It’s back! The rumor about the Apple netbook, or Apple touch screen tablet, or huge iPhone, or…you get the picture. This rumor has had many forms, but they all point to one thing, that Apple is apparently planning on releasing a netbook of sorts during Q3 2009.
This time, the rumor originates from Commercial Times and was relayed by DigiTimes (via Gizmodo). They say that Wintek, a Taiwan based company, will supply touch displays for this mythical device. Wintek claims they are working with Apple on some new product, but they don’t know what it is or what it’s for. The rumor goes on to identify Quanta as the makers of the device we all want to be real.
Can it be true? Not sure really, but a lot of information has been slipping between the fingers of Apple as of late. We knew about the Mac Mini ahead of time, complete with pictures, so what’s to say Apple isn’t losing grip on their secrecy? Plus, the Commercial Times busted the details on the original iPhone. But that doesn’t mean both of these rumor sources have spotless records; far from it. Still, this is about the right time for Apple to break into the netbook market. They don’t usually pioneer a market; they like to wait it out and then destroy everyone else like they did with the iPod and iPhone.
So what does an Apple touch screen netbook need to have for you to buy it? An Apple logo? A keyboard? I’m interested to read what you guys want to see in an Apple tablet.
[Update: Now the Dow Jones Newswire is reporting on this rumor as well. They add that their source, who is apparently very close to the situation, says the screen of this device is planned to be 9.7 or 10 inches diagonally. It will be interesting to see if this pans out. If it does, will it have a keyboard? I tend to think not. I’m betting this is real and that it will look a lot like the image above; more of a tablet style device than a netbook. At least, that’s what I’m hoping for. I’d better start saving now.
