Comments on: I've seen the future, and it's a MacBook

At the risk of adding to the cacophony of gratuitous advice directed at Apple, the company could bypass the Netbook and go directly to the inexpensive "ultrathin" category.

[Gorgeclimber1]

You've got to be kidding - 999 for a refurbished Mac or 299-399 for a new Netbook or 500-600 for a new Dell Notebook.

[csoccer1]

first of all, compare the specs. second of all, which one is made of cheap plastic? third of all, is the dell an ultra thin and light notebook (which are very costly to make)? Ultra lights are made for extreme portability without skimping too much in power over a regular laptop. they aren't going to be dirt cheap, ever.

[funkyboot]

csoccer1, that's exactly why netbooks will continue to outsell Ultra-lights.

Ultra-lights and just higher-end laptops appeal to tech enthusiasts.

Netbooks appeal to people who want to get online, and do some light computing.

That latter segment of the population dwarfs the former. I think a lot of CNet visitors (and especially the writers) loose sight of that. In fact, a lot of the comments on this topic are completely out of touch with the reality of the marketplace, and this is completely demonstrable; just look at the sales numbers: Netbooks win by a landslide.

[Seaspray0]

@csoccer1. When you ask the question "but does it have ..." or "is it a ...", keep in mind that I and many others may not care if it has it. We all have different requirements. Don't assume that yours is the only one that works for everyone.

[wrightj62]

I've been a window user, since the DOS days, and mastered every MS OS. Only been a Mac user since 2001 and done pretty well with OS 9.1 and X. I have yet to fix any of my friends Mac computers, that I'm happy to say are increasing in numbers over the years. But, I hate to say it, I'm always fixing or helping friends out with their Windows computers all the time. It seems it never ends. So thank you MS for keeping me employed. I love it!

[funkyboot]

What makes netbooks so appealing, and what has them selling so well, is the price point. When most people just need something to let them go online, check their e-mail, and run Word, they're going to look for an inexpensive way to do all that. That's where the netbooks come in.

Now think of the average consumer looking to buy a laptop that satisfies all of the above needs. What are they going to buy? The $300-400 netbook that does all of the above, or the $850 ultra-thin that does all of the above?

My money says the netbook will win that battle more than 95% of the time.

[windooor7]

Apple does not compromise. telling them to make a cheap laptop is like lowering their standards,that they die to protect. this guys make laptops used by royals in saudi and used by fortune1000 companies on fox new and cnn newsroom u see them proudly displaying macbooks. Its that standard that they are protecting. and we all agree their laptops are well designed. however if they want to they can do a 500 laptop minmum. and have it kill any laptop above that price. making it very hard for other companies to stay in business.

[dzankizakon]

I see many are arguing over why people buy Windows.

People buy Windows not because it's the best.

People buy Windows because

1. Everyone else has it
2. Is actually works quite all right, and very often it works great
3. See rule number 1

Because of rule number 3, it's been impossible to dethrone Windows. This will NOT change unless there is a move to a completely new client computer architecture.

[Seaspray0]

There is also the price point to consider. The average price of a laptop is estimated in the $700 range. If you don't make computers under $1000, then you are limiting yourself to a nitch segment.

[CyberBob859]

There is no doubt that Apple's consumer laptop offering has to be refreshed, since the white Macbook (although a good seller), needs a redesign. The white plastic just looks out-of-place (even though I own one from a few years ago, and still love it.)

Thin may be in, but I wonder if Apple is going to keep that special for their Pro lineup. I think the next consumer-oriented Macbook will be thinner, but super thin? There will still be people who want a Mac laptop at an affordable price with a optical drive built-in for the foreseeable future, so you can only go so thin. And if you make a super-thin Macbook, with no optical drive, what about the Air? What makes that so special? Will the unibody aluminum be the only distinguishing feature, or screen size/quality be a factor too? How about battery life? (Pro's get 7-8 hours with sealed batteries, while consumer laptops get 5+ with removable?)

I can see Apple doing a revamped 13" Macbook, still in plastic but not white, starting for around $899, and an ultralight in plastic with a 11" screen with no optical drive (uses the Air's external Superdrive as an option) starting for around $699. But the rumor mill has them purchasing 9.7" screens for an upcoming device, maybe a tablet in the $800 range, so maybe they're "thinking different".

[shycelticwitch]

All this Mac vs. PC stuff. Seriously... I would much rather buy a computer from a company run by a man who designs exceptional computers and the software to run them, than from a man who sells mediocre software and thinks he can stop hurricanes. My sides still hurt after reading that one.

Nuf said.

[Seaspray0]

That's your choice which computer you want. However, you don't have a right to insult everyone else that doesn't agree with your choice, which is all you ever do. If you can't show respect towards others and their choices, then don't expect any in return.

[shycelticwitch]

@ Seaspray... Right, it is my choice, and I don't see any insults in my comment, just the facts, Jack. You on the other hand, never miss a chance to tell the rest of us how superior Windows is compared to OS X. I mentioned NEITHER in my comment other than to disparage the rhetoric shown here. (If you need a dictionary to understand my comments I have a spare one here.)

[Seaspray0]

@shycelticwitch. Google this #1 insulting comment by you...

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Windows+is....+A+32-bit+extension+to+a+16-bit+graphical+interface%2C+sitting+on+an+8-bit+operating+system%2C+originally+written+for+a+4-bit+processor+by+a+2-bit+company+without+ONE+BIT+of+common+sense.%22&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=&aqi=

Busted!

[shycelticwitch]

@Seaspray...Your lack of intelligence shows badly on this one. I said... THIS comment contained no insults. Try reading the entire comment before posting.

And you keep avoiding the real issue I've posted on several occasions. What Mac models have you owned that you can compare platforms and hardware? If your answer is "none" then your comments on Apple posts are irrelevant.

And the "insult" you chose as an example was pretty bad too. That wasn't an insult, it's the honest truth.

Now who's busted?

[SteveW928]

I think Apple could do well with an 'as small as they can get it with standard keyboard' type machine based on the Atom and Ion. The key failure point IMO on most netbooks is the non-standard keyboard... so I think it has to be at least that big (which is still considerably smaller than the smallest Macbook Pro currently). By putting in the Atom and Ion, it would also get longer battery life. That bit of space savings, less weight, and longer battery life... as well as a considerably lower price point would make it quite attractive for people not trying to completely replace the desktop with a laptop (or even just the average non-power user), as well as be a MUCH better machine than any netbook.

[santuccie]

Any Linux-based netbook, anyway.

[jabberwocky2]

How come a low quality article like this is published at CNET? Hey CNET have some standard.

[Seaspray0]

I agree. When reporters make predictions like this, they usually back it up with what the current trends are, in reality current trends in netbooks suggest otherwise. I don't see anything to support the headline which makes this article no better than a prediction in people magazine. Maybe it was a slow week.

[Norseman]

If only Apple would price a 23-inch MacBook Pro with a 7.2Ghz CPU, 36Gb of RAM, 9 USB ports, built-in wi-fi, self-typing keyboard, mind-controlled cursor, and 6-month battery life for $19.95, I bet they could corner the market.

[Seaspray0]

7.2 Ghz CPU? 36Gb RAM? In a laptop? On what planet are these made?

[Dango517]

I have seen the future and Apple may not be in it.

Dan's data continue to reflect they're downward slide:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10288275-1.html?tag=mncol;txt

They best spin off their OS to third party vendors and soon.

[djmob77]

I recently switched from an older Vista machine to an iMac. Three monthes later the iMac was sold on ebay and I bought I new Vista machine. I found the iMac very limiting in performance and in the selection of software. My new Vista has vastly superior hardware and performance. I can now also purchase software without asking if it works on a Mac. This is something I think many Vista users take for granted... I would never consider another Mac purchase.

On a side note many Apple users cite how well made Apple computers are. On this I agree completely, but this is not free as they definately paid for this. I purchased my new Vista PC from an online boutique builder and it is equally as impressive in build quality with significantly superior hardware and performance for about the same amount of money. Also this particular builder offered a 3-year warranty standard. Apple only warranties the iMac for 1 year standard, so even Apple is hedging their bets here on build quality...

[shevaberg]

APPLE makes the best products ever.... comon... the fish bowl macs.... every screen had burn in for a 3 year old computer... WFT.. multiple hard drive failures... and slow as hell...

people see the fancy cases and think that makes a better computer

[Nodack]

All of the experts have been saying that Apple's prices are too high since they made their first computer and have said that for every device they have put out since. It's almost like Republicans saying Democrats will raise taxes if they are elected. I guess this way they can write all of their articles years in advance. The same with every cell phone and mp3 player released by anybody other tan Apple will be labeled the "Next iPhone or iPod killer". You would think Apple was out of business already since they have been killed so many times now according to the press.

[maxhoose]

It's going to happen eventually. It will have a 10-11 inch screen. A one piece, very thin aluminum shell. Great battery life. It will probably cost between $600-800. It will sell like hotcakes even at that price!
When Apple thinks the time is right, it will happen.

[drfrost]

If Apple figures out how to offer a Mac Air at $400, someone else will figure out how to offer netbooks at $150. Netbooks have smaller screens, smaller keyboards, no specialized hardware, no hard drive, etc., etc., etc. You can't build a well rounded laptop for the same cost (or even close to the same cost) as a netbook when you're ordering your components from the same marketplace.

[koitenshi]

Netbooks are here to stay. Some people think that netbooks are nothing but lightweight laptops. That is NOT the case. What gravitate people toward a netbook is the following:
(1) Small enough to fit in a pocket or purse
(2) Fully capable of playing WoW or other online game and playback of HD video
(3) WiFi built in
(4) Full keyboard
(5) At least 4Gb of RAM and 100+ GB hard drive space
(6) PRICE UNDER $300

What they want is not a lightweight laptop - that has already failed.

What they want is something small but full powered at what they consider to be a reasonable price. There is no real market for the larger sized lightweights - because with the larger size comes the desire to have a DVD writer built in, more ports, etc. etc. - all things removed to make it lightweight.

[DragonWizard]

Just another story that will be ruined by a bunch of useless flaming back and forth between Mac and PC FANATICS who take every one of the stories that pop up here as an excuse to start there childish "My OS is better than your OS" and "your OS is trash" excrement. I get so sick of reading these stories just to have it ruined by a bunch of EXTREMELY childish people wh take EVERYTHING as an opportunity to try and slam the "other" guy... do you all know how absolutely immature you sound and frankly your really getting old with this crap. It seems none of you can stay on topic. The story is not "How much trash can I talk about anyone who doesn't think just like me".. it is about a particular subject. I wish the people that write these things would just ban anyone who uses this as an excuse to start the OS Wars all over again.. Frankly I don't give a D*MN what kind of computer you use or whether you can come up with something "CUTE" to say to flame anyone. Why do any of you waste not only your time but MY TIME with all of this pointless urinating on the heads of people that use anything other than what you use to do your computer work.. GROW UP AND STAY ON SUBJECT...!!! To many users of these commenting sections anonymity means another excuse to act out your infantile insecurities on anyone you choose. I for one wish they would ban Mac users that flame PC users and ban PC users that flame mac users. Many of these stories seem written with the idea of starting these squabbles in mind to start with. PLEASE a little bit of maturity for once....

[Hamranhansenhansen]

I carry a MacBook Air and iPhone with me everywhere. The MacBook Air is built around a full-size keyboard that is optimized for touch typing and the iPhone is built around a 2-thumbs keyboard that is optimized for hunt-and-peck. If I am standing, I use the iPhone. If I am sitting, I use the MacBook Air. In either case, I type over 40 wpm.

Netbooks are not as popular as the hype and lead to many user disappointments because they are built around an 80% size keyboard that is not optimized for touch typing or for hunt-and-peck. The keys are too small for touch, and too big for hunt-and-peck, you have to move your hands very large distances just to peck a key. No matter how you use them, they are kludgey.

Apple did a lot of work to convert the MacBook Air into an iPhone. They didn't just scale down the MacBook Air, they

> I HATE Macs, even more than Windows PCs. The lack of customization is ridiculous.

The lack of customization is in your head. It's a full Unix underneath, and there are about 5 API's. There are at least a dozen programming languages you can use with those API's also, including Python and Ruby. You can not only script the whole Unix layer, you can script the GUI with AppleScript. One of my Macs is a world class music studio and the other is a world class Web development workstation and they both took almost no time to setup. Those are wildly different kinds of workstations. One runs hundreds of channels of music and audio simultaneously in real-time and the other runs hundreds of Apache2/PHP5 websites along with BBEdit and Photoshop and Flash.

Oh wait ... you're talking about if I can change the font in the title bar, right? Yeah, you should stick with Windows or Linux. Cheers.

[cwclifford]

The argument sounds like this...90% of people like Mustangs and 10% prefer Mercedes.