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Apple may be planning to expand from its smartphone, MacBook and music players by bringing its own netbook into the market. The Cupertino, Calif.-based company is preparing to release a netbook, a small portable laptop computer designed for wireless communication and Internet access, according to one vocal Piper Jaffray managing director and senior research analyst, Gene Munster.
Netbooks, as of this year, are categorized as notebook computers with a low-powered x86-compatible processor, small screens no larger than 10 inches, a small keyboard, equipped with wireless connectivity, under three pounds, and low cost.
Piper Jaffray, which is known for predictions that often spark debate, is predicting that Apple plans to release a seven-to-10-inch tablet PC in 2010. The computer would include a touchscreen, a proprietary CPU, and be priced at $500 to $700.
At the Core
Munster is known for extreme predictions and recently sparked debate when he predicted Apple was planning two major news-grabbing events at the end of June, the return of CEO Steve Jobs from sick leave and the unveiling of a newly designed iPhone. Munster predicted the iPhone would debut at a special event at the end of June rather than at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference in early June.
Analysts used several different factors to get their predictions. Jaffray considered various indications from component contacts in Asia, recent patents related to multi-touch sensitivity for complex computing devices, comments from Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook, Apple’s acquisition of P.A. Semi last year, and the hiring of chip experts.
Analysts aren’t the only ones predicting Apple’s intentions. After Apple hired former IBM executive Mark Papermaster, a chip expert, IBM filed a lawsuit against the executive. The lawsuit was based on several factors, but the greatest sticking point, according to IBM, was Apple’s acquisition of P.A. Semi, a direct IBM competitor.
Because of Apple’s acquisition of P.A. Semi and hiring of Papermaster, IBM said in court documents, it believes Apple intends to design microprocessors for handheld devices. Piper Jaffray believes the devices to be netbooks.
Last month, we reported that Jobs was believed to be guiding development of a netbook from sick leave at home. We also reported that Apple will take delivery in the third quarter of 10-inch touchscreens from Taiwan and that Taiwan-based Quanta Computer would build the netbooks.
A year ago, Jobs famously told analysts that Apple didn’t “know how to build a sub-%500 computer that isn’t a piece of junk.”
Timing May Be Right
The PC market has suffered in the past few quarters and this year the industry will experience its sharpest decline in history, according to a Gartner report. Shipments of PCs will decline 11 percent in 2009 from 2008, according to the report.
Mini-notebooks will cushion the overall PC market slowdown, but they remain too few to prevent the market’s steep decline. Worldwide mini-notebook shipments are forecast at 21 million units this year, up from 2008 shipments of 11.7 million units, according to Gartner.
“In late 2008, the average price in the U.S. for a mini-notebook with an 8.9-inch screen, Microsoft Windows XP, and a 160GB hard drive was around $450,” according to Angela MacIntyre, research director at Gartner. “We expect the average price of the same machine to drop to $399 by the end of this year. Mature markets continue to be the primary consumers of mini-notebooks, but as prices continue to fall, they are likely to attract increasing numbers of emerging-market buyers.” -News Factor Network
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The netbook market is certainly expanding and it’s good to see Apple has recognized this with a potential release of their own. I look forward to finding out more about a Mac Netbook.
yes!. will be cool. apple rules. it might have integrated cell phone function? so u can have a headset (bluetooth) and use it as a phone?