Apple to enter the flat panel biz?
By Matt Burns 
posted September 26th 2006 10:35AM
posted September 26th 2006 10:35AM
Whatever Jobs & CO. slaps that little white apple logo onto seems to turn to gold recently so what would happen if they enter the flat-panel TV business? Home Depot is doing it so why couldn't Apple? They already have amazing flat-panel LCD monitors, a chain of successful retail locations, a distribution network that should be able to handle other large objects, and don't forget about their upcoming iTV. For the most part, a mid-range flat-panel is a mid-range flat-panel and Apple wouldn't have to produce a slew of these products in order to be successful. Two product lines would be 'nough along with a few different sizes in order to turn a profit. Carl Howe takes a look at the question at hand here and comes to one conclusion: it's not a matter of if Apple will enter the flat panel market; the only question is when.
And integrate an iTv into it - slam dunk.
I'd loved to buy an Apple TV, they'd be just a good as the rest of their product. The only drawback is that other companies wouldn't put their remote codes into their remotes. I have a Dell 17WS pc monitor/tv and none of the remotes I have wil work expect the Dell remote it came with.
Ooo, didn't think of iTV integrated. A flat panel with Apple software (frontrow) installed streaming wired or wireless from your mac?
Ah, but a mid-range panel is NOT a mid-range panel if Apple decides to enter the market. Apple -- at least, under Steve Jobs -- doesn't enter a market unless they have some new twist on an old product. Just as the iPod was an improved version of the old MP3 player, any flat panel Apple sells will have some new capabilities or improved method of interaction.
In a market where even Home Depot has a branded product, it may not be in Apple's best interests to try to join in. Apple is successful because they build a better mousetrap, not because they sell the same product as everyone else.
I think there is a very high likliehood of Apple bringing out a consumer Flat-Panel Display. If they had such a plan it would explain Job's willingness to break his own policy and preview the iTV.
Why would you want to pre-spin a product that you can't sell?
(When announcing it would influence buyers of your shipping and soon-shipping products.)
Integrated with iTV? Exactly what Cringley has been saying for a while now.
http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20060922.html