Michael, thread, haven't seen this rumor in a while:
Rumors Swirl Ahead of Macworld 2002: A Move to Intel?
By Robyn Weisman
NewsFactor Network
January 4, 2002
Most analysts agree that Jobs will announce an updated iMac with a flat-panel screen, and a new PDA, called the iWalk by sources close to Apple, also seems likely.
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As Macworld Expo 2002 approaches, the rumors swirling around Apple Computer's (Nasdaq: AAPL) upcoming product announcements have taken on an almost National Enquirer-style frenzy.
And Apple's famed marketing honchos, who combine the spirits of Man Ray and P.T. Barnum, are doing top-notch work in encouraging such activity. On Friday, three days before Apple CEO Steve Jobs gives his keynote speech, Apple's Web site flashed the message: "To go where no PC has gone before."
Expected Announcements
Most analysts agree that Jobs will announce an updated iMac with a flat-panel screen, following the revelation last month that the company began purchasing 15-inch LCD screens in bulk from a Taiwanese company.
Giga Information Group vice president and research fellow Rob Enderle told NewsFactor that the product launch of the updated iMac is "a given."
A new PDA, called the iWalk by sources close to Apple, also seems likely, although such a device might be a Palm variant, Enderle said.
Already, the Apple Web site boasts beta versions of a Palm Desktop that works with Apple's UNIX-based OS X operating system.
Enderle also said he expects software vendors will announce updated versions of their products as they show increasing support for Apple's new OS. The launch of a Windows driver to operate Apple's new iPod is expected to be among the announcements.
Announcing new software, however, is par for the course at Macworld, according to Enderle.
"It would be more unusual for people not to be talking about it," he said.
Consumer Appeal
Many other rumors, such as the possibility of a new G5 chip and an updated iPod, have been circulating in the last several weeks. There also has been speculation that Apple may introduce a digital camera, its first since the ill-fated Quicktake, which, like the Newton PDA, may have been too far ahead of its time.
Enderle said that such a camera might be an Apple-branded product produced by another vendor. He added that people can expect more products along these lines as Apple makes a strong push to become a broader consumer player in the marketplace.
According to Enderle, Apple recently has been in talks with Sony, and the companies may announce an alliance in the future.
"In many ways, Sony is the Wintel version of Apple, go[ing], with the exception of the education market, after pretty much the same market segments," said Enderle. "Both offer a high coolness factor and unique aspects of usability. They are mirror images of each other."
There have even been reports that Sony might buy out Apple, but Enderle told NewsFactor that such an announcement is unlikely.
The Switch to Intel?
Perhaps the most compelling buzz surrounding the upcoming show, however, is the possibility that Apple might move its platform from the Motorola (NYSE: MOT) PowerPC chip to Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) chips.
Although Enderle does not expect Jobs will surprise attendees with such an announcement, switching to Intel could transform Apple's position in the marketplace by removing the cost disadvantages it presently faces relative to other PC makers.
Moving to Intel "would bring Apple nearly identical economies of scale," Enderle said. "The new OS is relatively portable since the UNIX kernel [on which it is based] has been traditionally put on Intel."
If Apple were to make the switch, it could start seeing many more converts, Enderle added.
"Their case design is second to none," he said. "I know people who buy used Power Macs, pull the Mac stuff out and put Intel stuff in."
newsfactor.com
Tony |
