Linked by Thom Holwerda on Mon 27th Apr 2009 15:07 UTC
Last week, Apple again repeated its claim that the iPhone and iPod Touch are capable of filling the netbook niche. They also claimed that netbooks can barely be called personal computers. Both of these statements are complete and utter nonsense, but instead of writing down some high-level definition of what a netbook is, I decided to simply write down all the things I do with my netbook that the iPhone/iPod Touch cannot do to make the difference between the two that much more tangible.
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Member since:2006-01-12
I think apple should go back to the way they used to advertise, which was to point out what was so great about apple and really not mention the competition that much.
Just to give you a hard time, when was that?
The 1984 superbowl anti-IBM ad?
The "think different" ads?
The 2000's I'm a Mac/ I'm a PC ads?
Looking at a Dell ad, as a typical PC ad, it lists specs and what it can do for you.
Every major Apple campaign is based on differentiation by negation: "we're not them."
I do agree that it was an excellent article as to what netbooks are capable of. I haven't heard Apple claiming that iPhones/ iTouches are netbooks, but if they have, it's just a low cost way to move a few more units by attaching to a current trend.
edit: posted just after Thom did, so I missed his. Sorry.
Edited 2009-04-27 16:32 UTC
Member since:2007-05-12
Im surprised apple suggested that the iPod Touch / iPhone platform is in anyway comparable to the netbook platform
Apple suggested only that for many of the netbook use cases the iPhone is comparable (or even superior, e.g. it's always connected while most netbooks are not). They are not claiming that the iPhone can replace a netbook for everything.
Again i don't understand why apple felt the need to respond to the netbook market...
They "felt the need" to do it because they are being constantly asked about the netbook market and about their plans regarding it - both directly on earning calls, etc., and indirectly in the press.
Personally if all of the critisim's of the netbook held up, i.e. people won't like linux as it's different, the keyboard is too small, the screen is to small etc.. then we wouldn't hear about netbooks again, they would simply die out, there are only so many tech's wanting a new toy.
Probably not all criticisms are valid, at the very least not valid for all makes and models, but many are. The reason why they are generally overlooked, which is the same as one of the reasons why the "fad" hasn't died out yet, is that netbooks are dirt cheap. One simply can afford to buy one just to play around with or only use occasionally.
And as for netbooks still being a hot topic - the netbook product category is quite young, there are still some exciting developments and that's fueling the interest.
I think apple should go back to the way they used to advertise, which was to point out what was so great about apple and really not mention the competition that much
Apple are pointing out what's great about their products and comparing them to the competition. It seems to have worked handsomely for them, so let's refrain from giving Apple business advices.
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Member since:
2006-07-25
Excellent sum up of the major difference between the two platforms.
Im surprised apple suggested that the iPod Touch / iPhone platform is in anyway comparable to the netbook platform.
As mentioned in the article they are two different platforms, catering for two different markets/uses. Of course there are overlaps, but the core functionality is very different.
Again i don't understand why apple felt the need to respond to the netbook market, if they don't want to enter the market fine, i can understand there is not that much of a margin, but to try and take product x and belittle product y is a little boring.
Personally if all of the critisim's of the netbook held up, i.e. people won't like linux as it's different, the keyboard is too small, the screen is to small etc.. then we wouldn't hear about netbooks again, they would simply die out, there are only so many tech's wanting a new toy.
I don't own one personally, however if i commuted on a train alot i would get one. I think they are great little devices and really plug a gap in the market where you want to jot, show a presentation, do some browsing and check your emails well. Would i use one over a laptop, probably not, however that's just my criteria.
I think apple should go back to the way they used to advertise, which was to point out what was so great about apple and really not mention the competition that much.