Apple loses students to netbooks and Windows

[Haptic]

Another peice of interesting reading, Looks like Apple is feeling the strain due to netbooks, Mabye its time apple jumped on the netbook bandwagon!

 

Apple loses students to netbooks and Windows ? The Register

[FN-GM]

I read someplace that there would be no apple netbooks, seems abit daft. They are developing a tablet. I would have thought a netbook would have been better as they are more popular

[Haptic]

I read someplace that there would be no apple netbooks, seems abit daft. They are developing a tablet. I would have thought a netbook would have been better as they are more popular

 

I think being Apple you will find its a margin factor as most netbooks dont make vendors any money:bowl:

[Dos_Box]

Mind you, Apple does have a knack of suddenly coming out with an unnanounced product, and the current news on the block is that the majority of Taiwanise laptop manufacturers are all holding back on new models untilt he Apple tablet is launched to see what they have to aim at next. My guess is that the Apple tablet will be a tablet\netbook crossover, and there will be plenty of Wintel copies out by Xmas.

[Haptic]

Mind you, Apple does have a knack of suddenly coming out with an unnanounced product, and the current news on the block is that the majority of Taiwanise laptop manufacturers are all holding back on new models untilt he Apple tablet is launched to see what they have to aim at next. My guess is that the Apple tablet will be a tablet\netbook crossover, and there will be plenty of Wintel copies out by Xmas.

 

interesting view, makes you think though what makes a netbook , I originally thought it was size but now it has to be cost as the battle between netbook and low cost laptop is in do we think that Apple can break into the budget notebook netbook market because they normally price themselves out of the market,

[mac_shinobi]

Obviously not an official one but there is the modbook

 

Axiotron : Modbook

[Michael]

Netbooks are affordable - some costing only $170.00. In contrast, Apple laptops start at $949.00.

 

I think this sums it up for me. There is no justification for Apple's high prices and I think this is one area where Apple will lose. Apple's OS X is considerably cheaper to buy than Windows so the profit is made mostly on hardware.

[FN-GM]

I wish they where Cheaper, and they are going up and up and up no sign of that ever happening.

[Michael]

It's clear to me that all companies have niches and Apple just don't shift many desktops or laptops comparatively to some or the larger more competitive OEMs.

 

Apple clearly have a lot of control with iPod and iTunes, but in saying that, all their music went up in price recently. If they increase it too much people will start shopping around. DRM free music is becoming more common and this allows a true competitive market just as you would find on the high street buying music CDs.

[jamesb]

It's clear to me that all companies have niches and Apple just don't shift many desktops or laptops comparatively to some or the larger more competitive OEMs.

 

Apple clearly have a lot of control with iPod and iTunes, but in saying that, all their music went up in price recently. If they increase it too much people will start shopping around. DRM free music is becoming more common and this allows a true competitive market just as you would find on the high street buying music CDs.

 

Apple's niche is very much prestige and luxury items. It surprises me that they've done as well as they have in a supposed recession, but this may be the first time that people's need to budget is beginning to bite.

[HodgeHi]

Apparently the big music companies are trying to remove some of the control that the iTunes store has over the music industry and as a result when amazon and the likes got their DRM free music they got the deal for a lot less than they would give it to Apple.

 

Also Apple have never stated that they would enter the netbook market and if they did it wouldn't be a budget machine. Netbooks are funny things. The scheme "a laptop for every child" spurred the idea to create a sub-£100 machine and then netbooks all popped up trying to be the cheapest thing around. I have the HP mini note and to be honest i don't use it that much. I find it awkward and fiddly to use.

 

The screen is generally too small really for anything, and the speed ain't the best either. The battery is shockingly bad

 

In the end you get what you pay for. Give me my Macbook pro any day. May be expensive but it does everything i need it to and is always ready when i need it (straight from sleep)

[mac_shinobi]

 

In the end you get what you pay for. Give me my Macbook pro any day. May be expensive but it does everything i need it to and is always ready when i need it (straight from sleep)

 

Makes 2 of us and like you say you get what you pay for and also personal opinion and choice - not starting a flame war neither ( I just know someone is going to mention the over heating issue about the 7200 rpm drive ) or something relating to an electronic prison cell or way way too expensive or some form of negative comment lol

[HodgeHi]

personal opinion doesn't come into it really. Is anyone going to argue that a ferrari is the same as a Punto? Admittedly at the end of the day its just a car but the differences are what they can do.

[mac_shinobi]

personal opinion doesn't come into it really. Is anyone going to argue that a ferrari is the same as a Punto? Admittedly at the end of the day its just a car but the differences are what they can do.

 

I meant as far as choosing which one you want to buy / purchase / use and or drive because in my opinion apple macs are good ( yes they have there down sides to a degree ) so my choice would be to buy an apple mac where as most on Edugeek would choose an i7 chipset computer as per cpltd ( Simons Edugeek offer ) just as an example and yes I know they are not the same ie a Ferrari versus a pinto etc but If I choose a mac that does not mean to say everyone else will hence all the flame wars on here with windows vs mac etc

 

Each persons opinion / personal preference is down to a said amount of factors whether it be from experience or recommendations or other factors which am sure you can figure out.

Edited August 22, 2009 by mac_shinobi

[srochford]

The Register article says "Apple has little regard for 'the customer is always right'" and also "The low-price, good-enough laptop boat has sailed, and Apple's not on it."

 

I think the first point isn't right. The right kind of customer is always right when they talk to Apple but Apple is not interested in big chunks of the market for whom "good-enough" is OK.

 

Apple products are not just "good enough" - engineered down to a low price point. They're engineered up to make sure that they're "as good as they can be"

 

If you're buying a school full of computers then the extra cost for a Mac is an obstacle and "good enough" probably has to do the job.

 

If you're buying a single computer to do your job and it's important that the computer does the job properly then a few extra hundred pounds probably doesn't matter.

[Tallwood_6]

What isnt mentioned though is that apple do offer some pretty generous discounts to students especially in the states where the aim is to get young professionals working on a Mac's.

Ultimately though i think the fear is a low cost netbook style Mac would cheapen the brand and hurt profit margins.

[markcuk]

Im still amazed apple still do not have a blogging package Like windows live writer.

 

Plus they have only just incorporated flickr uploads into iphoto (iphoto09) windows live gallery was doing that last year.

 

Personally when i was traveling blogging was important so when i had to choose my macbook or netbook with windows sorry apple you lost big time.

 

at least they have finally fitted an sd card slot!!!!! to the new macbooks

 

 

mark

Edited August 22, 2009 by markcuk

[kingswood]

Im still amazed apple still do not have a blogging package Like windows live writer.

 

Plus they have only just incorporated flickr uploads into iphoto (iphoto09) windows live gallery was doing that last year.

 

Personally when i was traveling blogging was important so when i had to choose my macbook or netbook with windows sorry apple you lost big time.

 

at least they have finally fitted an sd card slot!!!!! to the new macbooks

 

 

mark

 

iWeb?

 

I have used live writer and it's pretty good, isn't it? However there are many cool ways of producing far more professional blogs than having to resort to live writer. Rapidweaver on the Mac is the one I am thinking of right now.

 

[mossj]

I don't think Apple can really be compaired to any other Laptop manufacturer out there. Apple only sell kit they know people will 'love'.

 

I have never picked up anything Apple and thought damn this feels tacky or like it was put together using wood glue. Every other manufacuter (even the very reputable ones) have made something that I've picked up and put back down feeling disappointed.

 

As for the tablet/netbook thing. I have a tablet (RM) and I use the thing instead of my laptop. It just feels better in every way (and yes thats a piece of RM kit), it also does the netbook style tasks with ease (web browsing, simple emails, IM). I cannot wait to see how nice a Apple tablet will feel.

[tech_guy]

I want a macbook pro desperately but it's the cost that stops me from buying one.

[Hollie1985]

I haven't read the article but a few things I've learnt about Apple are

1- They don't like to follow the crowd so doubt they will jump on netbook band wagon.

2- Apple developers have to keep work very tightly under wraps and away from fellow colleagues, they even have locks which stop certain employees accessing technical development rooms.

3 - They will announce and shock and boy will it be an announcement I reckon and just before christmas...

[GoBears]

I say push that back a few months and you are right on. The grumblings about the tablet are getting louder everyday!

[kingswood]

I switched from using a MacBook at work to a trusty little Samsung NC10 bought for me by my kids for father's day. I love the thing. It has great battery life, can multitask well, and it light and portable. If Apple brought out a netbook (or similar) for around £400 I would jump at it. They probably *will* bring out something like a netbook but not for that price- and so I will keep using my little Samsung for much longer.

 

If I wanted to video edit and play around with photos I would use my MBP. But at work where I need something light, portable, power efficient and able to complete the tasks I ask of it, netbooks are ideal.

 

Apple may prove me wrong on the price front, but when I dream about that happening I wake up to cold reality with corn flakes plastered wildly over my pale face

 

Paul

[Hollie1985]

i have now read the artical and as for the point about Apple has little regard for the saying

"the customer is always right"

 

 

Apple says the customer does not know what he or she wants..until.......it is in front of them and they can see it, touch it, feel it -play with it and if it's (Apple) "love it"!

I am quite happy to pay more for Apple products, i like the level of detail they put into design, even the small details that are hidden away effort is made.

The fact is Apple now caters for all, with the ease of use and simplicity Apple have made their name in the IT industry and even the MUSIC industry.

I am addicted to itunes and my ipod/phone to the point where the click on/off bottom is so smooth and 3 presses to get to your tune.

I will quite happily pay the right price for the right quality product. I look forward to hearing more about new Apple releases and if that is a tablet then i have high expectation from them they have a reputation to keep up now!