The explosive growth of netbooks can be largely attributed to their low price tag. Manufacturers compete in "a race to the bottom" every day as the next iteration of netbooks are designed in research and development labs to cut down prices. Quality will eventually take a hit when sub-$200 netbooks take over the scene and advancements seen in more capable laptops will show up in those netbooks once component costs are driven down. This gives eager netbook buyers like you more options for choosing the right ultra-portable that will handle your computing needs

The netbook market is populated with what are essentially bargain bin laptops. That said, their small size and low price make them a very compelling buy if you're looking for a portable web browsing device. Netbooks typically cost very little thanks to cheap components and a small case, but computing power is degraded significantly. I don't believe Apple will introduce a netbook anytime soon. If it does, it won't be modeled after the industry's loose definition of a netbook.

The above-described product just isn't Apple's style. The folks at Apple have bided their time in choosing which markets they enter so they can develop a revolutionary new product which are a hit with buyers like you.

The iPod, iPhone and even iTunes are all results of Apple taking its time to develop great gadgets that work seamlessly with whatever you own. The end result is far above run of the mill and outside of what typical electronics manufacturers abide by when designing their newest creation. In the geeky corners of the world, folks joke about an "Apple Tax." The idea is that Apple charges more for its creations because of its high design standards.

The world of netbooks seems like the farthest territory from Apple's high standards and design methodology yet it has taken an interest in these ultra-small laptops. Steve Jobs has said a possible Apple designed netbook would take form only if the market for cheap, highly-portable laptops take off but would you really buy it if it had the "Apple Tax"?

I think what's on everyone's mind is what an Apple designed netbook would look like. The first thought that pops into my mind: something very similar to Sony's Vaio P. The two companies employ similar strategies; both design slick computers that cost more for their high quality standards and unique features. The main difference: Sony's been doing the tiny notebook thing longer.

Apple would likely follow the same route as Sony, starting from an already robust notebook and slimming down without losing many of the features that make it a good buy. The retail price would be high compared to other portable laptops. We've seen similar outcries against the MacBook Air and I've been guilty of railing against the slim notebook as a luxury buy when a regular MacBook costs far less and leaves the Air in the dust in terms of features. This is the mistake many buyers and reviewers make when looking at netbooks.

This is why Apple might never make a netbook that adheres to the loose definition of this new market of ultra-portables. An Apple-branded netbook would look something like Sony's recently-released Vaio P. Sony chose not to cut out the good features that make up a laptop but combined the advantages of a netbook such a slim form factor. The Vaio P utilizes a dense 1,600 x 768 pixel, LED backlit display. It also weighs far less than even the thinnest netbooks at a mere 1.4 pounds but is handicapped by a slow Atom processor and a clunky trackpoint for cursor movement.

The only differences would possibly be an aluminum enclosure and a glossy display. The price tag, I'd guess, would measure around the thousand dollar mark. An integrated battery wouldn't be a surprise as space is precious in such a small form factor. The MacBook Air and 17-inch MacBook Pro omit the removable battery mechanism already. An Intel Atom CPU would likely replace the dual-core Penryn chip and NVIDIA's Ion platform would provide the chipset and graphics horsepower.