Apple: no to “junky” netbooks

Posted on 23 Apr 2009 at 08:50

Tim Cook has again denied that Apple is working on a netbook, dismissing the compact laptops as unfit to carry the Mac brand.

Netbooks are the one growth market in the slumping PC industry, but the Apple chief operating officer and the company’s boss in Steve Jobs’ absence, is unimpressed.

“When I look at what is being sold in the netbook space today, I see cramped keyboards, terrible software, junky hardware, very small screens—it’s just not something we would put the Mac brand on,” Cook said.

Interesting that he didn’t say Apple brand, leaving the door open to develop a netbook that builds on the company’s iPhone and iPod touch technology. Cook did not say as much but Apple is keeping its options open.

“If we find a way where we can deliver an innovative product that really makes a contribution, then we’ll do that,” Cook said.

Cook’s remarks fly in the face of the latest spate of rumours out of China and Taiwan—never the most reliable sources of Apple “news”—which suggested that the company had already begun placing orders for netbook components.

Author: Simon Aughton

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