14 DAY TRIAL // As recently reported, Apple has announced record revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2009, proving that the company can prevail even in times like these. After making all the announcements regarding Mac, iPod and iPhone sales in part, Apple execs allowed members of the media to ask questions about the company's plans, the situation with its CEO and more.
The term “netbook” has been the focus of quite some speculation this past year, yet Apple always sort of laughed at the concept of having a mini notebook specifically crafted for surfing on the go. The company hasn't really changed its stance since the last conference call Q&A with Apple execs, where Steve Jobs (surprisingly) popped in and said we can't make a cheap netbook that doesn't suck. His exact words were “We don’t know how to build a sub-$500 computer that is not a piece of junk.”
Now, here's Tim Cook, filling in for Jobs, expressing the same level of discontent towards the concepts surrounding the netbook,
“We’re watching that space, but right now from our point of view, the products in there are principally based on hardware that’s much less powerful than we think customers want, software technology that is not good, cramped keyboards, small displays,” he said.
“We don’t think people will be pleased with those products. It’s a category we watch, we’ve got some ideas here, but right now we think the products are inferior and will not provide an experience to customers they’re happy with,” Apple's COO and current acting CEO concluded.
Mr. Cook also weighed in on what Apple now considers a longtime hobby - the Apple TV. Although sales were up 300% year-over-year, Cook simply said, “We will continue to invest in it because we fundamentally believe there’s something there in the future.” Apple declined to disclose exactly how many Apple TV units it had shipped.