Apple's announcement of a new line of models in its PowerBook notebook computer line has some devotees disappointed. For two years, power  users have been waiting for the company to roll out a PowerBook based on the G5 processor . This year's models, however, are still based on the G4 chip.
It is a dilemma that every computer maker must face, Yankee Group's Mike Goodman told NewsFactor. Companies know that they must offer a broad line of models to capture market share. But figuring out how broad, and at what price points to offer them, remains a sticky business.
Expansion at the Bottom
Perhaps this year the computer maker has put all its energy and resources into the bottom of its line rather than the top. Just before the new PowerBooks were announced, Apple made the splashier announcement of the Mac Mini -- a super-small, entry-level machine intended to woo those previously faithful to Windows -based computers.
"It's a question of addressing the market at multiple levels," Goodman noted. Apple has, up to now, been considered more in the Cadillac computing category than the Escort group. But in order to expand market share, he explained, the company knows it must cater to those who "want a simple PC at low cost."
PowerBook Lags
Apple also may be looking at lagging sales of PowerBooks and determining that placing focus elsewhere right now can deliver more profits. Among the company's range of products, the iPod music player certainly remains the star. But the iMac and iBook computers continue to do well.
Sales of the PowerBook, though, have been disappointing. And some say that putting a super-powered G5 processor into the sleek, metal chassis that characterizes the line would mean making it chunkier and noisier. Although high-end PowerBook users may wish for more processing speed, they may not be willing to make the compromises necessary to have that speed in notebook form.
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