Apple Mac HQ

Since the covenants of Mac blogging include making Macworld predictions (likely for the last time ever), I’m going to join every other Mac blog and make my predictions too. The following are my own predictions of what the Phil-note will contain and the likelihood of it happening.

Very Likely

• Snow Leopard Preview – There is no doubt the words “Grand Central” and “Open CL” will be mentioned a few times.
• Mac Mini – I’m not sure if it’s a complete abandonment of the product or a design update, but something will happen with the Mac Mini. If it’s updated, I would expect a price drop too. $599 is still high for many computer users.
• iMac Update – A design change is pretty unlikely, but expect better processors and other hardware improvements.
• 17″ MacBook Pro Update – The Macbook and 15″ MacBook Pro were both updated in late 2008. It’s time the 17″ MacBook Pro got the unibody treatment.

Likely

• iPhone Software Update – Perhaps copy/paste will make an appearance?
• iLife Update – iLife was largely ignored in 2008. The creative suite is often seen as one advantage of buying a Mac vs a PC. Apple needs to restore some of the luster to their Mac creative suite.

Not Very Likely

• Apple TV – I’d love to see the product move forward somehow. SDK, third party hardware certification, something else? But please, please don’t kill it Apple!

The Detriot Lions Winning the Super Bowl Next Year Likely

• Netbook – Not now, but maybe before the end of 2010. With the current economic conditions however, a Netbook would do more for Apple’s bottom line in 2009 than in 2010.

Those are my Macworld 2009 predictions. I have no inside knowledge of Apple release schedules or product development, so these are just my gut feelings combined with a little bit common sense. I’d love for there to be a whiz bang “one more thing”, but I’m not going to hold my breath.