Robo, a little credit please. Of course I know that's the topic of discussion, but what has been missing is the word I capitalized - PROSUMER. Cameras have prosumer versions, so do other consumer electronics, software and yes, other computer brands. So why not the Mac?
What's needed here is a PROSUMER Mac. We have the MAc for the average consumer who doesn't have any desire to touch the insides of the machine - the Mac Mini. We have the Mac Pro. Why not a WIDER Mac Mini, the size of a cable box, with easy to access/upgrade RAM, video card and hard drive? Charge $999 for it and watch them sell (or more likely $1199-1299). This offering wouldn't harm sales of Mac Pro because you really need maximum processing power to run video and graphics apps as efficiently as you want to and the prosumer Mac's processor cannot be upgraded.
I'm pretty sure Tanner is right about the SkyHook royalties. In addition, Apple is establishing its right to create and sell its own apps for the iPod Touch.
BTW, since you've already written all these articles on AppleMatters, can I have them for free and post them on my site? You've probably done some other work that's already completed, can I have that for free too? No skin off your nose, right? ;)
Beeblebrox: "who doesn’t suckle at the teet of every word that comes out of Jobs’s mouth like you do"
What evidence do you have of this? Of course, you have none. You don't even know who I am. My comments on this blog have been far more balanced and analytical than yours - almost equally critical as much as laudatory. Seems to me that such inflammatory statements are nothing more than a desperate attempt to get attention.
Beeblebrox: "No, I don’t allegedly own them. I do in fact own them."
Based on almost all of the comments you've ever left on this blog, you would be accusing yourself of being an idiot for owning them.
It's too bad the comments are being allowed to diminish the editorial on this site.
Beetlebrox: "Hasn’t that always been Apple’s definition of “ahead of the curve.” Getting people to pay more for less?"
And yet, you allegedly "own two Macs and an iPod and am currently saving up for a Macbook Pro."
I call bulls**t on this.
James, to quote one of my fav CEOs, "and one more thing!" Add a quasi-subnotebook for road warriors to Lotus Notes for the Mac, Lotus Notes and MS Exchange capabilities for the iPhone, more powerful XServes. The consumer market isn't the one interested in most of this stuff. I believe Apple is posed to make a run at the enterprise market.
Hadley, that's right. It's the MacBook AIR, as in AIRplane... for people who travel a lot.
It's not for people who make movies, burn DVDs or install lots of software. Weight, battery life and being able to connect to your machine back at the office are most important.
Your also right that it's ill-featured to be the primary computer for a lot of people. A docking station with more ports and a SuperDrive is sorely needed for the Air to be a good primary computer.
Anyone that knows Apple products should know that the first effort is rarely the final result.
The Non Existent Glaring Hole in the Mac Lineup
The Non Existent Glaring Hole in the Mac Lineup
Apple Needs a Game Division
Early Adopter Tax Resurfaces with the iPod Touch January Software Upgrade
The MacBook Air Is a Sign of Things to Come
The MacBook Air Is a Sign of Things to Come
The MacBook Air Is a Sign of Things to Come
The MacBook Air Is a Horrible, Horrible Product