Apple Wants A Bite From The Fruits Of The Netbook Market
The introduction of netbooks into mainstream computing led to a shift in computer requirements for the educational system. Netbooks provide a cheap, easy, and efficient way to meet local school needs without frivolous spending and expensive programs that a second grader can’t even pronounce. Apple has finally decided to join and attempt this market with their new 13 inch MacBook Pros.
The problem is though, that at $1200 dollars, these tiny powerhouses come packed with all the capabilities that have been introduced in the 15 and 17 inch MacBooks. This means that they have all the processing, musical, designing, editing abilities as the rest of its family. These Mac’s may actually prove to be too hardcore for schools, even by normal computer standards.
In the right kind of school, however, these MacBooks might find their home. With a 7 hour battery life, 7 hours of school, and a lot of funding for special classes that could make use of what a MacBook has to offer, Apple may find some sort of market for their new product.
The 13-inch MBP is not a netbook. You are completely, 100% incorrect in the assertion.
Apple is not marketing the MBP as a netbook. It makes no sense to analyze that they are doing so.
The 13-inch MBP is a rebadging of the aluminum MacBook. Apple cut the price, and added back FireWire. That’s it.
While emptying the MacBook line down to a single model is nice, it only highlights that you’re basically paying $200 for faster RAM, FireWire, and a shiny metal butt over the base model.
The only association with netbook that I can see, is the potential for an Atom/Ion-powered entry level MacBook. That would be a true netbook.
I never stated, or asserted that the 13 inch MBP is a netbook. I simply gave an analysis on how the new MBP could be used in schools in the same manner netbooks are. Schools and places of education are potential markets for both netbooks and the 13 inch MBP.