Apple's iDevice Vision Clearly Outmaneuvered Intel's Netbook
During Intel's 2009 IDF Keynote delivered by CEO Paul Otellini, he talked about the astounding Netbook that was the fastest growing device in the last three years. He compared the Netbook with the Nintendo's Wii and Apple's iPhone. According to Otellini there was no looking back. Oh how things could change in the blink of an eye.
2009 IDF Keynote Slide: Netbook vs. Wii and iPhone
Paul Otellini's narrow view of Apple's iPhone in contrast to the Netbook was short lived. In fact, in August, Forbes reported that "Apple's iPhone Is Now Worth More Than All Of Microsoft." Ouch!: that one had to sting. And it's only been downhill from there.
Now a new report published today states that Intel may be forced to readjust its roadmap for PC-use Atom processors as their top two vendors, Asus and Acer are both dropping netbooks from their line-up.
According to the report, "Asustek CEO Jerry Shen recently confirmed that the company will stop production of Eee PC netbooks using Atom-based processors such as the N2600 due to impact from tablet PCs and notebooks, as well as a sharp drop in demand in emerging markets. Asustek plans to have its Transformer tablet PCs fill the 10-inch mobile device market, replacing its netbook product line."
Sources for the report went on to state that "Intel's Atom N2800 and N2600 processors for netbooks and Atom D2700, D2500 and D2550 processors for nettops are expected to see their shipments drop close to 50% in the fourth quarter."
Otellini's short lived vision of the netbook ruling the technology landscape was obviously deeply flawed. Apple clearly outplayed them, plain and simple.
Great article! I almost forgot about netbook category. Never heard of that Intel had so much faith on netbooks. However, I have read a lot of analyst reports saying that Apple needs netbook to be survived in the coming storm of netbooks. iPad really changed everything...First, it woke up Microsoft of dreaming using the word "slate" first in any computing products. Microsoft thought that Apple would use the word "slate" for the rumored tablet. It turned out it was a stunt (probably from Apple) for Microsoft to steal it for CES 2010. Then, it crashed the 30 years failure of tablets, with iPad sales in first year equivalent to sales of all combined Windows tablets since iPad. iPad 3 also changed computing history that high resolution LCD would only appear on Desktop first. What will the computing world look like in the next 7 years?
Posted by: David Lau | September 03, 2012 at 04:50 PM
Apple tells them to make a chip efficient enough to drop in the MacBook Air, because Intel didn't make anything at the time that could. And they comply.
And how does Intel thank Apple?
"Ultrabook. Inspired by Intel."
Screw 'em.
Posted by: Tallest Skil | September 03, 2012 at 01:19 PM
Do you know how many analysts said that Apple would lose out if they didn't hurry up and start producing cheap Apple netbooks? Quite a few. There were a number of claims that the Windows netbook would launch the next mobile revolution. It was cheap. It ran the world's most popular OS (Windows). It had all the ports consumers wanted. It ran Adobe Flash. It ran Microsoft Office. Did I mention that netbooks were cheap, cheap, cheap. Who wouldn't want to own one of those inexpensive, but fully functional beauties? What company didn't produce Windows netbooks? Only one. Supposedly, the most stupid company in the world run by the fool, Steve Jobs. He didn't think that Windows netbooks were the future. The analysts, the tech-heads and media pundits all laughed at Steve Jobs for having no vision of the future.
Anyway, the iPad was introduced and the computer industry was transformed. Apple, so far, has had the last laugh and the profits to back it up. Even so, there were a couple of Wintel vendors who swore to investors that tablets were just a temporary thing and everyone would soon be going back to Wintel netbooks. After all, consumers couldn't actually get any work done with an iPad. It was a crippled device not worthy of notice. An iPad couldn't hold a candle to a wonderful Windows netbook that was much, much cheaper. End of story. Intel loses and ARM wins.
Posted by: Laughingboy48 | September 03, 2012 at 11:36 AM