Chinese newspaper says Apple prepping touch-screen netbook

As Tony Bennett sang at the end of January's Macworld Conference & Expo, "The Best Is Yet To Come," reports suggest that Apple might just be prepping a brand new innovative touch-screen netbook.

Last Tuesday's announcements of updated iMac, Mac Pro and Mac mini specs raised a mixed response from the Apple community and analysts alike with some disappointed with the lack of "one more thing" brand new Apple innovation.

Despite hopes and rumours, Apple failed to introduce any wholly new Macs, with no sign of an Apple netbook, an ultra portable potentially competively priced laptop, ideally suited for surfing the Web, sending email and everyday tasks.

Now a Chinese newspaper suggests a Mac netbook, or MacBook mini/MacBook nano, could be a reality sooner than later.

According to Chinese-language newspaper Commercial Times, Apple already has deals with manufacturers underway.

Taiwanese company Wintek is reported to be supplying touchscreen panels for any new Apple netbook, while Quanta Computer will actually make the ultra portable Apple laptops suggests DigiTimes.

Apple netbook shipments are likely to begin in the second half of the year suggests the newspaper although no details are given to support the claim.

At £719.00, the MacBook is Apple's cheapest laptop computer but no netbook.

Apple are, publicly at least, known to be lukewarm on the idea of an Apple branded netbook believing that the iPhone offers all you need on the move including email and Web access, while netbooks generally suffer from cramped keyboards and compromised displays.

In late January, Apple COO Tim Cook said, "right now we think the products there are inferior and will not provide an experience to customers that they are happy with."

However Tim Cook did admit Apple are, "Watching that space... We've got some ideas here."

Should Cook and co introduces a netbook it could help increase significantly Apple's laptop sales, already enjoying significant growth. During Apple's December quarter, for example, laptop sales increased to nearly 1.8 million units from 1.675 million.

One potential sticking point however may be the retail price with observers suggesting Apple need to sell any netbook for under $500. Based on current Apple laptop prices, starting at $999, £719.00 in the UK, Apple may struggle to meet the expectations of those who believe Apple can compete with budget netbooks from the likes of Asus and MSI.