but wouldn't be too hard to execute Steve.
This $899 thing? My bet is some sort of Mac mini/Apple TV hybrid.
October 14 2008 at 10:03 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyFor an apple version of a Netbook to sell, they need to do what the other people are doing and make it fairly cheap in price. If they can match or only charge a small premium over say an Eee PC, I'd buy it in half a second.
October 14 2008 at 9:34 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWow!! Can I borrow the Apple Crystal ball ??!?!?
I need to make some accurate predictions......
"I don't think there will be a cheap laptop"
I agree that Apple has no business competing in the $300-400 laptop space (let the Dells of the world slit each others' throats in that pointless market), but Apple definitely needs to break below the $1,000 mark to keep the quality/value proposition realistic.
Why does everyone shit bricks and expect the stock to plummet if they don't introduce something ridiculous that everyone fantasizes about if it doesn't live up to the latest crazy rumor.
My prediction? A solid refresh in time for the holidays; nothing more, nothing less. Especially with the economy, it's not effective to throw money at weird niche products like tablets that most people simply won't buy. Touch screen keyboard on a full size? laptop? Keep dreaming... there's a reason tablets aren't a bigger market... and Apple doesn't really want to tread down that road just yet.
I can see a sub-$900 MacBook as well, maybe with aluminum and throwback TI-book/Air style keys Ives loves. One thing about going all aluminum is it's consistent and it helps with branding—being Apple's new laptop line look.
Dang it people, quit raising the expectations for "One More Thing." When was the last time we saw One More Thing? Seems like it's been awhile. And when it doesn't happen, the press groans in dismay and investors brutalize the stock (as if it hasn't been brutalized enough).
Let's quit raising expectations to unrealistic levels, and be pleasantly surprised if they happen to exceed them.
I predict a tablet Mac. I have been praying for one for a long time to his holiness Steve Jobs. Nokia is doing well with its internet tablet and I don't see why Apple should not jump on the train - with a much better product.
s far as APPL falling 10% - I hope so - buying opportunity. Yup time to buy more of it.
Arvi
I don't think FW will be removed, it sounds too stupid just for space saving purposes. FW is a lot too useful and is not a Pros only option. If that happens i'll say it now: STUPID, STUPID DECISION. I hate to think that could happen. If the casing we are seeing is the real thing maybe those USB ports are USB/FW hybrids that can be used with an adapter for FW purposes. Or maybe they are USB 3.0??? Or maybe the port suppossed to be the video out is a FW800, in that case that move would be even a more stupid decision.
If Apple prefers to sacrifice even more just for design I think they are going too far this time. Maybe the next laptop designs would have the power outlet and 1 USB and 2 USB for the Pros just because they assume we don't need the other things. Stop deciding for us just to look "cooler".
I don't think there will be a cheap laptop... I think it was in the book "inside steves brain" where there was a direct quote from his steveness saying that the competition is in a race to the bottom both in price and qualit and that apple would not participate ... They are more interested in making high quality products but you get what you pay for... It's like buying a Porsche over a chevy
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TUAW (or The Unofficial Apple Weblog) is a website devoted to tips, reviews, news, analysis and opinion on everything Apple.
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