Apple Netbook News

According to the article below from Digitimes, Wintek is working with Apple for a touchscreen netbook to be delivered in the 3rd quarter:

Wintek to supply touch panels for Apple netbook, says paper
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DIGITIMES ICT/FPD Report

Yvonne Yu, DIGITIMES, Taipei [Monday 9 March 2009]

Taiwan-based Wintek will supply touch panels for Apple's new netbook, and shipments will start in the third quarter this year, according to a Chinese-language Commercial Times report.

Wintek revealed that it is currently working with Apple to develop some new products, but it said it does not know what applications the new products are for. Wintek added that no shipment schedule has been worked out yet, but shipments are likely to begin in the second half of the year.

Quanta Computer will be the maker of Apple's new netbook, the Commerical Times report said.

Wintek has reported that its consolidated revenues for February totaled NT$1.81 billion (US$52 million), representing a 25.69% increase from NT$1.44 billion in January, but a 21.65% decrease from NT$2.31 billion for the same month in 2008.

The increase was mainly contributed by rush orders from handset clients who were stocking inventories after the Lunar New Year holidays in January, market sources said, adding that sales were also helped by the fact that there were more working days in February than in January.

Wintek's accumulated consolidated revenues from January to February were NT$3.25 billion, down 38.79% on year.

Certainly makes things interesting especially since there are already Hackintosh net-b's in the market today. The 2 things that come to mind are:

1. Pricing - Even if Apple doubles up on the low-end priced net-b's (priced ~$300 making the Apple price point ~$600+) That is well below their MacBook pricing of $1,000 + Still a compelling solution for people not wanting to go $1000 in on ANY new computer.

But even if you don't get the nice fat margins on LOWER MacBook sales, you can offset that by entering the GROWING (and some would say exploding) netbook market and offer your market differentiator (OSX) and the Apple brand power without competing in the "me2" space. This should get very interesting (if true) Hmmmm...

2. Functionality - This is interesting based on the Touchscreen aspect (is it an Ipod touch on sterroids???) By entering the market later, Apple gains insight in to what consumers like/dislike and want on their net-b. Imagine if you could get more battery time, internal optical drive, more ports and a touchscreen - suddenly $600 - $700 doesn't seem out of line. Clearly, Apple is not going to market to the bottom dollar crowd but that has never been their market. They can also position synching with your Iphone, pod, touch etc.

What do you think? Do you think this (a) will happen and (b) by Q3?

Talk to me people!!

Movie quote:

"If you hold back anything, I'll kill ya. If you bend the truth, or I think you're bending the truth, I'll kill ya. If you forget anything, I'll kill ya. In fact, you're gonna have to work very hard to stay alive Nick. Now, do you understand everything I've just said? Cause' if you don't, I'll kill ya! Now, Mr Bubble and Squeak, you may enlighten me."