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Don’t bet on an Apple netbook—but an ‘iPod HD,’ well, that’s more likely

Written by: Dennis Sellers

Article Overview: Yesterday it was reported that Taiwan-based Wintek will supply touch panels for a new Apple netbook (or perhaps an “iPod HD”) and shipments will start in the third quarter this year. Don’t look for a netbook per se, but a bigger iPod is what I’m betting my money on.

Don’t bet on an Apple netbook—but an ‘iPod HD,’ well, that’s more likely

Yesterday it was reported that Taiwan-based Wintek will supply touch panels for a new Apple netbook (or perhaps an “iPod HD”) and shipments will start in the third quarter this year. Don’t look for a netbook per se, but a bigger iPod is what I’m betting my money on.

The typical netbook is a light-weight, small laptop with wireless connectivity mainly used for online services such as web browsing, emailing and instant messaging. A typical model weighs 2-3 pounds, has a screen of 7-10 inches, clocks in at a speed of around 1.6GHz and sell for under $500.

Don’t expect such a critter from Apple. In the past CEO Steve Jobs has said: “We’re watching [the netbook] space. But, right now from our point of view the products in there are principally based on hardware that’s much less powerful than we think customers want. Software technology that is not good, cramped keyboards small displays… And so, we don’t think that people are going to be pleased with those types of products. But we’ll see. … it’s a category we watch. We’ve got some ideas here. But, right now we think the products there are inferior and will not provide an experience to customers that they’re happy with.”

The Silicon Valley Insider opines that the device won’t be a traditional netbook, but will be a “touchscreen, portable Internet device that’s bigger than the iPhone.” “Rather, we think Apple will take advantage of its expertise in multi-touch screens and virtual keyboards to make a device that’s about four times the size of an iPod touch, selling for around $600 to $700,” the report says.

I pretty much agree with Silicon Valley Insider. As I’ve said before, I think the device (which I’ve dubbed the iBook) will be Apple’s all-in-one answer to a netbook, tablet and ebook reader—plus some. I’m predicting that it will run around $600-$900 (depending on which of my following prognostications come true). I think it will have an eight to 10-inch screen, no optical media, and only be offered with a solid state drive. Basically, it will be a super-sized iPod touch with, perhaps, a built-in iSight.

I also think it will sport a 3G modem and come with software specifically designed for reading ebooks (software that will later appear on other Macs, perhaps as part of iLife). At this point, Apple will begin pushing ebooks at the iTunes Store, something it’s not done before.

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Article Tags: clocks, ebook reader, emailing, hd, instant messaging, internet device, iphone, ipod touch, netbook, opines, optical media, point of view, silicon valley, software technology, solid state drive, steve jobs, touch screens, typical model, virtual keyboards, wintek



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