Familiar touch
The Wall Street Journal, citing its ubiquitous "people familiar with the matter" has suggested that HP is developing a touch-screen notebook, which it will launch before the end of the year. The WSJ's sources weren't able to help with things like pricing and spec, however.
HP's desktops using TouchSmart technology have been available since July of this year so it's not too far-fetched to suggest they've got a notebook equivalent in the pipeline. But with the desktops costing well over $1,000, HP might struggle in a market expecting to pay under $500 for a laptop or netbook these days.
The WSJ piece went on to say: "The new laptop is the latest in a series of touch-oriented devices, including an upcoming line of cellphones, that will become a priority of H-P's consumer strategy as it tries to differentiate itself from rivals such as Dell Inc., these people said."
The same group of omniscient sources also suggested that HP is planning to launch a ten inch netbook this year and is planning to put a bit more effort behind the launch of this generation of touch-screen notebooks than when HP last had a go at it a year ago.