Piper: 11"/13" ultra-portable at Macworld Expo
updated 09:30 am EST, Mon December 17, 2007
11- to 13-inch UMPC at MW?
Expectations for the widely-anticipated Mac sub-notebook have changed, say members of research firm Piper Jaffray. Analyst Gene Munster argues that where the firm previously expected an 8- to 11-inch system, they now believe that Apple's "thinnest and lightest" notebook ever will sit somewhere between 11 and 13 inches. It will also be fairly expensive for its size, coming between $1,099 and $1,999; this may be attributable to the option of a 64GB flash drive, or even the inclusion of touchscreen technology similar to that of the iPhone.
The existence of an ultra-portable is also supported by a UBS analyst, Ben Reitzes. Reitzes suggests that in any case the event will be Mac-focused, with new upgrades to current models; this belief is pushing UBS' stock target for Apple from $220 to $235. He also believes that some variety of iPhone announcement may be made, one which Munster proposes could be increased flash storage. Neither analyst anticipates a 3G iPhone at Macworld, with Munster in particular suggesting that it will not be seen until May or June.
In terms of non-hardware announcements, Munster estimates that there is a 50 percent chance iTunes video rentals will be revealed at Macworld. If even they are not, he says, this chance should grow to 90 percent by mid-2008.
Hokay
12/17, 09:54am reply
Now these guys are sound more and more like trying to shoot penguins under the Arctic ice. "Between 11 and 13 inches, and between $1099 and $1999"? Come on, the Titanic could have sailed through a hole that big.
dilmah
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Dec 2007
It's called leeway....
12/17, 10:33am reply
The vaguer the description, the less chance they have of being totally wrong. These analysts are guessing and still want to seem as if they know what the product is going to be like. They're being fairly idiotic, but maybe that's their only claim to fame.
A fifty percent chance of iTunes video rentals is as good as flipping a coin to make that call.
Constable Odo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2007
Arctic penguins?
12/17, 01:08pm reply
Dilmah, I'll give you $1999 for every penguin that you can find swimming under the Arctic ice, and I'll even double that for every one you can shoot there! Hint: Penguins live in the Antarctic.
trevj
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Dec 1999
touch screen?
12/17, 03:32pm reply
Who would want that on a laptop?
boazh
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2004
Arctic penguins
12/17, 06:18pm reply
trevj, although it's not a great simile, dilmah is very obviously trying to make the point that the analysts are looking for something that is not there. Try and make sure you're on solid ground before you go parsing others' language on these pages, it's boring, it's off topic and nobody likes a smartass.
albyrw
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Dec 2004
Is that expensive?
12/17, 07:04pm reply
I might be way off base, but as far as I've shopped, ultraportables come priced at a fairly stiff premium vs their "mainstream notebook" counterparts with the 15.4" diagonal displays.
The ultraportable (4 1/2 pounds or less, roughly) group tends to price itself in the $1200-$3000 range, especially if you want cutting edge processors at that speed. The small offerings from Dell, Sony, and Lenovo generally fall in that range.
technomaster
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Oct 2003
i'd take the low end
12/17, 08:34pm reply
A $1099 11" Mac ultraportable would sell like hotcakes. You might as well just put together a big stack of them and pour on the maple syrup. Bring it on!
Titanium Man
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2001