Rumours: Apple plans netbook with touch screen
Apple is planning to launch a netbook computer with a touch screen monitor as early as the second half of this year, two people close to the situation told Dow Jones Newswires Tuesday. The mini laptop computers will likely have monitor screens that are between 9.7-inches and 10-inches, one person, who declined to be named, said. Another person said other specifications and functions are still under evaluation. Apple is working with Taiwan’s Wintek Corp. a contract manufacturer of small and medium displays, to make the touch-screen displays and Quanta Computer Inc. , the world’s largest notebook maker by revenue, to assemble the new netbooks, the second person said. Netbooks are primarily designed for Internet browsing and mobile computing. They cost less than conventional laptop computers, and are lighter and smaller.
Apple’s entry may come in what is expected to be a very tough year for computer sales. Desktop-computer shipments in particular are expected to fall by nearly one-third globally in 2009 as consumers increasingly shift to laptop computers, according to projections released by research firm Gartner Inc. earlier in March. While netbook computers have become a major sales driver for computer companies, Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs last year dismissed netbooks, even going so far as to suggest Apple’s third-generation iPhone – a smartphone device that offer multifunctions – could serve as a netbook. Jobs told analysts in October Apple isn’t “tremendously worried” the slump will drive customers to less-expensive PCs and added, “we don’t know how to make a $500 computer that’s not a piece of junk.”
Source: CNN
Comments(26)
touchscreens are gonna be the next big step in the digital revolution, I tell you
MultipleTouch will make the difference, i see many possibilities!
FINALLY!
So RLSLOG is now an Apple rumor site? C'mon, you're better than that.
Macs, don't like, don't care.
Macs are for grandma's who can't do anything on the computer… or for morons.
but apple style netbook with windows7
should be nice. aluminium case, glossy multitouch screen. but whats the price gonna be? i dont think it will land in 400-500$
Peter, don't like, don't care.
Peter's are for grandma's who can't do anything on the computer… or for morons.
@7
I see what you did there
@5 Peter "Macs, don't like, don't care."
Peter you obviously do care enough to come on here and waste your precious time to make a comment about it.
Pleeeease make it. I'd personally buy one and dual boot to have both os x and windows..
Maybe this will encurage people to wash their hands…
good point Diana . I have a normal screen and it has finger prints all over it. A screen you are supposed to touch would probably be a germ factory.
Shouldn't the title be "Apple to innovate by putting the first ever touch screen on a laptop!"?
If tech history teaches anything, it's that iDiots would actually believe it.
Kleenex sponsors this news?
I like it already. Waiting to buy this one
Lmao, "we don’t know how to make a $500 computer that’s not a piece of junk."
…but with cell phones, we got that down to a science!
Im viewing this on a mac, got a pc collecting dust in the closet. got sick of the virus and the crap software i had to load to keep the virus away
I prefer the more truthful headline of 'Apple Plans Touchscreen AFTER getting SPANKED by Rival doing the same and CHEAPER!'; see here:
Asus announces new netbooks at CES, including Eee PC T91 tablet: http://www.mobilecomputermag.co.uk/200901071185/asus-announces-new-netbooks-at-ces-including-eee-pc-t91-tablet.html
Seems Asus sets the pace, Apple FOLLOWS!
This is GREAT for many reasons.
1. Apple (While I am no fan of the user base) does indeed make great, innovative (if not locked down and somewhat proprietary) hardware.
2. This netbook, if priced right (doubtful considering Apple's track record) could bring Netbooks even lower. Competition is always great for the consumer.
3. If this can run Apple, Linux (Mac OS is Linux) and Windows XP/Vista/7 then this is a winner.
Wonder what graphics card it will have?
@9 Well I figured this set of comments shouldn't all be about people liking this, you gotta have negative opinions for something. News can't always be good.
@5 Okay I'll admit, my comment was pretty immature, but thanks for reassuring me that I'm not the worst.
@17
My theory is that Asus are behind this 'leak'. Apple have been fairly anti-netbooks for a long time. OSX+the cloud doesn't make much sense, so they'd have to release a slimmed down version of OSX, and that kind of Home/Net/Pro Edition distinction is the kind of thing they love to criticise MS for… Added to that is the fact that a 9.7-10" screen isn't nearly enough real estate for the graphical bells and whistles they love.
So I reckon Asus have 'leaked' this Apple news to raise demand for their tablet PC.
Having said all that, I'd be interested in getting one.
Apple touchscreens make me orgasm.
i cant figure how ppl use tiny netbooks, all hunched over their shoulders too look at a screen, thats just wrong, i tell u in the future there will be soo much reports about how these tiny netbooks are bad for the back and other bad stuff
they should put touch screen on the mac book air, and another usb port
I <3 macbook air
“we don’t know how to make a $500 computer that’s not a piece of junk.”
What a crock of B.S. …… unbelievable.
What do you mean first ever? My sister's laptop that she has had for at least three years has a touch screen.
Jobs told analysts in October Apple isn’t “tremendously worried” the slump will drive customers to less-expensive PCs and added, “we don’t know how to make a $500 computer that’s not a piece of junk.”
I have a Dell I am on now that has all the bells and whistles I need, bought 6 months ago w/a 2 year parts/labor warranty for under 500 dollars. And as a plus came pre-loaded with windows xp. So maybe Steve Jobs needs to rephrase that to : Apple won't build a computer that retails for less than 500$
As if!
ASUS doesn't have to stoop to deception. They are one of the most respected motherboard manufactuers today. They don't even have to do commercials to promote. Viral marketing beats print/TV ads in any universe.
Apple shouldn't insult the majority of computer consumers or those PC users will never consider a Mac. But it's not a Mac, it's an intel clone machine actually. But I digress.
Fight amongst yourselves if you want.