Apple, Google and Microsoft Have a Size Problem

A few thoughts on the disruptions for these three OS makers caused by Netbooks

Apple, Google and Microsoft's Size Problem

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Comments

[Neal]

Adam,

Interesting overview of the current state of the computer industry. One thing though that you should consider is that Apple's OS's come from a common root. Improvements to one are passed to the other. I do not believe Chrome or Android share a similar code base nor does Windoes and it's mobile version. This should give Apple an advantage when it comes to speed of development and the ability to move their OS into the Tablet or Netbook market.

With the popularity of the iPhone and the App Store, I'm guessing that if Apple enters the tablet or "netbook" market the device will be running the iPhone OS. Plus a small device like that would most likely be easier to manipulate with your finger then with a mouse or stylus.

Of course, if Apple does enter this market they will first have to figure out why a larger iPhone (without the phone) is better and more useful then just using an existing iPhone. The same can be said for their existing notebooks. If this smaller and more portable device is better then using a "full sized" notbook then why would anyone spend more than $1000 to by a MacBook Pro?

Apple is clearly up to something. Steve Jobs and others at Apple have stated they have some interesting ideas about the netbook space and if you look at their current line up and most recent inclusion of the 13" MacBook into the Pro line they are leaving a hole in the $800-$1000 space where only one MacBook, a two generation old notebook sits. Apple will most likely fill that space and they will likely do it with a product that can potentially be as groundbreaking and dominant as the iPod and iPhone before it.

[Adam]

Good points Neal. I don't know enough about the technical details to know how closely related OS X and the iPhone OS are, and how much of an advantage that gives Apple. For developers I think they are pretty different, and in some ways that's more important, as that's where the added value and the network effect comes from.

Today at least the iPhone lacks a concept (at the UI level at least) of a file system - a way to store files and access them later. It only presents applications. This limits its usefuless as a full-blown computer, which is why scaling up the iPhone OS to a tablet or Netbook is problematic, as those generally have expectations they can do 'real" computing tasks.

You make a good point about the hole in Apple's low-end line, and it is indeed begging to be filled. Given their touchscreen capabilities, a tablet is an obvious choice, but perhaps more of a slate than tablet PC form factor. That would also keep costs down.

A "sub-tablet" or "sub-netbook" would also be a challenger for Kindle...