Analyst tips Apple flash notebook and higher capacity iPods

By Stephen Withers   

Friday, 09 March 2007

An Apple notebook that uses flash memory in place of a conventional disk drive is tipped for the second half of the year by analyst firm American Technology Research (ATR).

ATR says the Macintosh and iPod vendor wants to introduce the new slimline model before the end of the year, but flash memory prices will be a factor in its timing. Apple needs prices to keep falling if the new device to be affordable, but the additional demand it generates will help to hold prices up.

The company can pick from off the shelf ATA and SATA flash-based drives with capacities as large as 160G to simplify product design and manufacture, but even at more modest sizes – say around 40G – conventional hard disks have a seven to eight-fold price advantage.

For example, Sony charges a significant premium for its flash-based ultra-mobile PC (UMPC) that runs Windows Vista. The VGN-UX390N with a 32G flash drive sells for $US2499 (approx $A3200), while a similar model with a conventional 40G drive is offered for $US1999 (approx $A2600).

ATR also suggests the lightweight notebook will use a stripped-down version of Mac OS X, just as the iPhone does.

Prevailing flash prices may also delay the migration of the iPod family to an all-flash lineup, ATR added.

The firm also asserts that the current range of video-capable iPods will gain a bump in capacity before the middle of the year, ahead of the rumoured widescreen model that ATR believes is being held back until the second half of the year to avoid stealing the iPhone’s thunder when it ships in June.

The Death of Kyoto?

David Suzuki Interview on “The Hour”

Interview with George Stroumboulopoulos on “The Hour”.

Tim Flannery interview with WWF Australia

Professor Tim Flannery, internationally acclaimed scientist and author of The Weather Makers, talks about the politics of climate change with WWF-Australia.

Website about hybrid cars

Want a hybrid car, but don’t know which one to get?
GreenHybrid has lots of information.

Honda Civic Hybrid the cheapest hybrid to run

According the the RACV the Honda Civic Hybrid is the cheapest to run per week of all the hybrids.

“The Civic Hybrid costs less to purchase, costs less to run and is worth more after five years, the Civic Hybrid looks just like a regular Civic so is perfect for customers who want to make an ecological difference without sacrificing the comforts of a regular sedan. The Civic Hybrid also starts and runs just like a normal car – just turn the key to start it up and drive as normal.”
“The on-board computer controls the electric motor so the driver doesn’t need to switch it on or off, the Civic Hybrid also gains features normally reserved for top-spec models – such as curtain airbags, climate control air-conditioning and a six-stack CD player.” said Honda Australia Director Lindsay Smalley.