Surprise! Apple To Have Something New Feb 28th.

All we know for sure is that Apple plans to host a ”media event” on Februray 28th at its campus in Cupertino, CA.

The media invitation simply said to join Apple as they introduce ”fun new products.” What’s that supposed to mean? Your guess is as good as the professionals.

Here’s the latest list of expectations. Add yours to the list in comments below or on the Mac360 Forums.

Shaw Wu, analyst for American Technology Review thinks the February 28th event will be an introduction for more new Intel-based Macs.

”It’s in their best interests to migrate as many of their machines to the Intel processors as soon as possible,” says Wu. Duh. They pay people for this kind of analysis?

What we want to know is, ”what’s really coming?” What’s in the bag? As usual with such Apple events, it’s anybody’s guess so everybody’s guessing.

CNet interviewed Sam Bhavnani who works as an analyst at Current Analysis. I know what you’re thinking already.

Sam says Apple may introduce a 17-inch MacBook Pro and a redesigned iBook with a 13-inch widescreen display. That’s it? They pay people for this kind of analysis?

Where’s news of the Widescreen iPod Puppy™ I’ve been expecting? OK, I get it. Think Different also means dig different. Their track record has been decent the past year, so what does AppleInsider have to say about next week’s announcement?

Hmmmm. They quote analyst Wu again, but with his view of an iBook replacement (called a “MacBook"-- so Tera could be right; again) and a Mac mini, both with Intel chips.

Yeah, and I’m guessing Americans will win gold medals in Olympic snowboarding, too. What else?

Remarkably, Wu predicts ”a greater than 50-percent chance” that Apple will roll out a movie story with feature length movies.

I’d like to say something like, ’Now we’re getting somewhere,’ except we’re not; that prediction was stale six months ago. Come on. Where’s the beef? What’s really coming Feb 28th?

Wu says Apple’s target stock price is still $101 (it’s about $70 now), though he doesn’t actually own any Apple stock. So much for credibility, huh?

Let me recap the disappointment stream for you.

First, Apple plans to introduce some ”fun” new products on February 28th (that’s next Tuesday).

Second, professional analysts chime in and say the new products could include a new Intel-based iBook (MacBook), or an Intel-based Mac mini, or movies at the iTunes Music Store, or something else.

Buy me dinner at Chinois and I’ll come up with better predictions than those.

Ok, how about Think Secret? They used to be the best at this kind of speculation-cum-factoid, right?

The best they could come up with is, ”Solid information on what Apple may unveil at the event has escaped sources, but reasonable speculation suggests the debut of...” then the same list.

It was just a few weeks ago that Think Secret was telling us the secrets of a new 3.5-inch iPod with widescreen. Where’s the news on that?

Come on, guys. I’m ready to drool now, not next week. Can’t you see I’ve got lust pains (no Tera, it’s not PMS)?

A week early, the folks at MacDailyNews received a photograph of an 8-inch silver cube Apple box. What’s inside?

The anonymous source says that what’s inside is silver, and has a button and several ports, and some other stuff. Are the NeXT and Apple cubes of the previous decades about to be reborn as a ”media cube?”

Now that’s more like it. Nothing’s better than a fuzzy, fake photograph to whet the appetite of a true Macophile female, right? Too bad they didn’t use the Photoshop “Area 51 Filter”, though.

Long time Mac rumor site MacOS Rumors fares no better with a lethargic, ”Grapevine consensus seems to be that Apple will be making one major announcement (presumably a new Intel-based computer) and multiple lesser announcements...”

At least they’re not getting paid for printing that.

Enough already. What’s on your list? What do you expect Apple to announce on February 28th?

update - Andy Ihnatko agrees with Tera’s wish list.

Tera Patricks
If not my tablet Mac or wireless iPod, I’m going for an iBook replacement called “MacBook.” Think thinner, faster, cheaper.” And an Airport Express AV for my new LCD TV.

Jack D. Miller
An Intel-based Mac mini is a no brainer. How hard can that be to build?

Carol Mary Miller
Focuse on ”fun.” I figure Apple’s about ready to launch the new video store, so it stands alone from the iTunes Music Store. Full length movies, here we come.

Alexis Kayhill
Hello? It’s all about the music, so I’m expecting the long-awaited ”Asteroid” music breakout box. Hey, it could happen. Besides, someone needs to be out on a limb. The rest of you are guessing from the seat of your La-z-boy sofa recliners.

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