Apple netbook planned for October?

We dreamed of seeing a touch-screen Apple netbook at this year’s WWDC, but it just wasn’t meant to be. Now, seven weeks after the event, rumors have surfaced once again of a plausible touch-screen device from Apple HQ, this time with a little more information.

If The China Times is to be believed, Apple have plans for a 9.7-inch touch-screen netbook device that will cost around $800. Three companies would provide various hardware; Foxconn, Dynapack and Wintek, suppliers of the touch-screens. All three have apparently received orders from Apple.

While it seems hardware may be organized, there’s still a question mark hovering over the software. Would it run a version of the iPhone OS, or a modified Mac OS X? Would it be seen as more of a small computer or a huge iPod touch? Only Apple knows the answer to these questions, but with Steve Jobs back in a driving seat, I’m sure the answers will be worth waiting for.

Will you be first in line for an Apple Netbook? Or is it filling a gap that isn’t there; with the Mac for computing and iPhone for mobile, is there a need for a netbook? It would be interesting to see how Apple would market such a device, since the iPhone offers the internet in your pocket. There’s a good chance of this being nothing more than a rumor, but maybe, just maybe, October will see the birth of an Apple netbook.

Via [MacRumors]