Apple netbooks manufactured by Foxconn rumoured
WE'VE PICKED UP ON some Chinese whispering which would have us believe Apple could be about to release its very own netbook, with Foxconn Electronics chosen as the fruity toymaker's main manufacturing partner.
Digitimes and a plethora of Russian hardware sites are quoting Chinese-language site Commercial Times, which in turn is quoting sources from the component supply chain. These are whispering that Cupertino has sealed the deal with contract electronics manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry - or Foxconn - to bang out Apple netbooks.
Commercial Times says Apple may also be contracting other manufacturers in Asia, but Foxconn seems to be the main firm in the running.
The paper added that Apple's MacBook is already set to become Foxconn's big boost to notebook shipment growth in Q209. In the past, Foxconn has been contracted by the likes of Dell and HP and has done work for Apple on the Iphone.
The rumours come at a time when speculation is rife about Apple introducing a new multimedia device to take up an intermediary niche between the Iphone and Mac notebooks. Apple is keeping tight lipped about its plans, issuing a terse "no comment", but the word on the Asian streets is that the device will be some sort of 10-inch touch screen netbook.
Whispers suggest Apple will attempt to market the device as a portable gadget for reading e-books, connecting to the Interwarble and watching films. µ
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what took Apple so long?
i bet it will come in at a similar price to sonys netbooks (£800)
and sell to fanboys only (the ones that couldn't afford the macbook air)
Here comes the new apple iCrap!
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/04/18/new_imac_owners_see_radeon_hd_4850_related_lock_up_issue.html
Could this be a Ion implementation, or even a Nvidia Tegra product?
The iPhone uses an ARM and Apple's OS already runs on it so it might not be to far fetched for a device that can be a HD media and web browse with other light apps funning on the hardware. This is definely and advantage of Apple having control of hardware and the software in the segment.
"Whispers suggest Apple will attempt to market the device as a portable gadget for reading e-books, connecting to the Interwarble and watching films."
Did Apple say it would have the full version of OS X, and users would be able to install whatever they like?
Or is Apple going put a crippled, limited OS on the netbook, and only allow a few activities like reading e-books and connecting to the net?
If apple makes a crippled Netbook, only idiotic fanboys will buy it at a premium over Netbooks that will run Windows 7. Microsoft will win this battle. The commercial for a Netbook running Windows 7 that can do more than the Apple crippled Apple Netbook would be a huge success and make Apple look worse than Windows current add campaign.
First picture of this:
Next Apple moves will be Books and Games…
http://spidouz.wordpress.com/2008/09/03/next-apple-moves-will-be-books-and-games
Must have the full Mac OS X inside (not the limited OS X of iPhone and iPod touch) for full blown presentations using NATIVE Keynote and PowerPoint from VGA-out port.
We need thousands for our University.
Was waiting for the bad play on words.....
Small Apple notebook = Applet?
I thought it was funny
Netbooks are nice, but a little iphone spice on a micronized macbook would be a welcome jolt to to the category.
Netbooks are poor ebook readers, and the tiny trackpads and keyboards are not much fun long term. The Vaio P was innovative, but didn't address the core UI issues that Apple are so good with.
I'm OS agnostic, but I happen to think a 10" iphone-esque MID would be pretty cool and worth a hefty premium over a standard-issue netbook.
Plus Apple are likely to have first dibs on Intel's new Atom chipsets.
So yeah, I'm looking forward to this.
"Fruity toymaker??"