Apple netbook needn't be a 'book'

Stephen Withers
Tuesday, 10 March 2009 13:41

Opinion and Analysis

One criticism of the App Store is that it seems to appeal to the 'ringtone' market - people happy to pay a few bucks for the latest novelty item, but they won't in general hand over serious money for real applications.

A larger screen would enable a wider variety of serious applications, and I suspect that buyers would be open to a lot more than just fun and games.

One problem is that existing software might not run too nicely without modification. Should the graphics be automatically scaled to fill the screen? That might work for some programs, but it could be ugly and lead to a less than satisfactory user interface.

But if 'legacy' software was displayed pixel for pixel, where on the screen should it be placed? The preferred answer could vary between programs and even between users (especially when you consider the differing needs of left and right handers).

So if this is the direction the company is going in, one possibility is that Apple might brief developers about variable - or at least varied - resolutions at the next Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), even if that means pre-announcing the device.

Alternatively, a small number of favoured partners may be given advanced access so that Apple can demonstrate third-party apps that use the full capabilities of the netbook (netslate?) at the debut event.

The entry-level iPod touch costs $US229/$A329, so it seems unlikely that our hypothetical 7in variant would sell for less than $US500 - but then Apple's already hosed down the idea of meeting that price point (at least in the short term).

But would a premium priced alternative to a conventional netbook be sufficiently attractive to enough buyers? It might if the user experience was sufficiently superior.

One final thought: what if you combined a 7in touchscreen device with Apple's 2008 patent applicaiton describing an iMac-style docking station?