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iHanhauser · Aug 10, 2003, 09:44 PM

Do you think that Apple will get into the plasma tv market, like Gateway is now doing. Gateway is starting to release there own digital cameras, speakers, and mp3 players in the next year.

Apple would prob. have a very cool looking plasma tv if they ever developed one.

David Hagan · Aug 10, 2003, 09:55 PM

Apple making plasma widescreen tv's? Not likely.

AssassyN · Aug 10, 2003, 10:51 PM

Nada...Gateway's on it's last leg b/c Dell has crushed them (monopoly?) and they're doing off-the-wall things to try and stay in business. Apple won't produce plasma TV's...with so many out there, why would you want an Apple one?

shabbasuraj · Aug 11, 2003, 12:57 AM

this thread begs the question...

when will there be another Apple PDA?...

some say in other forums here on MacNN that there is no chance in hell, as 'Steve' simply does not like them...

(just aside)... i find it kinda amusing how people here often refer to 'Steve' as if they actually know the guy....

hmmm....perhaps these forum members actually do....

i dunno...

but does anyone know why/or have credible info as why apparently Apple will not market a PDA in the near future...?

lates....

RGB · Aug 11, 2003, 01:37 AM

Originally posted by shabbasuraj:
this thread begs the question...

when will there be another Apple PDA?...

some say in other forums here on MacNN that there is no chance in hell, as 'Steve' simply does not like them...

(just aside)... i find it kinda amusing how people here often refer to 'Steve' as if they actually know the guy....

hmmm....perhaps these forum members actually do....

i dunno...

but does anyone know why/or have credible info as why apparently Apple will not market a PDA in the near future...?

lates....

I think this thread begs the question "MacNN has a Lounge, right?"

But aside from that, Apple has stated they have no plans to produce a PDA at the moment, there simply isn't the right market for it right now. And as far as plasmas go, highly unlikely. Apple will only go into a market if there isn't a dominant player already making a good product. If they can't revolutionize the segment, it doesn't make sense for them to enter it.

Maflynn · Aug 11, 2003, 05:58 AM

I'm going to jumn in before it hits the lounge.

b/c Dell has crushed them (monopoly?)

Dell is not a monopoly, that have a large market share but that does not signify a monopoly, HP/Compaq and dell have been trading the number one spot for pecee makers and there's others like sony toshiba, so I wouldn't say they have a monopoly.

when will there be another Apple PDA?...

Steve Jobs keeps denying that there's one and yet this rumor keeps proliferating. Apple seems content with designing and selling computers not pda's. The pda market is over-crowded anyways and I'm sure you will see a thinning of the herd as time goes on (just look at handspring).

Mike

Graymalkin · Aug 11, 2003, 07:00 AM

Apple is unlikely to release their own PDA because anything they would have too few options with one. The market is dominated by the Palm and PocketPC platforms, arguably superior platforms like the Psion failed in the US because it wasn't one of the two dominant platforms.

Apple would have to release Palm or PocketPC product to survive in the market. Since it is unlikely they would go with PocketPC they'd be a Palm platform. It would be extremely difficult to market a Palm device with more features or functionality than current offerings at a salient price point. Sony's Cli� is an awesome handheld on the low end of the price spectrum. For wireless connectivity the Palm Tungstens are really sweet little systems. Between those two points there is extremely little room for Apple in the Palm market. They'd be hard pressed to outfeature the Cli� on the low end and outprice the Tungstens on the high end.

Cellery · Aug 11, 2003, 09:31 AM

All Gateway does is take a Sampo plasma TV and rebrand it, nothing more. It kind of reminds me of when Apple rebranded a Kodak digital camera a number of years ago, nothing special.

I sure would like to see more Apple designed consumer gear with innovative touches though.

Karim · Aug 11, 2003, 09:45 AM

Originally posted by Cellery:
All Gateway does is take a Sampo plasma TV and rebrand it, nothing more. It kind of reminds me of when Apple rebranded a Kodak digital camera a number of years ago, nothing special.

I sure would like to see more Apple designed consumer gear with innovative touches though.

They didn't actually rebrand the Kodak, they used the same camera core (imager/compression algorithm) but then dropped the lCD screen on one and changed the controls.

It wasn't a simple take a model from Kodak and add the Apple moniker. I am not aware of anything Apple has just rebadged.

They always add value in some way (even with their old line of Sony trinitron monitors), unlike Gateway which did simply take a plasma screen and add their own logo.

Cellery · Aug 11, 2003, 10:37 AM

Originally posted by Karim:
They didn't actually rebrand the Kodak, they used the same camera core (imager/compression algorithm) but then dropped the lCD screen on one and changed the controls.

It wasn't a simple take a model from Kodak and add the Apple moniker. I am not aware of anything Apple has just rebadged.

They always add value in some way (even with their old line of Sony trinitron monitors), unlike Gateway which did simply take a plasma screen and add their own logo.

Many years ago I had an Apple inkjet printer that was simply a rebadged Canon printer. It could use Canon ink and everything.

Products Apple designs from the ground up (like the iPod) are fantastic, though the Apple "tweaked" products aren't bad either.

X-Ray · Aug 11, 2003, 10:58 AM

I don't think we've seen the last of interesting and well designed electonic gadgets from Apple. Don't know about a plasma tv but who could have predicted that Apple would bring out iSight - another example of Apple taking a product type and doing it better. Companies like Gateway and Apple are beginning to get into promoting electronic "lifestyles" much like Sony. Problem is few companies have a design team that comes close to Apple's.

GENERAL_SMILEY · Aug 11, 2003, 11:10 AM

I've got a couple of Apple Laserwriters - aren't they just Hewlett Packards?

RGB · Aug 11, 2003, 11:54 AM

Originally posted by Karim:
They didn't actually rebrand the Kodak, they used the same camera core (imager/compression algorithm) but then dropped the lCD screen on one and changed the controls.

It wasn't a simple take a model from Kodak and add the Apple moniker. I am not aware of anything Apple has just rebadged.

They always add value in some way (even with their old line of Sony trinitron monitors), unlike Gateway which did simply take a plasma screen and add their own logo.

Apple's 17" CRTs were Mitsubishi Diamondtrons.

waffffffle · Aug 11, 2003, 11:59 AM

I have a StyleWriter that is a little similar to a Canon Bubblejet (they use the same ink cartridges). At one point there was a StyleWriter model that looked exactly like an HP Deskjet aside from the color (the StyleWriter was more "platinum" than grey).

Also I think Apple's older CRT screens (like 10 years ago and older) were rebranded Sony Trinitrons.

yoyoman · Aug 11, 2003, 12:23 PM

apple doesn't need to come out with a plasam screen. Look at dell for example they are loosing money so they come out with a pda and now a printer. HP and compaq had to merge and gateway has to come out with a mp3 player tv monitor. Apple hasn't done something that big in a while. Why because they don't need to I would think. If they do promos like the ipod/bug with like a philips plasma or something for example big like that then it could work.

-Q- · Aug 11, 2003, 01:04 PM

Originally posted by shabbasuraj:
but does anyone know why/or have credible info as why apparently Apple will not market a PDA in the near future...?

lates....

How's this?

Or this one?

People say it b/c Jobs' has been quoted numerous times saying it won't happen.

Until Apple can build one that can immediately leap to the top of a crowded marketplace (like they did with the iPod), it will keep remaining a rumor.

And besides, it just doesn't make economic sense to make one right now. Once you sell your units to the Mac fanboys, who else are you going to sell it to? You can't tell me it would be easy to convince a Windows user that the Apple PDA, running a version of OS X or whatever, would be easy to sync with their windows machine.

nayr x · Aug 11, 2003, 01:23 PM

I think an apple PDA would be cool, but when I think about it, it would probably just be an expensive Palm-based copy of what is already being done. The only thing i could see apple doing differently is incorporating an ipod-esque 15-30GB hard drive capable of storing MPEG movies and itunes audio. However, I would bet in the next year or so we see this kind of thing from another PDA maker, (such as sony). When someone releases a Palm-based PDA that is also a bluetooth-capable cellphone, I will buy. Keyocera had a tantalizing possibilty, but I dont think its in the US yet. anyway, an apple badge would be nice, but not necessary. Some might argue, but I actually have a lot of faith in Jobs and his "plan" for the company. I think he knows what he is trying to do and what role apple will play for everyone (not just mac users) in the future. Just my $0.02....