Reports earlier today suggest that Apple is indeed working on their own version of a touchscreen netbook that's scheduled to ship in the latter part of 2009.
Call it the rumor that won’t die, but reports earlier today suggest that Apple is indeed working on their own version of a touchscreen netbook that’s scheduled to ship in the latter part of 2009. A Chineese language publication called the Commercial Times reported today that Apple has already chosen manufacturers to produce an upcoming touchscreen netbook. Specifically, Tawain-based company Wintek has been tapped to supply the touch panels for this supposed netbook, while Quanta Computer will actually be responsible for manufacturing it. At an earnings conference call last fall, Steve Jobs responded to a question about netbooks and quipped
“We don’t know how to build a sub-$500 computer that is not a piece of junk.”
More recently, interim Apple CEO Tim Cook noted that Apple wasn’t strongly considering producing a netbook because they’re
“principally based on hardware that’s much less powerful than we think customers want, software technology that is not good, cramped keyboards, small displays.”
Nevertheless, netbooks have continued to sell in large quantities, and even though Apple seems to be weathering recent dire economic conditions better than most other companies, it can’t forever ignore netbooks if they continue to sell. Bear in mind, though, the aforementioned comments from Steve Jobs and Tim Cook and you can bet that an Apple branded netbook, if the rumors are true, will push the envelope in much the same way that the iPhone did when it was first released. An Apple branded netbook will undoubtedly have to have a killer feature to differentiate it from all the other netbooks out on the market. Otherwise, people will simply continue to purchase the cheapest netbooks they can find. Apple may not compete on price, but they definitely are more than capable of competing on features relative to price. Like this post? Check out these others from iOnApple
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