Apple to focus on Macs at upcoming developer conference
When Apple chief executive Steve Jobs takes the stage at the company's Worldwide Developer Conference later this month, he's likely to confine his focus to the Mac platform, according to one Wall Street analyst.
"Similar to previous WWDC events, we believe Jobs' keynote will most likely be Mac-centric," American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu told clients in a research note on Friday. "We anticipate the focus will be on Mac OS X Leopard, its next-generation operating system, and introduction of new Macs."
Leopard
Wu believes the most anticipated announcement will revolve around its undocumented secret features in Leopard, noting that many in the user community are hoping Apple will announce "virtual machine" technology that allows users to run multiple operating systems simultaneously.
"If so, we believe this would serve as a major catalyst for Mac sales," he said. "We continue to believe the key reason Leopard was delayed until October was to give developers time to test secret features."
MacBook Pros
The analyst also cited sources who indicate that new MacBook Pros -- the first notebooks from Apple to incorporate LED-backlit displays and features of Intel's new Santa Rosa platform -- are also "likely" to see an introduction at the event.
"We view this as a positive step as this further differentiates the high-end MacBook Pro with higher performance, enhanced graphics and video capability, superior displays, and better battery life vs. the more mainstream MacBook," Wu wrote.
MacBook mini
Less likely but still "possible," according to the analyst, would be an introduction Apple's much rumored ultra-portable sub-notebook. "We believe there is a fair likelihood that Apple will introduce a new subnotebook named 'MacBook mini,' which uses NAND flash as primary storage," he explained. "We last talked about this groundbreaking product in early March and while our sources indicate that it could ship sooner rather than later, we believe it will more likely arrive in late 2007-early 2008."
The American Technology analyst said he has been told that timing of the sub-notebook will be dependent on NAND vendors' willingness to accelerate price declines, making NAND economically attractive for Apple to use in lieu of HDD storage.
The last time Apple had a subnotebook was in 1997-98 with the PowerBook 2400, which weighed 4.4 pounds and had a 10.4-inch screen.
Steve Jobs is scheduled to deliver his WWDC '07 keynote speech in San Francisco, CA on Monday, June 11, 2007.
"Similar to previous WWDC events, we believe Jobs' keynote will most likely be Mac-centric," American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu told clients in a research note on Friday. "We anticipate the focus will be on Mac OS X Leopard, its next-generation operating system, and introduction of new Macs."
Leopard
Wu believes the most anticipated announcement will revolve around its undocumented secret features in Leopard, noting that many in the user community are hoping Apple will announce "virtual machine" technology that allows users to run multiple operating systems simultaneously.
"If so, we believe this would serve as a major catalyst for Mac sales," he said. "We continue to believe the key reason Leopard was delayed until October was to give developers time to test secret features."
MacBook Pros
The analyst also cited sources who indicate that new MacBook Pros -- the first notebooks from Apple to incorporate LED-backlit displays and features of Intel's new Santa Rosa platform -- are also "likely" to see an introduction at the event.
"We view this as a positive step as this further differentiates the high-end MacBook Pro with higher performance, enhanced graphics and video capability, superior displays, and better battery life vs. the more mainstream MacBook," Wu wrote.
MacBook mini
Less likely but still "possible," according to the analyst, would be an introduction Apple's much rumored ultra-portable sub-notebook. "We believe there is a fair likelihood that Apple will introduce a new subnotebook named 'MacBook mini,' which uses NAND flash as primary storage," he explained. "We last talked about this groundbreaking product in early March and while our sources indicate that it could ship sooner rather than later, we believe it will more likely arrive in late 2007-early 2008."
The American Technology analyst said he has been told that timing of the sub-notebook will be dependent on NAND vendors' willingness to accelerate price declines, making NAND economically attractive for Apple to use in lieu of HDD storage.
The last time Apple had a subnotebook was in 1997-98 with the PowerBook 2400, which weighed 4.4 pounds and had a 10.4-inch screen.
Steve Jobs is scheduled to deliver his WWDC '07 keynote speech in San Francisco, CA on Monday, June 11, 2007.
Comments
Then I could finally run TerdPerfect -- it's for work; I hate it -- and Office for Windows on a Mac.
This iMac have this design for a while.
I'm sure we will have a new iMac.
Apple sells Parallels in the Apple Store so if you're interested, try that.
Sebastian
What's next. Apple going to a MacWorld conference and actually talking about the Macintosh?
Although existing Apple fans might not see Virtualization software as anything to be excited about, it has huge potential for Apple. Obviously a WINE like solution would be ideal - no need for a copy of Windows, but I doubt Apple have enough developers (or time) to finish WINE!
Whatever the features are, they probably ought to be better than the previously announced ones, or people are going to be disappointed.
As for a Macbook Mini - I think that'd be a confusing name - its surely going to be aimed at the Pro market (due to cost), so surely Macbook Pro Mini would be more apt...
If Apple doesn't release a midtower this year, I guess I'll skip another year. I haven't bought a Mac for at least 10 years now (my last was a PowerComputing). Newer models have been acquired through school dumpsters, and now here at work. Still, I am finally ready to buy one and there isn't a model for me. I don't want the iMac screen and I don't need to spend $2500 on a pro.
More about Leopard & iPhone
possible 10" Mac Book Mini
thats about it.
What the hell is Apple thinking? Focusing on computers and their OS at their developer's conference? People don't expect to go to a developer's conference and hear about that kind of thing! The only reason people are going to this thing is because they're expecting to find a free iPhone under their seats at the keynote!
What's next. Apple going to a MacWorld conference and actually talking about the Macintosh?
With the magnitude of live blogging of Job's keynotes and the Apple video feed relased later that day it makes more sense for Apple cater to the majority. Especially with the increased interest in the Mac platform.
Besides, there are plenty of developer workshops to make any Mac programmer's laptop all hot n' sticky.
Pardon my french, but Wu don't know shit.
Shit is Germanic in origin, not French.
What the hell is Apple thinking? Focusing on computers and their OS at their developer's conference?
My thoughts exactly!
Digg it
The next time that I see a 'digg it' comment, I'll be looking at the ban stick.
Contribute to the thread and not to your Digg popularity, please.
The next time that I see a 'digg it' comment, I'll be looking at the ban stick.
Thank you!
I'll repeat my usual gripe:
If Apple doesn't release a midtower this year, I guess I'll skip another year. I haven't bought a Mac for at least 10 years now (my last was a PowerComputing). Newer models have been acquired through school dumpsters, and now here at work. Still, I am finally ready to buy one and there isn't a model for me. I don't want the iMac screen and I don't need to spend $2500 on a pro.
Well, hell froze over once. But I wouldn't count on it again.
I'll repeat my usual gripe:
If Apple doesn't release a midtower this year, I guess I'll skip another year. I haven't bought a Mac for at least 10 years now (my last was a PowerComputing). Newer models have been acquired through school dumpsters, and now here at work. Still, I am finally ready to buy one and there isn't a model for me. I don't want the iMac screen and I don't need to spend $2500 on a pro.
How much are wanting to pay for a headless Mac?
surely Macbook Pro Mini would be more apt...
MacBook Pro Mini Express Extreme
How much are wanting to pay for a headless Mac?
I think a lot of people including me. And I would LOVE it if it came with a video card with option 250mb of VRAM and setup so I could just plug in two digital LCD monitors without having to buy any external devices. Actually I'd like it to let me come out so that I could hook up three monitors but that would be gready.