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Syllabus: laptops can't clear cloudy future

updated 01:35 pm EST, Fri February 14, 2003


Syllabus, a publication targetting higher education, today published an article titled "" in which Phil Long, senior strategist for the Academic Computing Enterprise at MIT, concludes:

"These are well-engineered and sophisticated laptops. Whether they are too little too late is the question for Apple. Some financial analysts appear to be non-plussed. The day of MacWorld, Merrill Lynch issued a sell recommendation. Almost simultaneously Prudential Financial issued a 'hold' rating on Apple Computer. Looks like Wall St. is just as uncertain by the future of Apple as the rest of us. Sometimes the '8-ball' says, 'Outlook cloudy, try again later.'"


by MacNN Staff

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  1. MacNN.com Reader

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jul 2001

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    02/14, 02:09pm | report spam | Reply |

    Everyone put on...

    ...your VR helmets.

    "Hello, Lisa! I'm Genghis Khan. Today you'll go where I go. Defile what I defile. Eat who I eat..."

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    02/14, 02:15pm | report spam | Reply |

    are we still

    on this will apple survive kick?

    get over it...

  1. MacNN.com Reader

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

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    02/14, 02:30pm | report spam | Reply |

    yes

    we are... who cares anyway, if it dies, it dies, if it doesn't, it doesn't...

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    02/14, 02:38pm | report spam | Reply |

    Dead?

    If Apple dies then you will have a nice box running a Unix system. If it lives your box will be better than the 'other'option. Remember, though, Wall Street, missed the Enron collapse. Do you think they will predict accurately the future of such a solid company as Apple?

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    02/14, 03:09pm | report spam | Reply |

    sometimes

    Sometimes the '8-ball' says, 'Your a dumbass.'

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    02/14, 03:13pm | report spam | Reply |

    Biased?

    A little investigation can go a long way. My letter to Syllabus...

    Editor,

    In your February 1 edition of Syllabus, Phil Long discussed his cynical views of the new PowerBook notebook computers from Apple. Mr. Long forgot to mention, in his article, that he is responsible for MIT’s Laptop Computing Project, which would certainly seem to qualify him as an “expert” on portable computers. He also forgot to mention that his project at MIT is funded by a “generous grant” from Hewlett-Packard.

    This could seem like a casual and innocent absence of information to an otherwise valid and accurate piece, though the article’s validity and accuracy is called dramatically into question, as well.

    Mr. Long seems to question Apple’s choice of 802.11g for wireless, and calls Apple’s wireless ambitions a “bold bet.” Apple chose 802.11g over 802.11a for fairly obvious reasons, including comparable speeds, greater range, and 802.11b compatibility, something 802.11a lacks. And, as for a bold bet, true, Apple was one of the first to include wireless in its laptops in 1999; today, however, hp-Compaq, Dell, IBM, and almost every other major portable computer manufacturer have joined in. Not such a bad choice, or bold bet, after all.

    Finally, Mr. Long comments on whether or not Apple’s new laptops may be “too little, too late,” talks about analysts being “non-plussed” and discusses Wall Street’s “uncertainty” towards Apple. On January 16, Apple announced its Q1 earnings, and rose eighteen cents after the announcement. And, as with many other PC companies, analysts such as Needham & Co.’s Charles Wolf reduced Apple’s stock from “buy” to “hold,” saying Apple may have a rough road until consumer demand picks up. Seems like common sense, not dire straits.

    Perhaps the next time Mr. Long writes an article for Syllabus, he can manage to be a little more objective, a little more honest, and a little more open?

    Justen Deal
    Freshman Student, Marshall University
    Huntington, West Virginia

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    02/14, 03:25pm | report spam | Reply |

    My letter, in brief.

    Dear Editor, Syllabus,

    f*** you and Mr. Long.

    Sincerely,

    Nick T., Senior, UCSD

  1. raphaelf

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    02/14, 04:04pm | report spam | Reply |

    Why does every

    large company or educational institution, especially one as well-regarded as MIT, have such lame technology administration. Does Phil really believe an OS monopoly is better?

    To a technophile any improvement is viewed as a valid, legitimate reason to purchase and support a product. To a lowly bureaucrat, however, technological improvements are viewed as risks.

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    02/14, 04:12pm | report spam | Reply |

    Rating changes...

    Does anyone think Apple's ratings downgrades were because of the laptops? Please! Maybe it was due to no other new hardware, or no video iPod, or, how about this, the fact that Apple's value almost always goes up weeks before a MacWorld, and then falls sharply. Every time. h***, I could've told you to sell right after MacWorld (makes me wonder if these guys are waiting for Apple to announce).

    As for 802.11a, anyone who thinks that will take off is seriously delusional (they're probably also waiting for the return of HomeRF, or whatever the competitor to 802.11b was).

  1. MacNN.com Reader

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    02/14, 04:22pm | report spam | Reply |

    Too Little Too late?

    These two new notebooks only added to the Best choice of notebooks out there. Really Apple is not playing catchup in the notebook realm. apple still offers the best features and usability in a notebook out there...I've looked for a long time.

    As far as using 802.11g over "a" seems to be an obvious choice. It has better range, equal speed, compatibility with "b", but most importantly and overlooked often. It uses less power than "a" meaning my PowerBook's battery will last longer. "g" is also creates less interferance on other equipment running on 2.4 GHz band as well. So my cordless phone at home won't drop out when I'm on the internet.

    The hesitation is that "a" came out first. Well, sometimes being first does not mean that is the best option.

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