Why Apple Needs To Do a Netbook

Apple has always been the one of the names that been associated with the leading edge of computing, but surprisingly absent from the netbook market. During troubled economic times, it's been ultra compact, ultra inexpensive netbooks that have been driving sales for PC manufacturers. It was the original netbook the Asus eeePC that was giving Linux it's much sought after foot in the door before Microsoft caught on and extended the shelf life of Windows XP and put out a version of Windows XP just for netbooks.

Apple has put a lot into the iPhone and iPod touch but as great as users of those devices think they are, it's netbooks that are the big thing in portable computing. In the upcoming hard times it will be especially hard to try to use a 17 inch MacBook Pro in an economy airline seat.

It was the original iMac back ten years ago that brought Apple back from the brink of extinction because it was a economical alternative to Windows PC's with their security nightmares at the time. An Apple netbook especially if priced under $400.00 that would make living without Windows an easier choice to make.

The next Stevenote at the next MacWorld in January will show if Apple will jump off the fence and ship a netbook or will sit it out and let Microsoft own the netbook market.

Yet Another Patent Troll Lines Up To Take a Shot At Apple

Apple has found itself as a target yet again of a patent troll. A company called EMG Technology LLC has sued Apple alleging that the web browser that reformats web pages to be easier to read on the small screen on the iPhone.

EMG Technology LLC is a company based out of Tyler, Texas and has only one employee and doesn't even have a web site. EMG Technology LLC was founded by Elliot Gottfurcht who has never even worked at tech company, he is actually is a real estate developer.

EMG Technology is only out make money from aquiring techology related patents and suing successful companies based on these patents. Many tech giants are being unjustly knocked down because of patent trolling, and a legislated end to patent trolling is needed, now.

My original commentary about Patent Trolling

Microsoft Kills OneCare and Offers It's Replacement For Free

After two years of offering OneCare, the security suite and capturing a tiny portion of the security software market, Microsoft has announced that they are pulling the plug on OneCare on June 30, 2009 to replace it with an anti-malware program code named Morrow in the second half of 2009.

Morrow is being promoted as a lightweight alternative to other security suites offered by Symantec or MacAfee. Morrow is targeted at people who have underpowered PC's or who are bandwidth impaired. Many more are expected to be attracted to Morrow because of the price that Microsoft has set for it, Free.

There have been free lightweight Anti-Virus programs such as AVG and Avast around for years, but Microsoft's Morrow will be the first from software maker that every computer user knows.

Microsoft isn't expected to bundle Morrow with the upcoming Windows 7 but the other makers of security software are going to have a problem competing with free. With a Democrat back in the White House it won't take very long for Symantec or MacAfee to cry Anti-Trust.