Is Apple set to release a netbook?

Kevin O'Brien · 03-09-2009, 02:59 PM

Wintek, a Taiwanese display manufacturer, has released they are working with Apple to design a new products which may a new netbook according to Digitimes. Quanta has also been reported as making the netbook for Apple according to an article from Commercial Times. It has also been rumored that Quanta was going to be the maker of the new Sony Vaio P. Right now this is all speculation, but considering the way the economy is shifting Apple is probably working on a low-cost notebook to boost sales.

Image courtesy of Frunny

Andrew · 03-09-2009, 03:03 PM

If it's a netbook, it'll be an $800 netbook that competes more with the VAIO P than $400 class netbooks, Apple will not compete with the race to zero on profit margins or "stoop" down to a common PC makers strategy.

fattail95 · 03-09-2009, 03:04 PM

I would love it if apple were going to release a netbook

, I would pounce on it!

Any thoughts on the price?

Thanks!

Fattail95

Persnickety · 03-09-2009, 03:11 PM

They might release one, except it will cost as much as an X200/s or similar "real" laptops. However, some people will buy it, no matter that it'll be similar or lower specced than a midrange netbook. Just for the looks and how sweet it'll match for their iPod/iPhones

tayb · 03-09-2009, 03:11 PM

Let's assume this is in fact $800. Why would someone buy it over the $999 MacBook?

Persnickety · 03-09-2009, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tayb

Let's assume this is in fact $800. Why would someone buy it over the $999 MacBook?

Why would anyone buy an overpriced and crippled smartphone and/or DAP when they can get a fully featured smartphone for less and a better sounding DAP with no tie-ins/tie-downs for much less?

The perceived "coolness" associated with it might be one of the answers. Or it might be the answer, no matter if people will admit it or not.

OccamsAftershave · 03-09-2009, 04:42 PM

A MacBook is 4.5 lbs -- a Vaio P competitor is 1.4 lbs.

ChristopherAKAO4 · 03-09-2009, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tayb

Let's assume this is in fact $800. Why would someone buy it over the $999 MacBook?

Because if they make this netbook they'll drop the $999 plastic Macbook (which is out of date--although at least has current specs--and only being kept around because they need to have $1000 notebook), with this netbook taking it's place as the cheapest. :-P

EDIT: Hmm I had another thought, I remember from a few weeks back a rumor about a larger iPod Touch. Wintek being a touch screen maker, maybe they're actually supplying the panels for the over-sized iPod Touch, which would be very much like a netbook/tablet.

EDIT2: LINK: http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/12/30...ch-in-fall-09/

The screen size is right.

huang · 03-09-2009, 11:08 PM

Wouldn't it be awesome (and the next step hopefully) if the keyboard area was just one gigantic touchscreen, like the kind on the new blackberry? That way the keyboard would still "click" like a regular keyboard, but the buttons displayed can be changed around and stuff.

You could set it to just a giant "ASWD" and arrow keys when you're gaming or something, then change it back to a keyboard with a click.

I can dream.

joshuaLX · 03-10-2009, 03:20 AM

Steve Jobs said himself that Apple wasn't interested in the netbook market. A netbook would be seen by Apple as cheapening the brand. Similar to the way the Boxster cheapened the Porsche name.

Oh that picture is definitely a new 24" Apple display fused to a bluetooth Apple keyboard.