Tell me sweet little lies: Apple touchscreen netbook

This time the 'mill is running with ideas that the company is working to develop a touch-screen netbook which would enter the market just in time for fall, and those back to school sales.

A Quarter 3 release of the netbook would give Apple a leg up on competitors, with Windows 7 loaded machines slated to be available at the holidays the company is going to have to release something.

Don’t hold your breath, I personally say.

On Monday DigiTimes reported that the Commercial Times, a Chinese language print publication which was the original source of the information stated "Taiwan-based Wintek will supply touch panels for Apple's new Netbook, and shipments will start in the third quarter this year."

Wintek supposedly revealed that its working closely with Apple on the development of some new products, however the company doesn’t know what the applications of the new products are. The company is also rumored to have said that no shipment schedule has been determined, but that they are likely to begin during the second half of the year.

This story was quickly expanded upon by the Dow Jones Newswire, which stated that an unnamed source claims "the mini laptop computers will likely have monitor screens that are between 9.7-inches and 10-inches," it has also been said that "other specifications and functions are still under evaluation.



An artist's impression of what an Apple netbook might look like - credit Isamu Sanada.


_{Another concept design. Credit: Frunny on Flickr}

It would seem the day has been full of individuals getting their two cents in regarding the device. Engadget posted a digital rendering of what an Apple Netbook could potentially look like. A reporter from the Silicon Alley Insider claimed that Apple will merely create a bigger version of the iPod Touch, which has been deemed the iPod Touch HD.


^{_{Credit: Gizmodo}}

Individuals that believe the iPod Touch HD concept claim that the bigger screen will be for watching movies, playing video games, surfing the web at a better size, and reading e-books. This concept would open the doors to a new market, which would allow the company to simultaneously compete with companies like Amazon and Sony with their e-reading and gaming devices.

Usually new products are announced during the January MacWorld event, however this year the company was virtually absent, and the only big announcement was in regards to its iLife software.

As always, Apple declines to comment, as it is in the company policy not to have any discussions regarding “rumors and speculation.”