Apple PDA Announced At Macworld?

As early as May 11, our report on the first day of Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, Macs Only! commented on the possibility of an Apple-branded Personal Digital Assistant (like a Palm) based on comments made by Sinbad at the Apple Masters Event. Then on June 9 Macs Only! stuck out its neck based on new inside information and predicted that Steve Jobs will announce an Apple-branded PDA at Macworld. This prediction was reaffirmed July 1 even though NEWS.COM reported a delay in the possible PDA. The evidence Macs Only! used to make the prediction was also exposed for all to see. Yesterday, Macintouch and other web sites citing anonymous readers with inside info repeated the same prediction without, of course, ever mentioning our prior prediction and the evidence it is based on. If that information is independent from Macs Only!'s then it adds more credence to our prediction and, if it comes true, will make many Newton supporters very happy. We hope so and have put off getting a Palm while we wait and see.

Apple Consumer Portable Prediction: While I am in the mood for sticking my neck out and so as to not be scooped (I wasn't on the Apple PDA and Apple ISP), I'll add my two cents on the new consumer portable that is certain to be announced at Macworld. Everything that I have read on all the Mac web sites and all the list servers has Apple producing basically a cheaper PowerBook G3 Series in iMac clothing, costing some $1400-1800. The main arguments are over the inclusion or not of a CD-ROM drive, modem, ethernet, firewire and PC card slots. My opinion is that everyone is at the wrong end of the spectrum on this. The consumer portable will not be a cheaper PBG3 or an iMac-design 2400c replacement (despite that is what I was hoping for). Remember that the consumer portable is an eMate replacement that runs on the Mac OS. It will be designed principally for schools and school kids, including K-6. Schools have iMacs and the need is for a rugged and simple personal portable computer that interacts with and hence complements the school's iMacs. The other focus is college campuses whether the colleges have iMacs, Macs or not. So it will have to have a minimally decent screen, run AppleWorks and be able to communicate and print and not much more so it will not cannibalize PowerBook sales and have a low price point. The screen will be a maximum of 10", not 12", and maybe only 8" but with color. Because price is a major factor, the screen will be passive rather than active. It will have an ethernet port, a modem, USB and maybe firewire if such is not too expensive to include. No PC slots, no floppy drive and no CD ROM drive. I believe it will have new renditions of older technology. Remember the old HP/TI calculators that had plug in ROMs for applications? Look for something like these on the consumer portable and possibly a small hard drive. The form factor will be like an HP Jornada palm size or the equivalent Sony whose name escapes me right now but it will be slightly larger because of a thicker case. It will have an iMac-like handle towards the rear edge and come in the iMac colors. It will sell for $999 or less.