Speculation is increasing that an
Apple netbook packing an
ARM-processor is on its way, says a FastCompany report. The rumor has been revived (for one reason or another), after months of being dormant.
It is known that ARM chips are already powering Apple's cleverly-designed iPhone, that not only acts as a phone, media player and gaming device, but also serves some pretty impressive mobile web browsing capabilities. Wow! Come to think of it, the iPhone really is a piece of work...
So, anyway, rumor has it that these ARM chips that come in at a low unit price, and are significantly more power-efficient than Intel's low-power netbook Atom CPUs, could be the reason why Apple would consider making its own netbook.
Some of you may remember that Apple CEO Steve Jobs made a surprise appearance at the company's latest quarterly finance call. Providing more fuel to an already burning rumor, Apple's chief executive hinted there was more in the scope for the portable front.
However, the company's chief exec suggested that, should Apple roll out an iNetBook, it would be priced above the $500 entry level. Jobs said that “We don’t know how to build a sub-$500 computer that is not a piece of junk.” Mr. Jobs added that the company “had some pretty interesting” ideas, if the iPhone was to do well as a web browsing tool.
A less credible (and older) netbook rumor says that an unknown search engine allegedly reported traffic from a netbook-like machine sending Mac-like signals. The portable device, purported as “Apple-made,” was described as boasting a screen larger than that of the iPhone, but smaller than a MacBook's, suggesting an Apple netbook was being tested in the Cupertino labs.
Naturally, there are reports saying the rumor has been denied, while others simply don't expect it to hit by 2009. It is worth noting at this point that
Apple itself stated last month that its product lineup was all set for the year.
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