Macworld: All Eyes on Jobs

A lightweight notebook could help Apple add to its recent gains in the computer operating system market.

Apple's share of that market has moved up steadily from 6.8% in November, 7.3% in December and as high as 8% in the days after the holiday shopping season, according to NetApplications, which tracks browsers and operating systems.

"A new, thin notebook will let Apple fly in a space that they haven't participated," says Chervitz. "There is a lot in terms of form factor, battery life, and the whole wow appeal that goes into making something like this successful, and Apple can use its software, hardware and design expertise to do it."

Keith Bachman, an analyst with BMO Capital, which makes a market in Apple shares, said that although the ultra-portables market will likely represent only 5% to 10% of the total notebook market in 2008, it will be one of the fastest-growing segments, with growth rates of 40% to 50%.

In his keynote, Jobs could also disclose if Apple has inked a deal with some major movie studios for downloads through its iTunes store. News reports in the last few weeks suggest Apple has partnered with Fox Studios, a division of News Corp.(NWS), and Disney(DIS) to offer video downloads.

Apple could also enhance features in the Apple TV, considered a disappointment in terms of customer adoption.

"Apple TV has two big shortcomings," says Wu, "the lack of a direct connection to the Internet for TV and movie content and lack of a TV tuner." He said Apple could announce some of these features at Macworld that will probably be released later this year.

Other product announcements could include a 3G iPhone, something that AT&T(T) CEO, Randall Stephenson, has hinted at in the past.

There's no doubt that expectations run high, but Jobs, says Gold, may just end up beating them yet again.

"Apple is real good at keeping secrets," he says, "and Steve Jobs is pretty good at pulling rabbits out of his hat."

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