After the Notebook event in October, hopes of Apple launching a netbook seemed to fade. Steve Jobs said during a question and answer session that “we’ll see how it goes.” At the time of that announcement, Jobs said the market was too small.

But you have to wonder if Apple was telling the whole truth or not. Steve may have been right in saying they weren’t going to release one NOW [at the time of the event, October 14th] but who knows how far away that technology is. The technology is there, they have created the Macbook Air which is smaller and lighter compared to their other laptops, it’s just a matter of when Apple will bring it up to their standards.

Besides technology, I think another factor in your comments is that Apple never wants to take sales away from its own products. Why tell people a netbook is coming soon, when you can tell them to buy a Macbook and then launch the netbook in a few months? [or Macbook Mini]. Now, I’m not saying this is a bad thing, or that Apple is a liar and shouldn’t be trusted, in fact, it’s a good deal. Apple’s business model is pretty impressive, considering you can’t go anywhere without seeing, hearing, talking, breathing i-Something. Therefore, waiting for the netbook to usher in its new product line is a piece of cake for them.

You could also argue that the $999 Macbook IS a [high-end] netbook Okay, it’s bigger, bulkier and more expensive than your typical netbook, it has the same functionality [and more] while still costing much less than a typical Apple laptop.

As Apple updates its laptops to look more like the Macbook Air [and iMac], I think there is immense potential to optimize the ENTIRE product line of Apple. Right now, the iPod has Shuffle, Nano, Classic, and Touch; laptops are: Macbook, Macbook Pro, Macbook Air; and the desktops are: Mac Pro, iMac and Mac Mini. Now, there are a lot of names that cross over between these product lines, and while I don’t think it’s that confusing, I do think they could use better strategies to condense them into simpler categories.

Ever since Apple released their first iMac, they have been trying to serve two types of customers, the heavy users, the power users, and the average user. Since then, Apple has expanded its reach, offering many different models in between, to suit any type of user. They have created models both below and above their flagship products that do this very well. But I think with all these different models and names, it’s a bit scruffy.

To combat this, Apple could relaunch an entirely new level system. This would create a bridge between product lines and create an easier checkout system for those looking to purchase a product in a different line. Like Apple has been doing, it would integrate this new aluminum body color scheme with black accents into all of its products. [including black key’s on keyboards]. From your desktops, monitors, laptops, to iPods. The only exception is for the iPod Nano, which would be the entry-level iPod and comes in many colors. [as it does now]. Not only would the color scheme match, but the overall product lines would intertwine. My proposal would be to create a four-tier product system along the three lines:

*Elder brother

-The iPod Nano is one of the best-selling iPods of all time. With a flexible amount of storage for a small price, it’s a great entry-level product. This would mean the removal of the iPod Shuffle, unless they keep it as a separate entity.

-The Macbook Nano would be Apple’s first netbook. I mentioned an Apple netbook earlier, so there’s not much more to say. It would take the same aluminum case as today’s Macbook, just an 8-93 screen, no superdrive, far fewer ports [maybe 2 USB, 1 mini-display, headphone/microphone].

-The Mac Nano [or Mac Mini] it would remain, for the most part, the same. Obviously it would be great for some spec bumps, but not too much to interfere with the iMac.

* ‘Classic’

-The classic iPod [or just iPod (6G)] it would be more similar to earlier versions of the iPod. With a price between 200-250, it would be 40-60 GB [being a good mid-range iPod].

-The iMac is a great desktop product that doesn’t need to be changed. Don’t fix what isn’t broken.

-The MacBook [or iBook] it’s a lot like the iMac in that it doesn’t need too many modifications.

* Professional

-The iPod Pro is something like a launch. Apple could use this as its large-storage iPod [100GB+] and leave iPod classic at 40-60GB, or they could do something completely revolutionary like iPod nano and introduce an accelerometer for tilt functionality.

-The Macbook Pro would stay the same. Keeping the same look it has now. [aluminum with black surrounding screen].

-The Mac Pro would stay the same. Possibly it will get a new case with black accents around it.

* Play

-The iPod Touch would stay the same.

-The Macbook Touch would be Apple’s entry into the tablet market. Running on an advanced iPhone OS, it would be much the same as the Macbook Nano in size, but it would be a single piece with a full touch screen. The potential includes external buttons similar to those on the iPhone/iPod Touch, such as a volume rocker, a standby button [to lock the screen, requiring a password upon entry]and a Home button to return to the desktop. The operating system would be a fusion of OSX and iPhone OS, using icons/applications similar to those of the iPhone. [wouldn’t have any sort of iLife or iWork]but with a start menu and toolbar like OSX.

-The iMac Touch would be Apple’s first touchscreen desktop. Maintaining a similar design, the screen would be a standard 243, and it would be a full touch screen. Optionally, you can get a wired/wireless keyboard/powerful mouse, but it would not be included in the package. It would be able to run a full version of OSX [with touch controls, much like 2, 3, and 4 finger gestures on Macbooks now]. Not many changes need to be made with the current iMac, aside from including a full-screen touchscreen as well as an updated operating system.

*Other

-The iPhone would stay the same. Potentially an introduction of a smaller iPhone [either size-wise like what Walmart is doing, or in physical dimensions and capacity].

-The iPod Shuffle would remain as a standalone product for the extreme casual consumer or be discontinued.

-The Apple TV would stay the same.

-Apple screens would now be all LED [19″, 23″, and 30″] and they all take on the look of the new 233 LED screen.

Now I know that this is a radical change that would take a long time. [not in one event] but I think this would really bring the Apple community together. By dividing your products into groups, it would be easier for new users to “fit” into a group and see what works best for them. Each of the above products would have their own customization and sizing options just like now. A lot of the things I mentioned above are new technologies that I think Apple will eventually implement, so why not do it in style?

For the record, ALL of this is just a ‘wish list’ and has little to no basis in any fact. If you’re inspired by what you read, please leave a comment about what you think Apple should do. Do you think they will make a touch screen laptop, desktop or netbook? Leave me comments on what you think! I hope you enjoyed reading, and if you did, why don’t you think about subscribing?