Jan
5
Mac Core’s MacWord Predictions
January 5, 2006 |
The Apple Core decided to assign odds topossible announcements Apple might be making at the San Francisco MacWorld.
Here they are the top three, which make perfect sense to me (and not just because I am holding out for that Intel iBook…)
3. 1GB iPod nano. The iPod shuffle has been sold out for weeks and Apple could release a larger 2GB version, but they’re more likely to euthanize the shuffle (like they did with the iPod mini) in favor of a 1GB nano. For only US$159 (US$30 more than the 1GB shuffle) you get a color screen and a dock connector. Apple will also add video support to the nano line via a firmware upgrade to boost sales of TV shows and video content. Odds: 3-2.
I agree - it is typcial Apple strategy to run. I am shooting for $149 though - to fit into the overall pricing strategy.
2. Intel Mac mini. It’s no secret that Apple’s moving into the living room and the Mac mini is the perfect platform to do it with. Apple could replace TiVO and your cable company’s DVR in one fell swoop with Apple-ized DVR software (see iLife ‘06). Apple will also add a built-in iPod dock, a dual-layer DVD drive and Front Row 2.0 (see iLife 06) to the Intel-based Mac mini, code-named Kaleidoscope. Odds: Even money.
It has to happen. Maybe not just yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Steve announced it next week. I am especially lookingforthe iPod dock . I remember there were rumors of the first mini being iPod ready inside and it just makes too much sense to combine all of these functions into one neat little package.
1. Widescreen Intel iBook. The first portable Intel Macs will be iBooks based on Intel’s new Yonah chipset featuring a new 65nm process that’s 70 percent smaller than the Centrino processor. Dynamic Power Coordination will allow Yonah’s two cores to be controlled independently making it sip batteries slowly. The new IBook (capital “I”) will feature a dual-core Yonah processor in the 1.5 to 2.0GHz range with a 667MHz front side bus. The new IBooks will ship in a single 13.3-inch widescreen (possibly High-Def) configuration. Don’t be surprised if this IBook is the first to ship without a FireWire port.
The FireWire port has made a bit of a splash in the blogosphere, but I really don’t care if it has a FireWire port or not - I don’t even have a device that would make use of it. If it is true, fine with me.
This will be the iBook to rule them all - no doubt in my mind. A guaranteed bestseller for Apple. The Apple notebook line is just ready for an update. Maybe there will be a new PowerBook as well. Who knows…
There are also some good comments on Read/Write Web, going into some more detail about the possible media strategy Apple might have.
Technorati Tags: apple, macworld, ibook, ipod, shuffle, powerbook
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Hmm…I think I like the idea of the Intel Mac Mini. Not so keen about the iBook.