According to ValleyWag, Apple could launch a new ultra-portable notebook at Macworld this week that will include WiMax. In fact, Apple may roll out WiMax to all its MacBooks.
Would that be enough to save or jump-start WiMax? It would help but WiMax needs a lot more support to really gain momentum.
That's not likely. Wirelessly syncing iPods are more likely.
If Apple isn't keen to roll out 3G into an iPhone, think of the power requirements of a WiMAX chipset (which would need fall back to 3G to keep people happy when travelling and out of WiMAX coverage).
A flash based laptop (to save power and space) would increase the cost significantly. Given the target market for an ultra-portable would overlap with existing Macbook and iPhone users, a sub-notebook costing more than a Macbook would attract few buyers.
Unless it includes a multi-frequency radio, they will fragment their notebook ranges into different models in different countries.
Nortel Watcher
Always look to the end-user application to find the answer to “will it sell?”.
The team at RIM didn't build a wireless device with a neat little key board and then ask themselves “what applications will this host?”. No, they started out on a quest to deliver effective corporate email to a wireless device better than anyone else and the design of the Blackberry was focused on that goal.
So the answer to the question “Will an Apple ultra-portable with WiMax help to jump start WiMax” is no. Is there an *application* that will run on that configuration that will be in high enough demand to pull through the laptop + WiMax? Maybe, but it isn't obvious. Perhaps video calling for business users so let's hope the laptop has a built in camera.
many
I have two words: Apple Talk
Der Doppelgänger
It was not this time around….. The new Apple Macbook Air has a 802.11n interface instead of Wi-Max. However, I think that Wi-Max could be considered not only for Apple but for any other vendor in the future, if all stars are in perfect alignment (low device costs, increase speed benefits over existing wireless interfaces and a country-wide Wi-Max footprint enough to justify deployment costs).
Der Doppelgänger
It was not this time around….. The new Apple Macbook Air has a 802.11n interface instead of Wi-Max. However, I think that Wi-Max could be considered not only for Apple but for any other vendor in the future, if all stars are in perfect alignment (low device costs, increase speed benefits over existing wireless interfaces and a country-wide Wi-Max footprint enough to justify deployment costs).
Can Apple Save Wi-Max?
According to ValleyWag, Apple could launch a new ultra-portable notebook at Macworld this week that will include WiMax. In fact, Apple may roll out WiMax to all its MacBooks.
Would that be enough to save or jump-start WiMax? It would help but WiMax needs a lot more support to really gain momentum.
Technorati Tags: Apple, Wi-Max