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Apple: Netbooks Are Junky Hardware, But We Have Some Ideas

April 22nd, 2009 by Mark Spoonauer  

timcookIf you thought you might see a netbook from Apple this June at the upcoming WWDC, think again. In response to a question about the red-hot product category during the company’s second quarter results conference call, Apple COO Tim Cook (pictured at right) said the following:

For us, it’s about doing great products. When I look at what is being sold in the netbook space today, I see cramped keyboards, terrible software, junky hardware, very small screens, and just not a consumer experience and not something we would put the Mac brand on.

Cook went on to say that people who just want to get online for doing e-mail and Web browsing might want an iPod touch or iPhone instead. Both devices are selling like hotcakes, but given that they both have smaller screens and keyboards than netbooks, this argument sounds a bit contradictory.

Then Cook seemed to warm to the idea of netbooks as a concept, saying that “if we find a way that we can deliver an innovative product that really makes a contribution, then we will do that—we have some interesting ideas in this space.”

It looks like Apple may be dabbling in a larger screen touch device or netbook behind the scenes, but I wouldn’t expect it until the fall. But what about Cook’s comments on today’s netbooks? Are they fair?

If Apple was talking about netbooks made a year ago, I could see Cook’s point. But look at the latest models like the Samsung N110 ($329.95), HP Mini 2140, and ASUS Eee PC 1000HE ($385.53). They certainly don’t have cramped keyboards anymore, with many of the layouts being close to full size. And 10 inches is certainly better than the 7- and 8-inch displays we’ve seen in the past; they’re fine for surfing the Web and streaming video. There are also netbooks like the Samsung NC20 ($399.99) with 12-inch displays.

As for the claim about junky hardware, it’s true that today’s netbooks aren’t very powerful, but they don’t need to be. The Atom processor has enough oomph for basic productivity chores and working in the cloud, and in some cases you get well over 6 hours of battery life. I’d rather have more endurance than muscle any day when it comes to this type of device. What’s more, the build quality of netbooks have improved across the board, although some vendors are doing a better job than others.

Is the software terrible? I’d argue that Windows XP (the standard netbook OS) is far less cumbersome than Vista, and again, the software that most people care about is really online. On the other hand, I’m sure that if and when Apple enters this space it will bring its hugely popular App Store with it.

I have no doubt that Apple will bring some welcome innovation to the netbook arena, but I also believe today’s netbooks are proving quite satisfying to millions of people looking for the best bang for their buck. They’re anything but junky.
 Comments (8 Responses) 

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8 Responses to “Apple: Netbooks Are Junky Hardware, But We Have Some Ideas”

  1. Johnnny Says:
    April 22nd, 2009 at 8:07 pm

    To get something straight from beginning – I love netbooks, I’ve been PC user all my life (I barely had any time to spend with a mac, and I didn’t like OS X), and I am a desktop user (yeah, I don’t see much point in laptops with huge screens either).

    Now after boring anyone unlucky enough to read that, I’ll try to make my point.

    Netbooks are junky hardware in one aspect: they are primarily bought by internet junkies. I know that many of you would disagree, but just think about it, an average consumer doesn’t buy it because it’s an interesting gadget, or because he or she simply likes small computers. It’s because they can visit internet from virtually anywhere, in relative comfort, without breaking a bank, or their backs.

    Another thing is, when you look at the netbook space today, what you essentially see is a bunch of copies, some better than other, but not much has changed since outing of the MSI Wind. It is rather hard to make something innovative, and yet cheap enough to call it netbook. What Apple always tries to do is be innovative, special and consequently copied. If Sony hadn’t outed the Vaio P, that would be something worthy of an apple, but since everything happened as it did, it’s hard to expect from Apple to say “yeah, the netbooks are great, they’ve got terrific value and they are worth your money”. Somehow, I’m convinced that their goal is to sell their own goods.

    One more thing for those left awake for the end (sorry, admins): as a desktop user, I find almost any laptop keyboard uncomfortable for prolonged use (ALMOST, I was pretty amazed in fact by Macbook’s keyboard), and consequently, anything that’s small and thin is pretty close to agony. I understand that it’s not so for majority of you, but for some of us there is some truth in the statement that netbook keyboards are cramped.

    That’s my point of view, and no, I have no idea why I had to share it with everyone, but hey, it doesn’t hurt, which means it can only be useful to someone, right?

  2. Mr. Mac Says:
    April 22nd, 2009 at 9:12 pm

    This isn’t surprising. In the same way that Apple sees Macs as separate from PCs, Apple’s forthcoming 10 inch device will be different from other netbooks. My guess? It’ll running a tweaked version of Mac OS X, similar to the iPhone. The full blown OS X will be left for the full size Macs.

  3. silentcon Says:
    April 22nd, 2009 at 10:48 pm

    So if Mac starts selling netbooks, then surely it will come with more features, and when it becomes a hit, all netbooks will follow the hype. I just hope Mac wont be selling netbooks that costs beyond $500.

  4. Nicolas Grignon Says:
    April 23rd, 2009 at 10:09 am

    Always the same elitist bull….t! I have a PC who runs Panther and Vista for a fraction of the price of a mac pro and for about the same characteristics. The Airbook was a farce for hyped rich fools, and the next generation of ION powered netbook is around the corner with very interesting specs for less than 500$… So, so long Apple and your future $1000 crap for hyped bozos! The world can run without Apple and its 10% of the market and their over-aggressive stupid ads.

  5. bakin9 Says:
    April 23rd, 2009 at 12:00 pm

    The only reason Apple has no interest in Netbooks is price point. They haven’t figured how they can make their usual 50% markup on a usable device costing less than $500 and doesn’t cannibalize their pricer bigger models.

    I’m sure once that’s figured, they will truly come out with an “innovative” netbook that makes coffee and sings you to sleep at night.

  6. Ed Fry Says:
    April 23rd, 2009 at 1:00 pm

    If you look at the Apple trends, they’ve taken an existing industry niche and added their innovative touch. The iPod now dominates the music player industry, the iPhone has become the inspiration for all new smartphones – the Macs? Whilst they are indeed successful, they’re fighting up against bigger corporations like Microsoft.

    Macs have targeted a niche – graphic intensive and creative users and they’ve excelled in that. But how to target that niche where Apple are established with a smaller product seems like a tricky task. And how likely is it that Apple can come up with the ‘iPhone’ of the computer world? What more can you add?

  7. Ted Mac Says:
    April 23rd, 2009 at 6:17 pm

    I think Apple COO Tim Cook is just pissed that Apple did not come out with this innovation first. They love to be leaders not followers. I purchased my MSI Wind last August for a 65 day cruise around the Pacific starting in September. I also purchased an external battery supply, The iRecharge, and with the Wind’s 6 cell I am guessing that it will go 10 hours. I have only made it to a little over 8 hours before I gave up, and the Wind battery guage was showing 70% left. I have done our blog of the trip completely on the Wind, and ran into no problems. I have viewed movies with an external DVD player plugged into the USB ports with no problems. The software for this came with Wind. My Skype calls with a good wireless connection is excellent. I have not discovered it’s limitations yet.

  8. rauy Says:
    May 8th, 2009 at 1:18 am

    hey people! We’re forgetting that it’s Asus’ EeePC 701 who’s the grand dad of all these netbooks. (Just a little reminder)

    And also, I do get it how Apple is innovative – they’ve proven their “greatness” in the iPod/iPod touch and iPhone, as well as with OS X which is a beautfifully designed OS, in and out (cleaner code than certain Windows OS versions). But I just don’t understand how Apple guys, especially their execs, have to resort to bashing non-Apple products?

    Why would they call netbooks “junky hardware” when they themselves don’t use them?

    I think Apple should just keep quiet and leave the bashing to consumers of netbooks.

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