2009 will be the year of the gadget, with several big-ticket items expected to hit the shelves within the coming months.

Apple, Microsoft, Nokia and Google are among the companies hoping their new state-of-the-art toys will be a hit with consumers.

Apple will follow the successful release of its iPhone with an Apple Mac netbook, a small, cheap and basic laptop which can be used for everyday web, media and work applications.

It is expected Apple will reveal its new product at the Macworld Expo, which began in San Francisco on Monday and will run to January 9. Cairns iShop owner Hew Mills did not know when the netbook would be released but said he would be watching developments from the Macworld Expo keenly.

"Apple are very secretive about their new technologies," he said.

"If they do bring out new things, we would be the last to know.

"Macworld have touted the new technology but no one knows when it will be announced."

Despite being unaware of the announcement date, Mr Mills said he would be excited if Apple produced new technology.

"Apple do innovate more than others," he said.

"They don't lose sight of the end user and their software more than their hardware is the key to Apple's success."

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