Please see Tim Cook's comments about Netbook

[IBMlenovo123]

"When I look at what is being sold in the netbook space today, I see cramped keyboards, terrible software, junky hardware and very small screens. It's just not a consumer experience and not something that we would put the Mac brand on, quite frankly" - Tim Cook, COO, Apple Computer Incorporate.

My question is, what do you think about the Netbook. Asus EEEpc, MSI Wind, Acer Aspire One, Dell Mini 9~12 and of course Lenovo Ideapad s10 comes to my mind. Apple is staying away from this market "for now"

[pianowizard]

I chose "small screen", although small screen per se isn't really the problem. Rather, it's the low resolution that renders the great majority of netbooks useless for me (and many others). I only know of 3 exceptions, which have 1280x768 or higher res: the HP 2133, the HP 2140, and the Sony P series. Of these, the Sony's pixel density is way too high, so only the HPs would work for me.

[virge]

I voted for "Junky Hardware" because none of the netbooks have a Trackpoint. This is especially disappointing in the S10 series and is the biggest reason as to why I don't own one. It seems to me that a trackpoint would be ideal for netbooks due to their size, but I guess not enough people share that viewpoint!

[ssd_thinkpad]

The 10 inch netbooks have around the same size like the 4:3 x-series which screens are superior in vertical size. A 10 inch widescreen display has around the vertical size as an 8 inch 4:3 display. The first time I saw a netbook in real life I noticed that this is someting I would only buy to check some emails but nothing more. For having a perfect keyboard the x200 series is a perfect netbook size when removing most parts of its vertical bezels.

[tomh009]

I voted for "Junky Hardware" because none of the netbooks have a Trackpoint. This is especially disappointing in the S10 series and is the biggest reason as to why I don't own one. It seems to me that a trackpoint would be ideal for netbooks due to their size, but I guess not enough people share that viewpoint!

Right -- no TrackPoint, no decent-resolution displays, no cage, no decent keyboard. It all comes down to an unacceptable compromise.

[archer6]

Tim Cook's obviously way too serious.

Just like the four choices in this poll which _assumes_ one doesn't like a Netbook?

What is the single most part you dislike about netbooks?

1) Small screen
2) Cramped keyboard
3) terrible software
4) junky hardware

There should be two choices for those who dislike them and two for those who like them.

Personally I really like my IdeaPad S10 Netbook! It's fun. Oops... there's that nasty, illegal word: Fun

Gee we wouldn't want to stop being serious long enough to have some fun would we? Who says that a Netbook has to be "better" or the same as any notebook that exists today. It's _not_ a notebook, it's a Netbook... It's for stopping off at your favorite hot spot, logging onto the net and surfing while enjoying a beverage. I'm not going to sit in front of it for hours, and do work. It's for fun. It hardly matters to me that it may not have the "perfect" display. Or a keyboard that I can work on for hours. Someone is missing the point. Getting too serious. And besides if they were that atrocious, there would be no dialog about them, there would not be such incredible demand.

Perhaps it's Apple that is wrong about this? Could that be? Nah... They're way too cool. They have an audience. The entire concept in the beginning was to have a fun alternative that was light, and purposely equipped with a small keyboard and display so as to be small and handy. Don't like that idea? Don't buy one. Simple as that. Why all the fuss? It's like comparing an underpowered, high mileage sub-compact with a high powered sports car, and complaining how bad the sub-compact is.

Somehow I think far too much is being made out of this just because the "The Company in Cupertino That Thinks It's Cool" is trashing the idea. Get over it Apple... These are Oranges you're worried about....ha...ha...ha...

* disclaimer: just having a little fun...don't take it seriously *

[KristianJ]

I chose "small screen", although small screen per se isn't really the problem. Rather, it's the low resolution that renders the great majority of netbooks useless for me (and many others). I only know of 3 exceptions, which have 1280x768 or higher res: the HP 2133, the HP 2140, and the Sony P series. Of these, the Sony's pixel density is way too high, so only the HPs would work for me.

Ditto. I can handle the smaller keyboard easily enough, the hardware's okay (except I've never been a fan of the netbooks where the touchpad buttons have been put either side of the touchpad), and software's not as much of an issue on these machines as some would claim it to be IMHO (unless you get one with a smaller capacity SSD, maybe).

[Marin85]

Tim Cook´s reaction is (more or less) understandable as netbooks are probably everything that could ever disturb Apple´s iMarketing strategies: netbooks are small ultraportable, but can do some nice work, they are cheap as price and build (as opposite to Macbooks etc), they are cool (some of the reasons already mentioned) and most importantly, many people like them with the same obsession as they (would) like Macs... If I was Mr. Tim Cook, I guess I would have been indeed pretty upset too

[ajkula66]

Netbooks are a joke, some more successful than the others, and yes, they can be fun. Maybe not my type of fun, but regardless...

Think of Macs what you will, everyone over there is scared beyond recognition about what their world will look like once Steve Jobs is gone for good, because he's pretty much a synonym for Apple's coolness, be it real or perceived, as well as for ability to sell that coolness...

[bill bolton]

Netbooks are a joke...

They are quite serious computing devices for a wide range of useful business purposes in cloud computing environments.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[archer6]

Netbooks are a joke, <snip>
Think of Macs what you will, everyone over there is scared beyond recognition about what their world will look like once Steve Jobs is gone for good, because he's pretty much a synonym for Apple's coolness, be it real or perceived, as well as for ability to sell that coolness...

Funny how Steve Jobs was / is only cool when he's with Apple. I remember when he left Apple to create "Next" Computers, which was hyped to be the "next big thing" only to flop after years of Jobs struggling with what was nothing more than beige boxes painted black. Where was the cool?
.
In the mean time Apple fades a bit, then ringmaster Steve (think Barnum & Bailey) returns to Apple where he becomes cool again and sells the hype to the Apple fanboys. What a story, what a movie, what an example of the power of smoke & mirrors......heh!
.
A joke eh? Ha...ha...ha....
.
Not posted via Newton

[GomJabbar]

I am not really into MACs or Apple, but I don't think anyone can deny that the BEST UIs originate from Apple. Not sure if it's Steve Job's ideas or just his ability to choose from what his Engineer's come up with, but he is the KING of the UI in my book

Regarding Apple's multiple devices (not Steve Jobs): IMO it takes more than a pretty face to maintain such a presence over the years.

[archer6]

All kidding aside, I give a lot of credit to the original "Dynamic Duo" of Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs.

It was, in opinion, Wozniak that kept them balanced and on track. I have nothing against Jobs as he is brilliant in his own right, however the one thing I do have a problem with is the supreme arrogance that has surfaced since Woz left and hence their unflinching greed. My first notebook was a PowerBook 140 and thus I've been there all along... not as a fanboy but rather simply a technologist that enjoys all things related to mobile computing. Not married to any brand or company, but rather sampling the latest laptops that are released by the various companies. Primarily being on somewhat of a dual track embracing ThinkPads and to a lesser degree PowerBooks & MacBooks as I've usually found them the best of the best over Sony, Acer, Asus, Compaq, HP, Panasonic & Toshiba. So I have a full history and appreciation of the exemplary work that has emerged out of the Apple labs. And lets face it, controversy and a lively discussion is a lot more fun than simply agreeing, or being apathetic to a certain topic. Never one to be less than outspoken, I have enjoyed Apples laptops for quite some time. And as an early adopter who is very passionate about technology, I will be the first to give any company credit where credit is due. At the end of the day, the more competition the better as it keeps everyone striving for the best.

Cheers...

[IBMlenovo123]

Now seems that David Hill, (I don't have to mention who he is, right?) has joined the discussion. see here:

http://lenovoblogs.com/designmatters/?p=1201

...
hmm, I see some very interesting comments: "Compromise is not what the ThinkPad line is about."

[underclocker]

Apparently, Apple ISN"T staying away from the netbook market --> http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/ptech/04/2 ... index.html


Apple plots course for middle of mobile

Story Highlights
-Apple plans to develop a device that fits in between the iPhone and MacBook
-Personal computer industry has long tried to make such a device a reality
-Samsung made perhaps best-received UMPC, but that isn't saying much
-This device would be more attractive with wide-area wireless networking