Apple helped kill netbooks. Will it bring them back?
- Apple is reportedly working on a low-cost MacBook that could be priced as low as $599.
- The laptop would have an entirely new design, rather than simply using a MacBook Air’s innards in a cheap plastic case.
- The device would feature a lower-resolution screen and be powered by an iPhone processor, possibly the A19 chip found in certain iPhones.
- This move would be a significant departure from Apple’s traditional focus on premium products, suggesting that the company is looking to expand its market reach.
- Apple’s affordable MacBook could potentially revive the netbook market, which was largely killed by the rise of laptops and tablets.
Rumor has it, Apple is working on a low-cost MacBook. And not “low-cost for a Mac,” but a proper cheap laptop, possibly as low as $599. For a company that traditionally targets the more premium end of the market, this would be something of an about-face.
Of course, Apple takes great pride in its design and aesthetics. So the company isn’t going to simply take the innards of a MacBook Air, slap them in a cheap plastic case, and call it a day. Instead, Apple is supposedly building a smaller laptop, with a lower-resolution screen and an “entirely new design” around an iPhone processor.
That chip could be some version of the A19 found in the …
Read the full story at The Verge.
Q. Will Apple bring back netbooks?
A. There is no clear indication that Apple plans to revive netbooks, but a low-cost MacBook with a price tag as low as $599 could be seen as an alternative.
Q. How small will Apple’s affordable MacBook be?
A. The exact size of the laptop is not specified, but it is mentioned that Apple is building a “smaller laptop” compared to its current offerings.
Q. What kind of processor will Apple use in its low-cost MacBook?
A. According to rumors, the chip could be some version of the A19 found in iPhones.
Q. Will the design of the affordable MacBook be similar to other MacBooks?
A. No, the company is supposedly building an “entirely new design” for the laptop.
Q. What is the expected price range of Apple’s low-cost MacBook?
A. The rumored price tag is as low as $599.
Q. Is this a departure from Apple’s traditional target market?
A. Yes, Apple typically targets the more premium end of the market, so a low-cost laptop would be an about-face for the company.
Q. Will the affordable MacBook have a lower-resolution screen?
A. The text mentions that the laptop will have a “lower-resolution screen”, but it does not provide further details on the resolution.
Q. Is Apple’s focus on design and aesthetics still present in the low-cost MacBook?
A. Yes, according to the text, Apple takes great pride in its design and aesthetics, suggesting that the company is committed to maintaining its high standards even in a more affordable product.
Q. Will the innards of an existing MacBook Air be used in the affordable laptop?
A. No, the text states that Apple is building a “smaller laptop” with new components, rather than simply using an existing model’s parts.