New Mac Notebooks Using New Intel CPUs This Month?, iPad Could Cannibalize MacBook Sales, and More
So we can post our three news roundups (Mac News Review, The 'Book
Review, and The iNews Review) earlier, we first do a quick proofread and
link check, leaving out images. We add images later when time permits.
dk
General Apple and Mac desktops is covered in The Mac News Review. iPad, iPod, iPhone, and
Apple TV news is covered in The iOS News
Review. All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.
News
News
New MacBooks Coming This Month?
Based on what I can decipher from a
Google translation of a Chinese language news piece by Apple Action
News' Wang Yulun, Apple will be releasing its next generation family of
MacBook notebooks based on Intel's latest Core "i" mobile CPUs,
including a new ultra-low voltage Intel processor for a revision of the
MacBook Air.
The article says Apple plans to push for the MacBook Pro 13", 15",
and 17" sizes with built-in 640 GB or 248 GB SSD storage media and
battery runtime increased to 8 hours.
Taiwanese Site Claims Apple Will Refresh Entire
MacBook Line Soon
AppleInsider's Slash Lane says:
"A new report claims that Apple could release updates to its
MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air notebook computers in April, with
alleged Intel processor supply issues said to be resolved.
"Taiwanese newspaper Apple Daily reported on Monday that Apple plans
to release updated MacBooks, MacBook Pros and MacBook Airs this
month...."
Link:
Taiwanese Paper Claims Apple Will Refresh Entire MacBook Line
Soon
iPad Could Cannibalize MacBook Sales, Impact Apple
Stock Value
The Trefis Team reports:
"About 18% of Apple's stock value is attributable to the company's
Macintosh (Mac) computer business. Mac notebooks are the most valuable
component of the Mac business, constituting about 8% of Apple's
stock....
"We estimate that there could be $15 (6%) downside to Apple's stock
if iPad sales were to eventually cannibalize about half of Mac notebook
sales....
"If a significant portion of Mac notebook buyers are primarily
content consumers rather than content creators, Mac notebook
cannibalization from the iPad could be significant. If half of iPad
sales were to come at the expense of Mac notebook sales, then our 21
million Mac notebook sales estimate would be overstated
significantly."
Link: Impact on Apple's
Stock of Mac Notebook Cannibalization by the iPad
iPad vs. Netbook: It's A Close Call
PC World's Jason Cross says:
"Will the iPad replace netbooks? Well, a netbook has a full
keyboard, runs complete operating systems, and can basically run any
application you choose so it has to be the superior PC companion
device, right? PC World pitted the iPad against the netbook in a number
of important categories, and found that the contest is closer than
people might expect.
"Since it's a PC, a netbook gives you access to any browser you
choose. You get full support for Flash, Silverlight, and the like. On
the other hand, the screen is small and you can't easily rotate or zoom
it the way you can the iPad's display . . . [but] the ability
of netbooks to see the whole Web and to run any browser you choose give
them the advantage....
"Unfortunately, the iPad offers no local storage, so moving
documents around is a real pain. Basically you have to e-mail them to
yourself and open them from the Mail program or from your favorite Web
mail client, and then e-mail them back when you're done . . .
taking lengthy notes or writing long papers or articles is a chore: You
can't really touch-type on the new keyboard . . . as much as
we dislike most netbooks keyboards, they re infinitely more usable than
the iPad's on-screen keyboard . . . netbooks let you run
full-blown versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. It's not even close
on this measure: Netbooks have the clear advantage.
"The better choice for a PC companion really depends on what you
want to do with the device. If your primary need is a system for work,
the netbook's superiority is indisputable. For entertainment, however,
the iPad has the edge...."
Link:
iPad vs. Netbook: It's A Close Call
Netbook Sales Sag as the iPad Arrives
"The sales growth of the mini-laptops has fallen sharply as buyers
eye more capable portable computers," reports BusinessWeek's Cliff
Edwards, suggesting that Apple's iPad is helping cool the computer
industry's netbook fever of the past three years or so, and quoting
Steve Jobs' disdainful declamation that "Netbooks aren't better than
anything. They're just cheap laptops."
Edwards says PC makers are beginning to worry that a sizable cohort
of consumers agree, (or at least are looking for a different technology
fix, with mini-laptops "losing their novelty") citing a recent survey
finding that roughly 20 percent of potential netbook and notebook
buyers are considering an iPad instead of a conventional laptop, and
observing that after their meteoric rise in popularity netbooks' may
have peaked.
Link:
Netbook Sales Sag as the iPad Arrives
SLAPPA Launches MASK Custom Build Laptop Backpack
Series
PR: SLAPPA, maker of professional quality CD cases, DVD
cases, laptop backpacks, laptop sleeves, bags, and gaming cases,
announced the launch of their new MASK Custom Build Backpack
series.
mask1.jpg
SLAPPA's MASK laptop backpack series was designed for extensive
personalization and application flexibility. The MASK features patent
pending E-Z-Zip technology, which enables customers to choose and
change the outer face of the backpack quickly and easily by zipping
faces on and off. Multiple face options allow users to modify the bag
to fit their desired look and storage needs - each face provides a
specialized storage configuration, designed to meet the needs of the
specific user.
maskopen.jpg
MASK also features a choice of one of 15 on the fly custom art
inserts, designed specifically for MASK by SLAPPAs Visual Impact
artists. The on the fly custom art inserts give customers the option to
change the inside look of the bag by easily pulling out and pressing in
one of the 15 custom designed inserts. The initial series of inserts
were created by SLAPPAs Visual Impact artists including Morten Bak from
Denmark, Simon Mitchell from the UK, DomiNX from the US, and Ben Heine
from Belgium. SLAPPA has announced plans to continue adding more face
and inner artwork options in the near future.
maskfull.jpg
Designed according to SLAPPA standards for hardcore protection, MASK
was built using pro-grade 1680D ballistic nylon. MASK is water
resistant, puncture proof, and nearly indestructible. The bag also
boasts extensive storage capabilities in a compact footprint and 0.5
padding in every wall of the backpack.
The MASK is also the ideal travel backpack, providing a large center
storage section sized to carry gear such as gaming consoles, small
mixing consoles, a full DSLR camera and lens kit, or 2-3 days worth of
clothing. The checkpoint-friendly rear section enables users to keep
laptops inside the dedicated compartment when going through airport
scanner. Multiple D rings on the outside of the bag allow users to clip
SLAPPA headphone cases, game cases, or 40 Hardbody Pro CD cases to clip
onto the exterior of the bag for easy access. In total the bag has 5
storage sections for all the computer, gaming and DJ peripherals toted
by today's mobile professionals.
"MASK has been literally two years in the making," said SLAPPA
president, Dominick Martinetti, "and we are very excited with this
backpack. Our goal with the bag was to develop a highly personalized,
feature-rich product that allowed for radical customization, and to
give customers a lifelong backpack. With MASK, now when you invest in a
backpack, you can update it easily without having to buy a whole new
backpack. It's built for a lifetime of use."
maskstrap.jpg
MASK is available exclusively on SLAPPAs website and will soon be
available on its international sites, slappa.ca,slappa.co.uk, and slappa.com.au. The backpack retails for
$129.99, which includes the choice of any face, the choice of any
custom artist insert and free ground shipping in the USA.
Link:
SLAPPA
Bargain 'Books
For deals on current and discontinued 'Books, see our 13" MacBook and MacBook Pro,
MacBook Air, 13" MacBook Pro, 15" MacBook Pro, 17" MacBook Pro, 12" PowerBook G4, 15" PowerBook G4, 17" PowerBook G4, titanium PowerBook G4,
iBook G4, PowerBook G3, and iBook G3 deals.
We also track iPad,
iPhone, iPod touch, iPod classic, iPod nano, and iPod shuffle deals.
