Part 1 on 1/15/01 Dave Fleishman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I agree that it will > likely be a cold day in Cupertino before a Comet-killer comes out. On our favorite subject of never-ending (mostly pessimistic) speculation concerning Apple's "pending" subnotebooks (part 1), I apologize in advance for preempting extra bandwidth by posting some of my comments to the Powerlist (Part 2). None of these posts ever appeared on Duolist, but I did write extensively on the subnotebook theme for the Powerlist in that period. The first post was featured on go2mac.com and kept the subnotebook discussion lively for a while. For those seriously interested, please read on--for those impatient or intolerant of bandwidth usurpation, please scroll onwards rapidly :-). IT SEEMS APPLE WAS LISTENING! There is great reason to hope. Back in May, 2000, Powerlist ran a survey for the MOST DESIRED items in new Powerbooks. The first choice was a subnotebook followed closely by 15" screens (and I think that's where it ended up). It is known that Apple monitors various lists, and probably the Powerlist most closely. SO, we got the 15" screen!!! I used to be very bearish about a subnotebook but now I have turned strongly bullish. My reasoning (although I may yet have to eat my words): 1. Apple strongly needs to improve its overall product mix. It particularly needs to reposition and revitalize the G4-Cube (typically crippled by Apple's too high expectation, underpowered at a much too high a price--same mistakes as the PB-2400c introduction, among others). The Cube is an absolutely viable product, but only at the right price/performance ratio. A combative battle-tested Steve J. will not admit defeat easily so I expect to see the Cube suitably revamped in its next iteration. It should not be lost on Apple that the argument and need for a subnotebook (the oft posed question long unanswered) is far more compelling than the case for the Cube itself (the unasked question imperfectly answered). Therefore, I fully expect a new subnotebook will be the necessary and compelling Powerbook analog to the Cube--a move that would reinforce the minimalist elegance by defining this corner of Apple's product matrix. 2. The new Titanium 15" screen skews the absolute size of the G4-Titan too far to one side of Apple's product matrix not to fill the (now cavernous) gap for a subnotebook to occupy. (This is not a complaint of the praiseworthy G4-Titan but a rather plea for the G4-MiniTitan). 3. Apple has notably taken the Sony VIAO head-on in its advertising (and not singled out other PCs). It cannot do so really successfully without taking the comparison fight further to the core of VIAO's success--its extremely appealing "niche" range of slim notebooks and subnotebooks (carved "impossibly" late, yet remarkably successfully in an overcrowded PC market). This imperative cannot be lost on Apple. One killer Apple subnotebook product, properly powered and priced, will appropriately answer... 4. The (overdue) shift to a metal case allows the reduction of bulk, thickness and flex while proportionately improving both rigidity and cooling. (Pismo flexes badly.) This is too much of a technical transition, directional commitment and marketing opportunity not to further "amortize" Apple's technical investment by expanding the titanium based product line into its natural subnotebook evolution. Just the marketing opportunity alone can be a vital new image builder for Apple in an increasingly demanding and easily bored high-tech world. Apple need not fear the cannibalization of its other unit sales. The typical subnotebook customer is/will be the most discriminating and demanding of all of Apple's customers, irrespective of whether a subnotebook is the first, second, third (or more) unit addition to any die hard Apple user's tool collection. In short, this means a significant net plus to Apple's total sales. Apple's recovery in the capital markets will not come until it has convinced sceptical analysts that all of the cornerstones of Apple's product matrix have been successfully re-invented and proven in the market. The relationships and relevance of the products will not be replete until a killer professional subnotebook debuts. It should run at the same CPU power and not be intentionally, foolishly and unnecessarily crippled for spurious marketing purposes. (Apple, you've been there, done that and paid for it). Therefore I fully expect a new subnotebook in reasonable time (meaning enough time for us to buy new G4-Titans/desktops before parting again with enough green for a subnotebook). Short wish list-- --same CPU power, speeds G4-400/500, caches --12" range screen at 1024 horizontal OK (make the subnotebook emphatically SUBnotebook, not subNOTEBOOK as in +13" screens) --at least 8mb video ram to drive meeting room presentations, external monitor --please, let the ROM read a PCMCIA slot to allow flash memory cards to perform OS bootup--this is EXTREMELY useful for international road warriors --in general implacably favor smaller size/bulk over weight/density reductions (realization of the former will naturally limit the latter) --no functionality intentionally truncated or crippled ---------- Duo/2400 List, The friendliest place on the Net! A listserv for users and fans of Mac subportables. 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