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April 22nd, 2009

Apple disses netbooks, again

Posted by Jason D. O'Grady @ 2:43 pm

Categories: AAPL, Earnings, Finance, Netbook

Tags: Apple Inc., Netbook, Netbooks, Nettops & MIDs, Hardware, Jason D. O'Grady

steve-chippy/Flickr)When asked about netbooks on today’s Q2 2009 earning conference call Apple’s chief operating officer Timothy D. Cook took a couple of pointed shots at the ultra-small notebooks, saying (paraphrased):

  • I see cramped keyboards, terrible software, junky hardware, small screens, things I would not put the Mac brand on
  • Not interested in them in the short term
  • We do look at ths space and interested to see how our customers react to them
  • The iPhone and iPod touch already do a lot of what a netbook does
  • If we find a way to deliver an innovative product we’ll do that
  • We have interesting ideas in the space
  • It’s a stretch to call netbooks personal computers, they’re propping up PC manufacturer’s numbers

Does Apple just have its head in the sand or is it intentionally hiding the fact that it’s secretly developing a netbook?

Photo: Cult of Mac

Jason D. O'GradyJason D. O'Grady is the editor of PowerPage.org, which has been publishing daily mobile technology news since December 1995. For disclosures on Jason's industry affiliations, click here or to view Jason's full profile click here.

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  • Talkback
  • Most Recent of 96 Talkback(s)
I gotta agree with this one
The Apple Way boils down to these tenets:
1. Make glossy, overpriced product.

2. Market it as the Be All End All of Cool.

3. Subtly insult people who don't - or can't - afford to buy ... (Read the rest)
Posted by: proudgeek Posted on: 05/07/09 You are currently: a Guest | | Terms of Use
Will they or won't they?!?  dkawalec | 04/22/09
Only Apple could...  BillDem | 04/23/09
If it sucks so bad, then why not show us how it should be done?  Urkel | 04/22/09
pro  elllroy | 04/22/09
Apple tablet? Maybe, maybe not.  PollyProteus | 04/23/09
Maybe they will, maybe they can't  DannyO_0x98 | 04/22/09
You completely miss "The Apple Way" of doing things  Cayble | 04/22/09
I Agree Cayble  Chalfont | 04/24/09
I gotta agree with this one  proudgeek | 05/07/09
Struck a nerve did we  frgough | 04/22/09
"Struck a nerve did we"  Kaptah | 04/23/09
But...  upwardmultimedia | 04/23/09
" But "  Kaptah | 04/24/09
"We"? Wake up and realize you aren't part of Apple  Urkel | 04/23/09
because...  moteltan | 04/23/09
" because "  Kaptah | 04/24/09
that would explain something  rahbm | 04/26/09
Because you can't fit parts that good into a Netbook that small.  upwardmultimedia | 04/23/09
And we have a winner!!!  Scrat | 04/23/09
Well...  upwardmultimedia | 04/23/09
Still running my 8-year old Titanium with OSX 10.5.6  minardi | 04/24/09
" the software broke on both "  Kaptah | 04/24/09
Don't be pedantic  dkawalec | 04/24/09
"break MUCH quicker than parts that Apple uses"  Kaptah | 04/24/09
Pricing is rarely based only on cost  frabjous | 04/25/09
it's a stretch?  coffeeshark | 04/22/09
iNewton  urbandk | 04/22/09
Nah, more like the eMate 300 !!!!!  Scrat | 04/22/09
What was so bad about it?  Roger Ramjet | 04/22/09
iNewton  vince7@... | 04/22/09
ROFPUD (Picking up dirt)  Roger Ramjet | 04/22/09
Agreed.  Custard_over_2x_Pie | 04/23/09
RE: Apple disses netbooks, again  khurt@... | 04/22/09
I agree 100%  i8thecat | 04/22/09
Why not dig her out of the hole?  rahbm | 04/26/09
RE: Apple disses netbooks, again  khurt@... | 04/22/09
They're making one  Pliny the Elder | 04/22/09
nothing much secret about "we have interesting ideas"  paul@... | 04/22/09
Whatever Apple!  voss749 | 04/22/09
Please....  westsidepump@... | 04/22/09
That's all folks!  hav_link | 04/22/09
Yes, but not in the way you're aluding to  LiquidLearner | 04/22/09
Hypocrisy!  john@... | 04/23/09
Facts and opinion  macadam | 04/23/09
Totally agree; Premium netbook = Vaio P = mediocre  croberts | 04/22/09
Maybe Apple doesn't get it?  bw@... | 04/22/09
If you were an "Expert's Expert"  LiquidLearner | 04/22/09
u should b worried  ThinkFairer | 04/22/09
One thing I just don't get....  Cayble | 04/22/09
You don't get it. Good business=profit !justrevenue  aristotle_z | 04/23/09
Incentives for Apple ...  dkawalec | 04/23/09
Mac in Dangrous  kevinet | 04/22/09
RE: Apple disses netbooks, again  vince7@... | 04/22/09
Apple, shut up and deliver  mkill | 04/22/09
Who died and made you the boss of Apple? N/T  john@... | 04/23/09
RE: Apple disses netbooks, again  kakman1@... | 04/22/09
It just burns them, that THEY didn't invent Netbooks. (nt)  Custard_over_2x_Pie | 04/23/09
Don't worry, they will.  Lunatic59 | 04/23/09
Never heard Apple make such claims.....  James Quinn | 04/23/09
You go left and I'll throw down the sidelines.  Lunatic59 | 04/23/09
The problem is that some like NonZ often make  James Quinn | 04/23/09
Safety first  Lunatic59 | 04/23/09
Glad you don't hit dogs;)  James Quinn | 04/23/09
RE: Apple disses netbooks, again  someitguy79 | 04/23/09
Netbooks are a waste when a entry level laptop same price  Randalllind | 04/23/09
Good Show. Take them to task Jason.  no_zd_user_name | 04/23/09
Apple is SPOT ON...  kjdig@... | 04/23/09
Actually.....  James Quinn | 04/23/09
RE: Apple disses netbooks, again  ewelch | 04/23/09
Good for Apple!  tonyhunterajh | 04/23/09
RE: Apple disses netbooks, again  aaronwyatt | 04/23/09
This Is One Instance I Have To Kick Jobs In The Butt  itanalyst2@... | 04/23/09
You've just nailed it  Chalfont | 04/24/09
The whole user experience  ivan.neva@... | 04/23/09
Really?  minardi | 04/24/09
Do netbooks have any future? I don't believe so,  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/23/09
Apple snobs have no future  T1Oracle | 04/23/09
You just described a lap top.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/23/09
You Heard It First!! Another Prediction That Will FLOP  itanalyst2@... | 04/23/09
Go back to hiding in your car trunk.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/23/09
RE: Apple disses netbooks, again  jhugo1@... | 04/23/09
Dissing the PC category with the strongest growth?  wineaux | 04/23/09
And Apple makes a good margin on the OS sale:P  James Quinn | 04/23/09
For Free?  minardi | 04/24/09
RE: Apple disses netbooks, again  wulfgyr@... | 04/23/09
RE: Apple disses netbooks, again  westsidepump@... | 04/23/09
RE: Apple disses netbooks, again  mimsy | 04/23/09
Apple dissing Intel  djchandler | 04/23/09
Appler Pleeeese...  CEDeaton | 04/23/09
RE: Apple disses netbooks, again  Conmergence | 04/23/09
Who cares what Apple thinks?  alan_r_cam@... | 04/23/09
RE: Apple disses netbooks, again  kps_46635@... | 04/23/09
OSX? Not legally.  frabjous | 04/25/09
RE: Apple disses netbooks, again  phatkat | 04/23/09
It's Obvious  Jkirk3279 | 04/23/09
It won't be a netbook, that's why  mayadanteamihan | 04/23/09

What do you think?

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