Report: Mac surge, subnotebook next quarter
updated 02:00 pm EDT, Fri September 21, 2007
Report: subnotebook coming
Surging Mac sales are expected to beat Wall Street expectations by nearly 400,000 units, Apple is readying a new 10-inch to 12-inch subnotebook for next quarter, and Apple's total worth is twice that of rival computer maker Dell, according to TheStreet.com. Apple is expected to sell 2.35 million iMacs and MacBooks this quarter, fueled by back-to-school shopping as well as a recently refreshed iMac. Sources cited by TheStreet.com say APple is planning to unveil a widely rumored subnotebook with sleek round edges that weighs less than 2-pounds. The subnotebook is expected to debut next quarter in time for the busy holiday shopping season, and Apple is reportedly telling employees to cancel vacation plans between Thanksgiving and Christmas to prepare for a year-end sales push.
Apple in mid-August filed for a patent on retractable notebook ports that may well find their way into a smaller, slimmer model in the near future. The retractable ports would allow users to fold each port not currently in use into the base of the laptop, leaving exposed only those ports in use. The fold-in ports would also reduce the required size of a potential notebook, and would allow for a slick tapered edge around the base of the device when all ports were retracted.
Apple also patented a low-profile memory slot in early September that could find its way into the tiny notebook.
good news and bad news
09/21, 02:10pm reply
The sub notebook sounds great, but the special "patented" memory is going to be expensive.
jdonahoe
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2006
UGH.
09/21, 02:15pm reply
What's with the beancounters and their obsession with market share, anyway? I wish Apple hadn't sold out to PC users.
sputschic
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2007
Re: ugh
09/21, 03:14pm reply
Apparently mixed in with capitalism is the notion that for you to succeed, you have to beat everyone else. It's not enough to carve out a nice share of the market and maintain a healthy business. You are only considered successful if you get more, more, more!
Unfortunately, for every winner, there is a loser - you can't grow forever. Just ask those in the real estate market.
hayesk
Professional Poster
Joined: Sep 1999
in other news
09/21, 03:24pm reply
Apple to buy Dell, close Dell's doors and return Dell investors their money. Film at 11:00!
Flying Meat
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2007
huh??
09/21, 03:39pm reply
sputschic wrote:
"What's with the beancounters and their obsession with market share, anyway? I wish Apple hadn't sold out to PC users."
Sold out to PC users? What are you talking about?
Making the Mac more attractive to consumers and more popular in the marketplace has tremendous advantages to the entire platform (and to the computing world as a whole).
I'm so sick of Window's users in and out of the corporate world who claim (without Mac experience) that their way is THE only way and Macs are "just toys" or "Macs are great for graphics but nothing else", etc., etc.
This past 12 months has been dramatic for the MAc market. I have noticed MANY of my co-workers, family members and friends showing a growing interest in the Mac.
This will surge in Mac interest is due to a number of factors. The Intel processors used in Macs now are a good part of that reasoning. iPod and iPhone is another good reason. iLife is another reason.
This surge in Macs will help Mac software developers, which will spur more Mac software. The surge in Macs will also help with the acceptance and use of Macs in the corporate world.
Apple didn't sell out... They've been thinking smart for a number of years now and it's paying off.
Smurfman
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Joined: May 2001
re: huh??
09/21, 03:44pm reply
Wish these forums allowed for editing... I just re-read my post and, man... did I make some typos. Sorry English grammar gurus.
Smurfman
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2001
Seriously
09/21, 04:05pm reply
Dell sells Windows PCs and it's worth is only HALF that of Apple?
They should, in all seriousness, consider firing Michael Dell, closing the doors and returning the money to the stockholders.
Or at least bar Mr. Dell from making asinine, arrogant statements that put a fire in their competitors' bellies. :)
chas_m
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Worth vs. Value
09/21, 06:43pm reply
Apple is growing in the exact opposite way as Dell did.
Capitalism needs to be shown that success is found in many ways and that value is given and taken away - not manufactured.
MacnnChester
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2007
i miss the old apple
09/21, 06:52pm reply
Apple used to be about the Quality not the Quantity as others are talking about... its not how many you sell that makes you good. Apple used to have the Best computers on the market, long lasting and dependable... my first intel machine was awful and plagued with problems and i am constantly hearing about ipod issues and laptop screens being cheap and people just not being as happy with their purchase. if i'm going to pay a premium for my mac/ipod i want it to be something worth my money.
PhotoBug
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2007
Quality control issues
09/21, 10:45pm reply
Photobug: I also agree that the Macintosh line in general has been degrading in quality. But, keep in mind it is *still* better than anything else out there. Disappointing as it is to see this long slow slide towards lower quality, at least it has allowed Apple to stick around. I have a feeling that if they had not managed to drop their prices like they did, they would be gone by now...
panjandrum
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Joined: Dec 2004