Comments on: Apple touch-screen Netbook rumors heat up

Several blogs picked up on a report by DigiTimes that cites a Chinese-language Commercial Times article saying Apple is allegedly prepping a new touch-screen Netbook for a release in Q3 of this year. And now Dow Jones News Services has further updates on

[newitouch]

If you pay attention at the industry in a ALL, you can see that:
- Gaming (playing games) is booming, not only on the iPhone, but everywhere.
So what can be better than a larger size screen to play, 8 inches is perfect.
- Apple touch screen is clearly the most advanced ever made
So good chance to continue with it into more products
- The iPhone is an enormous success, and the APP Store is just fantastic
So lets do that on a bigger screen with more option using a complete OS with copy past and much more..
- The economy is suffering hard, but Apple is growing, and if you want to buy a quality computer that works, you get a Mac
So there no better time to sell an amazing product that comes close to a computer, but is even more portable and cost even less, around the $600
- Oh, and for the keyboard that some of you wants, lets make it optional, for $49 with a track pad.

Off course the all thing is full HD to download and watch movies from the Apple Store.

[Dan7637]

if this were to come true, i would so buy one- this product looks awesome and second of all screw all you haters

[AaronCT123]

Lame. I'd much prefer something along the lines of Axiotron's Modbook.

[fazalmajid]

I have a MacBook Air, and it is a perfectly usable computer. That said, a slightly larger iPod Touch could probably handle most of the basic web/email functionality if Apple decided to enable OS X's Bluetooth keyboard and mouse drivers.

[schmidty313]

No, bad idea
We already have the iPhone and iPod touch, which are expensive electronics, so people like me can get a little taste of Apple OS

Apple needs to make a $400 and $500 Netbook, with decent RAM and HD space, so people like me, not willing to pay 2k for a flashy, decent hardware laptop with an OS which frankly sometimes doesnt cut it.
I dual boot Ubuntu and Vista on my Dell Vostro 1510, and I would gladly tri boot OS X if it were open, which its not.

I want a Netbook that s reasonably priced so I can try out OS X. I was planning on going the Hackintosh route with a Dell Mini 9, but I would rather wait and see how the Apple Netbook turns out

[atzicecream]

Netbooks= "They stink and I don't like them".


RIP O&A

[Azzuro10]

I don't see Apple doing this and I don't blame them. I think the companies that sell Netbooks make very little on them. For Apple to make one with their design priorities, they wouldn't make much money at all and would cannibilize their existing market. Besides their macbooks are already quite thin and portable. But Apple should and wont just compete on price. Touch screen netbooks sound and look nice, but I don't see people doing that. If you want something with a screen that big, you might as well have a keyboard.

[whidbeyben]

I'm still waiting for my 12" Macbook Pro. Multitouch would be ideally suited to eBook and vertical application markets. But a physical keyboard or at least the option for adding one (tablet+bluetooth folding keyboard =netbook?) and 3G/WIFI/WIMAX would be essential for road warriors.

[hutchitl]

If they were to sell this for around 500, I think it'd be hugely successful. Due to it's large borderless screen, it's ideal for a handheld tv/movie viewer, great for games, internet, web chat, ebooks, etc... Imagine having something extremely thin and with a decent screen for the kids on vacation. It'd be the ideal platform for front row. For those who buy it to be productive, tablet features are ideal.

[hutchitl]

With the use of a bluetooth keyboard, you would not be limited to using the virtual keyboard.

[rcardona2k]

http://www.misterbg.org/AppleProductCycle/

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

[Sakurazuka]

I think it'd be pretty hype actually, in my head I see something like hitch hikers guide to the galaxy,
or perhaps a device out of star trek or something

[big.mouth]

Exactly! It blows my mind someone hasn't done this already. And, haters, please don't waste my time harping on the failure of Newton. Touchscreen technology has advanced a lot since 1989.

[kangotang]

I think apple would sell the crap out of a netbook if they made one. A real netbook, that is, not this giant, mutated iPhone.

I have been searching for a long time for something to replace my 12" PowerBook with (best laptop I've ever owned BTW, Mac or PC). I'm still holding out for an Apple netbook, but at some point I'm just going to have to give up and by an HP Mini.

[tcr071]

There is already two multi-touch notebooks on the market. The HP TX series tablet and the Dell XT. The Dell XT features 10 finger input but I'm sure Apple's touch screen device will be touted as "world's first" by the Apple marketing team.

[big.mouth]

You obviously have never used these devices. I bought a Latitude XT last year because of the promise of multi-touch. I returned it after a week of usage because the multi-touch was pathetic compared to my ipod touch and iphone. Part of the problem is that the XT doesn't use a capacitive touch screen, which makes finger inputs much less reliable. I haven't used the HP TX, but it looks like crap and is way too heavy. FAIL.

[chaunceyo]

I would love a device as the one shown above... it wouldn't be a replacement computer out of the box, but I could always hook up an a bluetooth keyboard and be happy camper, probably still less weight to haul around than a 15" notebook. Make sure it has some great battery life, or an e-book mode, that could someone how expand the battery to 10 hours and you'd have something alot of people would jump on - I know I would.

[kakman1]

Apple doesn't need to get into the netbook market - yet. What it can do is make it easier to install OS X on current netbook models. If sales for a version of OS X for netbooks took off, that would be enough of an indicator to Apple to enter the market and take over - OS X for netbook could probably be the new OS for the OLPC XO 2.0 if it uses touch technology.

[wotka89]

LOL...
Looks like the kind of thing I would imagine a secretary to walk in and take notes and orders
from the boss with haha
Just a thought =)

[jomolungma]

The world does not need another useless Netbook. No amount of "design flair" is going to differentiate it in the market, especially considering Apple is unlikely to compete on price (since they don't compete on price with the rest of their lineup). I'd really like to see them go in a different direction, which is a pure touchscreen model, a la a bigger iPod, that runs a complete OS optimized for the device, as opposed to the gimped iPod/iPhone version of OS X. Make it slightly smaller than an 8 1/2 x 11 notebook (maybe 7 12 x 10?), thin, and sell it with a case that basically makes it look like a notebook. Have the app store available on it, spec it through the roof, and sell it for $899 - $999.

[cyclonica1980]

This would be the biggest waste of money ever. I agree with other commentary that a lower price Macbook Air would be much more efficient. This thing in the current economic conditions would be a poor idea. Steve Jobs also dispelled rumors of the touch screen macbook and netbook.

[sythara]

Now we just need them to release MacBook Wheel and we're done

[zithrob]

My thought would be to have a 5.5" x 8.5" format iTouch. Package it in a zippered case, which includes a matching bluetooth keyboard, that can can support this big iTouch in a stand. Now you've got a high tech, low weight, slim "Day Plannner" . Business types would love the form factor, keyboarders get the typing interface when needed, everybody else gets lots o' screen real estate.

Kiss Kindle goodbye - although I doubt that Apple could bring it in for less than $1K. Even at that price, I'd be sorely tempted to buy such a thing.