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Jobs opens the door for an Apple subnotebook: Reader Replies
July 24, 2000
by Stephen Hildreth
Editor-in-Chief
This is a no brainer (even microsoft has one!): it's called an iPad!
UMA - either V1 or V2
12"/15" LCD (passive/active) w/ wireless pen & headset
DVD ROM/RW
1GB (IBM Microdrive)
Basic 4 ports
Wireless - ethernet & bluetooth
PC CARD/Tri-Media Reader
G3-400/450/500
64/128 MB
New superflat battery (which Acer/Compaq are licesning from a Toronto co) nvidea graphics (they have deliberately created a low-power chipset)
price: $1000/$1500
... the only problem is that Apple keeps sabotaging Cocoa, so there isn't much left with which to build real nexgen software (agents etc).
When I saw the new product matrix I thought Apple would fill it with a handheld. Jobs did try to buy Palm last year and I heard rumors that Palm might be licensing parts of the Newton OS. Macworld San Fran. should be very interesting as far as PowerBooks go. The current design has been around for some time now, I think it is due to a make over.
Reader Bill Brown submitted the following email:
"A subnotebook along the lines of a replacement for the 2400c is sound for many reasons. But I express one very large concern.
Apple has failed to support the 2400c. I have one. I know.
Buying a battery for one is somewhere between hell and "never heard of it..." even from real Apple stores. The catalogues have nothing. They are available if you persist in getting someone who knows how to look up a part number and doesn't shortsheet you on their effort. The going price of $239 and never with a discount is an outrage when ALL other powerbook batteries sell for no more than a little over a hundred bucks. G3 'book batteries sell in all the catalogues for maybe $129; sometimes less.
My 2400 has proven to be a damn fine, versatile, rugged, powerful, fast 'book. I abuse mine awfully in a horrid environment (It navigates at sea for me). Yet there are no products forthcoming for the 2400 the way Apple and 3rd party stuff has come forth for all other 'books. It just doesn't exist. MCE may be the sole shining light in the western world for the 2400. Hey, I know I am mincing on about batteries, but you can easily find new batteries for all 'books including the lead-acid batteries for the original PowerBook 100 (the portable wasn't a 'book). Why not the 2400?
Lots of Apple shops do not wish to open up a 2400. Yes, it is a tightly fit box. But not wanting my money just because it is not as easy money as opening a 1400 or Lombard is no reason to not support your own product.
A 2400 with the MCE/Japanese G3 320MHz card, cardbus turned on, maxed RAM, a bigger hard drive, and OS 9 is one hell of a Mac, my friends. The stock 2400 is one hell of a Mac! If Apple wants to produce a new subnotebook - SUPPORT IT! DAMN IT!"
I sent the following message as a reply:
"Bill,
Thanks for your thoughts. I wonder if the support issue exists because Apple intended the 2400c to be a Japan-only product from the beginning and only grudgingly released it for US consumption? Something to consider, I guess.
Cheers,
Stephen"
Bill responded with the following message:
"Yo Steve,
No, I do not believe it is the Japan issue that lead to non-support of the 2400. The 2400 hit he US market a proven product with none of the bugs which plagued the 5300, 1400, 3400, and G3 'books right up to the Lombards. The 2400 was intoduced with OS 8.0 even though the owner's manual spoke to OS 7.6. This at a time the 1400 and 3400 were sold with OS 7.5.5 or OS 7.6. The 2400 hit these shores a proven, powerful, rugged, leading edge 'book.
Journalists all gave the 2400 strong reviews with only a note of caution about the small keyboard. MacWorld's David Pogue couldn't stop raving about the 2400 even saying he bought a 2400 with his own money.
I've long believed non-support for the 2400 stems from Apple's experience with the entire line of Duo 'books, especially the 2300. Hell, you still see brand new 2300 Duos being advertised. Apple built way to many of 'em and still hasen't sold 'em. But the 2300 was supported by Apple and third parties. Apple misguessed the market for the Duo by a long way. And they didn't want the same long guess with the 2400. So support fell short too. The 2400 IS NO DUO!
The 2400 was introduced around $3300. Given that the price falls as the market saturates, the 2400 must have been selling pretty good because the prices of both the 1400 and 3400 fell faster than that of the 2400.
I doubt the 2400 was seen as a corporate buy. My unsubstantiated guess is that few bulk buys of the 2400 occurred. Like me, I suspect most 2400 purchases were an individual decision.
For some time before I bought my 2400, not one Apple store, not even Cupertino would nor could send me paper promotional material for the 2400. I am not alone in wanting a printed brochure to hang under a refrigerator magnet, often for many weeks, to entice me to part with this much money. Apple staff repeatedly told me they had no paper promotional material for the 2400. Rather, they told me to visit the Apple website. A downloaded image printed by whatever application is at hand with an all to typical cheap printer short on cleaning as it is short on red ink does not make a motivating item on anyone's refrigerator, Without paper to drool over, ponder upon,and scratch notes on, many won't buy. So much for becoming a paperless world!
It could not have helped the 2400 nor the notebook experience to be introduced as Apple was all but down the toilet. Steve Jobs return to Apple was marked by the axing of the Newton and the eBook. I cannot imagine Steve Jobs ever being heard to say "This 2400 is one hellava fine Mac. We are gonna do a G3 'book just like this one." No, I don't think so.
I am about to spend a wad of my dollars to purchase a brand new Pismo. But my 2400 will remain right with me. The Pismo for the big screen and newest features. The 2400 for real mobility in a powerful, versatile, rugged 'book."
As a previous Newton user, I would love for Apple to create a sub-notebook! The PowerBook is out of my budget so I would be interested in a sub-$1000 laptop. I give presentations and would love to use Apple and MS PowerPoint to share our ideas with customers.
I agree whole heartedly. Though it will be premium priced. It would stop me from going over to the darkside. Sony, IBM, Dell all make goo subnotebooks that can be road wariors and desktop replacements. I am tempted.
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Stephen Hildreth has been the Editor-in-Chief of PowerBook Central since its inception in 1996. When not working on his Mac, he shares his love of the outdoors with his family and can be found biking, snow skiing, or educating students on the internal & external processes of our planet.
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