Rumorama: Apple Netbook Coming Soon?

The rumours and tips are mounting, pointing towards an effort by Apple to build a 10" multi-touch netbook style computer that could be released as soon as the 2nd quarter of this year.

Yesterday, the Digitimes brought us news from the Chinese language Commercial Times that Wintek might be supplying the touch panels for the new netbooks:

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.

The report from the Commercial Times goes on to cite Quanta Computer (who currently make iMacs and MacBooks) as the probable manufacturer of the new netbook.

Today, the Dow Jones newswire piped in with reports from two undisclosed sources that confirmed an Apple netbook is slated to launch in the 2nd half of the year:

Apple Inc. (AAPL) is planning to launch a netbook computer with a touch screen monitor as early as the second half of this year, two people close to the situation told Dow Jones Newswires Tuesday.

The mini laptop computers will likely have monitor screens that are between 9.7-inches and 10-inches, one person, who declined to be named, said.

Apple, Quanta and Wintek have all declined to comment on the rumours.

A 10 inch multi-touch Apple netbook? Gimme!