>If they were going to offer something like a PB G3 for the same
price as the iMac then this might have a chance of happening. But they can't
posibly. Instead they are going to offer something with an 11 inch screen and kiddy
keyboard. I don't think this is going to be considered a suitable desktop replacement
by most people. Even at the same price as the iMac.<
Hmm. There's some conjecture and assumptions in the above statement that I don't subscribe to.
Let's compare a pair of discontinued, but relevant, products as possible precursors of the consumer portable:
The 2400c/180 has a nice 11" active matrix display, external floppy and a super-sucky kiddy-keyboard. I would often sell them with an external mouse and KB. There is an SVGA port so, it could run an external monitor up to 21". We did pretty well selling them with external floppy at $1500 (not the debut price of $3500).
The e-Mate 300 with a 20 mhz StrongARM processor, with days of battery life, a PC card slot and a passive/backlit display. Handwriting recognition was OK, but not as good as the much faster 162 mhz Newton 2100. Keyboard, though smallish was quite good, IMO. These were sold out pretty quickly at $800 once they were discontinued.
Each had pixie-cute, though dark styling and weighed a little over 4 pounds. Though targeted at different markets, each functions well as peripatetic wordprocessor/ spreadsheet/internet stations. The 2400c, with only the addition of a CDROM, could fulfill most household's primary needs. The e-Mate serves best as an extension to a desktop system. I see nothing preventing Apple from taking elements of each -- plus a good dose of iMac technology and styling -- to create a really compelling, affordable, portable CPU.
If my experience talking to hundreds of customers about what they need/want/will pay for give me any insight, then yes, the consumer portables will outsell the iMac, and not by a little bit. Hence my "bold" statement.
What do analysts know about selling computers? |
