[Rumor] Apple touchscreen netbook in Q3 2009?

In times when notebooks sales decline and netbooks are the bestselling devices, the tech world is looking at Apple and is desperately waiting for a netbook. Well, the rumors are back again. According to a report by Commercial Times, the Taiwan-based company Wintek is going to supply touch panels for an Apple netbook which could be expected in Q3 2009, right before the holiday season.

What will it look like?

As described in my previous article about alternative operating systems on netbooks, it’s possible to run the actual Mac OS X operating system on netbooks with the low performance Intel Atom processor. Apple could have released a netbook just like the Acer or Asus devices with a stripped down Mac OS version. Apple didn’t and if they are really building a netbook now, it will be an innovative computer with a touchscreen. The question is, will the rumored Apple netbook be closer to an iPhone or a Macbook?

Netbook or tablet?

Also, considering it’s Apple we are talking about, will it have the typical Apple premium price? Netbooks usually have a price limit at $500 and Apple would sure attract costumers to finally buy an Apple computer if it would be cheaper. Considering this, the Apple netbook is likely to have limited capabilities to justify the price. But maybe Apple isn’t so fond with the whole netbook concept after all and is instead building a tablet with an interface like the iPhone or the iPod touch?

All in all, it’s just a rumor. We will have to wait for more facts to prove a Macbook Mini or Macbook touch or whatever an Apple netbook would be called.
Also, if you want a Mac OS X netbook right now, go buy a netbook like the Eee PC and install the Apple operating system on it. It works with a little hacking!

Update: According to Engadget, “two people close to the situation” confirmed the rumor. Also, the screen size is now said to be between 9.7 and 10-inches.

via Liliputing, Gizmodo