Rumors of Apple creating a Netbook are surfacing

(image found on slashgear)
The rumors are now starting about apple coming up with a netbook soon. A Taiwanese financial paper called the commercial times reported today (March 9, 2009) that two Taiwanese based computer companies are in talks now with Apple for some new hardware (possibly netbooks).

Quanta Computer (Taiwan based company) that currently is a contributor to the iPhone is reported to be the maker for the Apple Netbook. Followed by another Taiwanese base company, Wintek that would be making the touch panels.

Wintek is also reporting that currently there is no shipment date set but that it would be likely to begin shipping Netbooks in Mid-Year 2009. This information is also being reported in Digitimes too.

When Apple executives were recently questioned about this issue they said they don't believe people would be please with a netbook type device from apple, sighting performance would be a big issue. Various analysts already are starting to comment on this issue and just calling it all hype.

I don't know if its all talk since its being reported in a financial paper and it sounds more like something in the mix then not. What ever it is im sure we will be pleasantly surprised by the unveiling when Apple is ready.

Apple Netbook Rumors Stirred by Taiwan Newspaper (eweek)
Apple ordering netbook-sized multitouch panels for 2H09? (Slashgear)

New Net Tablets show their face....

As the year goes forward the new netbook craze is grabbing everyone. Cheap, clean and fast enough to do what many people can without blowing your budget at the same time. Well just as we got wowed by the netbooks here comes a new kind of netbook. At Demo 09 in Palm Desert, CA, a new netbook was shown with a touch screen.

(image found on Tom's Hardware)
The Touch Book by Always Innovating was displayed today with a sweet detachable keyboard (optional) and a cool magnetic mounting for putting it on a fridge. The touch screen was designed with people that have larger fingers to be able to use the interface.

(image found on cnet)
The product will run a Linux OS, Gentil (company's CEO, Gregoire Gentil) said, and it's the first Netbook based on an ARM CPU, not the typical Atom found in most Netbooks. He says users can expect 10 to 15 hours. Gentil says this machine is capable of running mobile operating systems such as Android or Windows CE.

(image found on Gizmodo)
The cost is very reasonably slated at $299 (without a keyboard) or $399 with a keyboard, with release dates being this spring. I definitely, look forward to picking up one of these units soon.

(image found on cnet)

Always Innovating launching touch-screen Netbook (cnet)
Touch-screen laptop, iPhone service highlight DEMO 09 (Network World)
Net Tablet: Always Innovating Touch Book (Tom's Hardware)
First Hands On: Touch Book Is a Part-Netbook, Part-Tablet(Gizmodo)