Comments on: Apple getting ready for 'product transition'

Sometime over the next few months, it will be out with the old and in with the new at Apple. But what's in store: new iPods, new Macs, or something else altogether?

[Rmiami225]

I'm sitting here working on my Toshiba M700 Tablet ... but I might jump ship for a Mac tablet! I have a white Macbook as well and I love OSX but the tablet thing is so cool! If I'm just banging away at the keys ... I prefer the Mac but MS OneNote is awesome, and I prefer Outlook to mail ... but Internet Explorer 7 just plan sucks! I love Safari but I added Firefox 3 to the Tablet and it's not bad! But OSX is just so much more stable and easier to work in .... Vista is irritating but the hand and voice recognition blows what OSX has away which is probably why Apple does not have a tablet yet!

[drfrost]

A tablet is a possibility for September. My guess is that they'll revamp the IPOD touch based on the new iPhone, and lower the price somewhat (or expand the memory... or both). And the Macbook is definitely overdue for an overhaul. In short, I think Tom Krazit is not far from the mark.

[cephalis]

Perhaps Apple should spin off the Mac. Too much emphasis on their other products has palpably slowed development of their desktop computer. They can't keep up with the competition.

[kwhsy82]

MacBooks start at $1099 and IMacs start at $1199.

If they want to continue to grow share, or to accelerate growth, they would have something like an $899 MacBook or even say a $799 IMac. Dell can start you at $499 for a laptop. Much as you may want to argue Apple is better (fine) or the Dell machine is kind of stripped, it is a huge difference for say a student.

Sure, a cheaper IPod Touch would be "nice" but that alone doesn't seem worth flagging analysts attention. It also seems semi-inevitable that price will fall anyway.

[drfrost]

Apple has never offered a "bare bones" system and I doubt they will start anytime soon. So, if you're going to compare a mac system with a dell system, you really need to pay attention to how it's configured, what chipset it uses, memory speed (and architecture), etc.

I don't do this on a weekly basis, but lately the Mac systems I have compared haven't been that far off from a similarly spec'd system from Dell WHEN IT'S FIRST RELEASED. But Dell updates it's product line more frequently so Mac prices can become a bit dated 6 months after a product is released. Right now I'd say the Macbook Pro is probably more out of line, price wise, than it's slower cousin.

[Dwayne.Alton]

I agree with OlsenBW. Apple maintains their margins by differentiating their products through their software and services. While some people are attracted to Apple products because of the style and aesthetics, I would suggest that the vast majority of converts are attracted for other reasons. Most converts I know switch because of (a) perceived simplicity, (b) ease of use to do what they want to do with their computers (work with photos, easily make their own web site, etc.), (c) escape the anxiety over malware, or (d) because they are simply frustrated with their current platform and want a change. Very few of them switch because of the hardware features of the Mac.

The vast majority of perceived advantages are generated by Apple's software (OS, iLife, etc.) and services (.mac / mobile .me, whatever), but those products and services don't account for a very large percentage of their revenue. These products are designed only to run on Apple hardware products in order to differentiate them from "commodity" PC manufacturers. Apple does not intend to compete on price. But if they license their software, they lose part of the advantage that protects their profit margin.

If they license their OS they would also lose the ability to manage quality control. Their OS is matched to their hardware. They don't have the same never-ending OS performance and driver stability issues that plague Microsoft OSes because they control the hardware and software stack. While some may criticize this "closed" approach, it is very practical. it reduces OS development and testing time, reduces support issues, and most importantly, the net result should be a better customer experience than the Wintel experience.

The bottom line is that is is extremely unlikely that they will license or otherwise open the OS to third parties.

MacBook refresh? Seems likely. Everyone is jumping on Centrino 2 and the look of the machine hasn't changed recently. Additionally, all other Macs have the aluminum look. They transitioned the iMac from white to aluminum. It seems logical that they would do the same with the MacBook.

MacBook Pro refresh? Possibly. The pro is a great machine, but not very serviceable. Anyone can easily swap out a hard drive on a MacBook, but replacing a drive in a Pro seems more like an IQ and endurance test. There were some good points made in some blogs i recently read indicating that user-replaceable hard drives would allow an easier upgrade path to SSD drives - although I'm torn about this point because Apple never really seems concerned about user upgrade path (as evidenced by the placement of the hard drives in iMacs and MacBook Pros). Of course, IMHO the Pro really needs a battery life bump. Battery life is too low for the price point - especially for frequent travelers. Another option for MBP would be WWAN options (EVDO, HSDPA?). I keep reading speculation about WiMax, but that would be a really dumb move right now.

iPod Touch - As someone stated - it sticks out like a sore thumb. The pricepoint needs to be reduced. I see it being updated, but closer to holiday season perhaps?

Mac Mini - I guess I question how serious Apple is about this product. I'd like to see it rev'd, but I don't see that they want to really make this machine attractive to the general public. It was originally marketed as an inexpensive introduction to the Mac platform. But absolutely *NONE* of the Mac converts I know have one. If this was really intended to be a way to attract people to the Mac platform, I'm not sure it is accomplishing that goal. Too bad too, since the form factor is really cool for a lot of special uses.

New tablet / UMPC? I guess just don't see it. Handwriting input has limited utility unless Apple has a much better way of doing it. The tablet PC and UMPC form factors have been a pretty big failure in the PC world. Even in education most of the buzz and demand has diminished.

Moving to a new CPU architecture? Not going to happen. That makes no business sense.

Monitor refresh? Makes some sense.

What other new products? With the iPhone 3G edging Apple towards the corporate environment, perhaps we'll see some new features there? New software? Perhaps that is motivation to make existing products like the MBP more serviceable.

I would also love to see a better mid-point notebook. At $1499, I'd love to see the black MacBook replaced with a lighter-weight (still 13.3" or 14") MacBook w/ ExpressCard slot. Probably not going to happen.

[ddanckaert]

What I'm waiting for is a 16GB nano. Please, apple... I carry a 16GB iPhone 3G and a Nano (because it's small, easy to use without looking at, and using it saves my iPhone battery). However, I want my iPhone and Nano to maintain parity capacity-wise so I can sync the same music library to both...

As for the Mini, I've had my Core-Duo-1.6-2gbRAM-120gbHD since Spring of 2006 and I use it in my entertainment system as a media server hooked up to two LaCie 2TB 2BIG units. I would frankly like to update the hardware. Faster processor, faster graphics (I don't care if it's shared memory), 4GB RAM, 250GB HD, keep the RGB, but add HDMI as well.

Regarding the MacBook, I would like a higher resolution screen then 1024x768 (even in the current 13" form factor, which is fine). Sure, I'm sure their focus group said most people liked the 1024x768 res--no problem here, make it the default! But make the maximum something like 1680x1050 (1920x1200 is a bit small for 13") which is very readable for those with good eyes (or glasses--like me).

[akun1]

Transition from desktops to cloud computers? Welcome to the internet cloud and the new era of cloud computing.

[malestrommacfan]

I think that Apple's next move is going to try and reflect the change we are seeing in computers as a whole. The subnotebook market is flooded with PCs that are either underpowered, getting too expensive, or leaving some important detail to be desired. I don't seem them releasing a subnotebook though as this would undercut to the macbook air. Instead, I think that the tablet possibility along with a healthy update to the macbooks and macbook pros is the most likely.
I am hoping that all this doesn't take their focus away from the iphone and perfecting snow leopard. The iphone is having some definite growing pains and people are going to be expecting great things from the next iteration in apple's operating system.
For my money, I am hoping that they lower the prices of the macbook pros. I love my black macbook but want to get into a higher level of multimedia production and need the power.
But who am I but a lonely fanboy? Let the experts and their powers or prediction weigh in!!

[ayoung45]

A nice price cut on all their product line would be awesome! hehe

[Jakob Malkovich]

Well it is obvious:
Mac Book(Pro) revamp within Centrino2
Blu Ray option in the whole line-up (except Mini???)
iPOD touch price drop and adding 64GB model, so it's 16GB/299 32GB/399 64GB/499

[Christopera]

Three facts:
Apple is a hardware company.
Notebook computers outsell desktops hugely
Ipods are a huge sector of Apple's revenue

The proof is in the pudding. MacBooks and Ipods will be updated. Whether it will be pricing or hardware we will just have to wait and see.

P.S. just to add to the crazyness, think Ipod Touch Mini

[downhillboss]

With the slumping US economy and consumers feeling the pinch of the soaring price of basic commodities (Food, energy, exe), it seems to me that Apple would be wise to focus on maintaining stable profit growth rather than do what it has been doing, by flooding the market with endless renditions of virtually the same product (iPod, iPod touch, iPod nano). Although the company has generally gained profitability with each edition, perhaps in this slumping economy that won't be the case in the future.

Although right now I'm focusing my criticism on Apple's relations with the domestic market (US), it also seems apparent that Apple (more recently with world wide iPhone distribution) has made a conceded effort to reach out to the global market. A wise move for a company who's regional economy is slumping, but I fear its efforts have been 'too little too late'. Apple still relies on the US for the majority of the consumption of its products; there is no other country in the world that consumes as much Apple products as the US does. Apple needs to push for a more global outlook of its products, perhaps through an aggressive marketing campaign, and make consumers around the world 'want apple' over anything else.

[anthonyp133]

Or transitioning to a software O.S. provider to take advantage of the Vista debacle.

[bburn--2008]

The Art of Consumerism - The world could be fall apart and people would still be seeking for a sense of self through tech gadgets. Truly pathetic when you stop and think about it. I mean, don?t get me wrong cause I love technology too but there?s just too many boring articles like this all over the web. I guess what I?m really trying to say is: Who cares what Apple will do next?! Does it really matter? Bah maybe I?m just bored..

[gary85739]

If Apple wants stock prices to dramatically increase, just offer OSX to the PC crowd!

Apple stock would go up 1000% within a few days!

[sbcinoz]

How about Apple buys Sonos and captures the home entertainment system and makes Sonos iTunes compatible (& Apple TV+).

[clc12rock]

I'm thinking theyre gonna cram more memory into the touch. High amounts of flash memory would be expensive to produce, and like you said, the touch is the future of iPods. A 160 gig touch would be the BOMB!

[garne4]

How about this for speculation:

1. Cell processor...it makes sense for Apple to transition to the best chip. Up to 64 processors potentially running in parallel! Now that's computing.

2. iMac touch screens. Was at Infocomm last month and everyone was selling touchscreens. Why not Mac?

Have fun!

[BxPaPaShango]

I've been speculating this for quite some time. Apple Camera, or simply iCamera. Think about it. They have their foot in every part of the electronic business. Desktops, laptops, MP3/Video player, and Mobile Phone. Not to mention music distribution with iTunes. Only seems right that they step foot into the camera industry. Maybe a touchscreen to view the photos and a white, shiny, plastic outside and tada iCamera.

[fr1chise]

I agree with a lot of the other comment posted. I think a new Mac Mini would be great. Seeing BD-disc added to all products would be great as well, It would be interesting to see if Apple would think about releasing a truly universal OS, as a lot of hard core apple fans would see this as growing into a MS type entity and will wait for quality of product to decline as quantity grows. I guess this is a good time for apple, they have a bunch of possibilities and its exciting to think of whats next. It would be interesting to see if they drop their Unilateral pricing policy to see if that shakes things up.

[tech_junky48]

Maybe a change to the ipod touches. The current touch becomes the touch flash, and gets a price drop. They also make a touch classic, a hard drive version that comes in the same capacities as the current Classic, but with a touch screen. It will retail for $400 for 80GB and $500 for 160GB, but will be larger and heavier. There will be no touch flash larger than 16GB, and the touch's price drop will be $50. This puts the touch flash at a tempting $50 more than the Nano. This enables them to switch over entirely to touch devices next generation.

[Andres_A]

i hope Apple lowers the iPod Touch price. I'm thinking about getting one soon...