Comments on: Would Apple’s netbook be the next iPod?

By: stevewiilliams

stevewiilliams — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 21:16:38 +0000

All the time that Apple are NOT selling netbooks, they are losing out on a huge chunk of market share, currently ruled by Windows and Linux.
I am an iPhone developer, just 14 years of age. I’m not an official developer, per se, but I do make apps now and again. I have, however, had a go at wading around in the code which makes up iPhone 3.0, the third version of Apple’s iPhone operating system, which is currently in beta.
When I heard the news that the code was hinting at future Apple products, I went off to found out more. Several weeks ago, I posted on my blog concerning ‘iProd’ and ‘iFPGA’. iFPGA isn’t particularly relevant here – it more or less makes way for more powerful iPhone applications. iProd, however, is much more interesting. Experts suspect that this is some sort of nine inch, touchscreen device – a cross between an iPhone/iPod Touch and a low-end MacBook.
You can read the full story over at http://blog.stevewiilliams.me.uk/2009/03/25/iprodifpga/
Apple’s third iPhone model, on the other hand, should be a good one, but hardly affects the expectations of an Apple netbook.
Some rumours popped up a while ago concerning a MacBook Cloud, supposedly a netbook, but these rumours went majorly unheard of, and have now become ‘extinct’.

By: ben

ben — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:51:18 +0000

I’m typing this on an HP Mini-Note. Yes, the Via processor is slow, but then again, so is the 701’s Celeron.

For most things, I find the Via faster than the Celeron. I’ve used a few Atom-based netbooks and they seemed a bit faster than the HP’s Via.

Having said this, I love my mini-note. I think one of the reasons people complain about the CPU is that in every other regard, the 2133 is a no-compromise mini-laptop. People have higher expectations.

To me, the real problem with the Via CPU is battery life. Yes, it can be sluggish, but that is to be expected. With the six cell battery, it barely gets 4 hours in Ubuntu 8.04.1. The same battery for an Atom-based netbook would probably approach six hours.

Also, the rest of the chipset is problematic. The Via video isn’t as well supported as Intel’s, no DRI etc. Still, I’d rather have my 2133 than any of the Atom-based netbooks – even more than HP’s newer Atom-based 1000s. I’ve seen a few of them, they’re the same price here in Canada, feel cheeper, and are lacking the VGA port. I’d rather have the weaker CPU myself.

After seven months with the HP Mini-Note, I think it’s the closest to a perfect netbook that I’ve seen. The keyboard and build-quality are perfect.

By: ben

ben — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:46:40 +0000

I’m typing this on an HP Mini-Note. Yes, the Via processor is slow, but then again, so is the 701′s Celeron.

For most things, I find the Via faster than the Celeron. I’ve used a few Atom-based netbooks and they seemed a bit faster than the HP’s Via.

To me, the real problem with the Via CPU is battery life. Yes, it can be sluggish, but that is to be expected. With the six cell be

By: ubuntucat

ubuntucat — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:51:36 +0000

Yes, every review I’ve read has said the Via is deathly slow, which is kind of funny, because I have a Celeron processor in my Eee PC, and very few reviews complain about its speed (even though I find it a little slow).

When I look at pictures of the HP Mini-Note and look at the specifications, and it looks great. But when I read reviews, I always wonder why they’re mainly negative.

By: Tytycoon

Tytycoon — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:14:01 +0000

The via is a little slow, is it not? I mean, referring to the mini-note, I’ve read quite a few reviews complaining of speed. Also, the mouse button on either side of the trackpad is the mini-note.

By: mc

mc — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 02:20:00 +0000

What’s wrong with a via processor? It’s x86.

By: ubuntucat

ubuntucat — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 21:43:35 +0000

I hope you’re both right. I don’t want Apple taking away Linux’s chances to succeed, even if the “success” is only a small one.

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:50:16 +0000

I would guess not. Unless it had a Windows option it could never become as widespread as the iPod is today. And I really can’t see that happening!

By: will

will — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:46:45 +0000

I don’t think Apple will try for a netbook. It’s not the sort of thing they do. Anybody remember the Mac Mini? That was their attempt to enter into the low-end desktop space, and they botched it in any number of ways. Apple just doesn’t *do* cheap, and price seems to be the major attractive feature of the current crop of netbooks.