Report: Apple to unveil light-weight notebook models in '06
Among all brand-name notebook computer makers, Apple Computer is set to take center stage next year with new stylish "light-weight models," according to an online report.
"Apple is projected to ship 3.27 million notebook computers worldwide next year, an increase of 42 percent compared to 2.29 million units this year, according to study results released by the Topology Research Institute," wrote the Taipei Times.
The large increase in shipments would likely boost Apple's worldwide notebook market share from 3.9 to 4.7 percent, the study found.
"Compared to other makers which will post only moderate growth, Apple's performance is significant and worth paying attention to," Topology analyst Simon Yang told the Times.
Yang predicts the company "will unveil light-weight models with a stylish design aimed at luring female users."
The analyst expects a 12-inch model to weigh less than 3.3 pounds and a 14-inch model to weigh less than 4.4 pounds. He did not specify whether the notebooks would be iBooks or PowerBooks.
The reliability of the analyst's predictions are unknown.
AppleInsider has reported that Apple is working on a 25-percent thinner 15-inch Intel PowerBook that could debut as early as Macworld and a 13-inch widescreen iBook that would debut slightly later.
12-inch iBooks (expected along with the 13-inch widescreen) and a 17-inch PowerBook (expected to debut mid-year) are also in the cards, sources say. However, there is no information to suggest Apple will introduce new 14-inch models, bringing the analyst's predictions into question.
Nevertheless, Yang believes the "fondness effect" generated by massive sales of iPods will be the force driving Apple notebooks in the new year.
"Apple is projected to ship 3.27 million notebook computers worldwide next year, an increase of 42 percent compared to 2.29 million units this year, according to study results released by the Topology Research Institute," wrote the Taipei Times.
The large increase in shipments would likely boost Apple's worldwide notebook market share from 3.9 to 4.7 percent, the study found.
"Compared to other makers which will post only moderate growth, Apple's performance is significant and worth paying attention to," Topology analyst Simon Yang told the Times.
Yang predicts the company "will unveil light-weight models with a stylish design aimed at luring female users."
The analyst expects a 12-inch model to weigh less than 3.3 pounds and a 14-inch model to weigh less than 4.4 pounds. He did not specify whether the notebooks would be iBooks or PowerBooks.
The reliability of the analyst's predictions are unknown.
AppleInsider has reported that Apple is working on a 25-percent thinner 15-inch Intel PowerBook that could debut as early as Macworld and a 13-inch widescreen iBook that would debut slightly later.
12-inch iBooks (expected along with the 13-inch widescreen) and a 17-inch PowerBook (expected to debut mid-year) are also in the cards, sources say. However, there is no information to suggest Apple will introduce new 14-inch models, bringing the analyst's predictions into question.
Nevertheless, Yang believes the "fondness effect" generated by massive sales of iPods will be the force driving Apple notebooks in the new year.
Comments
...will unveil light-weight models with a stylish design aimed at luring female users.
Flower Power, take two!
Light-weight though, its about time. I'm expecting to lose some money next year.
keep the ibook for the females, leave us our manly powerbooks!
If they are Pb's, then they are truely light. If they are iB's, then they are lighter, but nowhere near what Sony and others are offering at 2.5 lbs, and lighter.
What bothers me though, is this idea of a 13.3" widescreen unit taking over the top spot.
A 13.3" widescreen is MUCH smaller than a 14.1" standard screen.
If you look at the diagonal of a 14.1, and move the ruler from one corner diagonal to the other, and slide the end of the ruler up the side of the screen until you get to a 16:10 format, you will see that the screen is much smaller. Is this what most people will really want? Even with higher rez?
The standard 12" will actually have more area.
So... lets see... umm, glossy black and white models? some polished metal here or there? and really really pushing it, maybe an integrated iTunes controller like on iPod that can be used system wide... or maybe just use the thumbpad as an iPod type controller...
boh...
Originally posted by ZO
So... lets see... umm, glossy black and white models? some polished metal here or there?
Let's hope it won't scratch as easily as the iPods.
Of course that's how much they'll weigh because that's how much Intel based laptops weigh!
Wow, you really do need to be an analyst to be so smart...
The reliability of the analyst's predictions are unknown.
Then why bother reporting it?
Originally posted by skatman
I don't know why this type of banality is news worthy?!
Of course that's how much they'll weigh because that's how much Intel based laptops weigh!
Wow, you really do need to be an analyst to be so smart...
Then why bother reporting it?
Because this is a RUMORS site, and there is an interest in rumors hers?
We'll know 3 weeks from tomorrow, but I can see Apple blowing our minds with the Mactels - especially in the notebook ranges.
Either there are some seriously loose lips at Apple.
Or these guys are just talking out their a**.
Originally posted by Louzer
Wouldn't a lighter laptop really lure business travellers, not women. Not sure where this female thing comes from.
I think it would be good for both.
Remember where this is coming from. The far east. They think of women's needs more than we do here.
Originally posted by melgross
Remember where this is coming from. The far east. They think of women's needs more than we do here.
This isn't about women's "needs" like low weight or thinness. The original quote from the article is "light-weight models with a stylish design aimed at luring female users." It's female-targeted style that would be off-putting to men. Not many businessmen want to carry a "girly" laptop.
I'm definitely hoping for something thin and light to replace my 12" PB. 5 pounds is just too much for such a small machine. Now if Apple were to surprise the analysts (as they've done before) with an even lighter machine, say a 2.5 pounder, they'd have to beat customers off with a stick. And that includes me.
Originally posted by Slotracer152
Lightweight laptops?...awesome...I'm tired of carrying around this brick of a TiBook....
I hear ya brother! I've been using a TiBook that I bought used on line 2 years ago and I still think it is the best laptop ever designed!!
Apple could go right back to it and make it an 11 incher, keyboard width and widescreen ratio and it would be better than the Vaio's that seem to be the best in that segment. I haven't used a Thinkpad, but they always seemed like plastic toys to me even though their size and that retractable-ish keyboard was innovative.
The current PBooks especially the 12" are still great values and power to size and I see tons of people with iBooks, but it think Apple can afford to brighten the metals to beyond matte aluminum. Get some anodized black and red in the mix and they could recreate the buzz of the early iMacs.
I think the light notebooks need an iBook and PBook versions - one for execs and one for the iPod folks.
Those sub sized Sony's are too small and my hands are too large.
I wouldn't mind being able to write on the screen.
Originally posted by melgross
Because this is a RUMORS site, and there is an interest in rumors hers?
It is getting silly though and we've still weeks to go before MWSF.
I think everything bar a PowerMac update has been rumoured now and some of it is just totally impossible. It'll be dual-core Yonah Shuffles with holographic video screens next.