Notebook News: Apple Mystique, Gateway & Office Depot, 2008, Rugged Notebook

Apple Laptops and that Apple"Je ne sais quoi" Quality

Why is it that Apple just seems to have that, what the French call, "je ne sais quoi"qualitythat enables them to make successful and highly desirable consumer products such as the Apple iBook, Apple Powerbook and Apple iPod, yet they still only have 2.6% of the notebook market?

Design pros Apple provide innovation even on such things as screen hinges

It's an odd thing. Apple can crank out the best-designed hardware of just about any company. Sure, Sony and Toshiba sometimes try and come close with good design but in the end Apple is left standing by themselves. With notebooks in particular, consider the hinges on the new PowerBooks and iBooks. The screens open andthen go down so that the height of the open laptop is minimized and it's much more practical for use on flights. Or just nicer to be able to see over the top of your screen if you wish. The hinge is both robust and protected well so it would be difficult to break. It looks nice, is clean, elegant and just plain pleasing. How many of you out there have a notebook made by Dell, HP or Toshiba in which you find the hinge creaks or doesn't feel sturdy? Quite a few I'd imagine.

Rob Enderle examines further what advantages Apple has and more in this interesting article for EE Times:

http://www.ecommercetimes.com/perl/story/33061.html

Gateway Computers to be soldinOffice Depot Stores

<!--- BODYTEXT --->In a departure from its direct-to-consumer heritage, Gateway Inc. will begin selling some laptop computers in Office Depot Inc. stores. Up until now, most of Gateway's computers were sold over the phone, through the Internet or at the company's 190 retail stores. Office Depot said the Gateway notebook computer will sell for about $1,400, after a $200 mail-in rebate.

Obviously Gateway is trying to do whatever they can to make money now, the money-losingcompany agreed in January to buy Irvine-based eMachines in a roughly $320 million stock and cash deal that's expected to be completed this week. eMachines sells most of its computers at major retailers such as Best Buy, Circuit City Stores and Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

In the Year 2008 Notebook Processor Sales will Equal Desktop Processor Sales

The worldwide PC semiconductor market is expected to grow by 18 percent in 2004 to US$53.6 billion as the computer market snaps back after a three-year slump, according to data released on Tuesday.

"The recovery of the PC semiconductor market will hit its stride in 2004, specifically in the second half of the year," Shane Rau, IDC's lead PC semiconductor analyst, said in a statement

Furthermore, IDC forecast the notebook PC semiconductor industry will grow ata rate of 16.1 percent, while the more mature desktop sector will grow at a slower 2.9 percent.

Based on these growth numbers, mobile notebookPC semiconductor revenue will nearly equal desktop revenue by 2008.

New Rugged Notebook/Tablet PC Designed for Abuse

Kontron Mobile Computing has expanded its ReVolution line of rugged notebook PCs to include entry-level systems as well as models including advanced features such as a sunlight-readable TransRadiant display, convertible displays, touch screens, and wireless capabilities. The ReVolution E Series features entry-level models. The ReVolution X Series features convertible displays and wireless capabilities.

http://www.kontronmobile.com/kmcpdproductdetail.cfm?keyProduct=31597