4 ms·

Apple’s Tim Cook: Why don’t we make netbooks? Because they suck

7 points by peter123 18y ago

quoderat 18y ago
The iPhone and iPod Touch are already better netbooks than most netbooks.
- buugs 18y ago
  Maybe if all you are doing is web browsing and using the minimal apps, but some of the appeal of a netbook is that it is a functioning computer that is more portable than a normal laptop. Edit: I mean functioning as it can run large apps such as msoffice Besides mac minis are like the netbook of desktop computers.
- Jem 18y ago
  I use my netbook for coding on the go (so that I don't have to carry around my heavy, expensive laptop). Could I realistically spend an hour coding on the iPhone or iPod? No.
jokermatt999 18y ago
He disses netbooks, saying most have terrible quality, and gives that as a reason why Apple won't make one. To me, that seems very backwards. If the state of the netbook is so horrible, wouldn't an Apple "done-right, just works" netbook be an excellent idea? If the competition is terrible, despite demand being high, then it seems like that's the perfect time to enter the market.
- elai 18y ago
  The big draw of netbooks is cheapness, and apple likes avoiding cheapness.
  - swannodette 18y ago
    A more accurate analysis is that they dislike low margin markets.
    - unalone 18y ago
      Apple could make a decent netbook that runs OS X, enter the market, and make a killing. They have the power to let computers run OS X, and OS X doesn't need a lot of RAM to work well. Apple has enough expertise in miniaturization that they could make a pretty good netbook without much of an effort on their part. The problem is that anything Apple makes impulsively will be below Apple's standards. Apple refuses to launch products that aren't either great or potentially great in the future. They sell computers on their reputation alone. So if they ever enter the "small computing" market, they'll do it after a lot of thought, and likely only if they can instantly change the public's perception of netbooks so that they have a chance of creating a potential monopoly like they've got with the iPod/iTunes and like they're angling towards with the iPhone/app store.
- hellweaver666 18y ago
  I think it's a very typical Apple approach - they say, "we won't make item X, because X is junk" then go on to produce something that fits in the same market arena as X but is ten times better. That's why my money is on Apple bringing out a "NetPad" that sits somewhere between the iPhone and a NetBook. It won't have been rushed out either, they'll have been developing it for at least the last 18 months and it'll be a high quality piece of gear and more expensive than anything else in the market. It's just a matter of time, mark my words. ;o)
elai 18y ago
And the smaller keyboard sizes are actually a big plus for the peitie women of the world (which is a large amount of them in asia). And the vaio P series shows you can make a fullsized keyboard netbook.

7 points by peter123 18y ago

quoderat 18y ago

The iPhone and iPod Touch are already better netbooks than most netbooks.

buugs 18y ago
Maybe if all you are doing is web browsing and using the minimal apps, but some of the appeal of a netbook is that it is a functioning computer that is more portable than a normal laptop. Edit: I mean functioning as it can run large apps such as msoffice Besides mac minis are like the netbook of desktop computers.
Jem 18y ago
I use my netbook for coding on the go (so that I don't have to carry around my heavy, expensive laptop). Could I realistically spend an hour coding on the iPhone or iPod? No.

jokermatt999 18y ago

He disses netbooks, saying most have terrible quality, and gives that as a reason why Apple won't make one. To me, that seems very backwards. If the state of the netbook is so horrible, wouldn't an Apple "done-right, just works" netbook be an excellent idea? If the competition is terrible, despite demand being high, then it seems like that's the perfect time to enter the market.

elai 18y ago
The big draw of netbooks is cheapness, and apple likes avoiding cheapness.
- swannodette 18y ago
  A more accurate analysis is that they dislike low margin markets.
  - unalone 18y ago
    Apple could make a decent netbook that runs OS X, enter the market, and make a killing. They have the power to let computers run OS X, and OS X doesn't need a lot of RAM to work well. Apple has enough expertise in miniaturization that they could make a pretty good netbook without much of an effort on their part. The problem is that anything Apple makes impulsively will be below Apple's standards. Apple refuses to launch products that aren't either great or potentially great in the future. They sell computers on their reputation alone. So if they ever enter the "small computing" market, they'll do it after a lot of thought, and likely only if they can instantly change the public's perception of netbooks so that they have a chance of creating a potential monopoly like they've got with the iPod/iTunes and like they're angling towards with the iPhone/app store.
hellweaver666 18y ago
I think it's a very typical Apple approach - they say, "we won't make item X, because X is junk" then go on to produce something that fits in the same market arena as X but is ten times better. That's why my money is on Apple bringing out a "NetPad" that sits somewhere between the iPhone and a NetBook. It won't have been rushed out either, they'll have been developing it for at least the last 18 months and it'll be a high quality piece of gear and more expensive than anything else in the market. It's just a matter of time, mark my words. ;o)

elai 18y ago

And the smaller keyboard sizes are actually a big plus for the peitie women of the world (which is a large amount of them in asia). And the vaio P series shows you can make a fullsized keyboard netbook.