The case for (and against) an Apple netbook

Speculation is rife that Apple is working on a netbook

As is usually the case, recent months have seen a bevy of rumours as to the nature of Apple's next big product.

Apple is well established in the desktop, notebook and smartphone markets, and many assume that its next foray will be into the burgeoning netbook market.

This speculation was furthered in recent weeks when reports began to leak out from suppliers in Asia that the company is constructing a device with a 10in touch screen matching the general description of a netbook.

Aside from being the latest rage in gadget circles, the netbook market rewards sleek designs, simple layouts and intuitive software, all areas at which Apple excels. It is also, however, a market littered with potential landmines that, if not properly handled, could destroy any attempts to brand the company's logo onto the market.

First and foremost of these is cost. Apple chief Steve Jobs has said flat out that cheap computers are more or less rubbish, and that the company will not waste its time on such projects.

Apple does not do low-end machines very well, as the company has a set standard for user experience that requires a fair amount of money to construct. Even the cheapest Mac, the stripped down Mac Mini desktop, starts at a price well above that of any netbook or even discount PC.

If Apple won't build a bare-bones desktop for less than $500 (£350), how is the company going to compete in a market that crams high-end technologies such as solid state drives (SSDs) and 3G networking while still maintaining a lower price point than a notebook?

The closest Apple has come to a netbook so far is the MacBook Air. The device sports a 13.3in screen, but weighs just 3lbs and famously fits inside an A4 envelope. Of course, it also starts at $1,800 (£1,280), and rises to $2,500 (£1,780) if you want the SSD option.

How then could Apple shrink its notebook down to a netbook model as other companies have, and still keep the device from costing less than a 1998 Volvo?

Then there are the design questions. The Mac has always been about visuals and, ever since the Macintosh jumped out its tiny case and into the hearts of graphic designers and desktop publishers everywhere, that has meant big bright screens.