“In relationships they say you can divide people into one of three roles: leader, follower and co-pilot,” Jonny Evans writes for Computerworld. “When it comes to the ultra-notebook market, there’s only one clear Master in the global supply chain, Apple [AAPL], and it’s preparing to boldly go further with its next-generation MacBook Air.”
“Sure, CES this year was populated with devices powered by Intel’s own processor platforms which aim to take a bite at the lightweight portable market Apple invented,” Evans writes. “Samsung has even held the banner of “world’s thinnest ultra-notebook” for a week or so. It will lose that advantage pretty soon, with Apple expected to introduce new configurations of the MacBook Air when Intel introduces new Ivy Bridge versions of the processors used inside.”
Evans writes, “This means all those D.O.A. competing machines are already heading for the obsolete, bargain basement and discount stores… These days Apple offers premium products at prices competitors (who don’t have its advantages of growing sales) just cannot match. Intel knows this and will be subsidizing those ultrabooks with a $300 million pot — effectively giving money away. When did Apple ever have to do this? Never.”
Read more in the full article here.
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