Kaufman on MW09 gear

People may be able to see a variety of new Apple products at this year's Macworld Expo, despite the company's diminishing emphasis on tradeshows, says Kaufman's Shaw Wu. The analyst notes that while the focus of Apple's keynote will likely be on new Macs -- and a preview of Mac OS X Snow Leopard -- sources indicate the possibility of a new "consumer device" being announced, even if its exact identity is unclear.

Wu dismisses speculation of a new iPhone or other touchscreen device, but says Apple may be ready to announce an updated Apple TV set-top, and/or a new Time Capsule backup drive, either of which could have features such as remote file access. The Apple TV has not been updated in some time, and is generally thought to have outdated storage and functionality, eclipsed by rivals such as the Popcorn Hour.

Wu contends that Apple may effectively need to refresh Macs at Macworld, as sales have gone slack. The analyst further recommends a price drop due to the global recession, although sales of the newer (and more expensive) MacBooks are nevertheless said to be healthy. The Kaufman price target for Apple stock remains fixed at $120.

by MacNN Staff