Apple 'Netbooks', Eh?

I can't imagine Apple producing a netbook. What I <i>can</i> imagine is Apple producing a foldable iPhone with a 7" screen and video chat capability: a small laptop with a 3G (and therefore ubiquitous) Internet connection, an App Store, and an in-facing camera. It would be a transitional step toward a hypothetically even more tumultuous change: an App Store for OSX itself.

In terms of portability, I don't see the value of taking a few inches off a Macbook Air.<p>The MBA already fits into all backpacks, briefcases and even those funny bags women carry around. It's very thin and light. You can't make it small enough to avoid the need for a backpack/briefcase, ie. it won't fit in your pocket, so what are you trading the screen real-estate for?<p>The only sensible answer would be 'money', ie. if it'd be less expensive, but Apple / S.J. says they don't know how to make it cheaper.

Nice analysis. A friend mentioned to me that the macbooks have gotten bigger over the years and there was on that was 12 inches (?) that they no longer make. I wouldn't be surprised if they announced a new small notebook with a heavy price tag targeted at filling that void.<p>A netbook would be cool, but I doubt it would come cheap from Apple. They also tend to be a little think (proportionally), so if they made a netbook Air <i>that</i> would be amazing.

Nah, this guy does not know what he's talking about. An iPhone is a phone. The OS was built for the hardware, it was designed to communicate.<p>The NetBook is for the web. I can also install any OS, as it is a PC, not a phone with a built in OS.

Finally, someone with some sense about this netbook rubbish.

IMHO all they need to do is make a really cool portable keyboard that works via BlueTooth with the iPhone and iPod Touch. Instant netbook functionality.

Quote from the article: <i>By controlling the software that can be loaded and the hardware that can be attached, Apple's device will be simpler, easier to use and more reliable than a PC</i><p>This smells like the dreaded "Trusted Computing" with its hardware engraved DRM.<p>Until people are free to install whatever apps they want to install &#38; use any operating system of their choice; Apple or any company that controls what software can be installed isn't going to derive much success from their computers.