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Apple is expected to unveil new notebook computers,
perhaps even one priced for those with tight budgets, at a
"town hall" gathering at its northern California
headquarters next week.
In typical enigmatic style, Apple
hinted at the theme of the invitation-only event but provided no
details other than that it would be held Tuesday morning at the
iconic firm's headquarters in the city of Cupertino.
Invites sent out by email on
Thursday bore the lone message "The spotlight turns to
notebooks."
While discussing earnings with
investors earlier this year, Apple executives tempered profit
expectations by saying it is investing in new designs but didn't
give specifics.
Apple's Macintosh computers
remain a distant second place to world-dominating PCs based on
Windows operating systems from Microsoft but have been gaining
market share.
Analysts believe the popularity
of Apple's trendy iPod MP3 players and iPhones revived the company's
cachet and attracted buyers to its computers.
The Internet is buzzing with
rumors and unconfirmed reports that Apple will try to shake off its
reputation for selling premium machines at premium prices by
introducing its first model priced at less than 1,000 dollars.
"There is a possibility they
might go there, but in general they have consistently played at the
very high end of the market," said Gartner analyst Van Baker.
"While I would love to see
Apple compete in the 799-999 dollar price range, based on past
history I am skeptical they are going to do that."
Baker says it is more likely
Apple is giving its MacBook Pro line of laptops a thinner, more
industrial design that proved successful with its MacBook Air model.
Apple is expected to be shifting
from plastic laptop casings to more stylish and eco-friendly
aluminum.
--AFP
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