Apple may be the one computer company that hasn’t shown any interest in the netbook platform and it has at several occasions pointed out that the netbook concept is not for Apple. The last time it ridiculed the netbook market it also opened a door for personal interpretation. Apple was careful not to say anything that would indicate it working on a netbook-like product, but several unconfirmed sources claim that this is very much the case.
Apple is working on a computer that will take the fight with the netbook competition and the formfactor is said to be around 10″, just like most of the most popular netbooks of today.
What makes the display of Apple’s “netbook” different is that it will use touch technology. Taiwanese display manufacturer Wintek has confirmed that it has received orders for 10″ LCD monitors with touch technology, but it does not know what they are for.
At the same time Quanta Computer, who already makes Apple’s MacBook and iMacs, will build the netbook.
Apple will most likely not release a supercheap netbook that most can afford. But it does look like Apple will enter the netbook market and especially the growing ~10″ segment.
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Maybe it will become the mobile equivalent of Apple Mac mini, which should open doors to a whole new group of consumers.
Apple has of course not commented and will most likely not do so either before we actually see the product. If we interpret these sources correctly the “netbook” will appear in the second half of 2009.
