by , 2:00 PM EDT, October 28th, 2008

Apple's new aluminum MacBook could be a stealth business notebook, according to an IT columnist writing for Computerworld. At a time where some mainstream pundits are criticizing the MacBook's $1299 price point, and Mac users are complaining about the lack of FireWire ports in the device, Scot Finnie argues that the combination of several factors could see the MacBook be the biggest selling Mac yet in the business world.

"After more than 25 years of watching technology," wrote Mr. Finnie, "I've come to believe in the consumerization of IT as a more powerful driver in the adoption of end-user technology by enterprises than most analysts and pundits allow for. I'm not predicting wholesale adoption of Macs by larger enterprises anytime soon, but the new MacBook will make the most significant inroads into the enterprise market of any Apple product, probably ever. It comes down to price/performance, price point, design focus, durability, suitability to task and market timing."

Mr. Finnie argues that the MacBook's specs and price point, as well as its more professional (i.e. non-plastic) appearance combine to make Apple's consumer and education-oriented MacBook a compelling business offering, even if Apple itself does not make a compelling enterprise partner due to its penchant for not sharing product roadmaps or caring much about IT execs.

Apple's stealth business offering, the MacBook?

"But," he argued, "while the company may never admit it, the MacBook is a shot fired across the bows of Windows enterprise notebook makers."

Mr. Finnie's opinion is the first in some time that we've noticed from a non-Mac-centric source making the case for a Mac as a business machine. That it comes in the midst of much grousing from a subset of Mac users is either irony or fitting, depending on your viewpoint.