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journal: mac
Prediction: Apple’s new naming convention for Macs
...by the end of the transition, the Mac product line will look like this:...
With Apple’s switch to Intel processors, there came a big change: Apple’s naming conventions in respect to the Mac product line. So far, they’ve turned the PowerBook into the MacBook Pro, and trademarked the term “Mac Pro”. Both of these names are Love-it-or-hate-it ideas. So far there seems to be a lot more hate.
Now before I proceed with my prediction, I’d like to point out that what I say is just that: a prediction. This is just a guess. I didn’t say whether or not I like it (I really don’t care; I’m a Windows user), I’m just putting out what I think.
I think that the new naming convention was actually set in motion, not with the introduction of the MacBook Pro, but with the introduction of the Mac Mini. Apple’s recent trademarking on the “Mac Pro” moniker, support my suspicions that by the end of the transition, the Mac product line will look like this:
- Professional Desktop: Mac Pro (used to be PowerMac)
- Professional Laptop: MacBook Pro (used to be PowerBook)
- Consumer Desktop: Mac (used to be iMac)
- Consumer Laptop: MacBook (used to be iBook)
- Budget Desktop: Mac Mini
- Budget Notebook: MacBook Mini (New)
Now the most likely thing that I would be wrong about is that they drop the “i” moniker, as the “i” associates them with the iPod.
I could see them moving up the iBook on the specs ladder (maybe Dual Core), and adding Core Solo laptops that would act as budget machines (a sub $1000 laptop?)
Discuss.
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14 | 1579 |
| Liam | comments | views |
thinkback
What would a budget notebook be like? iPods display contacts, calendars, and other information and the screens keep getting bigger. Why not make an iPod instead of the budget laptop. Then again the $100 laptop idea did get Apple to offer their OS so they’re paying attention, at least a minimum amount.
| Feb. 01, 2006 | |
| moreApple | 12:22 am |
My guess is that the professional desktop could be named
“Macstation Pro”. Because it has a nice ring to it and it sounds like a really fast machine.
And also, it goes nicely with the new portable name ... macstation pro and macbook pro. It actually makes “macbook pro” sound more natural, if it has such a “naming brother”.
Read here:
http://prasados.blogspot.com/
I don’t particularly care for the new names, but I guess we will see. It’s clear that their intention is to get “Mac” into the name of each computer, which I guess makes sense and essentially means the iBook name is most likely dead. But I’m not sure how they reconcile the iMac with the consumer notebook now, because “iMac” has brand recognition and it also associates with the iPod, as suggested. Don’t know what they’re gonna do there.
| Feb. 01, 2006 | |
| shempzilla | 8:15 am |
I’m thinking it would be better just to have MacBook Pro, MacBook.
Their Mac Pros should be low-profile but be build so it can take full-size expansion cards using some sort of riser card configuration.
| Feb. 01, 2006 | |
| 12:36 pm |
I don’t think the iBook will die. The iMac isn’t dead either. the ‘i’ (also in iPod) stands for the consumer products.
I also doubt that we will see a MacBook.
I only see the renaming of the PowerMac into a Mac Pro.
Stefan,
Jobs said 2 things on the name :
“Power” is over,
and he wans “Mac” in the product’s names.
This is why I say iBook is dead too.
| Feb. 02, 2006 | |
| SogniX | 8:57 am |
Makes sense to me:
Mac
Mac Pro
MacBook
MacBook Pro
Mac TV (product Apple already made years ago)
Life
Work
Sight
Photo
Movie
DVD
Tunes
I’m loving it!!!! 
| Feb. 02, 2006 | ||
| 10:09 am |
Heeeeey,
You guys can edit! No fair!
No, I’m ready to let go of the i’s (is that correct grammar, putting an apostrophe? Hmm, trying to remember elementary English...)
| Feb. 02, 2006 | ||
| 9:10 pm |
1.
My predictions are about the same as yours except for the following.
The iMac (consumer desktop) stays as iMac,
Consumer Laptop : Mac Mobile
And I don’t think the notebooks would get any more “budget” than the Mac Mobile / iBook.
But, damn! What ugly names! At least the iMac keeps a somewhat decent name. And the Mac mini is not so bad.